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How You Can Help Local Wildlife

A list of general tips for helping wildlife, compiled by Harry Noyes from various sources and from his own experience as a volunteer for Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation of San Antonio.

For expert advice or assistance in particular situations where wild animals are in peril, we urge you to call Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation at Tel. (210) 698‑1709. IMPORTANT: Except in the most clearcut cases of orphaning, injury or imminent peril, PLEASE call Wildlife Rescue or some other expert agency before collecting an animal. In many cases, well-meaning people pick up animals that would be better off left alone. Also, they can provide advice on safety precautions to protect you, children and pets as well as the wild animal itself.

(Wildlife Rescue deals with all categories of wildlife. Two other organizations are more specialized. Last Chance Forever, Tel. 499‑4080, focuses on birds of prey. Primarily Primates, Tel. (830) 755‑4616, focuses – as the name implies – mainly though not exclusively on apes, monkeys and other primates.

(Another useful contact is Castle-West Animal Hospital, at 11105 West Avenue between Blanco and Northwest Military. When open, Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m., they act as a convenient drop-off point for animals destined to go to Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation. They will take in all orphaned and injured wildlife except adult raccoons, skunks and coyotes and provide interim care until Wildlife Rescue can pick them up. REMEMBER: if at all possible, please call first for advice on how to handle the animal. Tel. (210) 344-8259.)

Wildlife Rescue will also advise and assist with non-lethal methods for controlling nuisance animals.

We implore you NEVER to employ the services of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's so-called Wildlife Services (formerly Animal Damage Control...not to be confused with the city Animal Control Department that handles stray domestic animals).

The sole purpose of Wildlife Services is to kill wildlife. There are almost always non-lethal alternatives, but many Wildlife Services personnel not only refuse to employ or recommend non-lethal methods but will actively oppose their use.

Concrete things you can do to help wild animals:

(1) Learn about wildlife and teach others, especially children.

(2) Give money, supplies, volunteer services, and support to wildlife and environmental organizations of your choice.

(3) Tell politicians that you want laws to protect wildlife and its habitat.

(4) Be a wise consumer. Never buy products made from wildlife, especially endangered species. With your voice and money, support businesses that avoid animal cruelty; demand change from others.

(5) Reduce meat/fish eating to lessen incentives for ranchers and fishermen to overproduce, overgraze, expand into wild areas, or overfish. But don't blame ranchers and fishermen: we are all at fault. A plant‑based diet reduces pressure on land and sea, because plants feed more people per acre than animals can.

(6) Never buy wild‑caught pets. In fact, we advise against buying any "exotic" pets, even if captive-bred. Most are hard to care for; many become nuisances in the home; some escape and devastate native wildlife. Consequently, many are turned loose or end up in overloaded animal-rescue facilities. Especially to be avoided are apes and monkeys. If you buy reptiles or birds, demand captive‑ bred ones and be prepared to care for them for many years. Don't buy any pets unless you know how to care for them and can spend the time and money to do it right. Shelters are crammed with lonely dogs and cats: THAT is the place to find a pet.

(7) Drive carefully. Motor vehicles are predators. Obey speed limits. Be especially careful at night on narrow roads. Give animals time to see your lights and yourself time to brake.

(8) Discard trash properly, especially plastics and chemicals. Animals get caught in bottles, jars and 6‑pack rings; suffocate in plastic bags; and swallow items that can block intestines. Chemicals can poison. Close trash containers to keep animals out. Check for baby animals before discarding furniture/rubbish.

(9) Use natural pesticides/fertilizers or non‑chemical methods in gardens to avoid poisoning animals. Build bird and bat houses, feeders, etc., to attract bug‑eaters. Welcome snakes. Use hand removal if possible. Remember, caterpillars become butterflies.

(10) Conserve electricity and gasoline to reduce fuel emissions. To reduce trash flow, use products longer and then pass them on to others. Recycle everything you can.

(11) Plant trees. Let your yard grow "wild" as a habitat for birds, butterflies and other small creatures. Texas Parks and Wildlife can provide guidance on "wildscaping" your land.

(12) Feed and water wildlife, but be sure to use appropriate sites and methods to protect the wildlife and avoid nuisances that will create a public backlash against the animals. This takes planning and expertise. Read and consult with experts.

(13) Vaccinate, neuter and confine your pets. Roaming dogs and cats kill wildlife. Pet‑carried rabies gets blamed on wildlife.

