Who doesn't love a chickadee? From bird watcher to sculptor to bird saver, these little tough guys steal hearts and intrigues research minds.
"Chickadees are tough survivors that live close to the edge of life," reports Margaret Clark Brittingham, wildlife ecologist, who studied some 576 black-capped chickadees as they struggled against starvation and stinging Wisconsin cold.
While other birds head south as autumn days grow shorter and temperatures begin dropping, chickadees remain year around within an initial 20 acres in which they were hatched.
No more than little balls of grey and black fluff, these unique avian mites are teaching humans how to brave winter's most severe temper tantrums bare footed.
Breeding does not begin until April and may extend through July. The female is capable of laying up to three clutches of eggs each mating season.
Eggs per clutch may range from four to 12. It is hard to imagine a female as small as a chickadee covering and incubating 12 eggs, much less feeding 12 always hungry hatchlings every 10 to 15 minutes from sunup to sundown.
Both the male and female chickadee take an active role during the mating season.
The male vigorously defends the nesting territory as the female constructs the nest. Incubation of eggs extends only some 12 days.
Also, the male carries food to the female and takes his turn sitting on the nest. Both the female and male feed the young and protect the nesting territory.
The babies are replicas of their parents wearing the black cap stretched from ear to ear and pulled snugly over the head.
Fledgling chickadees are no bigger than a slender female human thumb from the first joint to the tip. Tiny, but resilient and full of life's energy.
Year around the chickadee feeds primarily on insects and insect eggs. Insects are literally pecked from crevices and pulled from beneath the bark of trees. Wild plant and weed seeds are also enjoyed.
At backyard feeders, chickadees enjoy black oiled sunflower seeds and cracked corn. Peanuts are a favorite treat.
If you crack or chop the peanuts, the chickadee have to work less. If whole peanuts in the shell are available, the industrious bird will take a whole peanut, fly to a limb, hold the nut in one foot and literally pound it apart with its sharp beak.
To cope with extreme cold, a chickadee must eat at least 20 times more food than it does in warm weather.
Researcher Brittingham calculated that in mild winter weather, one chickadee must eat the equivalent of 150 sunflower seeds every day to just stay alive.
When temperatures drop to zero Fahrenheit and below, the chickadee must consume at least 250 sunflower seeds each day to just stay alive. This equates to some 60 percent of the bird's body weight. Backyard feeders make a big difference in this bird's survival in the winter.
Chickadees are terrific foragers. They roam looking for food in groups--better known as tribes--made up of five to nine members.
The lead bird is always a dominant male, backed by a dominant female. These birds investigate every nook looking for insects, their eggs, and seeds.
They also enjoy small invertebrates, spiders, and are agile enough to open bagworm tents and feed on the hidden larvae.
Chickadees supplement their diets with pulpy fruits, berries, and suet from backyard offerings. They are so acrobatic that they seemingly hang up-side down as much as they perch.
Researchers Dr. Thomas Grubb, Jr. and David Cimprich from Ohio State University confirmed that backyard feeders made a difference in supplementing the natural foods of Carolina Chickadees and other bark-foraging species.
Feeders significantly improved the nutritional condition and health of the wintering chickadees and
reduced mortalities.
Dr. James Curry studied Carolina Chickadees in Oklahoma in a natural wooded area without winter feeders and found that the flock sizes were significantly reduced due to cold weather and lack of natural foods.
Human offered nest boxes also made a big difference in flock sizes because chickadees compete with house sparrows, European Starlings, Eastern Bluebirds, wasps and each other for available cavities in which to raise their young.
Also, during cold winter nights, chickadees roost in cavities to survive the cold.
Ornithologists suspect that chickadees conserve life sustaining fat at night by dropping their body temperatures to nearly 20 degrees below their daytime temperature which is around 108 degrees F.
This is called hypothermia. The resting chickadee may wake the next morning with a small amount of surplus fat to get the day started.
Cornell graduate student Susan Chaplin discovered this amazing Chickadee fact first. Brittingham confirmed it in her research.
Also, they trap heat next to their bodies by tensing muscles and fluffing feathers during extreme cold. This acts like a downy quilt next to their small bodies.
The winter chickadee plumage has about 25 to 30 percent more feathers than does the summer one. Also to overcome life threatening winter temperatures, chickadees shiver. The motion turns energy into heat.
The only disadvantage to shivering is that the energy used must be quickly replaced by refueling--or eating.
Exposed areas such as the feet are vulnerable to cold. One at a time feet are pulled up beneath feathers to warm, and the entire bird's body keeps the feet warm when it sits on them.
Bills do not suffer cold temperatures nearly as easily as do feet. A bird's bill is not made up of flesh and blood like feet, but of a substance resembling horn. It does not freeze easily.
"When the temperature dropped below minus 20 degrees F," Brittingham says, "we noticed that chickadees stopped searching for food because the energy expended to find food at that temperature is greater than the energy they obtain from the food they find. When that happened, they simply slowed down, fluffed up, and waited for warmer weather."
"The thing that really impresses me about chickadees," Brittingham notes, "is their metabolism. We weighed birds early in the morning and found that they had virtually no body fat. Yet, the same birds examined in the afternoon of the same day were bulging with fat."
Although chickadees are versatile and adaptable many do not survive their first winter.
Researchers estimate that as high as 70 percent of all first year chickadees do not survive their first winter. Most die during the first month of life. Others die due to predators, starvation and intense cold before they are a year old.
Chickadees are such delightfully energetic, playful little birds that they brighten even the darkest winter day.
© Copyright North American Wildlife Health Care Center
P.O. Box 155
Black Mountain, North Carolina, USA 28711
A non-profit 501-3-C organization dedicated to wildlife research and education
How dangerous is an animal bite?
The first line of defense for most sick or wounded animals is its teeth. The hurt of the bite may soon disappear, but the complications may just be the beginning. Don't take animal bites lightly. They are serious health hazards for humans.
Saliva and bacteria on the animal's teeth and gums may transmit any number of dangerous diseases to you. Protecting yourself and taking every precaution in handling is a must.
Some of the health hazards of getting bit or scratched by a wild animal include:
Tetanus:
Any animal bite may produce Tetanus. The disease is caused by anaerobic bacteria being introduced into the body through a contaminated wound.
