Bi-State Wildlife Hotline of Missouri & Illinois

11/10/2025

Hooray for California Cats!!! It is officially ILLEGAL in the state of California to declaw a cat for any behavioral, or cosmetic reason. Despite veterinary medical professionals' determination and innovations, declawing cats remains an awful, barbaric, inhumane practice that often leaves cats permanently injured, or chronically in pain, and causes multiple issues later in life as well, such as unbearable arthritis for elderly cats. This makes declawing a domestic or exotic cat ILLEGAL in 6+ states: California, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, and Virginia, as well as in Washington, D.C. Just 44 states to go! It's very reassuring to see humane legislation happening, and especially to see it spreading! CATS THANK YOU! 😽
https://zurl.co/y5gSJ

11/03/2025

We need a small favor. If at all possible, please donate
to support our Mange by Mail Program. Postage just went up to $10.22 a box, and we’re struggling a bit with the rising costs of supplies and postage now as well! Your support would be very much appreciated! Donate Today at www.wildlifehotline.com/donate
Thank you!

10/31/2025

🍫 It's going to be time to go out and get that precious candy soon! 🍫
Before you go, we want to remind you of just a couple of things you can do to make your trick or treating a little more critter-friendly this evening. Remember, the critters don't know it's Halloween and the sudden sighting of a ton of masked children out on the streets during the time of night they usually have all to themselves can be a bit startling for them! If you see them while walking tonight, stay calm, and encourage others to stay calm, keeping their distance. They don't want any trouble. They just didn't expect to see you. Cross the street, go around, or stop and wait a moment to allow them the space to run off before proceeding on your path. Never corner wildlife! That's how people get hurt! Also, a chocolate bar is just as yummy to a raccoon as it is to you and me but a lot more harmful to them! Please do not leave candy unattended and pick up all wrappers and trash before going in for the night. We really can coexist peacefully if we all put in a tiny bit of effort. 👻 Have a safe and happy, critter-friendly, Halloween! 👻

10/31/2025

Happy Halloween from Bi-State Wildlife Hotline! Please be safe and have a wonderful, spooky day!
(This image is AI created, and AI is getting a bit better at depicting wildlife. However, opossums still look like giant squirrels, and we don't know what's going on with skunk faces. It's much better than a year ago though when the squirrels were larger than the foxes!)

10/24/2025

A sped-up video of a squirrel preparing a freshly fallen walnut for winter storage is the perfect fall feeling you're looking for today.

He knows the cold weather is coming!

10/21/2025

BIG WIN!!

Lowe’s Raises the Bar - Glue Traps No Longer Sold Online! https://www.peta.org/news/lowes-glue-trap-website-sales/

Humane Rodent Control https://www.peta.org/living/humane-home/humane-rodent-control/

10/21/2025

And this is the magic of wildlife rehab. There's nothing like it. ❤️

10/21/2025

Upcoming "virtual" online program to focus on bats and conservation. Bats have a reputation as being one of the frightful animals associated with Halloween. However, a bat’s voracious appetite for flying insects is one reason it’s good to have these unique flying mammals around.

People can learn more about bats and the benefits they provide to humans at the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) virtual program “Bats of Missouri.” This free online program will be held Oct. 28 from 6-7 p.m. and is being put on by the staff of MDC’s Shoal Creek Conservation Education Center in Joplin. This program is open to all ages. Registration is required.
https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/oct-28-mdc-virtual-program-focus-bats

10/17/2025

Well, otter's are gonna otter. ❤️🦦❤️

One of two North American river otters who escaped from a Wisconsin zoo last month has returned home safe and sound.

10/17/2025

Them's good people. Poor skunkies can't resist the peanut butter. ❤️🦨❤️

Police shared on Facebook that a concerned person reported a skunk wandering around the neighborhood.

10/08/2025

We've tried to explain this for years. Coyote "culls" or mass killing of coyotes in a certain area never actually changes the coyote population for that area long term. Coyotes have had bounties on their heads for hundreds of years. When habitat and food exists, they will too. Killing them en masse only makes sense if you truly just enjoy killing things for no reason, and if so, you might want to get that looked at.

A new study from the University of Georgia highlights the difficulty of managing coyote populations in the South.