Stratford Wildlife & Animal Services

24/07/2024

I get daily calls and messages about bunnies making nests in not ideal locations…. Mostly backyards where there are dogs. I cannot stress it enough that the bunnies should always stay in the nest whenever possible. The nest CANNOT be moved, mom will not be able to find them.
These are some of the pictures suggestions and put your dogs on a LEASH. It is for a short 3 weeks that they need to grow and leave the nest. If a caller is concerned enough to reach out to me and use my time to help, I appreciate it when they actually follow through with my suggestions. . It’s for the best of the buns.

23/07/2024

01/07/2024

Misperceptions about coyotes are often based on misplaced fear, the unknown and a vivid imagination.
Jumping to conclusions about coyotes is far too common and can lead to severe consequences for both coyotes and people.

When you see a coyote and they appear indifferent or reciprocate a return look at you (incorrectly perceived by onlookers as the coyote "stared me down, stalked me, was aggressive") it is not due to a lack of fear, aggression or staring down the human. You're looking at coyote, coyote is looking at you.

Coyotes have an amazing ability to calculate the risk or danger our species might pose to them. They are figuring out what they should do next. Stay or flee. And it isn't always that simple. Patience and social distancing goes a long way down the path to coexistence.

Consider this: if a coyote responded by fleeing every instance a human was spotted or entering into a greenspace, they would be using vital energy needed to forage and hunt unnecessarily. Depending on the territory, and level of human activity, people and wildlife cross paths countless times throughout a day. Most experiences between us and nature are uneventful and can bring much joy to the person fortunate enough to see a canid or other special creature in the wild.

This coyote Dad was checking out a deceased animal that a turkey vulture was consuming. He took a hard pass and continued on his way. Coyote Dad eventually caught a rabbit to feed his fast developing, young and eager family of pups.

The alert face, attentive ears and critical thinking behind those eyes was a beautiful sight to behold. Definitely moments filled with appreciation and gratitude.

📷 L. Sampson, ED, Coyote Watch Canada
Eastern coyote interfacing while conducting fieldwork. This coyote was so slight of build (around 30lbs/14kg) yet appears significant in the picture.

Remember: Photos are not reliable indicators for physical characteristics. Lighting, angle, depth perception, zoom lens, and hair thickness all contribute to the "BIG" coyote illusion.

28/06/2024

I came across this article in the National Geographic. I think many gardeners wonder about these bugs in their garden ...
This is called the Oniscidae. You may find them under a brick or a damp object. You may have felt disgusted and wondered why they exist in nature.
Well, let me tell you, the oniscdae, better known as cochineal, is a subgroup of isopod crustaceans whose function is to remove harmful heavy metals from the earth such as mercury, cadmium and lead. They contribute to the cleansing of soil and groundwter to reaffirm the wisdom of nature. Do not damage them or spray pesticides!

27/06/2024

👏🏻🙌🏻👏🏻

TURTLE CROSSING

Why did the turtle cross the road?
To get to the other side, of course.

The City of Stratford, following a recommendation from the Energy and Environment Advisory Committee, has installed Turtle Crossing signs on John Street near the bridge outside of the T.J. Dolan Natural Area.

This is to raise awareness that turtles sometimes cross the street there, and to encourage motorists to drive cautiously in that area.

26/06/2024

The claim that preventative rodent management is "prohibitively expensive" compared to rodenticides reflects an outdated mindset focused on short-term costs over long-term value and public wellbeing.

Let’s think about an ongoing, never ending contract for poisons compared to a 1 time visit from a company that properly seals up your home or business. Keep in mind that most of these companies that actually deal with rodent intrusion and properly seal your home, DO NOT use rodenticides and warranty their work too!

Rodent exclusion may require some upfront costs, but it will certainly pay off in the long term by eliminating the need for recurring poison subscriptions that perpetually expose communities, loved ones and other beings to toxic chemicals.

Environmental justice demands that there is equitable access to safe, non-toxic pest control methods to protect all communities, particularly those already overburdened by environmental hazards.

25/06/2024

How great would it be if everyone made a donation to Out of the Ashes instead of buying fireworks this year! 🐴💗

18/06/2024

With the heatwaves occurring globally, even this small gesture can save lives!

