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Wildlife Safety Finding,Feeding Recommendations & Video
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Latest Activity: May. 26, 2008
"People" food is not formulated for animal consumption… Foods manufactured for humans are rarely nutritionally adequate for animals and may cause serious health problems… This is particularly the case when animals gather to feed continually on human handouts such as bread, french fries, and popcorn
When animals learn that humans can provide a cheap and easy food source, they often lose their natural fear of humans… The HSUS is particularly concerned about feeding that habituates large, potentially dangerous animals to human habitation and presence… Once wild animals learn that they can boldly forage for human food, conflicts, nuisance behavior, and risks to human safety are sure to occur
Wildlife fed from or near vehicles may result in traffic hazards and costly property damage when animals are hit or attempt to enter vehicles in search of food… For example, in Yosemite National Park in 1998, over 1,100 vehicles were broken into by black bears—causing more than $630,000 in damages
Animals who become dependent on human food sources may gather in abnormally large numbers, thereby aiding the spread of disease… Unnatural crowding and competition may result when wild animals gather together for food handouts from people… Such stressful conditions increase the incidence of fighting and injury among animals, as well as help the spread of diseases, some of which may be transmitted to pets and humans
Does this mean backyard bird and squirrel feeding is wrong? No… The HSUS opposes the feeding of wildlife when the reasonable assumption can be made that animals may come to harm… While feeding birds and squirrels in your backyard is generally not an activity that fits into this category, some conditions may warrant curtailing the provision of such food sources…For example, during the warmer months, when natural food sources are more readily available, it's usually best to reduce the amount of feed you put out each day or suspend feeding altogether
If you do provide feed for backyard wildlife—at any time of the year—remember that it's also important to maintain safe, clean feeding stations in order to prevent the spread of disease
More Tips
If you feed your pets outside, take the bowls in at night to prevent midnight raids by your wild neighbors
For hints on the safe disposal of food containers, check out their "Don't Trash Wildlife!" page
Don't touch wild animals
For information on identifying orphaned and injured wildlife, read "Found an Injured or Orphaned Animal?"
When visiting parks and similar settings, follow the rules regarding wildlife…Encourage others to do the same
If you see a turtle in the road…
Thank you!
MoonDancer
Have you ever been driving down the road when that tire fragment in the distance begins to move? As you get closer, you realize that the tire fragment is actually a turtle, slowly attempting to cross the highway
Turtles often make this perilous journey to get to a good, sunny location with loose soil in which to lay eggs, and to return back to familiar territory—be it a woodland, pond or desert burrow
It is in just this situation that so many turtles lose their status as wild animals and are consigned to an unnatural, and unnaturally short, life in a back yard… By all means, help that turtle cross the road in the direction she (or he) was heading, if you can do so safely… But then leave her in the wild where she belongs
The collection of turtles by passersby seriously contributes to the ongoing population declines in many species… Turtles and tortoises are particularly vulnerable to collecting, since they are slow-moving and generally non-aggressive
Likewise, their populations are vulnerable as well… As is typical of long-lived animals, turtles are slow to sexually mature… They lay relatively few eggs, and mortality of eggs and hatchlings is frequently very high… In addition, their habitat is increasingly fractured by roads and carved up into housing developments and shopping centers, causing local extinctions… Thus every turtle who survives to adulthood is critical to his population
Turtles are said to make good pets, yet they have specific dietary and habitat requirements and can pass diseases, such as salmonellosis, to humans…What's more, their attempts to escape from backyards and return to familiar territory puts them at tremendous risk of being crushed in the road
The HSUS believes that wild turtles belong in the wild… Help make this a humane summer by helping them get to the other side of the road—and then leaving them there
Found an injured or orphaned animal?