Animal feces, dirt and dust may contaminate any wound produced by an animal bite or scratch.
The incubation period for Tetanus varies from three to 21 days. Some of the most pronounced symptoms include: very painful contractions of the jaw and neck that spread into other muscles. Muscle spasms may literally become intolerable. The body trunk bows forward with the head and heels being pulled backward.
Just for a moment visualize this happening to your body! The facial expression may become locked into a twisted sort of grin.
Not having a current Tetanus shot and working with wild creatures is not a healthy combination.
Even if you are the type person that cannot pass an injured creature without trying to help it, don't risk your health without having a recent Tetanus shot. If you do, you are risking your life!
DF-2
Dysgonic Fermenter (DF-2) is a relatively new disease identified in those working with wild creatures. It is directly associated with canine bites. Those working with wolves, foxes, and coyotes are probably more exposed to circumstances conducive to contracting the disease. The disease is caused by a gramnegative bacteria.
Fever is one of the most common symptoms. Other symptoms include vomiting, endocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), meningitis, and some forms of arthritis. Chronic respiratory disease,shock and kidney failure have also been reported.
DF-2 has been found in those with other underlying health disorders such as alcoholism and chronic lung
diseases.
Healthy people rarely contract DF-2.
Snake Bites
Research shows that in 1994 some 38,000 people are likely to be bitten by nonvenomous snakes. An unlucky estimated 8,000 or more will probably be bitten by poisonous snakes.
There are two kinds of snake venoms: neurotoxic and hemorrhagic. Neurotoxic venom produces pain but not much swelling and discoloration at the bite site.
The victim usually experiences some facial paralysis. Difficulty in speaking follows throat paralysis and death usually is the result of respiratory failure.
Hemorrhagic venom causes almost immediate reaction. The injection of the venom from the snake causes pain, discoloration and swelling at the bite site.
Symptoms include muscular weakness, nausea, vomiting and sometimes diarrhea. Shock may be a very serious complication of any snake bite.
All snake venoms contain both neurotoxic and hemorrhagic components. These vary from species to species.
Herpes Virus Simiae
The Herpes virus simiae is better known by the simple term - B virus infection. The Rhesus monkey is the most common carrier in this country.
The virus does not occur naturally in American forests. Monkey groups are thought to pick up the virus from newly captured Rhesus monkeys.
Often the virus may go unnoticed in monkeys. A lesion may be localized in the monkey's mouth. Usually, it is found on the tongue.
When it breaks it leaves an ulcer. Many infected monkeys carry the virus for a lifetime passing it through the saliva.
The disease is rare in man, but it is fatal when contracted. You may develop Herpes virus simiae from a bite or from a skin abrasion coming into contact with infected monkey saliva.
There are many wildlife animal handlers, rehabilitators, and general workers involved in working with primates. They should be very careful to avoid bites and scratches, and when bitten seek immediate first aid and qualified medical help.
The disease may show symptoms anywhere from one week to five weeks after exposure. Common symptoms seen are fever, headache, nausea, abdominal pain, and in some cases, severe diarrhea. As the disease progresses, urinary retention and pneumonia may occur.
Neurologic symptoms may include muscular pain, vertigo, diaphragmatic spasms, abdominal pain, and difficulty in swallowing. In the later stages paralysis occurs in the legs. As the paralysis spreads up the body, it may cause respiratory collapse and death.
If you are bitten by a monkey, seek medical help immediately, identifying the species that inflicted the bite, if you can.
As soon as possible after the bite, wash the wound site with soap and water.
Never neglect a monkey bite. It may cost you your life, if you do.
Pasteurella Multocida
This is a bacteria frequently found in animals' mouths. When the microorganism invades the bite wound, it produces reddening, swelling and usually intense pain within just a few hours after the bite.
Rat bites may cause what is known as rat bite fever. Also, it is transmitted by animals other than rats.
Streptobacillus monliformis and Spirillum minus are the culprits. The results resemble flu like symptoms initially. With the progress of the disease, symptoms worsen and may become more pronounced.
Regional lymph nodes become inflamed and swollen. Victims also report joint pains and muscle pains. Usually the bite site heals quickly and without overt complications. However, later ulcers may form and sever complications surface.
Researchers need to exercise caution in handling lab rats as do wildlife rehabilitators growing or purchasing rodents to be live fed to captive raptors. A rat bite is serious.
Infections
Two factors work together to produce an infection after an animal has bitten you. The site of the wound on your skin is not clean and the animal's mouth carries multitudes of germs.
Human skin usually contains organisms that may cause infections when they enter your body through a wound.
Research shows more than 62 different bacteria species exist in domestic dogs' mouths. Some cause uniquely nasty infections.
Numerous aerobic (those requiring oxygen) and anaerobic microorganisms (those that can live without oxygen) are involved in infected animal bites.
Rabies
Rabies affects the central nervous system. It is caused by a virus and always ends in death for the person bitten or the animal victimized by the disease.
All warm blooded animals are susceptible to rabies. Rabbits and rodents are not usually carriers of the disease. Why? Researchers are still not sure.
If you are bitten by a wild animal assume that it has been exposed to rabies to be safe. Don't take unnecessary chances with your life. When the animal is not available for testing, this becomes even more important.
Any time you are bitten or scratched by a wild animal, wash the bite site as soon as possible with antibacterial soap and water, and seek immediate medical attention.
In 1994, rabies vaccinations are not painful. Gone are the days, and thankfully so, of 12 to 14 injections around the navel and severe side effects. Now, it is a rare person who reacts to the rabies vaccinations.
Check with your local health department, and schedule your preventative rabies vaccines before you begin another wildlife rehabilitation season.
Remember, you can't help save wildlife, if you jeopardize your own life. Play it safe, get the vaccine.
If you are bitten by an animal, wild or domestic, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water. Then see your doctor, or go to the closest Emergency Room, as soon as possible. You had rather be safe than sorry
about what you may contract from a bite.
© Copyright North American Wildlife Health Care Center
P.O. Box 155
Black Mountain, North Carolina, USA 28711
A non-profit 501-3-C organization dedicated to wildlife research and education
Saliva and bacteria on the animal's teeth and gums may transmit any number of dangerous diseases to you. Protecting yourself and taking every precaution in handling is a must.
