Did you know that armadillos are tropical animals? They evolved from the same common ancestor as anteaters and sloths, and are made to live only in environments that are toasty-warm all year. Nature didn’t equip them with the ability to hibernate and they don’t have the warm, thick coats or body fat that most mammalsContinue reading “Where are Armadillos in Winter?”
Category Archives: General Info
Tennessee’s Elk: A Success Story
We love our native wildlife! Did you know that Tennessee is home to a herd of over 400 wild elk? They’re one of our state’s most amazing conservation success stories. Elk once roamed Tennessee in herds numbering in the thousands. Unmanaged hunting caused their numbers to plummet, as did the destruction of the prairies andContinue reading “Tennessee’s Elk: A Success Story”
The Coyote’s Violet Gland
If you’ve been lucky enough to see wild coyotes up-close, you might have noticed that many have a prominent dark spot on their tails. Just under this spot is a nifty organ called the supracaudal gland or violet gland! It gets its name because it produces a musky oil that smells very strongly like violets.Continue reading “The Coyote’s Violet Gland”
Raptors are Not Dinosaurs
When we say things like, “We’ll get you the number for a raptor rehabilitator,” many people respond by informing us that raptors are extinct. Thankfully, they aren’t! There are over 500 species of raptor currently sharing our planet. Raptors— also called “birds of prey”— are a large group of birds including hawks, owls, falcons, andContinue reading “Raptors are Not Dinosaurs”
Head Pressing in Raccoons
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”
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”
