They’re working their little hearts out that’s where: courting, mating, and building nests, all the wonderful things that happen in spring. When the buds on the trees open their hearts to the world, nature’s critters awaken to another season. A season of new life when winter gray fades and blossoms into spring green and the air is filled once again with the songbird’s melodies.

Sounds like a perfect world, doesn’t it! Unfortunately for much of the new life, there will be starvation, predation, disease, pesticide poisoning and human intervention. Mothers will be killed before, after, and during the season leaving orphans at nature’s disposal. Death is part of life in the natural world, when left alone it regulates itself very well. The imbalance happens when humans enter the scene.

Spring brings bulldozers, dirt bikes, unleashed dogs, uncontrolled cats and humans who do not heed the warnings of prevention, but scream loudly for intervention when one of the critters, forced from their natural environment seeks shelter.

There ought to be a law! Urban wildlife are seen as pests and become the responsibility the homeowner. 

If you want to enjoy co-existing with nature, educate yourself.  

Research the critters co-habitating in your backyard. Discover their needs.

Plant wildlife trees and shrubs to attract and feed the animals.

Leave dead trees standing. They make wonderful squirrel homes and woodpecker eateries.

Build a rock wall in place of a fence. This will provide homes for snakes and small mammals and you’ll never have to paint it.

Check your house and sheds for animal entry points – screen them off. Cap chimneys and remove trees that provide access to your roof.

If you feed the birds, keep the area and feeders clean. Moldy seed kills songbirds. Give the birds a birdbath filled with fresh water.

If you don’t enjoy watching wildlife and want them removed from your yard:

Don’t feed anything.

Keep pet food indoors and maintain a manicured yard.

Never trap and relocate wildlife. It will not solve the problem, as another animal will just move into the vacated territory. Relocation may also spread any disease the animal is infected with.

Do call a reputable wildlife control officer for advice.

For more information, contact your local SPCA shelter or Wildlife Rehabilitator.

Lend Nature and hand and you’ll be well rewarded.

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