Some of the health hazards of getting bit or scratched by a wild animal include:
Tetanus:
Any animal bite may produce Tetanus. The disease is caused by anaerobic bacteria being introduced into the body through a contaminated wound.
Animal feces, dirt and dust may contaminate any wound produced by an animal bite or scratch.
The incubation period for Tetanus varies from three to 21 days. Some of the most pronounced symptoms include: very painful contractions of the jaw and neck that spread into other muscles. Muscle spasms may literally become intolerable. The body trunk bows forward with the head and heels being pulled backward.
Just for a moment visualize this happening to your body! The facial expression may become locked into a twisted sort of grin.
Not having a current Tetanus shot and working with wild creatures is not a healthy combination.
Even if you are the type person that cannot pass an injured creature without trying to help it, don't risk your health without having a recent Tetanus shot. If you do, you are risking your life!
DF-2
Dysgonic Fermenter (DF-2) is a relatively new disease identified in those working with wild creatures. It is directly associated with canine bites. Those working with wolves, foxes, and coyotes are probably more exposed to circumstances conducive to contracting the disease. The disease is caused by a gramnegative bacteria.
Fever is one of the most common symptoms. Other symptoms include vomiting, endocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), meningitis, and some forms of arthritis. Chronic respiratory disease,shock and kidney failure have also been reported.
DF-2 has been found in those with other underlying health disorders such as alcoholism and chronic lung
diseases.
Healthy people rarely contract DF-2.
Snake Bites
Research shows that in 1994 some 38,000 people are likely to be bitten by nonvenomous snakes. An unlucky estimated 8,000 or more will probably be bitten by poisonous snakes.
There are two kinds of snake venoms: neurotoxic and hemorrhagic. Neurotoxic venom produces pain but not much swelling and discoloration at the bite site.
The victim usually experiences some facial paralysis. Difficulty in speaking follows throat paralysis and death usually is the result of respiratory failure.
Hemorrhagic venom causes almost immediate reaction. The injection of the venom from the snake causes pain, discoloration and swelling at the bite site.
Symptoms include muscular weakness, nausea, vomiting and sometimes diarrhea. Shock may be a very serious complication of any snake bite.
All snake venoms contain both neurotoxic and hemorrhagic components. These vary from species to species.
Herpes Virus Simiae
The Herpes virus simiae is better known by the simple term - B virus infection. The Rhesus monkey is the most common carrier in this country.
The virus does not occur naturally in American forests. Monkey groups are thought to pick up the virus from newly captured Rhesus monkeys.
Often the virus may go unnoticed in monkeys. A lesion may be localized in the monkey's mouth. Usually, it is found on the tongue.
When it breaks it leaves an ulcer. Many infected monkeys carry the virus for a lifetime passing it through the saliva.
The disease is rare in man, but it is fatal when contracted. You may develop Herpes virus simiae from a bite or from a skin abrasion coming into contact with infected monkey saliva.
There are many wildlife animal handlers, rehabilitators, and general workers involved in working with primates. They should be very careful to avoid bites and scratches, and when bitten seek immediate first aid and qualified medical help.
The disease may show symptoms anywhere from one week to five weeks after exposure. Common symptoms seen are fever, headache, nausea, abdominal pain, and in some cases, severe diarrhea. As the disease progresses, urinary retention and pneumonia may occur.
Neurologic symptoms may include muscular pain, vertigo, diaphragmatic spasms, abdominal pain, and difficulty in swallowing. In the later stages paralysis occurs in the legs. As the paralysis spreads up the body, it may cause respiratory collapse and death.
If you are bitten by a monkey, seek medical help immediately, identifying the species that inflicted the bite, if you can.
As soon as possible after the bite, wash the wound site with soap and water.
Never neglect a monkey bite. It may cost you your life, if you do.
Pasteurella Multocida
This is a bacteria frequently found in animals' mouths. When the microorganism invades the bite wound, it produces reddening, swelling and usually intense pain within just a few hours after the bite.
Rat bites may cause what is known as rat bite fever. Also, it is transmitted by animals other than rats.
Streptobacillus monliformis and Spirillum minus are the culprits. The results resemble flu like symptoms initially. With the progress of the disease, symptoms worsen and may become more pronounced.
Regional lymph nodes become inflamed and swollen. Victims also report joint pains and muscle pains. Usually the bite site heals quickly and without overt complications. However, later ulcers may form and sever complications surface.
Researchers need to exercise caution in handling lab rats as do wildlife rehabilitators growing or purchasing rodents to be live fed to captive raptors. A rat bite is serious.
Infections
Two factors work together to produce an infection after an animal has bitten you. The site of the wound on your skin is not clean and the animal's mouth carries multitudes of germs.
Human skin usually contains organisms that may cause infections when they enter your body through a wound.
Research shows more than 62 different bacteria species exist in domestic dogs' mouths. Some cause uniquely nasty infections.
Numerous aerobic (those requiring oxygen) and anaerobic microorganisms (those that can live without oxygen) are involved in infected animal bites.
Rabies
Rabies affects the central nervous system. It is caused by a virus and always ends in death for the person bitten or the animal victimized by the disease.
All warm blooded animals are susceptible to rabies. Rabbits and rodents are not usually carriers of the disease. Why? Researchers are still not sure.
If you are bitten by a wild animal assume that it has been exposed to rabies to be safe. Don't take unnecessary chances with your life. When the animal is not available for testing, this becomes even more important.
Any time you are bitten or scratched by a wild animal, wash the bite site as soon as possible with antibacterial soap and water, and seek immediate medical attention.
In 1994, rabies vaccinations are not painful. Gone are the days, and thankfully so, of 12 to 14 injections around the navel and severe side effects. Now, it is a rare person who reacts to the rabies vaccinations.
Check with your local health department, and schedule your preventative rabies vaccines before you begin another wildlife rehabilitation season.
Remember, you can't help save wildlife, if you jeopardize your own life. Play it safe, get the vaccine.
If you are bitten by an animal, wild or domestic, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water. Then see your doctor, or go to the closest Emergency Room, as soon as possible. You had rather be safe than sorry
about what you may contract from a bite.
© Copyright North American Wildlife Health Care Center
P.O. Box 155
Black Mountain, North Carolina, USA 28711
A non-profit 501-3-C organization dedicated to wildlife research and education
Fall berries are vital to wildlife
If nature failed to provide her huge offerings of fall wild berries, many animals would be left out in the cold to die.
