You walk around your yard, and suddenly you almost step on a nest of baby bunnies! There they are, in a shallow nest lined with fur and grass. They’re all alone, so your first thought is that they’re orphaned. The reality, though, is that mom is nearby but is staying away from her babies because she has an odor, but they don’t. She doesn’t want to attract predators due to her scent. So she only returns twice a day to nurse her babies, when no one … [Read more...]
Want to Repel Skunks?
Have you been noticing an unpleasant musky smell coming from under your porch or deck and suspect a skunk is living there? Or maybe you’ve seen telltale signs of skunks foraging in your garden or digging for grubs in your lawn. If these sorts of things have you thinking about rounding up chemicals to get repel skunks living in your yard, read on. Another approach will bring quicker, more lasting results. Encouraging skunks to leave your … [Read more...]
Animal Tracks
Animal Tracks If you happen to be one of the lucky ones (of course that depends on who you ask!) to live in a snowy climate, you may not realize the riches that come along with a nice blanket of snow. They are tracks… animal tracks from your neighboring wildlife. Looking for and identifying tracks is a great winter activity for the whole family, especially on “snow days!” No snow? Animal tracks will also appear in wet sand and soil for those of … [Read more...]
Black Bears and Backyard Food Conflicts
Bears… what’s not to love about them? They’re amazing, intelligent, and charismatic. Bear moms are wonderful parents. Bear cubs are absurdly adorable. But, bears can also be a challenge for homeowners in some areas. Usually the conflicts occur when they’re attracted to foods found in the yard. They get into gardens, pet food, birdfeeders, grills, compost piles, and garbage cans, creating a mess and damaging things. Not surprisingly, complaints … [Read more...]
Tips for Opossum Removal
Some people have the mistaken notion that opossums are some kind of a rodent—which may be why opossum removal is often one of the first things considered when one is discovered living, say, under a porch or deck. It’s common for people to think that opossums are either dangerous or rabid, thanks to their scary appearance when they bare their teeth and hiss and sway, a bluff meant to scare off would-be predators. The fact is that opossums are very … [Read more...]
How to Get Rid of Sparrows
Whether we deserve it, or not, European house sparrows seem to love us. While most birds seek only the seed and other things we intentionally offer, house sparrows choose to live as close to us as possible, benefiting from unintentional offerings around our homes and eateries. As their name suggests, the European house sparrow is not native to the U.S. During 1890 and 1891, some hundred birds were brought over and released in New York, to … [Read more...]
Wild Turkeys in Your Yard?
Turkeys get a lot of attention in the media this time of year, what with Thanksgiving and all, but that doesn’t mean you necessarily want to see a bunch of gobblers strutting their stuff around your yard. Wild turkeys are not animals you typically think of as likely to turn up in your backyard. Increasingly, though, they do. They live in every state except Alaska, and with natural areas increasingly becoming urbanized, residential areas … [Read more...]
How to Get Rid of Birds
Many people spend a ton of time and money trying to attract birds for the sheer enjoyment of watching and listening to them. Nonetheless, there are times when, for one reason or another, someone is looking for a way to get rid of birds. Round up the usual suspects—European starlings, house sparrows, crows, chimney swifts, and pigeons—not because they are “bad birds” but simply because there are circumstances that sometimes place us in conflict. … [Read more...]
What’s Up With the Wild Birds of Autumn
You’ve heard of “the boys of summer?” Well, now you’re going to hear about the birds of autumn! Why are they worth knowing about? As it happens, the birds you see in autumn may include both the regulars (birds living in your area year round) and species from points north, migrating southward for the winter. Even the bird species you usually see and are familiar with are busy with their autumn activities. Here’s what to watch for, along with some … [Read more...]
Feed Wild Birds & Avoid Wildlife Conflicts
Most of us feed birds because we enjoy bird-watching and want to help wildlife in some way. But did you know that feeding wild birds may actually create conflicts with other wild animals or perhaps even harm the birds? Here are a few things to consider when feeding wild birds to avoid conflicts and unintended harm. Avoid the bird seed buffet Let’s face it - birds are not the tidiest eaters. Some rake through what is being offered to find … [Read more...]