I received this information from the Colorado Division of Wildlife and thought it valuable. Forgive my cut and paste plagiarism, but I couldn't have said it any better!
DENVER, Colo. - Spring is the season of re-birth when many wildlife species come into the world. As people venture outside in the warm weather, they may find newborn wildlife in their yards, along trails, or in open space areas. As tempting as it may be to "help" a young animal by picking it up, or by trying to give it food or water, for wildlife babies, there is no substitute for their natural parents.
It seems counter intuitive, but according to wildlife experts, it is normal to find young wild animals without an adult animal nearby. Well-meaning people sometimes scoop up baby wildlife and bring them to wildlife rehabilitation facilities, veterinary clinics, or Colorado Division of Wildlife offices, but experts say that is the wrong thing to do.
If you find young wildlife, enjoy a quick glimpse, leave the animal where it is, and keep pets out of the area. "The best thing to do if you are concerned is to quietly observe the animal from a distance using binoculars. Don't hover so close that the wild parents are afraid to return to the area," advises Colorado Division of Wildlife Officer Jeromy Huntington.
"If several hours go by and the parent does not return, it is possible the newborn was abandoned or the parent is dead (hit by a car, for example) then report it to the Division of Wildlife. Do not move the animal yourself," he said.
Donna Ralph of the non-profit Ellicott Wildlife Rehabilitation Center agrees. "Many of the animals we get should have never been picked up in the first place," said Ralph. "They would have had a better chance for survival if left in the care of the parent animal."
"The sooner the animal can be released back to where it came from the better," she explained. "Make sure you provide your contact information so we can let it go in the same place you found it."
Ralph said her center has already taken in many small mammals this year including several fox kits. "Baby foxes don't look like most people would expect them to look like. They are very small, very dark (almost black) and appear to be very kitten like. People who find them think they might be baby raccoons, skunks, or something else."
Ralph's advice: Don't try to feed them. Don't put anything into their mouths. Contact the DOW, a veterinarian, or licensed wildlife rehabilitator to give these babies the care they need.
"Whatever you do, don't try to keep the animal as a pet," she said. "It is illegal to keep wild animals in captivity unless you are a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. "
Right now, wildlife centers are taking in small mammals, but as the season progresses, people will bring in newly hatched birds that have fallen from their nest. Experts recommend returning them to the nest if you can do so safely, or placing them on a high branch to keep them away from pets. It is an old wives tale that birds will reject their young if people touch them. Birds have little sense of smell.
"If you are not able to reach the nest, put the bird in a small box and attach it as to close to the nest as you can. It is a lot easier, and more successful, when the parent birds feed and care for their babies than when humans try to do so," Ralph said.
Picking up wildlife is not only detrimental for the animal; it can be risky for people, too. According to Huntington, most people have good intentions when they pickup wildlife, but are unaware of the risks associated with handling wild animals. Wild animals can carry rabies, distemper or other illnesses. It is also possible for the animals to carry fleas that might subsequently spread disease to humans or pets.
Cute baby raccoons and skunks will grow up to be big problems if you illegally "adopt" a foundling. "You are putting yourself and your family at risk. You can be ticketed and the animal will be taken away," he cautioned.
Human-raised and hand-fed animals rarely can be returned to the wild because they have imprinted on humans or because they lack survival skills. Licensed wildlife rehabilitators are trained to use methods that will give a wild animal the best chance of surviving upon release.
Despite the fact that wildlife is usually best left alone, there are instances in which people find injured or orphaned wildlife that needs help. If this happens, call the DOW for assistance.
For more information, visit the DOW web site at www.colorado.gov/wildlife or call your local Colorado Division of Wildlife Office.
Thursday
PEOPLE ADVISED TO THINK TWICE ABOUT PICKING UP YOUNG ANIMALS
Tuesday
Water Now To Help Mitigate Dry Winter
The USDA has made it official: most Colorado Front Range counties have entered into the first phase of the five phase drought scale. The Denver Metro area has only had 2" of precipitation since October and the national weather service is estimating the "La Nina" in the central tropical Pacific Ocean will cause more dry, warm weather for the next three months. If that holds true, our gardens could suffer mightily if they aren't prepared for a stressful spring.
The warm, windy weather we've been having is especially hard on evergreens because these trees continue to transpire throughout winter when humidity is especially low. The dry air causes moisture to evaporate through the leaves, which draws more moisture through the fine root hairs, up through the phloem evaporating through the leaves, continuing the transpiration process whenever the sun is shining and the temperature is warm. The problem comes when soils become so dry that the root hairs begin to desiccate, limiting the amount of water that can be absorbed and causes tissue die back (starting with the buds for the new year's growth). When a new supply of moisture becomes available it takes awhile for the tree root mass to recover, slowing growth and keeping the tree in a stressful state.