Thank you! MoonDancer
Many wild animals are born during the spring and summer months… In your own backyard, you may come across baby birds, rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, deer, and other young wildlife as they make they make their way into the world
For many people, the pleasure of seeing these young creatures is mixed with a sense of protectiveness—of wanting to help them survive… But spotting a baby animal by himself doesn't necessarily mean he's an orphan… Many wildlife parents leave their young alone during the day, sometimes for long periods… The mother is usually nearby and quite conscious of her young… Also, keep in mind that despite their small size, many young animals are actually independent enough to fend for themselves
How can you tell if an animal needs your help or should be left alone? Here are some general signs to look for:
Wild Neighbors
Get the Basics on Humane Wildlife Solutions
Tips on Solving Conflicts with Wildlife
Found an Orphaned or Injured Animal?
A wild animal presented to you by a cat or dog bleeding an apparent or obvious broken limb a featherless or nearly featherless bird (nestling) on the ground shivering evidence of a dead parent nearby
Finding Help
If a wild animal exhibits any of the above signs, you should immediately call one of the following local resources for assistance… You will find listings for most of these in your telephone directory, or try an online search (ie, "Los Angeles animal shelter")
• Wildlife rehabilitator
Visit Wildlife International where you can type in your location and get a list of rehabilitators near you… Your local animal control agency or state wildlife agency should also have contact information for wildlife rehabilitators in your area
• Local animal shelter or humane society
• Animal control agency
• State wildlife agency
• Nature center
• Exotic animals veterinarian
Capture and Transport
Once you've contacted the right person, describe the animal and his physical condition as accurately as possible… Unless directed otherwise, here's how you can make an animal more comfortable for transport or while you're waiting for help to arrive:
• Punch holes, from the inside out, into a cardboard box or other container… A paper bag may be suitable for most songbirds
• Line the box with an old T-shirt or other soft cloth
• Put on gloves
• Use a towel or pillowcase to cover the animal, then scoop him up gently and place him in the container
• Do not give the animal food or water… He could choke, develop digestive problems, or drown… Many injured animals are in shock, and eating or drinking can make it worse
• Place the container in a warm, dark, quiet place—away from pets, children, and noise—until you can transport the animal
• Transport the animal as soon as possible… While in the car, keep the carrier out of the sun and away from direct air conditioning or heat… Keep the car radio off and talking to a minimum
• Never handle an adult animal without first consulting with a wildlife professional… Even small animals can injure you
Is the Animal Really an Orphan?
Many young animals may appear to be orphaned, but actually may be doing just fine on their own… Here’s more information on the young of species you may encounter, to help you decide whether or not they need to be rescued
Baby Deer
People often mistakenly assume that a baby deer, called a fawn, is orphaned if found alone… Rest assured that the mother deer, the doe, is probably nearby… The doe will only visit and nurse her fawn a few times a day to avoid attracting predators… Unless you know the mother is dead, leave the fawn alone
Mother deer are wary of human smells; if you have already handled the fawn, take a towel, rub it in the grass, and then wipe down the fawn to remove all human scent… Then return the fawn to the place where you found him
If the fawn is lying on his side, or wandering and crying incessantly, he may be orphaned… If this is the case, call a wildlife rehabilitator in your area… But remember: a fawn found alone and quiet is okay
Baby Birds
It’s a myth that birds abandon their young if a person touches them… Unlike other animals, birds are not sensitive to the human scent… If baby birds have fallen from their nest, you can put them back if safe to do so… If the original nest was destroyed or is too high to reach, hang a small basket close to where the original nest was… Woven stick baskets work well for this purpose—they resemble natural nests and allow rain to pass through so the birds won’t drown… If you don’t already have one around the house, baskets can be inexpensively purchased at garden or craft supply stores… Make sure the basket isn’t too deep, since adult birds won’t jump into anything they can’t see out of.
