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”
Author Archives: ForFoxSake
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”
Avoid Drunk Hummingbirds: Clean Your Feeders
If you’re near For Fox Sake, this is the perfect time of year to hang hummingbird feeders! Hummingbird feeders can give you an opportunity to enjoy these beautiful little jewels during their long annual migration. If you’re not careful, though, your feeders may do much more harm than good. Nectars— whether homemade or store-bought— fermentContinue reading “Avoid Drunk Hummingbirds: Clean Your Feeders”
Wild-Domestic Goose Hybrids
You might one day see a flock of Canada geese, with one goose that looks… well, off. If you see these types of patterns and markings, it’s very likely that you’re looking at an unusual bird whose parents were star-crossed lovers! Canada geese and domestic geese don’t normally mate with each other. They instinctively tendContinue reading “Wild-Domestic Goose Hybrids”
Don’t Kidnap Fawns! Mom Will Return Soon
Babies like this are often kidnapped by well-meaning people who mistake them for orphans, but this baby doesn’t need help. Mother deer will often leave their babies alone for up to several hours a day, often hidden in underbrush, tall grass, or leaves. The fawn knows to lie down and be very still, to avoidContinue reading “Don’t Kidnap Fawns! Mom Will Return Soon”
The Booming Bobcat Fur Trade
Wild cats have always been a primary target to fur trappers seeking big money. The demand for the skin of beautiful wild cats nearly drove animals like the leopard, snow leopard, and tiger to extinction. While the sale and trade of big cat furs has declined rapidly since the 1970s thanks to tight international regulations,Continue reading “The Booming Bobcat Fur Trade”
Most American Squirrels Used to be Black
Black squirrels aren’t common anymore in the U.S., but you may still see them if you’re lucky! Believe it or not, there was a time that most squirrels in the U.S. had this interesting (and beautiful!) trait. Black coloration, or melanism, can occur in both fox squirrels and Eastern grey squirrels. Prior to European invasionContinue reading “Most American Squirrels Used to be Black”
Copperheads Aren’t Very Dangerous
Although copperheads are venomous, they aren’t nearly as dangerous as many people believe. They are incredibly shy, elusive snakes who greatly prefer to hide rather than to bite. A copperhead will only bite a human if it’s directly provoked, such as when it has been stepped upon or handled. In the unlikely event that aContinue reading “Copperheads Aren’t Very Dangerous”