Throughout nature, autumn's most bountiful harvest takes place far beyond the farmers' plow.
From late August through early December, dozens of plants share their berries with wild creatures to build fat stores for winter survival. Without the autumn season's berry offerings many creatures could not survive winter.
Berries are among nature's most important natural foods. They are literally laden with fat producing, life sustaining sugars. Bears consume huge quantities of them to build body fats needed to sustain them during winter denning. Raccoons and opossums feast on them for the same reason.
Many species of birds depend on nature's fall fruits to fuel long flights to warmer climates. Mountain ash and bittersweet are among the favorites at this time of the year.
Many non-migratory animals such as cardinals and raccoons depend on such plants as high-bush cranberry for winter nourishment.
In the northeastern US alone, there are nearly 100 species of trees and shrubs that produce berries or fruits that offer life sustaining qualities. Many species such as wild grape provide weeks of natural foods for more than 50 species of birds.
Trees and shrubs benefit from the fall harvest also. Without fall feeding animals to disperse their seeds, the plants might not survive.
If you want to do something that benefits wildlife, plant berry producing trees and shrubs. They will help feed wild creatures year after year.
At the Center more than 500 Autumn Olive shrubs provide supplemental food for wildlife. By early December the shrubs are stripped of their nutritious fruits and ready for pruning to insure a good crop of berries for next years friends. Another 20 fall through early winter berry bearing bushes feed wildlife naturally.
© Copyright North American Wildlife Health Care Center
P.O. Box 155
Black Mountain, North Carolina, USA 28711
A non-profit 501-3-C organization dedicated to wildlife research and education
Throughout nature, autumn's most bountiful harvest takes place far beyond the farmers' plow.
From late August through early December, dozens of plants share their berries with wild creatures to build fat stores for winter survival. Without the autumn season's berry offerings many creatures could not survive winter.
Berries are among nature's most important natural foods. They are literally laden with fat producing, life sustaining sugars. Bears consume huge quantities of them to build body fats needed to sustain them during winter denning. Raccoons and opossums feast on them for the same reason.
Many species of birds depend on nature's fall fruits to fuel long flights to warmer climates. Mountain ash and bittersweet are among the favorites at this time of the year.
Many non-migratory animals such as cardinals and raccoons depend on such plants as high-bush cranberry for winter nourishment.
In the northeastern US alone, there are nearly 100 species of trees and shrubs that produce berries or fruits that offer life sustaining qualities. Many species such as wild grape provide weeks of natural foods for more than 50 species of birds.
Trees and shrubs benefit from the fall harvest also. Without fall feeding animals to disperse their seeds, the plants might not survive.
If you want to do something that benefits wildlife, plant berry producing trees and shrubs. They will help feed wild creatures year after year.
At the Center more than 500 Autumn Olive shrubs provide supplemental food for wildlife. By early December the shrubs are stripped of their nutritious fruits and ready for pruning to insure a good crop of berries for next years friends. Another 20 fall through early winter berry bearing bushes feed wildlife naturally.
© Copyright North American Wildlife Health Care Center
P.O. Box 155
Black Mountain, North Carolina, USA 28711
A non-profit 501-3-C organization dedicated to wildlife research and education
Getting to know "God's Dog"
The word coyote comes from an ancient Indian language and means "barking dog." That one phrase leads you to believe that they are not much different from domestic dogs. In some ways this is true, and in others these creatures are truly wild.
Coyotes roam grasslands, deserts, mountains and even urban environments from Alaska to Costa Rica. The entire continental United States and a large portion of Canada is home territory for what some call "God's dog."
They usually breed from January through March. As with most animals, the farther north the later the breeding season and vice versa. Some scientists believe the same male and female breed year-to-year.
Female coyotes breed according to local geographical conditions, and food availability. If food is not plentiful, a lower percentage of females breed. If there is a bumper crop of native foods, a large percentage of females reproduce.
Both one year old males and females are capable of reproducing. Gestation lasts about 63 days producing an average litter of six pups.
Litter size is also affected by population density in an area and food availability.
Coyotes select a variety of dens. Thick underbrush banks, thickets, hollow logs, and beneath rock shelves are favorite sites to dig in and raise a family.
Most coyotes are active during the day with peak feeding times being early morning and about dusk. The more urban the home range, the more likely coyotes are to be more active at night. This is a safety precaution no doubt.
First year coyotes leave the family unit in the fall and early winter of their first year to establish territories of their own. Some first year females remain with their mother during a full season and help raise mothers' pups the following spring.
Coyotes and wolves do not share the same territories with reports of wolves killing coyotes. In turn, the coyote competes with the fox in the same territories for similar foods. Bobcats are reported to not tolerate coyotes in their territories.
Researchers have learned that coyotes and badgers share hunting territories well. The badger digs out the rodents that coyotes enjoy, and the coyotes catch them.
Coyotes and foxes eat very similar items. These include rodents, apples, rabbits, berries, plant foods, insects, songbirds, livestock, deer, and an occasional house cat or small dog when they are available.
Livestock taken by coyotes is usually in the form of carrion. However, newborn pigs seem to be on the menu when they can be found.
Food habits and geographical location determine food choices.
Coyotes live solitary lives and in packs depending on food types available. If an area is rich in rodents, coyotes prefer to live and hunt in pairs. If bigger game such as deer and moose are plentiful, then they willingly join in a pack endeavor to bring down dinner.
© Copyright North American Wildlife Health Care Center
P.O. Box 155
Black Mountain, North Carolina, USA 28711
A non-profit 501-3-C organization dedicated to wildlife research and education
Coyotes roam grasslands, deserts, mountains and even urban environments from Alaska to Costa Rica. The entire continental United States and a large portion of Canada is home territory for what some call "God's dog."
They usually breed from January through March. As with most animals, the farther north the later the breeding season and vice versa. Some scientists believe the same male and female breed year-to-year.
Female coyotes breed according to local geographical conditions, and food availability. If food is not plentiful, a lower percentage of females breed. If there is a bumper crop of native foods, a large percentage of females reproduce.
Both one year old males and females are capable of reproducing. Gestation lasts about 63 days producing an average litter of six pups.
