Simple Things
YOU
Can Do to Help Wildlife
Give a turtle a lift. If you see a turtle trying to cross the road, keeping your own safety in mind, carefully pick the turtle up and place it just on the other side of the same road in the same direction where it was headed, just far enough off the road that it is out of danger. Do NOT attempt to relocate the animal to what you may consider a "safer" location as turtles are highly territorial and the turtle could kill itself trying to get back to where you originally found it.
If you are going to have a bird feeder
Road Kill - Keeping your own safety in mind, protect your hands with gloves, a cloth or tissue and remove the animal a bit zzzzzoff the side of the road so that other animals will not suffer the same fate when attempting to feed.
Cover Chimneys with a chimney topper constructed of wire mesh that prevents entry by animals while allowing smoke to escape. Before doing so make sure the chimney does not already have any inhabitants.
Windows: Hanging sun-catchers, streamers, curtains or such on the outside of the window to prevent birds from flying into the reflections they see in those windows and glass doors.
Don't feed pets outside; it attracts wildlife that may become dependant on it as a food source.
Drive with wildlife in mind.
Slow down when you see an animal at the edge of the road. Don't assume animals can see you coming or will wait until you pass. Don't assume that once an animal has begun to cross the road that it will keep going forward; it may turn around and return or change its mind several times in confusion. DO assume that where there is one animal another may follow.
Steer clear of Deer! Although deer can be careful of crossing roads, never in the FALL !!! Fall is mating season when bucks are chasing does, paying NO attention to traffic! It is also hunting season when a shot could send a startled deer darting in front of you without warning. Finally young deer are going off on their own and are not yet wary enough. So YOU must be wary when driving.
©2002,2003 The Schuylkill Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic
Website by: Chris Mills
Photography by: C.Mills & SWRC Volunteers
Page last revised: 5/5/03