Farewell to their habitat
One of the reasons given to us for not allowing the Hummingbird feeders was -they attract bears! That does seem pretty far-fetched to me. Especially since we have two large dumpsters on this property whose contents, I feel sure, would be much more attractive to a bear. With or without bird feeders, we have opossums, raccoons, deer, chipmunks, mice, moles, snakes, MANY
rabbits-even a large tortoise visited the community last summer. We are not located out in the country as it might sound. There is new development going on all around and the lovely tall, straight, old trees which stood on the hill right above our buildings were all cut down two years ago . They became expensive boards to build the condos being constructed up there now.
Nature has tried to make a come back. The Evergreens, mostly pine, have covered the bare slope. For a while we did not see any deer. They are out there once again. Now more brazen than ever,
venturing into the flower beds and grazing in full view on the lawn.
The bunnies are so numerous they are almost tame. Suicidal, actually. They sit in the parking lot expecting cars to wait until they decide to move. One evening recently as I sat outside with Hannah
and Ginger, this foolish bunny came bopping down the sidewalk.
He stopped and sat up Easter bunny style for a moment. Then,
lippity lipping along leisurely, he came right up to the astounded dog and cat. Hannah is well trained. Besides which she is a bird dog breed. She was very curious though, but sat tight. Ginger has been
known to avail herself of baby bunny for breakfast. She seemed to feel this one might be too old and possibly tough.
Why are these once shy wild animals becoming so comfortable moving about human settlements? Very simply there are just as many of them and far less habitat for them to shelter in.
The farm where I grew up was on a dirt road. 190 acres of rolling fields surrounded by trees and a creek. It is now suburbia-paved street, town water lines, sidewalks! It is not unusual to see red foxes there wandering across the lawns. Woe to the unwary cat.
There are still a few places in upstate New York and even Vermont
where old farm houses still exist and a few fortunate may live out their lives on the home place. And the wild creatures who have been there for centuries can still be wild.
Wild animals are blamed for much damage to property. Particularly deer, who wander through suburban gardens as if the plants were put there for them. Black bears, also, are becoming less afraid of humans, dogs, traffic. We have not found a way to live together in this new world.
I don't know the answer. Having been a wildlife rehabilitator, I have
repaired many animals who became injured by being where they were not meant to be--because the places they had been meant to be no longer exist. We patch them up, restore them to health, and return them to a momentarily safe place. But it will recur again.
Please do not feed these animals. It does not help as it only makes them reliant on humans for food. They will forget how to forage on their own. If you have clover in your lawn I guarantee you will have bunnies. If you have lots of clover, they just might leave your vegetable garden untouched. That kind of feeding (natural) is fine,
and you can enjoy the sight of rabbits holding revelries in the moonlight.
rabbits-even a large tortoise visited the community last summer. We are not located out in the country as it might sound. There is new development going on all around and the lovely tall, straight, old trees which stood on the hill right above our buildings were all cut down two years ago . They became expensive boards to build the condos being constructed up there now.
Nature has tried to make a come back. The Evergreens, mostly pine, have covered the bare slope. For a while we did not see any deer. They are out there once again. Now more brazen than ever,
venturing into the flower beds and grazing in full view on the lawn.
The bunnies are so numerous they are almost tame. Suicidal, actually. They sit in the parking lot expecting cars to wait until they decide to move. One evening recently as I sat outside with Hannah
and Ginger, this foolish bunny came bopping down the sidewalk.
He stopped and sat up Easter bunny style for a moment. Then,
lippity lipping along leisurely, he came right up to the astounded dog and cat. Hannah is well trained. Besides which she is a bird dog breed. She was very curious though, but sat tight. Ginger has been
known to avail herself of baby bunny for breakfast. She seemed to feel this one might be too old and possibly tough.
Why are these once shy wild animals becoming so comfortable moving about human settlements? Very simply there are just as many of them and far less habitat for them to shelter in.
The farm where I grew up was on a dirt road. 190 acres of rolling fields surrounded by trees and a creek. It is now suburbia-paved street, town water lines, sidewalks! It is not unusual to see red foxes there wandering across the lawns. Woe to the unwary cat.
There are still a few places in upstate New York and even Vermont
where old farm houses still exist and a few fortunate may live out their lives on the home place. And the wild creatures who have been there for centuries can still be wild.
Wild animals are blamed for much damage to property. Particularly deer, who wander through suburban gardens as if the plants were put there for them. Black bears, also, are becoming less afraid of humans, dogs, traffic. We have not found a way to live together in this new world.
I don't know the answer. Having been a wildlife rehabilitator, I have
repaired many animals who became injured by being where they were not meant to be--because the places they had been meant to be no longer exist. We patch them up, restore them to health, and return them to a momentarily safe place. But it will recur again.
Please do not feed these animals. It does not help as it only makes them reliant on humans for food. They will forget how to forage on their own. If you have clover in your lawn I guarantee you will have bunnies. If you have lots of clover, they just might leave your vegetable garden untouched. That kind of feeding (natural) is fine,
and you can enjoy the sight of rabbits holding revelries in the moonlight.
Comments
Post a Comment