Litter size is also affected by population density in an area and food availability.
Coyotes select a variety of dens. Thick underbrush banks, thickets, hollow logs, and beneath rock shelves are favorite sites to dig in and raise a family.
Most coyotes are active during the day with peak feeding times being early morning and about dusk. The more urban the home range, the more likely coyotes are to be more active at night. This is a safety precaution no doubt.
First year coyotes leave the family unit in the fall and early winter of their first year to establish territories of their own. Some first year females remain with their mother during a full season and help raise mothers' pups the following spring.
Coyotes and wolves do not share the same territories with reports of wolves killing coyotes. In turn, the coyote competes with the fox in the same territories for similar foods. Bobcats are reported to not tolerate coyotes in their territories.
Researchers have learned that coyotes and badgers share hunting territories well. The badger digs out the rodents that coyotes enjoy, and the coyotes catch them.
Coyotes and foxes eat very similar items. These include rodents, apples, rabbits, berries, plant foods, insects, songbirds, livestock, deer, and an occasional house cat or small dog when they are available.
Livestock taken by coyotes is usually in the form of carrion. However, newborn pigs seem to be on the menu when they can be found.
Food habits and geographical location determine food choices.
Coyotes live solitary lives and in packs depending on food types available. If an area is rich in rodents, coyotes prefer to live and hunt in pairs. If bigger game such as deer and moose are plentiful, then they willingly join in a pack endeavor to bring down dinner.
© Copyright North American Wildlife Health Care Center
P.O. Box 155
Black Mountain, North Carolina, USA 28711
A non-profit 501-3-C organization dedicated to wildlife research and education
Electric power poles deadly to raptors
There is some half a million miles of electric distribution lines in the U.S. supported by several millionpoles. When a raptor lands on one of these lines, it is usually a fatal grasp.
What happens is that the raptors electrocute themselves when they touch two live wires, or a ground wire or uninsulated transformer and a live wire. The wider the species' wingspan, the more likely the landing will be fatal.
"Eagles comprise some 70-90 percent of all mortalities, and buteo hawks (redtails, broad-wings, etc.) most of the rest," reports Wildlife Conservation Magazine. "Immature birds, which land more clumsily than adults, are often zapped."
The poles most likely to be killer ones are those positioned on high terrains overlooking populations of rabbits, squirrels, and other live prey.
Killer poles may be made safe for raptors with wooden perches 14 inches to 16 inches above live wires or by placing inverted v-shaped perch guards close to conductors. This would discourage raptors from landing on them.
When you find a dead raptor under an electrical pole, record the pole number and location and then report it to your state game and fish department or your local U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office.
© Copyright North American Wildlife Health Care Center
P.O. Box 155
Black Mountain, North Carolina, USA 28711
A non-profit 501-3-C organization dedicated to wildlife research and education
What happens is that the raptors electrocute themselves when they touch two live wires, or a ground wire or uninsulated transformer and a live wire. The wider the species' wingspan, the more likely the landing will be fatal.
"Eagles comprise some 70-90 percent of all mortalities, and buteo hawks (redtails, broad-wings, etc.) most of the rest," reports Wildlife Conservation Magazine. "Immature birds, which land more clumsily than adults, are often zapped."
The poles most likely to be killer ones are those positioned on high terrains overlooking populations of rabbits, squirrels, and other live prey.
Killer poles may be made safe for raptors with wooden perches 14 inches to 16 inches above live wires or by placing inverted v-shaped perch guards close to conductors. This would discourage raptors from landing on them.
When you find a dead raptor under an electrical pole, record the pole number and location and then report it to your state game and fish department or your local U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office.
© Copyright North American Wildlife Health Care Center
P.O. Box 155
Black Mountain, North Carolina, USA 28711
A non-profit 501-3-C organization dedicated to wildlife research and education
North American Wolves
The Red Wolf:
The red wolf once populated most of the southeastern U.S. It was finally reduced to about 100 wolves along coastal Texas and Louisiana. These were intermingled by coyote genes as a result of interbreeding. The coyote was much more plentiful.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service stepped in and initiated a recovery program to prevent the species' extinction. They caught the remaining wolves in the wild and captive bred for reintroduction.
Now a wild population of about 40 red wolves is being established with lots of setbacks in eastern North Carolina.
The Gray Wolf:
The gray wolf used to range over most of North America. There a few wild wolves inhabiting North Dakota, South Dakota, central Idaho, Wyoming, and northern Washington. The most significant populations include: Northern Minnesota with about 2,000; Michigan and Wisconsin with around 110; Montana with some 60-70; and Western Mexico with from 0-10.
The gray wolf as a species is made up of various subspecies. Recovery is focusing on the eastern timber wolf, the Mexican wolf, and the northern Rocky Mountain wolf.
The Mexican Wolf:
The Mexican Wolf was once native to the southwestern portion of the U.S. However, it has been extinct in that region since the mid-1900s. Now a captive population is managed by 13 private breeding facilities in conjunction with the Mexican Wolf Recovery Program of the USFWS.
© Copyright North American Wildlife Health Care Center
P.O. Box 155
Black Mountain, North Carolina, USA 28711
A non-profit 501-3-C organization dedicated to wildlife research and education
The red wolf once populated most of the southeastern U.S. It was finally reduced to about 100 wolves along coastal Texas and Louisiana. These were intermingled by coyote genes as a result of interbreeding. The coyote was much more plentiful.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service stepped in and initiated a recovery program to prevent the species' extinction. They caught the remaining wolves in the wild and captive bred for reintroduction.
Now a wild population of about 40 red wolves is being established with lots of setbacks in eastern North Carolina.
The Gray Wolf:
The gray wolf used to range over most of North America. There a few wild wolves inhabiting North Dakota, South Dakota, central Idaho, Wyoming, and northern Washington. The most significant populations include: Northern Minnesota with about 2,000; Michigan and Wisconsin with around 110; Montana with some 60-70; and Western Mexico with from 0-10.
The gray wolf as a species is made up of various subspecies. Recovery is focusing on the eastern timber wolf, the Mexican wolf, and the northern Rocky Mountain wolf.
The Mexican Wolf:
The Mexican Wolf was once native to the southwestern portion of the U.S. However, it has been extinct in that region since the mid-1900s. Now a captive population is managed by 13 private breeding facilities in conjunction with the Mexican Wolf Recovery Program of the USFWS.
