Category: In The Back Yard

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.

This post contains an affiliate link which means we may earn a small commission if you purchase through my links at no extra cost to you.

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.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

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

I got a call – it was late and I was already in bed. It was our neighbor. A Hummingbird had been stuck in their garage. At that moment it was lying at the now open garage door. Immobile.

I went over, the little thing was so weak. I thought, oh my God, it’s almost dead. I went to pick it up and it made a last ditch move straight up to the garage eves where it promptly got stuck in a large spider web. It was just dangling there lifeless. It was horrible.

I grabbed a broom stick and tried to break the spiders web. Neighbor grabbed a duster type thing which was large and soft. I put it under the bird and brought him down on it. Literally I thought it was dead but I got my feeder from my backyard and the neighbor got a shallow dish of sugar water.

Through Rob’s Rescues- Rob had interviewed a Hummingbird rehabber some years back – I talked to her.

I put the hummingbird on a soft towel with the feeder into a box and shone a light into the box for 15 minutes. Hummingbirds only feed in the light. I did hear it move around in there which was a positive sign.

After 15 minutes I took the light away and left it to rest in the box over night.

I was very nervous as to what I might find in the morning but just around sunrise I opened the box and the little thing buzzed straight on up and out seeming none the worse for wear. Within seconds it was divebombed by the other current resident Hummingbird and they went their merry way filling their days at the feeder in preparation of migration.

This had a happy ending.

A lot of birds are not as lucky.

Additional Thoughts:

Humming bird feeders go along way to supporting these little endurance athletes on their migration route.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Rob spent 10 years advocating for animals - shelter animals, farm animals, wild animals - through Rob's Rescues. We traveled all over the place.

He is currently a full time college student and collegiate golfer, and I sit out in the back yard and realize there are so many things right back here worth calling attention to.

So here we are in the back yard having small thoughts about living alongside wildlife.

Their lives belong to them - and as far as possible we need to leave wildlife alone to make their nests, raise their young, sing their songs, and quietly carry on their days pursuing life.

We are not responsible for their lives.

We are responsible for our actions towards the wildlife around us.

We owe it to them and ourselves, to be thoughtful, compassionate neighbors to the animals in our back yard.