With the increase in temperatures, loss of academic motivation, and blooming flowers that we all love to associate with springtime comes one of the most challenging periods of the year for wild animals. In biology, we refer to it as “baby season.” Countless species give birth to their young and rely on the warm weather and abundance of food to care for their offspring. You’ve probably already seen juvenile squirrels learning to navigate rush hour here at UCD–avoiding those bicycle tires is harder than it looks. While we look forward to summer and hitting the beach, numerous mothers of local wildlife are attempting to raise their young despite habitat loss and human interference. So while you’re enjoying that Arnold Palmer on the quad after your midterm next week, here’s a couple things to keep in mind when it comes to the critters that call Davis their home.
We aren’t the only ones who love to spend time outdoors. Our dogs and cats have a primal instinct to run rampant every now and then. Not to discriminate against all of you feline lovers, but cats actually kill between 1.4 and 2.7 billion birds each year. Many of the injured birds that come into rehabilitation facilities have been cat caught. Conservationists advocate keeping your kitty indoors as much as possible simply to avoid contracting diseases, getting into fights, or being run over. If you want your feline friend to roam free–that’s completely understandable. Consider investing in a brightly colored collar or attaching small bells/jingles to their collar to make them a less effective predator and to alert birds to their presence. Attached below is a great link with tips on how to stop your cat from killing birds.
https://www.audubon.org/news/how-stop-cats-killing-birds
Now we all know that household pests can cause problems for Americans across the country and that damage can be costly in terms of time and money. I mean, who wants a bunch of mice running around their house? There are, however, countless pest control methods that don’t involve rat poison or glue traps. Those methods can wind up harming other unintended targets. Skunks, raccoons, snakes, and birds can get caught in glue traps and will starve to death or can accidentally ingest rat poison.
My favorite alternative is to simply attract natural predators. Installing an owl box in your backyard can do the trick, and it’s a win-win for everyone. Call your local wildlife agency to inquire about any rehabilitated raptors that might need a new home.
If you’re not too keen on those talons, check out some of these humane traps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABffYDM9EwU
One of the most frequent complaints about wildlife is the classic, "raccoon in the garage" or "coon eating the cat food". I suggest feeding your pets indoors so that those bandits don’t associate your house with a midnight snack. Dog and cat doors that are activated by a sensor on your pet’s collar can prevent our wild friends from getting into the house.
Below is a link to PetSafe, which is a great company that will install these sensor doors for you.
http://www.petsafe.net/doors/electronic-doors
If these methods don’t work, National Geographic has written a fantastic article about safely removing raccoons from the house.
If pets and backyard pests aren’t an issue for you and your wildlife exposure is limited to those awkward run-ins when a gull wants the last half of your sandwich, pay extra attention to the next few pointers.
It is absolutely crucial that we stop feeding wildlife for our entertainment. Sure, they are cute and cuddly and we all would love a more intimate connection with them, but wild animals are wild for a reason. They have extremely specific diets, and feeding them anything outside of that can result in developmental issues, disease, and fur/feather loss, which will put that animal at a disadvantage compared to other members of its population. Additionally, when animals are injured or are in poor health, they require medical care before anything else. Offering them food can divert vital physiological processes away from maintaining critical body functions. The best thing you can do, in such a case, would be to take that animal to a rehabilitation facility.
Wildlife can also be extremely susceptible to dependency and imprinting. If they become reliant on you for food, they may be unable to find their own sustenance when we head home for the summer and could starve to death. Juveniles, especially, need to learn to forage for their own food. If we disrupt their development, we are putting them at a lifelong disadvantage, For more information, check out the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley (WCSV’s Facebook page).
They have plenty of rescue and release stories, which brings me to some rescuing that might fall on you! During this time of year, it is likely that you may stumble across a baby bird or squirrel. But don’t pick it up just yet! Not every baby animal is in need of our help. Falling from the nest is a crucial part of their natural development and happens before most birds learn to fly. As a general rule of thumb, baby birds that are heavily feathered are meant to be out of their nest and will start to fly in a day or two. Babies with no feathers mostly likely have fallen by accident and should be returned to their nests. If you can locate it, gently return them and be on your way. Don’t worry about that smell rumor either -- the mother won’t reject them if she smells you.
I’ve included an in depth video and flow chart about what to do if you’ve found a baby bird but if you’re ever unsure of what to do, call your local wildlife agency. Remember -- a baby’s best chance of survival is with its parents.
http://www.wcsv.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/BabyBirdChart2012.jpg
Lastly, be extremely mindful of your trash and make sure it gets to the proper disposal site. We’ve all seen the iconic images of turtles trapped in soda can plastic but there’s countless other ways that our food industry can harm wildlife. Recently, squirrels have been getting stuck in Yoplait containers due to the conical shape. Make sure you cut apart any trash that could trap or ensnare a wild animal.
I personally cannot wait for summer, and I encourage everyone to be mindful of the critters we coexist with.
Thanks for reading, and enjoy the warm weather!