© Copyright North American Wildlife Health Care Center
P.O. Box 155
Black Mountain, North Carolina, USA 28711
A non-profit 501-3-C organization dedicated to wildlife research and education
Did you know? (Bird migration facts)
Billions of birds seasonally undertake the perilous journey of migration.
It is difficult to visualize a Swainson's Hawk, weighing only about two pounds, migrating from its breeding site on the Saskatchewan prairies to wintering ground in southern Argentina.
Equally amazing is a semipalmated sandpiper, weighing only an ounce, migrating from the Canadian Tundra to northern South America.
It is hard to believe a Ruby Throated Hummingbird, weighing only 1/6 ounce, flying from its nesting area in New Hampshire to wintering grounds in Costa Rica.
Migration is not just the seasonal movement of birds during spring and fall to avoid harsh weather. This is just part of the story.
Migration evolved as a way for animals to exploit resources that are seasonally abundant and to avoid times or places where life sustaining resources are scarce.
Many species can tolerate cold temperatures if food remains plentiful. However, if it is not available, the birds must migrate. The availability of food is the driving force in the evolution of migration patterns.
To fly long distances a bird must carry plenty of fuel. Fat is the currency of migration because it provides the greatest amount of energy per unit of weight. The more fat a bird has the farther it can fly. Fat is indispensable. Without it, a migrant cannot fly or survive long periods of inclement weather.
Birds are extremely sensitive to weather and atmospheric patterns. They purposefully select times and altitudes with the best wind directions and the best wind speeds.
The majority of birds migrate at night. However, hawks make their seasonal moves during day time hunting in the late afternoons.
More birds are active during migration at night due to internal clocks, ecology, endocrinology, neurobiology, physiology and evolution according to researchers. Actually, very little is known about the intricacies of migration.
Migratory flight is a result of an infinite number of decisions. To complete it successfully, birds must make many decisions and all must be correct ones. Such decisions include: what time of day or night to fly; what speed to travel; how high to fly; which direction to fly; and where to land.
Migration continues to intrigue scientists, and they continue to study the subject finding out more each year.
© Copyright North American Wildlife Health Care Center
P.O. Box 155
Black Mountain, North Carolina, USA 28711
A non-profit 501-3-C organization dedicated to wildlife research and education
It is difficult to visualize a Swainson's Hawk, weighing only about two pounds, migrating from its breeding site on the Saskatchewan prairies to wintering ground in southern Argentina.
Equally amazing is a semipalmated sandpiper, weighing only an ounce, migrating from the Canadian Tundra to northern South America.
It is hard to believe a Ruby Throated Hummingbird, weighing only 1/6 ounce, flying from its nesting area in New Hampshire to wintering grounds in Costa Rica.
Migration is not just the seasonal movement of birds during spring and fall to avoid harsh weather. This is just part of the story.
Migration evolved as a way for animals to exploit resources that are seasonally abundant and to avoid times or places where life sustaining resources are scarce.
Many species can tolerate cold temperatures if food remains plentiful. However, if it is not available, the birds must migrate. The availability of food is the driving force in the evolution of migration patterns.
To fly long distances a bird must carry plenty of fuel. Fat is the currency of migration because it provides the greatest amount of energy per unit of weight. The more fat a bird has the farther it can fly. Fat is indispensable. Without it, a migrant cannot fly or survive long periods of inclement weather.
Birds are extremely sensitive to weather and atmospheric patterns. They purposefully select times and altitudes with the best wind directions and the best wind speeds.
The majority of birds migrate at night. However, hawks make their seasonal moves during day time hunting in the late afternoons.
More birds are active during migration at night due to internal clocks, ecology, endocrinology, neurobiology, physiology and evolution according to researchers. Actually, very little is known about the intricacies of migration.
Migratory flight is a result of an infinite number of decisions. To complete it successfully, birds must make many decisions and all must be correct ones. Such decisions include: what time of day or night to fly; what speed to travel; how high to fly; which direction to fly; and where to land.
Migration continues to intrigue scientists, and they continue to study the subject finding out more each year.
© Copyright North American Wildlife Health Care Center
P.O. Box 155
Black Mountain, North Carolina, USA 28711
A non-profit 501-3-C organization dedicated to wildlife research and education
No need to stop feeding suet in warm weather
This is one of the best year 'round suet recipes that the North American Wildlife Health Care Center uses. This is the 10th year that we will be feeding our fall and winter visitors this treat. The Center keeps it out every day of the year.
1 cup creamy peanut butter, or crunchy. The less expensive the peanut butter, the fewer preservatives in it.
2 cups minute oats
2 cups white or yellow cornmeal
1 cup mixed bird seeds
1 cup white flour
1 cup lard (do not use oils of any other kind.)
1/2 cup raisins
2 to 3 very over-ripe bananas
Mix all the ingredients together. If you wish to make into cakes, melt the lard and peanut butter, and then stir in the remaining ingredients. Pour the mixture into freezer containers 1 1/2 inches thick. Allow to cool, and then cut it into cakes. It stores well in the freezer.
You do not have to melt and freeze. You can mix the ingredients together and pick a rough bark tree and rub it on it. The birds love it this way.
© Copyright North American Wildlife Health Care Center
P.O. Box 155
Black Mountain, North Carolina, USA 28711
A non-profit 501-3-C organization
1 cup creamy peanut butter, or crunchy. The less expensive the peanut butter, the fewer preservatives in it.
2 cups minute oats
2 cups white or yellow cornmeal
1 cup mixed bird seeds
1 cup white flour
1 cup lard (do not use oils of any other kind.)
1/2 cup raisins
2 to 3 very over-ripe bananas
Mix all the ingredients together. If you wish to make into cakes, melt the lard and peanut butter, and then stir in the remaining ingredients. Pour the mixture into freezer containers 1 1/2 inches thick. Allow to cool, and then cut it into cakes. It stores well in the freezer.
You do not have to melt and freeze. You can mix the ingredients together and pick a rough bark tree and rub it on it. The birds love it this way.
© Copyright North American Wildlife Health Care Center
P.O. Box 155
Black Mountain, North Carolina, USA 28711
A non-profit 501-3-C organization
Now is the time to plant a snag for wildlife
Ghost trees are what bird lovers call snags. They are dead trees. They are immensely important to wildlife, and are becoming more scarce each day.