Move away from the area, but keep watch for an hour to make sure the parent birds return to the new nest to feed their chicks… If they don’t return, contact a local resource in your area
Birds that are fully feathered on their bodies but with short tail feathers may be fledglings (adolescent birds)… You may see them hopping about on the ground, but unable to fly…This is normal: birds learn to fly from the ground up! Often the young leave the nest several days before they are able to fly… The fledglings may remain on the ground for a few days, supervised and fed by their parents before they get the hang of flying… Keep a lookout for parent birds, who will feed their fledglings a few times per hour
Be sure to keep pets away from the area—dogs should be leashed and cats kept indoors… If there are stray pets in the area, put the fledglings in a small basket and hang it securely from a nearby tree limb… Hopefully, this will keep the birds off the ground for the few extra days they need before they can fly… However, if the birds appears injured, alone, or in imminent danger, contact a wildlife rehabilitator near you
Baby Foxes
Often fox kits will appear unsupervised for long periods of time while their parents are out hunting for food… Observe the kits from a distance; if they seem energetic and healthy, just leave them alone… Only contact a wildlife rehabilitator if the kits appear sickly or weak, or if you have reason to believe both parents are dead
Baby Opossums
Baby opossums are born as embryos, barely larger than a bee… They crawl up to their mother’s pouch where they spend about two months attached to one of her nipples… When baby opossums get to be about 3-4 inches long, they ride around on their mother’s back—and if they fall off, she may not notice the babies are missing… As a general rule, if the opossum is less than 7 inches long (not including the tail), he is an orphan… Over 7 inches long, he’s old enough to be on his own
Baby Rabbits
If you find a nest of baby rabbits and the nest is intact and the babies uninjured, leave them alone… Mother rabbits only visit their young 2-3 times a day to avoid attracting predators
If the rabbit nest has been disturbed, or if you think the babies are orphaned, recover the nest with surrounding natural materials such as grass and leaves… Put an “X” of sticks or yarn over the nest to assess if the mother is returning to nurse her young… If the “X” is moved but the nest is still covered by the next day, the mother has returned to nurse the babies… If the “X” remains undisturbed for 24 hours, contact a wildlife rehabilitator near you… Keep all pets out of the area, as they will surely find and kill the young rabbits… Also, try not to touch the babies, as mother rabbits are very sensitive to foreign smells and may abandon their young… A rabbit who is four inches long with open eyes and erect ears is independent from his mother and able to fend for himself
Baby Raccoons
If the baby raccoon has been seen alone for more than a few hours, he’s probably been orphaned… Mother raccoons closely supervise their young and don’t let them out of their sight… You can put an upside-down laundry basket over the baby (with a weight on top) and monitor him for a few hours… If the mother does not return, contact a local wildlife rehabilitator
Baby Skunks
If you see a baby skunk running around a yard or neighborhood all alone, there's a chance he is orphaned… You may even see a line of baby skunks, nose to tail, running around by themselves—its likely they’re become separated from their mother… Skunks have poor eyesight, so if something scares a mother skunk and she runs off, her babies can quickly lose sight of her. In these circumstances, we recommend monitoring the situation for an hour or two to see if the mother appears… You can also put on gloves and slowly place a plastic laundry basket upside down over the skunks to keep them in one spot and make it easier for the mother to find them… Be aware that skunks spray to protect themselves from quickly moving threats such as dogs—if you move slowly and speak softly, it's unlikely that you will be sprayed… If alarmed, skunks give a warning by stamping their front feet… So, if a skunk doesn’t stamp, she's probably not concerned, and you may proceed.
If no mother appears to retrieve her young, contact a wildlife rehabilitator.
Baby Squirrels
If tree work was recently done and the nest or baby fell down as a result, give the mother squirrel a chance to reclaim her young… If the baby is uninjured, leave him where he is, then leave the area and keep people and pets away… Monitor from a safe distance… If the baby is not retrieved by sundown, contact a local wildlife rehabilitator… If it’s chilly outside, or the baby isn’t fully furred, place him in a shallow box with something warm underneath (like a heating pad on a low setting or a hot water bottle) so he doesn’t get cold and compromised while waiting for his mother to return… Do not cover the squirrel with leaves or blankets, as the mother may not be able to find him
Note: A squirrel who is nearly full sized, has a full and fluffy tail, and is able to run, jump, and climb is independent
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