Simple Things You Can Do To Avoid Harming Wildlife
The following is easy, simple ways to help wildlife in the countryside, your garden even in woods & forests. If you care about wildlife then please read on :)
Hedgehogs numbers across the country are down
dramatically. You can help by leaving a corner of your garden less tidy and
overgrown, making a perfect place for a hibernating hedgehog.
60% of the wild bird population has disappeared in the last 25 years.
Prevent your pet cats and dogs from attacking and/or "playing with" wildlife.
Don't allow them to run without supervision and raise your cats as indoor pets.
Many injured animals are brought to the clinic each year with terrible wounds
from dog and cat attacks.
Alert birds to large expanses of glass in your home, such as patio doors or
picture windows, by hanging streamers, putting bird silhouettes on the glass
surface, or allow the glass to be a little bit dirty. Reducing the reflection
should cut down on the number of birds who collide, often fatally, with windows
and doors.
Educate children to respect and care for all wild creatures and their habitats.
Children need to learn that wild animals are not playthings and should be
allowed to go about their lives unmolested. Children should also be told not to
destroy nests, burrows and other wildlife homes.
Pick up litter and refuse that could harm wildlife, including six-pack
connectors (after cutting each circle to reduce the risk of entanglement),
monofilament fishing line, and watch batteries (if consumed by waterfowl they
can cause mercury poisoning).
Be alert when driving, especially near wildlife refuges and in rural areas, to
avoid hitting or running over wild creatures. Animals do not recognize the
danger from an oncoming vehicle. And please stop and move any turtles away from
the roadway or shoulder of the road.
As a general rule, leave infant wildlife alone, since they are not always truly
orphaned. A parent may be nearby or will return soon. Be sure they are in need
of help before you remove them from the nest area. If you find young birds on
the ground, attempt to return them to the nest.
Place caps over all chimneys and vents on your roof to prevent birds, ducks and
raccoons from taking up residence and becoming a nuisance or getting trapped.
Do not leave fishing line or fish hooks unattended or lying about outdoors. Try
to retrieve any kite string left on the ground or entangled in trees.
Before mowing your lawn or rototilling your garden, walk through the area first
to make sure no rabbits or ground-nesting birds are in harms way. Remember, it
only takes a couple weeks for these babies to grow and leave the nest. Be
tolerant and give them the time they need.
Check trees to make sure there are no active nests or residents of cavities
before cutting them down. Even better, avoid cutting down dead trees if they
pose no safety hazard, since they provide homes for a wide variety of wildlife.
Use non-toxic products on your lawn and garden.
Motor oil should not be left in oil pans unattended. Birds often fall into these
pans and few survive.
Do not attempt to raise or keep wildlife yourself. Not only is it illegal, but
wild creatures do not make good pets and captivity poses a constant stress to
them. Young wild animals raised without contact with their own species fail to
develop survival skills and fear of humans, virtually eliminating their chances
of survival in the wild.
Other Ways You Can Help Wildlife
Always keep dogs and cats under control. Don't let them roam. Cats can disturb,
maim, or kill nesting birds as well as young birds just out of the nest during
breeding season. The bacteria transmitted in a cat bite will quickly cause
infection and become life threatening. If cats are permitted outside, put at
least two bells on their collar to help alert birds that danger is nearby,
giving them extra time to escape.
Before you cut down or prune trees and shrubs, check very carefully for nesting
birds. You could unintentionally destroy a nest by trimming too closely or
destroy the habitats provided in the tree. It is always best to leave dead trees
or snags standing. They provide food and shelter for many birds throughout the
year. As an added benefit, you can enjoy the wildlife attracted by snags!
Never feed wildlife. Natural diets are always more nutritious for wildlife than
human food. Bird feeders can be stocked with balanced mixes of different seed,
appropriate for the birds in your area. Old bakery goods do not supply
nutritional levels for good health, especially when birds are preparing for
migration or breeding.
Many birds depend on insects in and around our backyards. So, limiting the use
of insecticides can help protect the health of our wildlife and water resources
too. Instead of using dangerous chemicals, contact local conservation groups to
obtain ideas for environmentally safe alternatives.
If woodpeckers drum on your house it could mean several things: you may need to
have your house inspected for termites, the bird is displaying territorial
behavior and communicating with other woodpeckers or it is attempting to begin a
nesting cavity. You can try supplying a nest box for them to use.
Reflections from windows can confuse birds. This may cause them to fly into the
glass or repeatedly peck at what they see as their competition. Some simple
remedies include breaking up the reflections with stickers, decals, or aluminium
pie pans. Strips of coloured plastic flapping in the wind or balloons with big
eyes painted on them also break up the reflective pattern.
Never litter! All species of birds can become easily entangled in man-made
products such as plastic, fishing line, cans, and bottles. Struggling to be free
of such entrapments often results in serious injury or death. Help by disposing
of litter properly, and recycle whatever you can.
If you take a bird to a wildlife rehabilitator, you can help by taking a
donation of food, money, or volunteer your time and talents. Keep in mind that
most organizations rely solely on donations from caring people like you. Your
thoughtfulness will be greatly appreciated.
Humane Ways to Keep Animals Out of the Garden
Fencing: If you have rabbits or skunks, encircle the garden with an 18" high
wire fence. Bury your fence about 8" below ground as well to deter them from
digging beneath. For gophers and squirrels - who like to burrow and eat the
roots of vegetables (although ground squirrels will eat just about anything) -
bury your fence about a foot below the surface. You’ll also need to bury chicken
wire under all the beds and around trees and shrubs. For deer, install fencing
at least seven feet high, since they supposedly cannot jump any higher than this
unless they have an uphill advantage.
Scarecrows: Owl or snake scarecrows tend to work only temporarily, since animals
ultimately catch on when the scarecrow doesn’t move.
Netting: You can drape netting over your garden until the plants are fairly
large, well-established, and can handle the occasional nibble from mammals. Some
netting can injure birds who get tangled in it, so make sure your deterrents
won’t harm other creatures. For example, if you kill insects with poison, you
may also kill the butterflies and birds who eat the insects.
Plants: You can also plant vegetation that you know certain animals will not
like to eat. Lavender and sage tend to keep squirrels away. And deer don’t care
for such plants as calendulas, irises, lavender, basil, marigolds, and fleabane.
Check gardening books or call your local extension office for a specific listing
of plants that thrive in your area.
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WILDLIFE ORPHANS Each year (especially in the
Spring), many people call wildlife agencys who have found a baby bird or
mammal. People usually think the animal needs their help and want to
bring it in. These well meaning individuals usually assume the babies
are orphans. Cat or Dog Danger? If a dog or cat is
threatening the baby animal, do not instantly bring the baby in. Rather,
keep the pet restrained the short time the baby is there. However, if
the animal has already been attacked or picked up by the family pet and
is injured, please bring the baby in as soon as possible.
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