Primary cavity-nesters, such as woodpeckers, chisel nest cavities in them and search for insects. Bluebirds, titmice, wren, screech owls and kestrels enjoy nesting in old woodpecker holes. Deer mice, flying squirrels, tree frogs, arboreal snakes and lizards and invertebrates too numerous to mention enjoy the cavities also.
Other birds, not cavity nesters, use snags to launch territorial attacks. The phoebe is one such bird. Vultures enjoy using them for sunning, and hawks nest in the tops of snags.
Many songbirds such as Cardinals, Indigo Buntings and Bluebirds sing from the tops of snags to announce their territories and to attract a mate.
It is not uncommon for one snag to house several different species at different levels. Screech owls and hawks take the top of a snag for a nesting site, while woodpeckers such as the Pileated will choose to excavate a nest about 60 feet up, and squirrels will nest about half way down in a hollow tree.
House wrens favor holes in snags to raise their young also. A dead tree literally teems with life until natural decay takes the final toll and drops the snag to the forest floor where it continues to contribute to the ecosystem. A snag may stand some 30 or more years before it topples.
Dead trees provide a unique life support system for some 85 species of birds in North America. Some 50 mammals use dead trees for dens and nurseries, and innumerable invertebrate find cozy niches in them.
Usually it is the woodpeckers that claim a snag as home. This is why they are labeled primary snag nesters. Other species use their old nests in following years becoming secondary snag nesters. Each year woodpeckers chisel out new nests never going back and using an old nest site which probably has already been claimed by another species.
Screech, saw whet and pygmy owls, house wrens, tree and violet-green swallows, kestrels, bluebirds, chickadees, nuthatches, wood ducks, hooded mergansers, goldeneyes, and buffleheads are secondary nesters using old woodpecker holes.
The large snags are choice ones. The pileated woodpeckers, barred owls and tree-nesting ducks cannot fit into the smaller snags. The large ones offer a wide choice of safe nests. High in a tall snag, it is difficult for predators to reach a nest. It is the big snags that are vanishing from the forests at an alarming rate.
Adding a snag to your back-yard bird feeding station will add interest, attract species that you may not have now, and help cavity nesters. Of course, when you start planting dead trees in your back yard, your neighbors may tend to look the other way as they whisper about your sanity.
© Copyright North American Wildlife Health Care Center
P.O. Box 155
Black Mountain, North Carolina, USA 28711
A non-profit 501-3-C organization dedicated to wildlife research and education
Primary cavity-nesters, such as woodpeckers, chisel nest cavities in them and search for insects. Bluebirds, titmice, wren, screech owls and kestrels enjoy nesting in old woodpecker holes. Deer mice, flying squirrels, tree frogs, arboreal snakes and lizards and invertebrates too numerous to mention enjoy the cavities also.
Other birds, not cavity nesters, use snags to launch territorial attacks. The phoebe is one such bird. Vultures enjoy using them for sunning, and hawks nest in the tops of snags.
Many songbirds such as Cardinals, Indigo Buntings and Bluebirds sing from the tops of snags to announce their territories and to attract a mate.
It is not uncommon for one snag to house several different species at different levels. Screech owls and hawks take the top of a snag for a nesting site, while woodpeckers such as the Pileated will choose to excavate a nest about 60 feet up, and squirrels will nest about half way down in a hollow tree.
House wrens favor holes in snags to raise their young also. A dead tree literally teems with life until natural decay takes the final toll and drops the snag to the forest floor where it continues to contribute to the ecosystem. A snag may stand some 30 or more years before it topples.
Dead trees provide a unique life support system for some 85 species of birds in North America. Some 50 mammals use dead trees for dens and nurseries, and innumerable invertebrate find cozy niches in them.
Usually it is the woodpeckers that claim a snag as home. This is why they are labeled primary snag nesters. Other species use their old nests in following years becoming secondary snag nesters. Each year woodpeckers chisel out new nests never going back and using an old nest site which probably has already been claimed by another species.
Screech, saw whet and pygmy owls, house wrens, tree and violet-green swallows, kestrels, bluebirds, chickadees, nuthatches, wood ducks, hooded mergansers, goldeneyes, and buffleheads are secondary nesters using old woodpecker holes.
The large snags are choice ones. The pileated woodpeckers, barred owls and tree-nesting ducks cannot fit into the smaller snags. The large ones offer a wide choice of safe nests. High in a tall snag, it is difficult for predators to reach a nest. It is the big snags that are vanishing from the forests at an alarming rate.
Adding a snag to your back-yard bird feeding station will add interest, attract species that you may not have now, and help cavity nesters. Of course, when you start planting dead trees in your back yard, your neighbors may tend to look the other way as they whisper about your sanity.
© Copyright North American Wildlife Health Care Center
P.O. Box 155
Black Mountain, North Carolina, USA 28711
A non-profit 501-3-C organization dedicated to wildlife research and education
10 ways wildlife lovers can help birds-of-prey
*** If you discover birds-of-prey nesting, roosting or hunting in your locale, try to protect the areas from disturbances. Contact your state's wildlife commission if you need help.
*** If you witness or have evidence of someone shooting or killing a bird-of-prey, notify the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or your state wildlife commission so the person can be prosecuted. All birds-of-prey are federally protected.
*** If you hunt, make sure you are not shooting at a hawk or eagle.
*** It is a federal offense to disturb the nest of an eagle.
*** If you find a dead or wounded eagle, notify the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. USFWS agents will transport injured eagles to veterinary medical centers where they may be treated, rehabilitated and released.
*** Even a dead bird-of-prey, through autopsies, supply valuable information that can help living ones.
*** If you must use pesticides, choose those that chemically break down rapidly after use. Avoid chlorinated hydrocarbons. Read the labels carefully and follow instructions carefully. If you have any doubts or questions, contact the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), or conservation organizations in your area.
*** When cleaning garages, basements, and storage areas, do not flush old pesticides down the drain or dump them into the garbage. Contact your local EPA office for advice.
*** If you find an injured bird-of-prey, do not attempt to rescue it unless you are experienced. Sharp talons leave nasty wounds. Call a local nature center, wildlife officer, wildlife rehabilitator or law enforcement office for help. Stay in the area and keep an eye on the injured bird until help arrives.
