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| Simple Things You Can Do To Avoid Harming Wildlife |
| Wildlife Behavior Tips |
| "Mankind is part of nature and life depends on
the uninterrupted functioning of natural systems." | |
World Charter for Nature - Adapted by the General Assembly of the United Nations, 1982
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Bear Safety Tips:
- Do not feed wildlife.
- Do not put garbage out until pickup day.
- Do not compost fruit or vegetable wastes.
- If a bear shows up, stay calm. From a distance shout at him/her or make noise, such as by banging pots and pans.
- Stay at least 15 feet away from a bear and make sure s/he has an escape route.
- Bears will warn a person who has come too close with a series of huffs, snapping or popping of his/her jaws and by swatting at the ground. Slowly back away to a car or building, if available.
- Keep dumpsters and trash cans locked shut.
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| Simple Things You Can Do To Avoid Harming
Wildlife |
- 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, such as
six-pack connectors (after cutting each circle to reduce the risk
of entanglement) 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
trapped.
- 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 companion animals
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.
- If you enjoy feeding ducks and geese near ponds, please
remember that good intentions could lead to botulism. The problem
is common during warm weather when water becomes stagnant.
Bacterial toxin grows in still water with low levels of oxygen. The
bacteria build-up is caused by rotting food, fecal matter and
debris in the stagnant water. Tossing bread into ponds turn foul,
which could kill ducks and geese.
- Look at the products your family uses. Is there a lot of extra
packaging that is not needed? Tell the company by letter, phone or
e-mail. They have offices set up to handle such concerns. Don't buy
from companies who refuse to reduce unnecessary packaging.
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