Fun Facts

Fun Facts

Loss of habitat is forcing wildlife to live more closely with humans, with resulting greater risk of injury to the wildlife.
State and federal laws prohibit possession of wildlife and keeping them as pets.
Eastern box turtles, commonly seen in Pennsylvania's woodlands, can also be found in suburban yards eating mushrooms, earthworms and wild strawberries.
Decals, mobiles, aluminum strips or partly closed shades can prevent birds from flying into windows and glass doors.
The smell of humans will not cause a mother animal to abandon her young.
If accidentally separated, a mother squirrel will carry her baby back to the nest whenever possible.
Mother rabbits do not stay with their bunnies all day, but return to the nest to nurse between dusk and dawn.

Opossums, North America's only marsupial, hiss, drool and look fierce when frightened, but are generally docile.
An Opossum is only as big as a bumble bee when it is born.
An adult opossum has 50 teeth; more than any other land mammal on earth.
Once an opossum is old enough to leave its mother's pouch, it still must nurse and needs mother's support. Because opossums are nomadic they have no permanent nest so the young hitch a ride on mom's back by holding on tight! It is not possible to reunite a baby opossum with its parent as she will not necessarily notice if a youngster has fallen off her back.

Fledglings

Most fledgling songbirds, just out of the nest, spend 3-5 days on the ground unable to fly while developing wing muscle strength and feeding skills. Watchful parents are usually nearby.

Owls

Are they wise? That's a matter of opinion. But an owl's eyes are 100 time more sensitive to light than a human's - in both dark and daytime. Think that's amazing? Their hearing is even better! One researcher determined that some species of owls can hear a mouse squeak a half mile away, and also locate it's position in three dimensions!

Vultures - although an ungainly sight on the ground, vultures fly with the smooth grace of ballet. They keep our planet clean by eating otherwise unwanted dead animal flesh.

Raccoons may appear "cute", but looks are deceiving. They now exist in abundance due to the disappearance of their natural predators and habitat. DO NOT TOUCH!
A raccoon out in the daytime is not necessarily rabid; it could just be hungry or looking for a new place to live. Just leave it alone to go on its way.

Bats

Bats are beneficial !
Bats are not blind, but are near sighted and "see" primarily with their ears by "sonar".
Bats are the only flying mammals in the world. (Flying squirrels do not fly, they glide!)
Seventy percent of all bat species eat insects, most of the remaining 30% eat fruit, pollen and nectar.
Bats in the US eat millions of tons of insects annually. A single bat can eat its weight in bugs in one evening.
If we had more bats we would not need as much insecticide.
Studies of bats have contributed to the development of navigational aids for the blind.
Bats are heroes in other parts of the world.
In China they are held in high esteem as omens of good luck and happiness.
In Scotland, the real estate value goes up when a home or castle is found to house a colony of bats!

©2002 The Schuylkill Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic
Website by: Chris Mills
Photography by: C.Mills & SWRC Volunteers
Page last revised: 9/2/02