(14) Control children. Never let children use weapons or fireworks unsupervised. Teach children to respect animal life. Tell them animals feel pain and fear, too; and dead animals never return to life, no matter what the cartoons may seem to indicate.

(15) Build only animal-friendly fences. Avoid sharp projections that might hurt animals. If your fence has them, cut them off.

(16) Never capture a wild animal for a pet, or let children do so. Wild animals rarely thrive in captivity and may be dangerous. If you somehow acquire a wild animal, call Wildlife Rescue.

(17) Never approach a wild animal closely unless absolutely necessary to protect the animal from imminent danger, and only then if you can do so without direct contact, e.g., by keeping

people and pets away. This protects you and the animal from stress, injury and disease. Call Wildlife Rescue promptly. (Be cautious but don't panic. Wild animals rarely have rabies.)

(18) Keep track of an injured animal until a rescue volunteer arrives. If possible, stay in sight or check the animal's condition and location periodically. This protects the animal and lets you guide rescue volunteers to the right place. Provide DETAILED directions: exact road, distance from intersection, side of the road, landmarks, etc. Mark the site with a stake, etc.

(19) Tolerate animals on your property unless they cause real trouble. If they do, call Wildlife Rescue first. They can offer tips for driving animals away without harming them, e.g., using lights, noises or odors (ammonia, moth balls, cayenne pepper); removing food, water and shelter; and blocking openings. As a last resort, they can give advice on live‑trapping and release them for you or recommend firms that remove animals without harm.

(20) If you must trap, call Wildlife Rescue for humane advice. (NEVER call U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services. They kill animals, and leave the carcasses for you to dispose of.) Place traps in permanent shade, away from ants. If you have ants, spray around the trap to protect the animal. Supply water and juicy foods like grapes. Put a heavy or secured bowl in the trap: you can refill it through the mesh. Avoid hamster bottles: wild animals may not know how to use them. Simply spraying the trap with a hose helps. This is a way to fill a bowl for a skunk: outside 20 feet, you are "out of range." Ensure easy access for trap removal later. Check trapped animals often to make sure they are okay. If you see a problem, call Wildlife Rescue at once.

(22) Consider releasing trapped animals on the spot, especially if they aren't the ones you wanted to trap. Most will have bad memories of your yard and not return. Also consider whether the animal might be a mother. If so, the babies might die on your property unless the mother is allowed to return to them. In baby season, waiting a few weeks to let babies mature before trapping can avoid this dilemma. Again, Wildlife Rescue can advise and help. CAUTION: When handling a trap with an animal, wear heavy gloves and long sleeves/pants. Avoid touching where the animal might scratch you. Keep small children and pets away, to protect them and the captured animal. Wildlife Rescue will gladly send a volunteer to release the animal, either on the spot or elsewhere.

(23) DO NOT MOVE baby animals unless they are in immediate danger or you have gotten advice to move them from Wildlife Rescue. It is normal for babies of many species to stay alone while parents forage. Fledgling birds may seem helpless when learning to fly, but it is a natural phase: papa and momma are nearby. Babies do face risks, but human interference is even riskier. Only if danger is imminent (baby on a road, in the path of a mower, threatened by pets, etc.) should people intervene. Even then the best intervention is just to keep danger away from the baby until mom or dad returns.

(24) If a baby is not in danger, watch from a distance to see if mom returns. Keep pets and people away. However, if someone does touch the baby, it is still best to let mom take over. Most animal mothers DO NOT abandon babies due to human contact. If you think intervention is needed, call Wildlife Rescue. They can offer advice or send a rescuer. Situations that call for action: the mother is known to be dead, she does not return after several hours, baby is sick or injured or in danger, the baby needs help back into a nest (mainly birds, since most mammal moms can do this themselves), or a whole nest needs to be restored.

(25) When pruning trees, be alert to avoid cutting branches with nests. Double‑check cut limbs for nests. Be careful digging in gardens: frogs, toads, turtles and snakes may be hibernating in soil. When discarding rubbish, be sure there are no baby animals there. Most birds are protected: even chimney sweeping may be illegal if you displace chimney swifts, so wait till late summer.

(26) Make donations to Wildlife Rescue and other wildlife rescue organizations, in cash or kind, to help animals being treated, rehabilitated or sheltered at their refuge. They always need animal food; bedding; cleaning/office supplies; tools and building materials; etc. Call for details.