People will often try to help an Eastern box turtle by taking it to an area with less traffic or more vegetation. This is one of the worst things you can do for a turtle. Box turtles have small territories no more than a few acres wide. When taken out of those territories, they useContinue reading “Moving a Turtle: a Death Sentence”
Author Archives: ForFoxSake
Can a Fox Hurt my Dog?
We had several calls this spring about baby foxes that were orphaned because their mothers were shot, usually by a neighbor or acquaintance of the finder. One of the most common reasons the shooter gave for killing these animals out of season? “I didn’t want it to kill my dog.” Foxes are far too smallContinue reading “Can a Fox Hurt my Dog?”
Any Mammal Can Get Rabies
For Fox Sake’s focus is on our local rabies vector species: skunks, foxes, and raccoons. But these animals aren’t “rabies vectors” simply because they can catch rabies, but rather, because they can live with it for several days or weeks and transmit it to other animals, including humans, during that time. It’s possible for absolutelyContinue reading “Any Mammal Can Get Rabies”
Raccoons: Terrible Pets
Every year between August and November, wildlife rehabilitators start getting dozens of calls: “I’ve been raising this raccoon as a pet and it’s gone crazy.” Raccoons make great pets until some time between five and twelve months of age. Then, every wild instinct they have will kick in. Maybe they’ll still be friendly at times,Continue reading “Raccoons: Terrible Pets”
Should I Kill A Fox? It Might Have Rabies!
“It might have rabies,” is one of the leading reasons people give for killing wild foxes. Foxes and cats each account for about 6% of rabies cases per year, but, fortunately, no one suggests that we mass-murder stray kittens. Let’s have the same respect for wild animals, instead of slaughtering them because of the smallContinue reading “Should I Kill A Fox? It Might Have Rabies!”
Will a Mother Animal Abandon a Handled Baby?
You should never handle a wild animal because it stresses them and can spread disease, but it’s entirely a myth that a mother will abandon her young because of unfamiliar smells. This is not true of any animal species. If you, or a child, already handled a baby animal and it is not hurt orContinue reading “Will a Mother Animal Abandon a Handled Baby?”
Leave Box Turtles Alone!
An Eastern box turtle should NEVER be relocated, or brought home as a pet. These precious animals are considered to be threatened and endangered, with the pet trade and personal “kidnapping” being among of their biggest risks. When handled, they experience extreme stress but don’t have the strength or speed to get away. Keeping aContinue reading “Leave Box Turtles Alone!”
Raccoon-Proofing Your Bird Feeders
Raccoons are very smart and agile, so you may sometimes encounter a crafty coon who has figured out how to raid bird feeders. As much of a pain as this might be, there are several solutions that don’t involve trapping or killing the trash panda. Here are some things to try: -Hang your feeders onContinue reading “Raccoon-Proofing Your Bird Feeders”
Hunting Coyotes? Prepare for Dangerous Dogs!
Ecosystems will always have predators. That’s why feral dogs are so successful in places where native predators have been eliminated. Nature always fills the gaps. When we killed the wolves in the eastern U.S., coyotes moved into the wolf’s former range. If we killed all the coyotes, the hole in the ecosystem would be filledContinue reading “Hunting Coyotes? Prepare for Dangerous Dogs!”
Rodenticides Hurt Wildlife
The most common forms of rat poison are anticoagulants (poisons that cause uncontrolled bleeding). When a rodent is poisoned, it usually goes outside to die. There, it become slow, easy prey for snakes, foxes, hawks, owls, raccoons, and even your neighbor’s cat. We understand that live traps and snap traps don’t always work in casesContinue reading “Rodenticides Hurt Wildlife”
For Fox Sake Wildlife Rescue 