*** Hawks and owls are rodent eaters mainly. Poisoned rats and mice may be deadly to them when eaten. Remember this when you put out rodent poison.
© Copyright North American Wildlife Health Care Center
P.O. Box 155
Black Mountain, North Carolina, USA 28711
A non-profit 501-3-C organization dedicated to wildlife research and education
*** If you witness or have evidence of someone shooting or killing a bird-of-prey, notify the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or your state wildlife commission so the person can be prosecuted. All birds-of-prey are federally protected.
*** If you hunt, make sure you are not shooting at a hawk or eagle.
*** It is a federal offense to disturb the nest of an eagle.
*** If you find a dead or wounded eagle, notify the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. USFWS agents will transport injured eagles to veterinary medical centers where they may be treated, rehabilitated and released.
*** Even a dead bird-of-prey, through autopsies, supply valuable information that can help living ones.
*** If you must use pesticides, choose those that chemically break down rapidly after use. Avoid chlorinated hydrocarbons. Read the labels carefully and follow instructions carefully. If you have any doubts or questions, contact the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), or conservation organizations in your area.
*** When cleaning garages, basements, and storage areas, do not flush old pesticides down the drain or dump them into the garbage. Contact your local EPA office for advice.
*** If you find an injured bird-of-prey, do not attempt to rescue it unless you are experienced. Sharp talons leave nasty wounds. Call a local nature center, wildlife officer, wildlife rehabilitator or law enforcement office for help. Stay in the area and keep an eye on the injured bird until help arrives.
*** Hawks and owls are rodent eaters mainly. Poisoned rats and mice may be deadly to them when eaten. Remember this when you put out rodent poison.
© Copyright North American Wildlife Health Care Center
P.O. Box 155
Black Mountain, North Carolina, USA 28711
A non-profit 501-3-C organization dedicated to wildlife research and education
How long does it take to fledge?
How long does it take to fledge?
Barn Owl – 60 days from hatching
cardinal - 9-10 days from hatching
Cedar Wax Wing - 15-16 days from hatching
Chimney Swift – 25-30 days from hatching
Crow - 28-35 days from hatching
House Wren - 15-16 days from hatching
Mourning Dove - 3-15 days from hatching
Nighthawk - Approx. 23 days
Robin - 9-16 days
Starling - 14-21 days from hatching
Barn Owl – 60 days from hatching
cardinal - 9-10 days from hatching
Cedar Wax Wing - 15-16 days from hatching
Chimney Swift – 25-30 days from hatching
Crow - 28-35 days from hatching
House Wren - 15-16 days from hatching
Mourning Dove - 3-15 days from hatching
Nighthawk - Approx. 23 days
Robin - 9-16 days
Starling - 14-21 days from hatching
Do you know who nests where?
Cavity nesters are backyard birds most hurt by man's encroachment on their environments.
However other bird species nest on the ground, in shrubs, trees and on various ledges. The
following list includes some common backyard bird nest sites.
Ground nesters:
American black duck
American woodcock
Boblink
Bobwhite
Canada goose
Eastern meadowlark
Killdeer
Mallard
Quail
Ring-necked pheasant
Rufous-sided towhee
Western meadowlark
White-throated sparrow
Shrub nesters
Brown thrasher
Brown towhee
California thrasher
Chipping sparrow
Common yellowthroat
Indigo bunting
Northern cardinal
Northern mockingbird
Red-winged blackbird
Rose-breasted growbeak
Song sparrow
White-crowned sparrow
Yellow warbler
Shrub or tree nesters
American robin
Black-billed cuckoo
Black-billed magpie
Brewer's blackbird
Kingbird
Wood thrush
Yellow-billed cuckoo
Tree nesters
American crow
Blue Jay
Cedar Waxwing
Great horned owl
Hooded oriole
Inca dove
Lesser goldfinch
Mourning dove
Northern oriole
Orchard oriole
Pewee
Pine siskin
Purple finch
Red-tailed hawk
Screech owls
Platform nesters
American robin
Barn swallow
Black Phoebe
Cliff swallow
Eastern phoebe
Say's phoebe
Water tip
Provide water at varying levels for your backyard birds. Each avian species bathes a bit differently.
Depending on size, a bird may need water from only a half inch to several inches deep. Try placing
several flat stones around the edge of your bird bath. This allows the birds to gradually enter the
water.
© Copyright North American Wildlife Health Care Center
P.O. Box 155
Black Mountain, North Carolina, USA 28711
A non-profit 501-3-C organization dedicated to wildlife research and education
However other bird species nest on the ground, in shrubs, trees and on various ledges. The
following list includes some common backyard bird nest sites.
Ground nesters:
American black duck
American woodcock
Boblink
Bobwhite
Canada goose
Eastern meadowlark
Killdeer
Mallard
Quail
Ring-necked pheasant
Rufous-sided towhee
Western meadowlark
White-throated sparrow
Shrub nesters
Brown thrasher
Brown towhee
California thrasher
Chipping sparrow
Common yellowthroat
Indigo bunting
Northern cardinal
Northern mockingbird
Red-winged blackbird
Rose-breasted growbeak
Song sparrow
White-crowned sparrow
Yellow warbler
Shrub or tree nesters
American robin
Black-billed cuckoo
Black-billed magpie
Brewer's blackbird
Kingbird
Wood thrush
Yellow-billed cuckoo
Tree nesters
American crow
Blue Jay
Cedar Waxwing
Great horned owl
Hooded oriole
Inca dove
Lesser goldfinch
Mourning dove
Northern oriole
Orchard oriole
Pewee
Pine siskin
Purple finch
Red-tailed hawk
Screech owls
Platform nesters
American robin
Barn swallow
Black Phoebe
Cliff swallow
Eastern phoebe
Say's phoebe
Water tip
Provide water at varying levels for your backyard birds. Each avian species bathes a bit differently.
Depending on size, a bird may need water from only a half inch to several inches deep. Try placing
several flat stones around the edge of your bird bath. This allows the birds to gradually enter the
water.
© Copyright North American Wildlife Health Care Center
P.O. Box 155
Black Mountain, North Carolina, USA 28711
A non-profit 501-3-C organization dedicated to wildlife research and education
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