This isn't a problem if the soil is frozen, but in order for the soil to freeze it must have moisture. In this region, soil gets hyper dry because wind, low humidity and intense light combine to compound the effects of infrequent precipitation. As the period between waterings (through precipitation or human intervention) extends, soil moisture is depleted through evaporation, transpiration, and to some extent, gravity. The speed with which this occurs depends upon the temperature, humidity, solar intensity, and wind velocity. Since we are attempting to alter
nature by growing alien plants with low tolerance for desiccation, it becomes necessary to intervene in the lives of our landscape.
Now that spring has arrived it's critical that there is moisture in the soil as the plants start to come out of dormancy and put on foliage. Water plants after the top 1/2"-1" of the soil is dry to the touch, but don't supersaturate the soil. Roots need oxygen as much as they need moisture, so for clay soil water in short spurts--5-10 minutes at a time--then give the moisture several hours to percolate into the soil before adding more water. Sandy soils are so coarse the water doesn't collect the way it does in clay based soils, but 30 minutes is plenty of time when using a frog eye sprinkler. Now is a great time to add more mulch, when plants are still small and foliage hasn't filled out. The mulch, which works best when about 3" deep, will help slow surface evaporation and shut out light for germinating seeds.
Friday
Qunintissential Valentine--Free
What could be more classic (and just a little cheesy) than red carnations and a love song by Marvin Gaye? Well maybe a dozen roses, box of chocolates, romantic dinner, etc. but those ain't free and this is.
So print out the picture of the carnation (dripping red dye not included) and download "Let's Get It On" for free from Amazon here
. But the offer is only good today and tomorrow, so act fast.
Happy Valentines to all those who love plants!
Image thanks to Woodsey at Stock.xchng
100th Post Goes to the Birds
It might have been months ago if I were more consistent , but instead it is now: THE ONE HUNDREDTH POST for Dry Ideas. And what other activity could be more complimentary than the act of counting? Counting birds.
The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC)is an annual event engaging bird enthusiasts of all ages to take a realtime snapshot of a where birds are located in the North American continent. This years count is next weekend, February 13-16 and requires as little as 15 minutes of time. Learn more at their site.
These two birds, the female and male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), haven't been considered western birds, but their numbers are increasing along the front range of Colorado due to the increase in treecover brought about by residential landscaping over the last one hundred years. You may hear them before you see them, but nothing says winter like the image of the bright red male contrasted against white snow. Last year, in the 2008 count, Northern Cardinals were the most reported species in the count followed by the Mourning Dove and the Dark-eyed Junco.
All-in-all, songbirds across the country are declining in numbers. Audubon reports common birds are becoming less common, with some species seeing a reduction of 80% over the past 40 years. Audubon provides information on how to help.
Photos compliments of the Wikimedia creative commons through Mayflower.
Monday
Sustainable Landscaping Symposium 2009
Passion to Action – Sustainable Landscaping Symposium 2009
“Muddy Waters: Who Owns the Rain?”
Thursday, February 12, 2009
8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Denver Botanic Gardens
Presented by Front Range Sustainable Landscaping Coalition and
Water is the greatest challenge in creating sustainable
- Brad Lancaster, author of Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond, will share how rainwater gardens transformed his home and community in
- A panel discussion of
- Lunch-time roundtables hosted by the panelists and speakers
- Michelle DeLaria, stormwater BMP scientist with Denver Urban Drainage, will present the effects of land development on waterways and the use of Low Impact Development (LID) or stormwater runoff reduction and infiltration techniques to reduce harm to waterways. She will discuss using LID techniques to protect long-term environmental, economic and social value.
- Keith Bowers, president and founder of Biohabitats, a pioneering ecological restoration company, is a landscape architect with a deep interest in sustainable landscaping. He’ll explore ways in which use of rainwater and greywater in the landscape can create and preserve vital habitat on site and downstream. Keith will discuss how restoring ecological functioning to all of our landscape is the fundamental path to sustainability, and how healthy soil is crucial to all restoration work.
To Register at Denver Botanic Gardens
Dark Rain
In the thinning dusk, a Gothic cloud drapes in loops across the sky.
Pouring down a wet shower on earth.
Casting down a dark shadow, dampening the brightest candle.
Rain reaching every nook and cranny.
The black cloud does not have a dark purpose.
For it feeds our earth's soil
Poem by Ana, age 11.
Photo: Korean Sun Ornamental Pear (Pyrus fauriei 'Korean Sun')
Wednesday
Urban Ecology Symposium
The city of Boulder, Colorado's seventh annual Urban Ecology Symposium promises a great lineup of topics on October 17. This program looks at urban planning and landscape issues with an emphasis on sustainability. This year's keynote speaker, Ellen Greenberg, 2007-2008 Visiting Practitioner, UC-Davis, Sustainable Transportation Center, will address Sustainable Streets. Additional speakers will discuss Low Impact Development (LID), current research on green roofs in this region, determining the value of the urban forest, and projects that incorporate green-design principles that are critical to sustainability and livable communities.
For more information contact Renae Foxhoven at 303-484-0820 or renae@foxbach.com
