By Christina Santee
Photos by Angelina Bellebuono

Cohabitation is something we as human beings have grown accustomed to in our 2.2 million years in existence. Sharing the planet with millions of varying flora and fauna species is something we’re familiar with, but exactly how well do we understand them?
Sure, we’re unfazed when we find ourselves face-to-face with a squirrel, rabbit or deer on occasion, but unless you’re a walking encyclopedia, chances are the information you know about them is only what remember from 7th grade biology.
Cindy Wiemann, Madison animal control, receives numerous calls throughout the day ranging from complaints over unwanted visitors, to locals reporting what they would assume are invasive species.

Her advice to unknowing Madisonians is simple: Leave them alone. Leave them ALL alone.
“In general you should just leave wild animals alone,” Wiemann said. It’s best just to avoid any interaction with local species. Even if they seem abandoned, injured or in need of human assistance, it’s best to walk away and allow nature to take its course.

As stated on their Web site, AWARE is, “committed to the preservation and restoration of Wildlife and its habitat trough education and wildlife rehabilitation.” They are a smart resource when it comes to educating yourself on the do’s and don’ts of various species.

In Wiemann’s 12 years she’s seen it all, but in her business it’s best to expect the unexpected. The responsibilities of working in the animal control business can definitely be strenuous at times.

“In general you should just leave wild animals alone,” Wiemann said. “If you think one has been abandoned or injured, call a wildlife rehab facility first before you do anything and they can usually advise you. AwareOne is a wonderful resource. They’re open seven days a week, holidays, everything. In a lot of cases they can help you identify [the animal], tell you if it’s a problem and what you should do — them or the Department of Natural Resources. If you can’t reach somebody, just leave it.”
It’s best just to avoid any interaction with local species. Even if they seem abandoned, injured or in need of human assistance, it’s best to walk away and allow nature to take its course.

As stated on their Web site, AWARE is, “committed to the preservation and restoration of Wildlife and its habitat trough education and wildlife rehabilitation.” They are a smart resource when it comes to educating yourself on the do’s and don’ts of various species.

In Wiemann’s 12 years she’s seen it all, but in her business it’s best to expect the unexpected. The responsibilities of working in the animal control business can definitely be strenuous at times.

So here’s the 411 on the stuff you should know about the wildlife in your backyard. It might even save you a worrisome phone call or two the next time you’re tempted to cry wolf...or whatever curious critter’s stopped by to say hello.

With Spring bearing witness to the peak of “baby season,” it’s not unordinary to see a sudden spike in the number of young animals roaming around. Birds. If you’ve never seen one or a nest [with our without baby birds] then chances are you’ve been living under a rock or something devastatingly similar.

The biggest misunderstanding people have about baby birds, is that if they’re on the ground around the nest area, then they’ve fallen out. Incorrect. A couple weeks after hatching, the mother will usually nudge the babies out in order to jumpstart their lives and defense strategies. “Fledglings,” are meant to leave the nest at a young age, so by someone thinking they’re helping by returning one to its nest or caring for it themselves, they’re really interrupting its development of natural instincts.
Squirrels also nest, so it’s important to keep an eye out. Baby squirrels will usually leave the nest between 8-12 weeks. Take it from me, they don’t look anything like the grown ones.

To avoid having birds (or squirrels) nest in or around your home, keep open areas closed off. Painting the underside of a porch roof sky blue is also a popular trend to displace nest construction. A mother bird won’t nest in an open, uncovered area, hence why the sky blue color drives them off.
Speaking of babies, another misunderstanding — which applies to most animals — is that if a human touches a baby, their scent will rub off on it and the mother will no longer care for it. Not true. A mother will still look ofter her offspring, despite its newly adopted “urban” scent.

In most cases, mothers will leave their babies unattended because they lack a scent. Many predators rely on a signature to track and locate unsuspecting prey. This fact enables mothers to lure threatening species away from their babies, since species emit a distinct odor in adulthood. Deer follow this routine, which may account for a seemingly abandoned fawn.

If you’re absolutely unable to turn the other cheek in a case of what you suspect is abandonment, call the city of Madison or DNR. They’re available to speak with you and will likely be able to tell you what steps or precautions to take, if any. You can also call for information on select species.
Now comes the feeding on our part. By “our part,” I mean both hunting and feeding wild animals.

