Helping Wildlife

Animals need your help! Everyday, they suffer injuries and illnesses. The worst part is, most of their ailments were caused accidentally or purposely by people. The best part is, there’s a lot we can do about it!. He are some wildlife do's and dont's:

• Don’t bother healthy wild baby animals. Even when they seem abandoned, their parents are usually nearby. If in doubt, contact a wildlife rehabilitation center in your area.
• Don’t try to keep or raise wild animals. It is illegal to keep wild animals as pets.  Also, they can carry diseases and parasites that can harm people.
• Don’t destroy nests, burrows or other havens for wildlife. Wild animals and their habitats deserve to be respected.
• Do take motor oil to a recycling center so it doesn’t contaminate the environment, fouling feathers and fur.
• Do take watch batteries to a recycling center so they can’t cause mercury poisoning in animals.
• Do put up birdhouses, bat houses and bird feeders for Wood Ducks, Eastern Bluebirds, American Kestrels, Screech Owls, Purple Martins and many types of bats. Having bats in your yard is instant insect control!
• Do provide appropriate seed for birds who winter in our area, such as Cardinals, Chickadees and Nuthatches.
• Do keep birdbaths and feeders clean so they don’t make birds sick. Birdbaths should be rinsed and refilled at least twice a week and scrubbed once a week. Twice a year, they should be scrubbed with a 10 percent bleach (90 percent water) solution and allowed to dry completely.
• Do pick up litter and garbage that could harm wildlife, including plastic six-pack rings and milk jug rings. Cut them apart before disposing of them so they can’t strangle animals.
• Do pick up old fishing line and lures that litter ponds and lakes. They cause terrible injuries to birds and turtles. Cut them into small pieces and put them into a sealed garbage can.