Stream Valley Veterinary Hospital 2009 / Where the Wild Things Are…in Our Own Community

Where the Wild Things Are…in Our Own Community

by Shannon M. Pecora, M.A.
Stream Valley Veterinary Hospital

Living in the Broadlands means that many of us are fortunate enough to live close to the beauty of a natural environment, often right in our own backyards. Throughout the community, there are open green spaces, woods and forests, streams, and even some small ponds. Those areas support many different sorts of wildlife, including deer, foxes, rabbits, turtles, and snakes. Because our homes are so close to theirs, many Broadlands residents have had “wildlife encounters,” whether we see a hawk from a distance or find a frog in the garage.

These encounters can be fun and exciting—or sometimes a little frightening. They can also inspire some of us, especially younger children, to want to learn more about the wildlife in our community. However, occasionally that curiosity tempts us or our children to take an animal out of its natural environment and bring it home. We all worry that a small, lone rabbit in the front yard may not be able to make it on its own, but a shoebox or cage in the living room can be even more dangerous to a young bunny than a life alone in the wild.

Placing a wild animal in a residential home is simply a bad idea for many reasons. Most animals are naturally fearful of humans, so being forced to live among them can be extremely stressful. A distressed animal is less likely to eat or drink normally, and we often don’t know the proper diet to offer in the first place. Stress, hunger, and dehydration can in turn make the animal more susceptible to illness and disease. Additionally, the den or a child’s bedroom cannot match the natural habitat in terms of surroundings, temperature, or space to roam and exercise.

For instance, this spring, two box turtles came into the care of the Broadlands Nature Center and Stream Valley Veterinary Hospital. The turtles, named Fred and Wilma, had been taken from their natural habitat and were living in the home of a local family. Because they weren't kept in a proper environment or being offered the proper diet, they were suffering from malnutrition and, subsequently, abnormal growth. Fred's condition declined even further; he developed kidney problems that caused his body to swell, squeezing him against his misshapen and undersized shell. We were able to help him with fluid therapy and antibiotics in addition to improvements to his captive habitat and diet. Wildlife rehabilitators working with Fred and Wilma now believe that the turtles may have lost some of their survival skills, so they will stay at the Nature Center--in an enriched environment that mimics as closely as possible their actual, natural home.

Of course, there are times when we may find an obviously ill or injured animal who needs help and medical attention. In those cases, if it is clearly evident that you will not be harmed and will not cause the animal further harm, you may choose to somehow collect the animal, perhaps in a towel or paper-lined cardboard box. Yet it is most often best if your intervention stops there. As soon as possible, contact a veterinarian, emergency animal hospital, animal control, or the local wildlife hotline (1-703-440-0800). They will be able to help you decide if, for example, you should bring the animal to them or whether a professional should come to you to pick the animal up so that it can get the care that it needs.

What we need to remember is that wild animals are generally equipped to care for themselves. Even at what seems to be a very young age, many animals are capable of living independently, without needing their parents to feed or protect them. While we can enjoy sharing our community with interesting varieties of wildlife, we should always be sure to let them thrive in their own natural homes.