This is something we see often— raccoons curled up with their heads pressed against the ground, their eyes shielded from sunlight. To well-meaning bystanders, it’s easy to project human experiences onto these situations. People assume they’re frightened, cold, or even depressed. Unfortunately, the reality is usually far worse than that. Animals head-press when they haveContinue reading “Head Pressing in Raccoons”
Category Archives: General Info
Coon Cuffs are Cruel
Warning: this image is graphic. We know this is hard to look at, but it’s important to see. We were contacted today about this beautiful young raccoon who suffered terribly while stuck in a popular form of “humane” trap. These cylinder-shaped traps, called “Coon Cuffs,” are marketed as a humane, safe, species-specific alternative to springContinue reading “Coon Cuffs are Cruel”
Foxes Don’t Kill for Fun
A common myth about foxes suggests that they are ruthless murderers who kill other animals just for fun. This is not true of foxes or any other predator. Hunting takes a lot of energy and can leave an animal susceptible to injury by prey, so no animal chooses to do it “for fun.” Of course,Continue reading “Foxes Don’t Kill for Fun”
Litter isn’t Nesting Material for Birds
As we get closer to spring, you‘ll likely start seeing memes and blogs suggesting that you help birds build their nests by leaving materials like yarn, string, human hair, and pet hair outside. Please, please don’t do this! Wild birds don’t need help to find nesting materials. They’re everywhere and birds instinctively know where toContinue reading “Litter isn’t Nesting Material for Birds”
Killing Coyotes Endangers Pets
This time of year, you’re likely to see more and more stories about coyotes stalking, or even killing, cats and small dogs. As winter drags on, coyotes’ preferred prey (rodents and rabbits) become scarce and they’re more likely to begin looking toward pets as possible prey. Killing a coyote will only make the situation moreContinue reading “Killing Coyotes Endangers Pets”
Deer Can Eat Poisonous Plants
Native animals are so amazing in the ways they’ve adapted to survive within our ecosystem! Did you know that white-tailed deer can survive eating most toxic plants in our area? Deer are often seen foraging on huge amounts of nightshade, poison ivy, pokeweed, and hemlock with no apparent ill effects. They’ve even been known toContinue reading “Deer Can Eat Poisonous Plants”
Checking on Bird Nest Boxes
Are you one of the amazing people who helps bluebirds and other native cavity-nesting birds by providing them with nest boxes? Excellent! Please be careful so that your efforts to help dont accidentally harm. While a lot of bird enthusiasts like to watch for signs of predators, parasites, and competitors, there can still be dangerContinue reading “Checking on Bird Nest Boxes”
Nandina Berries Kill Birds in Winter
Nandina is one of the most common ornamental plants in our area. It’s marketed under many names, including “heavenly bamboo,” but it is neither heavenly nor bamboo. It’s a highly invasive and poisonous domestic plant that can kill animals in your neighborhood. Nandina owes its popularity to the fact that it’s a brightly colored evergreenContinue reading “Nandina Berries Kill Birds in Winter”
Prevent Pandemics: Don’t Feed Wildlife
For years, raccoons have been suffering through a catastrophic pandemic introduced to them by domestic dogs. Canine distemper is a highly contagious, horrifically painful, and invariably fatal disease that infects large numbers of raccoons, skunks, foxes, and coyotes in Tennessee. As many as half of the calls we receive are related to cases of canineContinue reading “Prevent Pandemics: Don’t Feed Wildlife”
T’challa’s Story
Many of you have seen T’challa’s story in bits and pieces and have had a lot of questions. Is he a pet? Why do people keep calling him “potato?” What’s that thing on his neck? Can I pet him? For our newer friends and fans, here’s his whole story… and an opportunity to ask usContinue reading “T’challa’s Story”
