ForFoxSake

Why Are Skunks Called Polecats?

Have you heard this Southern colloquialism? Although it’s not very common anymore, some people in the Southeast (especially older folks) will refer to this animal as a “polecat.” My grandmother always used the term not just for skunks, but anyone and anything that she found malodorous! So where does this term come from? In reality,Continue reading “Why Are Skunks Called Polecats?”

Don’t Kidnap Animals to Teach Your Children

Far, far too often, wildlife rehabilitators get calls about baby animals that the finders have had for weeks. Often, it’s urgent— “Something’s wrong,” or, “It cant walk right,” or, “I think it may be dying.” These animals ultimately die due to improper care by people who thought that a Google search could enable them toContinue reading “Don’t Kidnap Animals to Teach Your Children”

Babies, Not Rabies: Why Raccoons are Awake in Daytime

It’s that time of year! We’ve started getting our annual influx of calls about raccoons seen during daylight hours. Many callers are concerned that these animals have rabies. Don’t worry: unless you see other worrisome symptoms, being awake in the daytime isn’t cause for alarm. From April through August, most of the female raccoons inContinue reading “Babies, Not Rabies: Why Raccoons are Awake in Daytime”

Aquatic Turtles and Butt Breathing

Snapping turtles, like all aquatic turtles outside the tropics, have to hibernate underwater every winter. They don’t have gills and can’t rise to the surface while asleep for a full season, and may even be completely locked under a thick layer of ice. So how do they breathe? Through their butts! If you want toContinue reading “Aquatic Turtles and Butt Breathing”

“Mean,” “Crazy” Bird Parents

Wildlife rehabilitators get a lot of calls in the late spring and early summer about birds described with words like “mean,” “crazy,” and “dangerous.” Blue jays, mockingbirds, geese, and robins are the ones most commonly considered aggressive— and it’s no coincidence that they’re the ones most likely to be nesting near our homes and businesses.Continue reading ““Mean,” “Crazy” Bird Parents”

Groundhogs: Underground Architects!

Groundhogs are incredible! We only see the entrances and exits to their burrows, so it’s hard to imagine the complex homes they build underground. A groundhog’s burrow averages about twenty feet in width and five to six feet in depth, but there are records of burrows as large as 66 feet wide. Amazing! A groundhogContinue reading “Groundhogs: Underground Architects!”

Can I Move Wild Baby Bunnies?

Well-meaning people often move cottontail rabbit babies, assuming that their mother will be able to find them. The most commonly given reasons are that they needed to mow their lawn or needed to get the babies further away from dogs or cats. Unfortunately, this spells death for the young rabbits. Cottontail rabbit babies produce noContinue reading “Can I Move Wild Baby Bunnies?”

A Fed Coyote is a Dead Coyote

A fed coyote is a dead coyote. Coyotes are naturally fearful of humans and other large predators, since they evolved in ecosystems where bears, pumas, and wolves ruled the landscape. We average five times their size and they know we’re boss! When you see a coyote that is overly confident around humans, that’s a learnedContinue reading “A Fed Coyote is a Dead Coyote”

Poisoning a Raccoon is Cruel and Messy

Rodent poison should never be used, especially on an animal that isn’t a rat or mouse. No matter which poison you choose, the animal is going to suffer from an incredibly painful and brutal death. But if you don’t care about the animals, remember that poisoning a large animal like a raccoon won’t be goodContinue reading “Poisoning a Raccoon is Cruel and Messy”

Crows Deserve Love, Not Superstition

I have to admit: before I started working with wildlife, I had no idea that there were still people who had superstitious beliefs and fears about crows. It turns out these ideas didn’t get left behind in the Victorian Era where they belong. Even in 2020, a lot of people fear crows and some willContinue reading “Crows Deserve Love, Not Superstition”