Category: In The Back Yard

Welcome to In The Back Yard where we have small thoughts about how to live alongside wildlife.

Today we are not in the back yard – we are in the street. Because the street is the killing ground for most back yard wildlife.

Most recently an Eastern Box Turtle.

These creatures live their whole life in a 250 square yard territory.

So please don’t kidnap eastern box turtles – they know their area and will spend their lives trying to get back to it if relocated.

The eastern box turtle that I am talking about now lived here. Unfortunately his territory included a road.

Over the years I picked that thing up and carried it across the road in the direction he was going and always tried to place him in a secure, grassy area.

Yesterday I picked his bloody, mutilated body off the road.

Please keep an eye out for tortoises and turtles.

Please if at all possible stop the car, pick him up and move him out of the road.

In The Back Yard - where we have small thoughts about wildlife.

The main thing to remember is that it is natural to find wildlife in our back yards and neighborhoods and most wildlife does not need rescuing.

Yet baby season comes around and hundreds of baby animals are kidnapped in the mistaken view that they are in trouble.

The song birds that live in our area nest between the beginning of  March and the end of August. Peak breeding activity is mid-May to mid-July. Many species, including Cardinals, Wrens and Bluebirds raise 2 to 3 separate broods in a season.

Baby birds fledge – leave the nest – 10 to21 days after hatching. At this point they should be mostly covered with feathers  - but cannot fly. They will spend a few days on the ground hopping around and hiding in bushes. The parents continue to feed them.

These birds do not need you to swoop in and kidnap the fledgling.

You can watch from a distance.

Keep your dogs and cats inside – it will just be a few days as these babies learn to fly.

Move it only if it is in immediate danger – like sitting in the middle of a busy driveway – just pick it up gently and put in near a nearby bush.

Additional Thoughts:

Wildlife thrives in a yard that has native plants and water sources. Native plants provide much needed food and shelter to wildlife.

Putting a bird feeder and a bird bath in your back yard is very helpful to the birds that make your back yard home.

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Welcome to In The Back Yard - where we have small thoughts about living alongside wildlife.

Understanding Wildlife. 

Most wildlife does not need rescuing.

Yet baby season comes around and hundreds of baby animals are kidnapped in the mistaken view that they are in trouble.

The wild rabbits found around our area are Eastern Cottontails.

Babies are born in shallow, grassy depressions in the ground lined with their mother’s fur. Mother rabbits spend very little time at the nest – so as not to attract predators. She returns to the nest usually at dusk and dawn. So if you see a nest and babies all alone – leave it alone.

If you disturb the nest and the babies are not injured – rebuild the nest as best you can with the original materials, put the babies back inside and cover them up.

If you are not sure if the mother is returning – put 4 twigs or strings in a tic tac toe pattern over the nest – if they are disturbed 12 to 24 hours later the mother is returning.

By the time they are 3 to 4 inches long they have all their fur and are highly independent.

If you see one on its own it is likely not in need of human intervention.

Additional Thoughts:

Wild rabbits do not need much interference from humans, and the best way to help them is to provide a natural, safe habitat by planting Native Plants.

A shallow, outdoor water bowl gives rabbits a clean place to drink, especially during freezing or dry spells.  A heated wildlife water bowl is a great option to help all wildlife in your back yard including Cotton Tails.

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Welcome to In the Back Yard- where we have small thoughts about living alongside wildlife.

High above in the tree tops you might spy a pile of sticks, softened by dry leaves, bits of moss and a few clumps of dog hair.

It's a squirrel's nest - the correct term is a drey.

Unlike birds who only nest in breeding season, squirrels nest year round. Babies are usually born in the Spring and again late Summer.

Baby squirrels usually stay inside the nest for about 6 weeks before venturing out and are independent by 10 to 12 weeks.

The animal kingdom has to grow up very quickly and has to navigate multiple dangers every day.

We are mostly to blame as we plunder wildlife habitat, tear down treees and spray pesticide everywhere.

In the broader backyard food chain though, these little foragers are quite near the bottom - just above mice and insects.

I saw a fox pounce on one of our backyard squirrels - I was horrifiede and absolutlly devastated - as it tried to claw its way unsuccessfully to safety.

Such is the cycle of life in the backyard.

So sleep well little squirrel, in the high tree top!

Additional Thoughts:

Many people put squirrel boxes up in their backyards that provide a measure of protection for squirrels from the elements as well as predators.

Squirrels have become really adept at navigating bird feeders, but if you want to feed squirrels in the back yard there are some dedicated squirrel feeders that can supplement a squirrel through lean times.

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