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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.
Källa:
The Wildlife Rehabilitation Center |
