July 7, 2008
Top Wildlife Myths: How Well Do You Know Your Wild Neighbors?
Summer is Best Time for Kids – and Adults – to Learn More about Wildlife
With kids spending more time outside, The Humane Society of the United States wants to set the record straight about the most common wildlife myths.
According to Laura Simon, field director of urban wildlife for The HSUS, "These popular myths have been around forever, passed on from generation to generation. We are hoping that educating the next generation will ultimately result in a better coexistence between humans and wildlife."
Myth # 1: Feeding bread to geese and ducks is okay.
Fact: Bread is bad for all birds because it offers little nutritional value. Severe health problems, including a debilitating condition called "Angel Wing" can be caused by bread diets. Feeding can also lead to dependency in ducklings and goslings who fail to learn how to find native foods on their own. Some birds can even become aggressive about being fed — leading to a tragic outcome if humans decide to remove them.
Myth # 2: If you find a fawn alone, she has been orphaned.
Fact: It is actually very common to see fawns alone because the mother will "park" her babies somewhere and only visit two to three times a day. This helps avoid attracting predators. Until the fawn is four weeks old, you will rarely see her with mother. Instead, she relies on camouflage and lying still for protection during this vulnerable period.
Myth # 3: If you touch a baby bird, the parents will abandon him.
Fact: Birds have a limited sense of smell, but are strongly bonded to their chicks. Parents will not abandon chicks handled by humans. The best thing humans can do if a baby bird falls from its nest, and is not well feathered and clearly learning how to fly, is to put him back in it. Watch carefully: The parents will return to feed him.
Myth # 4: If you see a raccoon during the day, he must be rabid.
Fact: Raccoons are opportunistic and will appear whenever food is around. Although normally nocturnal, it is not uncommon to see them during the day when pet food is outside, especially in spring and summer when mom raccoons need more energy to nurse their cubs. However, if the animal is acting disoriented or sick, such as circling, staggering or screeching — in addition to being seen by day — contact a local animal control officer.
Myth # 5: If you get close to a skunk, you'll get sprayed.
Fact: It is actually pretty difficult for a person to get sprayed by a skunk. These animals only spray to defend themselves, such as when a dog runs up and grabs them. But because they cannot "reload" very fast, skunks do not waste their odiferous weapon. Instead, they will stamp their front feet as a warning to get you to back off.
Myth # 6: Bats get tangled up in your hair if they fly near you.
Fact: The last place a bat wants to be is in your hair. Bats navigate using a complex sonar-like system called echolocation which allows them to "see" their world with precision. The misconception about bats flying in hair is based on a bat's swooping flight patterns when trapped in a confined space, like a house. The reason they swoop is not to fly into your hair, but to stay airborne.
Myth # 7: Cats belong outdoors and it is not fair to keep them inside the house.
Fact: Letting cats roam outside subjects them to perils of the outdoor world, particularly being hit by cars. Indoor cats live a healthier and longer life. Outdoor cats, no matter how well-fed, will hunt and kill wildlife like baby rabbits, chipmunks and baby birds who have not yet learned to fly. Wildlife and cats are both at risk when people let their cats out.
Myth # 8: Opossums are vicious and rabid.
Fact: Opossums are highly resistant to rabies, most likely due to their low body temperature. Opossums are also relatively benign creatures who defend themselves by hissing, teeth-baring and drooling. These are not a sign of rabies but rather a bluff to scare off potential predators. When their act doesn't work, they play dead.
Myth # 9: Canada geese stick around because they forgot how to migrate.
Fact: Geese who live in one place year-round do so through no fault of their own. Our "resident" birds are descendants of captive-bred geese introduced by wildlife agencies over several decades to restore huntable populations. Geese were also released by people who thought they would simply look nice on their ponds. As a result, transplanted geese never learned to migrate from their parents, but still thrive in our suburban landscapes.
The HSUS Wild Neighbors Program promotes non-lethal means for resolving conflicts between people and wildlife and cultivates understanding and appreciation for wild animals commonly found in cities and towns. The program's book, Wild Neighbors: The Humane Approach to Living with Wildlife (December 2007, Humane Society Press) is a useful reference for individuals and communities faced with resolving encounters with wild animals who find their way into yards, gardens, houses, parks and playgrounds. On the web at humanesociety.org/wildneighbors.
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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization — backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the web at humanesociety.org.