You’ve likely seen— and possibly even shared— those cute viral photos and videos of domestic cats raising wild animals. Stories of cats raising wild animals are always adorable and heartwarming, but the sad truth is that most of these stories are fake, and most attempts to recreate them end in tragedy. Take, for example, theContinue reading “Your Cat Can’t Raise Wild Animal Babies”
Author Archives: ForFoxSake
“I found a dead bird. Should I save the babies?”
Even the very best rehabilitators can’t care for baby birds as well as the their natural parents, so we always make it a priority to keep baby animals with their families whenever possible. Unfortunately, some baby birds end up in rehabilitation because well-meaning people kidnap them. It’s not uncommon for someone to find a deadContinue reading ““I found a dead bird. Should I save the babies?””
Wildlife Rehabilitators Don’t Remove “Nuisance” Animals
The calls come several times a day. Angry and gruff and terse. “I have raccoons in my attic and need you to come and get them.” “A fox got my chickens. Come get it or I’ll kill it.” “I heard a coyote. Either you come remove it or I’ll put a bullet in it.” We’reContinue reading “Wildlife Rehabilitators Don’t Remove “Nuisance” Animals”
Treating a Wild Animal With Mange Yourself? Not So Fast!
We get tons of messages from people asking us for advice on treating wild animals with mange. It’s wonderful that so many people care! Mange is extremely common in wildlife, particularly foxes and coyotes, and rates have skyrocketed in recent years due to human causes. When left untreated, mange causes infections, starvation, hypothermia, and eventuallyContinue reading “Treating a Wild Animal With Mange Yourself? Not So Fast!”
Tennessee’s Flying Squirrels
We love flying squirrels! Because these cuties are nocturnal and aren’t very common in cities and suburbs, many people don’t even realize that they live right here in Tennessee! We’re actually blessed with not one, but two flying squirrel species. The most common in the state is the Southern flying squirrel, which, as its nameContinue reading “Tennessee’s Flying Squirrels”
Fledglings Aren’t Orphans
Have you ever seen a human toddler in their first days on their feet? They stumble, waddle, and often fall… but it doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong or that they don’t have parents looking out for them. The awkward first days of toddling are just part of how humans learn and grow. That’s how itContinue reading “Fledglings Aren’t Orphans”
Rat Poison Causes Mange in Bobcats
Rodents aren’t the only ones who suffer from rodent poisoning! Predators like owls, foxes, hawks—and even pet cats and dogs— can become poisoned when they eat animals that are sick or dead from poison. For bobcats, secondary poisoning can have a strange effect. A bobcat who eats poisoned rats and mice will suffer from constantContinue reading “Rat Poison Causes Mange in Bobcats”
Bats Make Scary Faces to “See” Better
A lot of people find bats creepy. There are a lot of reasons for this, such as their mythical association with vampires and ghouls. One thing that makes people nervous about bats is that their faces often look menacing and aggressive, like they’re threatening to bite. But this weird grimace isn’t what you think. WhenContinue reading “Bats Make Scary Faces to “See” Better”
That Baby Rabbit is Terrified, Not Calm
People who find cottontail rabbit babies often describe them as calm, comfortable, friendly, and sweet. All too often, wildlife rehabilitators receive photos of baby rabbits snuggled in hands, pockets, and bras, with enthusiastic stories about how much they love to be held. These stories almost always end in tragedy, when the babies die of stress.Continue reading “That Baby Rabbit is Terrified, Not Calm”
Lawn Chemicals Kill Salamanders in Winter
You have a whole magical world living right under your feet! Please help protect it. Salamanders and other amphibians are facing a serious crisis as their populations plummet all over the world. You can take very simple steps to make sure your own salamander neighbors are safe. This time of year, most salamanders are inContinue reading “Lawn Chemicals Kill Salamanders in Winter”