28/05/2024

*PLEASE DO NOT BE THIS PERSON*

Note: This is a long read and it does not have a happy ending. It devastated rescuers and transport volunteers covering two different states. While we generally try to share the feel-good stories where the bats end up in good care or are released back out into the wild, it is also important to bring awareness to the other, more upsetting aspects of wildlife rehab so that folks can understand why it is so important that the public helps whenever possible.

During orphan season we deal with dozens of calls daily from around the world. Most of the callers who find bats realize that rescuers do this out of kindness and love for bats. Rescuers do not get paid. Most often, our time, energy, fuel for gas, etc. comes from our own pockets.

This rescue call came on Saturday night from Pennsylvania. Immediately before the words “Bat World Sanctuary - how can I help you?” could be spoken into the phone, the woman on the other end angrily shouted “Pennsylvania”. We were taken aback for a second before replying “I'm sorry, do you have a bat that needs help?” to which the woman replied, “I don’t want it. And I am NOT driving 150 miles to get rid of it.”

This was the beginning of what was about to be the most aggressive caller we have had to handle in quite some time. The woman was very adamant that someone needed to come immediately get a bat from her, and that she was not willing to travel at all. The bat was “freaking her out and she wanted it gone”. It was very difficult to get any details as she angrily shouted over every question we asked. We did eventually get the story out. The woman explained that the bat was stuck to a glue trap that had been in her kitchen, stating that she “wanted that thing out of her house”. So, she pulled the glue trap down, with the bat still attached, and tossed the bat onto her front porch. She was fearful that the bat would somehow attack her or her cat, so she placed a fishing net on top of the bat. And there the bat stayed; helpless, panicked and in pain from his/her delicate skin being ripped by the glue, and now tangled in netting, for TWO DAYS.

When we were finally called, this woman stated that the bat would not stop crying and she “needed it gone”. Keep in mind that animals stuck on glue traps often go into shock so, first and foremost, they need to be removed from the glue. We explained that the bat can be safely removed from the glue trap using thick gloves, a towel and cotton swabs dipped in oil, and asked her if she would be willing to try. This was the moment that the call took a turn for the worse.

“Excuse me!? Now this woman was shouting on the phone. “ARE YOU JOKING? You are going to tell ME that I need to put gloves on and TOUCH this thing!? You are out of your mind! How DARE you insult me by saying I am not willing to help. I am the one calling you and YOU just need to do YOUR job!” She then went on to say she was a “civil rights activist and an animal lover”, and “would not be forced to feel guilty by you or anyone else”. We explained that if she is not comfortable removing the bat from the glue and getting the bat to a rescuer, then we would try to get a rescuer over to her as quickly possible. (The closest rescuer was over 50 miles away.)
In an attempt to find transport for the bat, we started contacting rescuers who might be able to make the trip. That is when we discovered that this woman had already contacted the rescuers in her state and had berated all of them. However, one rescuer had been able to make progress and had sent a transporter out to the location to retrieve the bat. It was now a race against time.

Unfortunately, the woman changed her mind and then decided she did not want the transporter, or anyone else, to come and rescue the bat. After several more hours of trying to reason with this woman, a second rescuer was finally allowed on the property. It was now late in the evening, and when the transporter arrived, she was horrified and grief stricken at the same time. All that was left of the bat, still stuck to the glue trap, was a single wing. The rest of the bat had been eaten by the woman’s cat.

We can only imagine the pain and terror this poor bat felt. Both hungry and thirsty, feeling pain and possibly pregnant. And there you lay for nearly two days baking in the hot sun, with a hungry predator eyeing you the entire time. It is an absolutely horrific way to go.

We cannot fathom putting a living, breathing being through this kind of horrific torture and then confidently refusing to feel the slightest amount of guilt or remorse. This woman had every chance, and so many resources right at her fingertips to be able to save this bat’s life, and instead she chose to kill it, berating everyone who tried to help along the way. It’s insulting for someone like this to claim to be an animal lover.

When you come forward and reach out to a wildlife rescuer for help, we WILL help. We may not be able to get there immediately, depending on how many orphans are in care, but please have patience as we will be there! It is what we are here to do.
If you find a bat, or any wildlife in need, please offer to help a rescuer in any way possible. When we receive help - such as safely placing the animal into a secure box, transporting, meeting a rescuer halfway, or anything else - it is an enormous help. Again, we posted this to bring awareness to the more upsetting aspects of what rescuers do each and every day, so please be kind, especially to the animals.

In memory of this innocent bat who did not have to die, please spread the word so more lives can be saved. 💔