Category Archives: General Info

No, a study did not prove that raccoons are domesticating themselves.

Sorry to be a buzzkill. A lot of people have been reaching out to us about a widely reported study that, according to the headlines, proves that raccoons are domesticating themselves. Half-serious social media posts are hailing this as the greatest news ever for people who fantasize about having a pet raccoon. The only thingContinue reading “No, a study did not prove that raccoons are domesticating themselves.”

When opossum joeys are too small to save

Are you one of the heroes who, despite feeling squeamish, checks for babies when you see a dead opossum? Awesome! But you may not be sure what to do you find little pink jellybeans in the pouch. In the earliest weeks of development, opossums are hairless, translucent, and fused to the mother’s nipple. At thatContinue reading “When opossum joeys are too small to save”

There’s no such thing as an opossum infestation

Opossum “infestations” are some of the most common reasons that these wonderful little animals end up killed. We’ve gotten many calls about opossums who had supposedly infested attics and crawlspaces, and we’ve heard many tragic stories of people managing these “infestations” with lethal measures. The truth is, though, that opossum infestations simply don’t exist. UnlikeContinue reading “There’s no such thing as an opossum infestation”

Glitter Animals: Managing Contagious Disease in Wildlife Rehabilitation

One of the hardest parts of what we do is caring for the Glitter Animals. “Glitter Animals” is a game, of sorts, that I started playing by myself when caring for animals who have any of the closely related and highly lethal carnivore parvoviruses: canine distemper, canine parvovirus, feline panleukopenia, and raccoon parvovirus, all ofContinue reading “Glitter Animals: Managing Contagious Disease in Wildlife Rehabilitation”

Snapping Turtles Only Let Go When they Hear Thunder? Possible Origins of the Myth

When I was about six years old, I found a snapping turtle walking across my grandmother’s yard and eagerly ran inside to tell her. In a panic, she ordered me to stay inside until it was gone, warning me that if a snapping turtle bites you, it won’t let go until it hears thunder. IContinue reading “Snapping Turtles Only Let Go When they Hear Thunder? Possible Origins of the Myth”

Don’t Feed Corn to Wildlife!

Leaving corn for deer and other wildlife may seem benign, or even beneficial, but it is actually one of the most harmful things you can do for neighborhood wildlife. We generally recommend against feeding wildlife at all, with the possible of migratory songbirds. But if you insist on feeding wildlife, please avoid corn at allContinue reading “Don’t Feed Corn to Wildlife!”

Identification, Triage, and Management of Box Turtle Facial Inflammation Syndrome

This presentation, given to attendees at the Wildlife Rehabilitators of North Carolina Symposium in 2024, is available for wildlife, rehabilitators and others in the field who may be interested in learning our experiences with Box Turtle Facial Inflammation Syndrome and our protocols in treating and managing it.

What to do if you find a cold wild animal

AAAA it’s cold. 🥶 January is the coldest month of the year here in Chattanooga, and it’s a rough time for many wild animals. Climate change is, perhaps surprisingly to many, causing more wild animals to freeze to death. Animals all over the world, including here in Tennessee, are giving birth out-of-season, changing their migrationContinue reading “What to do if you find a cold wild animal”