Newsletter

HOME TIPS

PRACTICE THE THREE R's: REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE. HELP US SAVE WILD LIVES.
Use environmentally safe cleaning products: Baking Soda, Vinegar, Lemon Juice,
etc., in your home or business. It is not necessary to use all the chemical products that
are on the market today. Some contain agents that can cause allergy, asthma and other
physical problems. These chemicals remain in our environment and expose us, too!

Use cloth diapers when at home and disposables only when
away from home. Disposables are not biodegradable and will still be in the landfill long after
the child who wore them is gone.

Instead of using paper towels, buy inexpensive dish towels
and toss them in the washer as you use them. Another way to save trees is to buy only recycled
paper. And instead of paper napkins, you can buy washcloths and treat them the same way you
do your recyclable towels

Use natural fiber sheets and clothes. Manufactured fabrics are made out of plastic, a petrol-chemical (oil) that is toxic
to our bodies. Be sure to wash them and any other newly-purchased fabric to remove
the chemicals applied, called "Finish". This chemical keeps the fabric freshly starched
and wrinkle-free during shipping and selling. At times, the chemical used is formaldehyde, a
preservative. We found it interesting that at a Funeral Director's Convention back in the
late 80s, it was stated that: "It is no longer necessary to embalm the human body. We
are exposed to so many preservatives that the body no longer decays as before."

DO NOT use poisons for pests -- non-targeted species (the good ones)
are also poisoned. STW has treated many Birds of Prey who have eaten Strychnine-poisoned squirrels. Old-fashioned
mouse and rat traps are still the best. Don't use glue boards -- birds often
become stuck to them and are helpless (we have seen plenty of this, too).

Cut up string, yarn and 6-pack plastic rings. Animals can
become entangled and die a horrible death at the dump, beach, park, and in waterways.

Take a little extra time when shopping to look for and buy recycled
and environmentally friendly products. Refuse to buy Styrofoam products or aerosol cans.
Purchase reusable pump sprayers & refills in wax-coated paper cartons.

Use "Lemon Joy" to rid your pets of fleas instead of
toxic flea collars and sprays. Animals absorb the poison from them into their blood stream and
are poisoned, too.

Don't use poison sprays to rid your home of fleas,
roaches or other pesky insects. Instead, use Borax. For fleas, vacuum your carpet and
throw away the bag. Then sprinkle Borax powder on the carpet and furniture, and work the
Borax in with a broom or brush. Also sprinkle it around floorboards and pet sleeping
areas. Don't vacuum for 1 week. Repeat every two months. You can also purchase lizards
from pet stores that eat roaches. They only come out at night and are completely
harmless (except to roaches, spiders and ants).

WILDLIFE & THE GREAT OPEN ROAD

Deer, raccoons and other animals are nocturnal and often forage for food along the roadways at night. This often puts them in danger of being hit. If there is no oncoming traffic, set your headlights on high to increase roadside visibility.

At night, watch for red or gold reflective orbs alongside the roadways -- they may be animal eyes. Be aware that if one animal is sighted, others may be near. This is especially important during the summer months, when baby animals are following their mothers.

Be very cautions in undeveloped urban areas. For animals, this is all the safe habitat they have left in which to hide, forage for food and live.

Pay attention to the orange and black "Wildlife Crossing" signs -- these are known "Wildlife Corridors".

If you know of an unmarked wildlife crossing area, please contact the Department of Transportation and take responsibility to have a sign placed.

If you see an animal along the road ahead, slow your vehicle, flash your headlights and tap the horn. Be aware that a frightened animal may panic, turn in circles, run towards your car or in the opposite direction than expected.

When you see an animal dead on or alongside the road, slow down and look around carefully. Other animals feed on roadside carrion, or it could be a mother with young near.

If you wish to help save wild lives, carry a box, old towels and blanket with you in the trunk of your car. This emergency kit will help you rescue injured animals to take to the nearest rehabilitator or vet.

If an animal is hit unavoidably, stop to see if the animal is still alive. If so, and it can be done safely, place the animal in a box and call the Game and Fish Commission for a rehabilitator's phone number. When traveling away from home, most veterinarians work with or know rehabbers, so look for a Animal Clinic.

There is a new product on the market that attaches to your vehicle bumper. We don't know how effective it is or the statistics on it, but anything to save wild lives is worth trying. This device emits a high-pitched whistle only heard by animals when the vehicle is moving, to warn them away. It is usually sold in sporting goods stores.

BACKYARD CORRIDORS

SHARE YOUR YARD WITH THE WILDLIFE -- PLANT A NATIVE HABITAT. Use native species only and help provide our wildlife with the diet they need.

Do Not use pesticides or herbicides in your yard. These poisons kill birds and other animals that live in your yard. They also poison your pets and children who play on the treated soil. Flush the yard with a low phosphate soap-and-water mixture to get rid of the bugs.

Plant as many trees as possible -- create your own micro-forest. Planting more trees today means cleaner air and more wildlife habitat for the future.

Put up bat houses to control mosquitoes. Use Skin-So-Soft to repel mosquitoes for humans and pets.

Plant your own square-foot garden. Use yard debris and food scraps to make your own compost.

To keep bugs out of the garden, put flour in a paper bag with holes in the bottom and sprinkle garden daily. Also use plants which are natural insect repellents (Chrysanthemums, Golden Seal, etc.).

Put up bird houses, squirrel boxes and feeders for your backyard wildlife community.

Feed wildlife seeds and fruits, never bread. Bread impacts in the crops and stomachs, causing the animal's intestines to become blocked. This can lead to serious problems and even death.

Support and protect urban Greenways in the city. These patches of trees, fields, alleys, etc. serve as mini wildlife habitats that offer protection and nesting sites.

Do Not cut trees or shrubs in the spring -- doing so may bring down a nest. Do it during late winter, before "Baby Season", which typically begins in March.

If you have opossums in your neighborhood, you are very lucky. These animals are our only native marsupial (mama carries the babies in a pouch) and are immune to the poisons of our native snakes. They eat rodents, snakes and bugs. They are very afraid of people, and when cornered, will put on a vicious act before playing dead. Because of their incredibly efficient immune systems, this animal does not carry rabies.

If you live near water or are just visiting a lake or river, pick up any trash or discarded fish line. Animals become entangled and will drown, or can starve to death hanging from a tree. Sometimes they mistake a flashy piece of trash for a fish and will become very sick if they ingest it.

Oil, antifreeze and other toxic substances are deadly to animals if ingested. If there is an accidental spill, use sand to absorb it, then dispose of properly.