For Release: June 11, 1997

Contact: Lori Suprock 277-1267 or 789-0281

Stephanie Powell 277-2771 ext. 4418

PROVIDENCE - As spring moves into early summer, the RI Department of Environmental Management's Division of Fish and Wildlife receives many calls from people asking what to do with young birds and mammals, thinking they're orphans. But often, those 'orphans' are actually under the watchful eye of a hidden parent, learning the important lessons of how to fly and how to feed themselves, says Lori Suprock, principal wildlife biologist at DEM. AYou may think you are being a 'good Samaritan', but it is really an injustice to bring them inside or feed them."

Many calls, Suprock says, are from people who want to rescue these animals because they are being stalked by cats. It's estimated, she says, that the nation's 64 million house cats, barnyard cats, and feral cats kill over one billion birds and three billion small mammals in the United States each year. "If your cat is stalking a bird, bring the cat inside and leave the area so the adult bird can return to its young," Suprock says. "If the bird is newly hatched and featherless, it is best to try to find the natural nest site and place the bird near it, in a cloth-lined, escape-resistant artificial nest. If its natural nest is high in a tree, place the artificial nest as high in the tree as you can reach.

"Always wear gloves. Even animals and birds that appear healthy may carry parasites or diseases that can be transferred to you or your pet," she says.

"Another problem we get calls about," Suprock says, "is animals invading homes, most often attics and chimneys, to make nests and raise their young. Raccoons often cause problems by nesting in chimneys.

"It is best," she says, "to hire an animal control professional to remove them and cap the chimney with an approved device. Placing the young and nesting material in a box next to the chimney, so the mother can retrieve them, is best. It is important not to separate family units when removing animals.

"Wildlife-proofing your home before a problem arises decreases the likelihood of a rescue operation later on," Suprock says. She offers the following tips:

• Routinely inspect your home for small openings, including gaps around window air conditioners and chimneys. Generally, any opening greater than one-quarter inch is large enough to allow an animal access and should be blocked or screened with building materials resistant to gnawing or prying, such as galvanized sheet metal. If you find an existing hole, extend a metal patch six inches beyond it in all directions to prevent squirrels from gnawing around the patch. Never seal an animal inside! Before making repairs, be certain the space is empty, even if that means calling an animal control professional to check for you.
• If your chimney is not capped, cover it with an approved chimney cap. Again, be certain there is no animal inside. Never light a fire in the chimney to "chase out" an animal.
• Prune branches away from your house. Overhanging tree limbs are a major pathway for squirrels and raccoons to reach attics and chimneys. They can easily cause a fire hazard once in your home by chewing through wires.
• On the ground, look for areas that may appeal to animals. Skunks like denning sites such as wood piles, rock piles, elevated sheds, openings under concrete slabs and porches, and crawl spaces under houses. Raccoons will nest in crawl spaces, and brush piles, as well as in attics, chimney, and tree cavities.
• Low openings in buildings should be closed up with boards or screening that extends eight to 10 inches underground. Openings under concrete structures should be backfilled with dirt and bolstered with screening. Debris piles should be removed or stacked neatly to eliminate cavities. Remove undergrowth and grass cover used by woodchucks by mowing around buildings. Use mortar to patch cracks in concrete and masonry.
• Garbage cans can pose a persistent problem, and need to be covered and secured with tiedowns. Try to reduce odors by keeping cans out of direct sunlight and freezing the most pungent garbage until the morning of pickup. Rinse cans periodically, and use baking soda to absorb residual odors.
• Do not leave pet food outside. When pets are finished eating, bring in dishes and clean up what may have spilled outside the dish.