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How knowledgeable are you about living among raccoons, squirrels, and birds?

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Raccoons give birth to 3-6 hungry kits. While nursing, mother raccoons have to forage for food more hours than the night allows. Raccoons out during the day are usually just hungry. Like any animal, it’s possible that the raccoon is sick, but it should not be your assumption. If you do find an animal with symptoms of disease, it’s much more likely to be distemper, which is NOT a threat to people. Distemper does not make raccoons act aggressive. Raccoon rabies absent from the Midwest and West of the united states, as shown on this CDC map: https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/images/2014-surveillance/2014-us-animals.jpg

Raising Babies is a Full Time Job

What is the most likely explanation for a raccoon out during the day?

If food is prevalent, a mature female can have two litters in one summer. Each litter will have 2-4 babies. Younger females may have only one litter, and if food is scarce females may have no babies. Because the litters are spread throughout the summer, and babies stay in the nest for 8 weeks, please don't trim trees during the spring, summer, or early autumn!

Two litters per summer

How many litters can a healthy female grey squirrel have per year?

A rabies infected raccoon has not been found in Wisconsin for many decades. Raccoon rabies is only found on the eastern seaboard of the US.

Raccoon Rabies is not in Wisconsin!

What proportion of raccoons in Wisconsin are infected with rabies?

Possums are North America's only Marsupial, which means they are very distant relatives of all the other mammals that live here. Because of that, they are resistant to many diseases that afflict other mammals. There has never been a known case of rabies transmission from an opossum to another animal, and rabies- positive opossums are extraordinarily rare. Possums are also one of the only animals in Wisconsin that are net-consumers of ticks, which transmit Lyme disease.

Opossums are resistant to many diseases

Opossums can transmit rabies and Lyme dissease

This very common myth is not true. Birds, squirrels, raccoons, and bunnies can all be returned to their nests without rejection. However, people should never handle wildlife unnecessarily, and they should wear gloves. If you find baby wildlife in the wrong place, contact an expert before taking any action. You can find a local expert at ahnow.org

They don't reject their young

Mother animals can smell if their young have been handled by humans and will reject them.

Relocating the animal miles away is not humane and is only a temporary solution for the homeowner. It is impossible to remove all the animals from a region; new animals will always move in. It’s extremely common for babies to be present in the attic. Live traps only attract the adult, leaving the young behind. Instead, home owners can get advice from humane eviction and exclusion experts about waiting for the mom to move her young from the nursery den, and then properly sealing the entrance hole. Once the babies reach a certain size, mother raccoons naturally move them to a more accessible den site so that they can start exploring the environment. If need be, eviction techniques can be used to encourage the mom to take her babies elsewhere sooner, such as radios and lights. Since she is in her home territory, she will know other den sites. Call an animal rehabber for advice about how to exclude animals, or for the name of a local consultant who can help you at: ahnow.org

Eviction and Exclusion is the Answer

If there is a raccoon in your attic, what is the humane solution?

Mother cottontails only visit their nest twice a day for quick visits. They protect their young by not drawing attention to the nest. You can help by doing the same. Keep pet dogs away from the nest for a couple of weeks. Baby bunnies are very often accidently kidnapped by well-meaning people. They are very difficult to raise by even the most experienced of rehabbers, and survival rates are around 30%.

Leave the rabbit nest undisturbed, unless you find a dead adult

While gardening, you find a nest of baby rabbits. But there is no adult rabbit in sight. What should you do?

It’s normal to see a healthy fawn curled up in a well-camouflaged location. Their mothers will hide them so that they can go in search of food at a faster pace. However, if the fawn is lying on her side, or if she is crying non-stop, then she might be orphaned and you should call an expert, which can be found at: ahnow.org. Do not touch or approach the fawn.

Mother deer often hide their fawns while they forage

You find a quiet, lonesome fawn lying down in the woods during a hike. What should you do?

Eagles, hawks, and owls are particularly susceptible to lead poisoning because they eat the carcasses of animals with lead shot from hunters, as well as fish containing swallowed lead sinkers from fishermen. Lead causes neurological problems that can lead to secondary injuries too. This problem can be resolved by using non-lead bullets. Read more about bullet options here: huntingwithnonlead.org

Lead is a potent poison

What is the most common reason eagles are admitted to wildlife rehabilitation facilities?

If the bird is covered in feathers and can stand and hop, he’s likely a fledgling learning to fly. It is normal to see fledglings on the ground with parents nearby. If the bird is featherless, or if you see a fallen nest on the ground, you can repair and replace the nest up in the tree. An expert rehabber will be able to give you specific advice on your situation, and you can find one at: ahnow.org.

Fledglings leave the nest before they can truly fly

You see a young bird with scruffy feathers near to the ground. What should you do?

There is no such thing as rodent-specific poison. Poisoned rodents are food to many animals, including birds of prey, large cats, foxes, and more. All of these predators are affected by mouse poison.

Poison flows up the foodchain

Rodent poison only affects rodents

It’s time you learned more about wildlife by following Wisconsin WildCare on FaceBook: facebook.com/WisconsinWildCare/

Tick

You have been learning a lot about wildlife, perhaps from the Wisconsin WildCare facebook page at: facebook.com/WisconsinWildCare/
Thank You!

Lifelong Learner

Way to go! You are a source of trusted information in your community. You share your knowledge of wildlife with your friends and family, making the world a better place. You should probably volunteer with Wisconsin WildCare this summer! Learn more here: wiwildcare.org

Wildlife Hero!

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