SIMPLE WAYS TO HELP

People commonly ask us "how can I attract raptors to my yard?" Simple: make it a safe, hospitable space for all wildlife!

1. If you attract their prey, the predators will follow. Incorporate native plants into your landscaping, provide fresh water, keep the grass mowed, and leave dead trees and fallen leaves where they lay (as long as they don't pose an immediate risk to your home). Many smaller animals, pollinators,  and insects rely on these resources for survival. 

2. Make your yard a safe place for birds to stay. Avoid leaving predatory pets outside for extended periods of time, and never let cats roam unsupervised - this can be dangerous for both your cat and local wildlife. 

3. Provide a convenient nesting place where birds can lay eggs and raise their young.  Putting up a nesting box is a great way to do this! American Kestrels as well as several species of owls are known to use man-made nesting boxes.

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Raptors and other predatory animals are excellent at pest control. On average, a single owl will eat over 1,000 mice per year! Sometimes, however, those mice get into the house where an owl can't easily follow. How do you deal with them then?

When eliminating rodents from your property, we strongly recommend sticking to snap traps and live traps. Sticky traps tend to catch many animals at once and may harm more than just the intended target. Screech owls. song birds, grasshoppers, reptiles, and helpful spiders and snakes often get stuck on the trap instead of the mouse you're trying to catch. 

Similarly, poisons - rodenticides - are indiscriminate in what they kill. They are also a slow and inhumane method of killing. 

Rat poisons are  made of a blood thinner (coumadin). It takes 2-3 days for the animal who ingested it to actually die. During that time, as they slow down and weaken, they are often found and taken by predatory animals (such as house cats) as an easy meal. Unfortunately, this chemical continues up through the food chain,  killing several animals - each suffering a slow and agonizing death.

We recognize that hunting and fishing often go hand in hand with conservation efforts and can provide healthy resources for your family. However, all those benefits can be offset by the type of ammunition you use. 

Lead fragments significantly upon impact and spreads quickly via the bloodstream before the animal drops. Much of it ends up in the organs that are tossed out when you field dress the animal, and even a small piece - smaller than a clipping off your little finger nail - is enough to kill a bald eagle! 

The remaining fragments that hide away in the carcass end up in the meat you take home to eat. US Fish & Wildlife sampled ground venison from random meat processors and found that 80% had lead in it. Those traces may not be enough to kill a grown man, but they can have a significant effect on pregnant women and young children.

As an alternative, consider using copper fishing weights and ammunition. They are both safer to use and more efficient.

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