“Why vaccinate wildlife?” This is a question we hear a lot, and it’s fair enough. After all, animals don’t get vaccines in the wild. We like to put it this way: imagine a pandemic that is nearly 100% fatal and is as contagious as the common cold. Imagine it is contagious for about a weekContinue reading “Why Vaccinate Wildlife?”
Tag Archives: wildlife
Rehabilitators Don’t Do Wildlife “Removal” or Pest Control
A surprising number of calls that wildlife rehabilitators take have nothing to do with wildlife rehabilitation. They come from people who want a healthy, safe, happy animal removed from their property because they simply don’t want it there. “Removal” of healthy wildlife is the opposite of what rehabbers do. Relocating an animal rarely ends wellContinue reading “Rehabilitators Don’t Do Wildlife “Removal” or Pest Control”
Swan Decoys Deter Geese and Ducks
Ducks and geese native to the United States are protected species— they can’t be killed, removed, or have their nests destroyed, unless you have a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. So what can you do when you’ve got geese and large ducks wreaking havoc and harassing pets and humans? The most importantContinue reading “Swan Decoys Deter Geese and Ducks”
The Grey Fox: The Cattiest Dog
The grey fox, one of the native species that For Fox Sake rehabilitates, is one of those peculiar animals that massively fails the “duck test.” In many ways, this shy, reclusive animal seems exactly like a wild cat. It is small, nocturnal, solitary, and agile, and has retractable claws that it uses to climb trees,Continue reading “The Grey Fox: The Cattiest Dog”
How Do Cactus Bucks Happen?
Deer like this are a rare sight, but have been spotted almost everywhere in the United States, and in almost every species of deer. These cactus bucks, as they’re called stand out because of their bizarre, deformed antlers covered in irregular growths. A cactus buck’s irregular antlers develop due to low testosterone levels, which causeContinue reading “How Do Cactus Bucks Happen?”
The Stink-Goddess Skunk
The ancient Samnites did not know about skunks, but they did know about the balance of the natural world. It’s fitting that their goddess of foul smells was not evil, but was also a symbol of love, devotion, motherhood, and strength. Scientists made the right decision in naming the striped skunk— which was valued inContinue reading “The Stink-Goddess Skunk”
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?”
Does Feeding Birds Prevent Migration?
Some people start bringing their bird feeders inside in the fall, fearing that their backyard visitors won’t migrate if they’re fed by humans. It’s actually beneficial to have bird feeders year-round! Studies have found that birds fed by humans have much higher survival rates and more successful broods. We owe it to birds to giveContinue reading “Does Feeding Birds Prevent Migration?”
Chili Pepper Pest Control
Most animal lovers are happy to see bunnies, squirrels, chipmunks, and groundhogs, but every now and then, friendly backyard wildlife will make themselves comfortable to the point of destroying a lawn or even damaging the house itself. Extermination can be unnecessarily cruel, and catch-and-release can spread disease or leave babies motherless. So what can youContinue reading “Chili Pepper Pest Control”
Tennessee’s Endangered Indiana Bat
The Indiana bat, which lives here in Tennessee, has lost 50-95% of its population over the the last 70 years. The main cause of this crash was human disturbance of the largest caves where they were nesting. These critters are now federally protected, but still face serious threats because of white nose fungus (a deadlyContinue reading “Tennessee’s Endangered Indiana Bat”
For Fox Sake Wildlife Rescue 