ForFoxSake

There are Raccoons in my Trash!

In nature, a raccoon’s job is to be the janitor who disposes of decaying animals, rotten eggs, dead fish washed ashore, and spoiled fruits. It’s only natural that they smell our trash and think it’s meant to be theirs. If your local trash pandas have been foraging in your garbage can, you can discourage themContinue reading “There are Raccoons in my Trash!”

I Found a Fawn! What now?

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 “I Found a Fawn! What now?”

Found a Dead Opossum? Check its Pouch!

Car collisions are a leading cause of death for adult opossums. When an opossum is terrified, it enters an involuntary comatose state (“playing possum”) and freezes in place. This is great for dissuading predators, but evolution didn’t prepare the opossum for automobiles. The good news is that, if you see a dead opossum, it mightContinue reading “Found a Dead Opossum? Check its Pouch!”

Can I Move Wild Baby Rabbits?

Many people call wildlife rescues asking for help rescuing or relocating cottontail rabbits found in their yards. While it’s wonderful that so many people want to protect wild bunnies, the best way to keep them safe is to simply leave them exactly where they are. Cottontail mothers are not particularly attentive, and only come toContinue reading “Can I Move Wild Baby Rabbits?”

Do Opossums Spread Disease?

Opossums look a little bit like huge rats, so they’ve been mistakenly associated with disease. But, with very few exceptions, opossums can’t and don’t carry the same viruses that infect humans and pets. An opossum’s normal body temperature is typically around 93-94 degrees, and sometimes as low as 89-90 degrees. Most diseases affecting pets orContinue reading “Do Opossums Spread Disease?”

When is a Cottontail Independent?

Mother cottontails only feed their babies twice a day, and a rarely seen. But, even if a baby cottontail is definitely orphaned, it does not necessarily need help. Once a bunny is the size of a softball, it no longer needs its mother’s care and shouldn’t be captured or “rescued.” Cottontail rabbits are extremely sensitiveContinue reading “When is a Cottontail Independent?”

The Smoke-Phase Turkey

These beauties occur throughout the United States, including right here in Tennessee! Smoke-phase turkeys are distinctly different from albinos and can range from solid white, to pale grey, to— like this fellow here— white with handsome black markings. These gorgeous patterns are a natural occurrence in wild turkeys and do not mean that the turkeyContinue reading “The Smoke-Phase Turkey”

Tennessee’s Dusky Gopher Frog Extinct Statewide

Conservationists need highlight the struggle of this precious animal, which native to our home state. The dusky gopher frog was once found in wetlands throughout the South, ranging as far north as middle Tennessee. Due to the extreme loss of suitable wetland habitats, dusky gopher frogs haven’t been seen in Tennessee in over twenty years,Continue reading “Tennessee’s Dusky Gopher Frog Extinct Statewide”

Fledglings Don’t Need Help

Especially in the spring and summer, you’re likely to see a baby bird awkwardly hobbling on the ground, barely able to fly, possibly crying for its mother. It’s understandable that many well-meaning people mistake these babies for orphans. They are actually doing just fine and are under their parents’ care! If a bird has feathersContinue reading “Fledglings Don’t Need Help”

Is a Coyote Likely to Have Rabies?

Fear of rabies are one of the most common reasons that people kill coyotes. While it’s certainly not a good idea to approach, provoke, or handle any wild animal, coyotes are actually one of the less likely carriers of rabies in the United States. In the 1970s, mass vaccination helped to eradicate the strain ofContinue reading “Is a Coyote Likely to Have Rabies?”