Do Not Feed the Animals

BY LISA S.T. DOSS

As a foot slides one hesitant step closer, a small hand extends the morsel of food towards a duck, goose, or wily squirrel. In the family outing to a park or lake, it’s often the first experience young children have with wild animals. Curiosity and wonderment encourage the desire to watch, and especially touch. Feeders are an easy tool to hang from a variety of locations near to, and far from, a home’s windows. Parents can encourage the safe distance to witness the arrival and departures of birds and the antics of squirrels. For those wanting to help all wild animals, sympathy arrives at the sightings of a barn cat that prowls through the yard on occasion. Are there rules in feeding wild creatures that appear helpless?

The Nose Knows!

In the season of picnics and outdoor gatherings, the aroma of meat, pet food, sugar, and other foods sails on the winds to indirectly produce an olfactory perception of a nearby creature. Black bears can travel 18 miles, although in a straight line, to a food source, while snakes have a developed sense of perceiving scent particles in the air with their tongues. Just because of the enjoyment and necessity of eating, wild animals are not picky. Opossums, raccoons, and rats will consume any treat, whether just unhealthy or potentially toxic. Bread is often in great supply, and a first thought. While the ingredients may fill the animal, they contain no nutritional value and could cause sickness if mold is present. A better option is to scatter thawed frozen peas or corn, or remove and tightly contain any remaining human or pet food. The habit of rinsing all recyclable glass and plastic containers, as well as cans, removes food remnants and minimizes odors.

Visitors Coming Round

Wildlife arrives in a yard for specific reasons: perhaps your location is near a creek, or it offers a constant supply of pet food. In hoping to feed a stray animal, the good-natured effort applied often attracts a more significant problem than a feral cat. The nocturnal forager, the raccoon, uses 75% of its brain to see with its hands. Through sensory signals, the masked animal can visualize objects inside containers, buildings, and barns, and work through semi-complicated levers and latches to enter. Other animals, such as coyotes and rats, will return to a food source and produce ever-multiplying numbers of offspring. Territorial aggression occurs when two species of animals fight over a food source, as well as the territory. Sometimes removing access to food and water may eliminate your specific problem; however, scavengers carrying diseases, like distemper and parvo will still wander throughout neighboring yards in hopes of finding food.

A Lack of Wildlife

A location without evidence of playful rabbits and squirrels also implies that a wild cat, termed feral, is nearby. Usually stealthy in order to avoid humans, the cat will show distrust and keep its distance. Despite the kind intentions of the human, its instinctual desire will be to bite, kick, and scratch in hopes of escape, if caught. An animal born to the wild does not need human assistance or cat food. The lack of small animals in your yard includes fierce control of the vermin population.

Baby and Den

Comfort in supplying the needs of water and food leads to the maternal instincts of a female creating a nest or locating a den out of a human’s sight. The find is exciting, especially when kits, or baby rabbits, are found. Even though parents may leave their babies unattended, it does not imply abandonment. Similarly, it’s vital for homeowners, especially children, to leave animals alone, rather than providing foster care.

Feeding wildlife has its limits. If you ever fear your efforts might result in aggressive or destructive acts, then it is time to consider refraining from providing food. Four-legged squatters can quickly move into attics, storage sheds, and crawl spaces with little disturbance to you. Please, do not resort to pesticides! Most chemicals hurt beneficial populations of insects, animals, and house pets. It is not cruel to seek professional assistance!

Why You Should Get a Pet and What to Get

BY SUSAN SCHABACKER

The benefits of having a pet are many, and provide an excellent opportunity for kids to learn how to take care of others. Here are some of the top pets to consider, including a few unusual creatures you’d least expect to find in your household.

It is well documented that children who have been raised with pets can often avoid issues with allergies and asthma later in life. Caring for a pet can also nurture qualities in children that help them become better people, including compassion, empathy, love, trust, and responsibility. Children can do simple chores like changing a litter box and providing playtime and exercise for the pet. Kids can also be involved with the training process, which can be fun and rewarding.

Bonding with an animal can be a rich, valuable, and meaningful experience for everyone in the household. An animal is good company, doesn’t laugh when you’re having a bad hair day and doesn’t judge you when you’re wearing mismatched clothes. Studies have shown that caring for a pet can also help decrease depression when a simple tail wag, lick on the hand, or nudge asking to be petted can help lift spirits.

Just as with people, a positive, healthy relationship has to be the right fit for both parties. Don’t just go out and buy or adopt a pet willy-nilly. Do your research first, check out what’s available and interact with the animal first before you make a decision. As with everything, maintenance is required. Your animal will need to be fed, and some pets will need their cages or aquariums cleaned regularly. Make sure you have sufficient financial wherewithal to pay for vet visits. Dogs and cats need to be upto-date on all of their shots. Do you have a crate for your canine companion or feline friend to sleep in or stay in when you need time apart? Do you have a collar and leash for your dog?

You may have requirements that your pet has to meet, but think of the matter the other way around. Your pet has requirements for you, too. You need to have the right personality and resources to take care of your animal. You have to be able to provide a good, safe, and loving home, or you shouldn’t consider owning a pet.

Think hard about what kind of pet would be the best possible fit for you and your family before you rush out and get one. If not a dog or a cat—and you still want a fur baby—what about a smaller caged animal like a rabbit, ferret, Guinea pig, gerbil, hamster, mouse, rat, hedgehog or chinchilla?

More of a bird person? Try parakeets, cockatiels, lovebirds, parrots, macaws, canaries, or finches.

Feathers not your type? Rather have scales or shells? For reptile lovers, there are also lots of options, including frogs, turtles, lizards, anoles, bearded dragons, geckos, and chameleons. Or how about snakes?

More into the aquatic types? Fish may be your forever friends. Setting up an aquarium may be just your ticket. Some of the best fish for newbies include rasboras, goldfish, tetras, and betta fish (which must be kept solitary).

Don’t have arachnophobia? Love little 8-legged, hairy critters that crawl? Tarantulas may be the ideal pet for you. Here are some good ones to choose from: Mexican red-knees, Chilean roses, Costa Rican zebras, Mexican redlegs, Honduran curly hairs, Brazilian blacks, Mexican red rumps or desert blondes.

Potbelly pigs, chickens, lambs, goats, cows, alpaca, or horses are good options for those living in a rural setting. They each need a specialized environment, feed, and care.

Having a pet requires patience and practice. It’s a lot of hard work, but it is well worth the effort and energy. Whichever pet(s) you decide to bring home, make sure to learn all about them, how to care for them, and get as prepared as possible with the food and supplies you might need. Oh, and don’t forget to snap a pic or a few dozen to post on social media. Your friends will love to see the newest members of your family!