There are specific hunting seasons allotted to several animals, as stated by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Devision. The Peach State keeps with its long-time tradition of hunting by allowing licensed hunters to pursue various game species including the white-tailed deer, wild turkey, waterfowl, bobwhite quail, skunk, rabbit, raccoon and armadillo.

As stated on their website, “WRD offers nearly one million acres of public hunting land within our borders including all of our Wildlife Management Areas and those Natural Areas, Public Fishing Areas and State Parks open to hunting.”

Further information on seasons and proposed hunting regulations can also be found on the site.

Feeding certain species can pose a great threat to their well-being. Just like you might be allergic to chocolate or say, shellfish, animals can have a severe or even fatal reaction following the consumption of a particular substance that is not an ordinary addition to their diet.

When it comes to pest control, leaving out certain poisons and pesticides can accidentally kill other species and even worsen a pest problem, so it’s best to weigh other options before resorting to such methods.

Furthermore, it’s important to secure all trash and compost collections. Animals will nest  anywhere that offers a convenient food source, and will sometimes consume chemicals and trash thinking it’s food. Ingestion of the wrong substance or loose garbage can be fatal.

For example, the naturally sweet taste of antifreeze has compromised the health of unknowing animals. Since an escalation of reports, the state of Georgia has passed a law requiring that a “bittering agent” be added to the product. Ingestion of antifreeze will promote effects similar to that of rabies.

Those who find themselves with a critter problem, may not even realize that they’re to blame. Families that leave out bird feeders are always subject to attracting squirrels and snakes. While squirrels feed on the seed, snakes prey on the birds.

Wiemann also said it’s best to make sure there’s no foliage hanging over your home, as it makes it easier for tree-climbing species like squirrels and possum to gain access to roofs and other open vents.

Though many aren’t particularly fond of snakes, they happen to be a natural rodent control. Rodents and smaller mammals are staple in the diet of most snakes. A snake living on your property or underneath your home will likely keep unwelcome critters from entering your home. Killing one will will of course, increase your chances of an infestation. Unless it’s poisonous and threatens the safety of you or your family, let it be!

A triangular-shaped head and rattle are good indicators that a snake is poisonous. For all you lake folk, beware of the Water Moccasin/Florida Cottonmouth. Georgia also has several other types of venomous snakes, including the Southern Copperhead, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Canebrake Rattlesnake, Eastern Coral Snake and the Dusky Pigmy Rattlesnake.

The King Snake and the Rat Snake are the two most common snakes seen in urban areas in Georgia. Both kill and eat venomous snakes, such as the Copperhead.

The same concept applies to protective birds of prey. Hawks and Falcons also feed on rodents and small mammals and keep the rodent numbers down within a healthy and acceptable range.

Wiemann said stray cats and dogs are not as pressing of an issue in Madison and surrounding areas compared to other Georgia counties, but to keep domestic animals off the street, animals should be fixed, if possible.

Georgia does have bobcats, and even pumas in certain areas, while recent eye-witness accounts state there might be a large, black cat of some sort lurking in southeastern parts.

Coyotes now reside in every state and most neighborhoods from Canada to South America and are not violent like one would assume. Coyotes rarely ever attack pets or humans.

Fox can adopt a slightly more aggressive pattern of behavior.

“Different species can be very threatening toward a human being’s safety,” Wiemann said of approaching animals. “Approaching some birds is extremely dangerous, like birds of prey with their beaks and talons. Their natural defense is going to be to try and poke you in the eye. They are extremely dangerous to handle. Of course, any mammal especially raccoons, skunks, fox, coyotes, you could be dealing with the rabies aspect. Any carnivore, you risk being bitten. There are a few herbivores that may even attempt to bite you.”

Coyotes and fox, along with raccoons, skunks and bats are considered Rabies Vector Species, or RVF.
As stated on the AWARE Web site, “RVS are species that have a variant of rabies named for them (i.e. Canine Rabies); however, any mammal has the potential to carry rabies.”

Deer can also be extremely dangerous if they feel threatened. They are known to have injured pets, as well as humans.

So remember, no matter what, just leave whatever animals you find, alone. It ensures the safety of both you and the animal, leaving both species to coexist peacefully.

For more information on wildlife species, visit www.awareone.org, or to report an issue, call the city at 706-342-9604.

Need help with a wild critter?
AwareOne: 678-418-1111
Dept. of Natural Resources: 404-656-3500

Printed in the June 30, 2011 edition