Animal Of The Month
This story appears as an on-going series in the "Gilroy Dispatch", "Morgan Hill Times" and "Hollister Freelance".
Wildlife in the Autumn
November, 2015
By Colleen Grzan
Wildlife in the Autumn
November, 2015
By Colleen Grzan
"Clarabelle" the Acorn Woodpecker
For most of us, autumn is the time of year we shake off the lazy days of summer and get down to the serious business of food. Resourceful folks are canning their autumn harvests of pumpkins, pears, persimmons, and peppers. People are busily preparing days ahead for sumptuous holiday feasts to share with their families and friends.
Fall is also the season for a flurry of activity among wildlife to enable their survival during cold winter months: Cliff swallows and rufous hummingbirds are migrating south to warmer climates with a more plentiful supply of insects, bears and marmots are fattening up and preparing dens for hibernation, and squirrels and acorn woodpeckers are gathering and hoarding thousands of nuts in tree granaries to eat in the winter when food is scarce. [Clarabelle, the Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center’seducational, non-releasable acorn woodpecker shown in photo, doesn’t have to worry about being sheltered from inclement weather or having enough to eat—at any time of the year. She is fortunate to be provided with plenty of acorns, pine nuts and peanuts, live worms, and fresh fruit inside her roomy aviary.]
We humans are fortunate, too—if we’ve forgotten an ingredient for making that cinnamon crumble apple pie or garlic mashed potatoes, just grab a shopping list and head on down to the corner grocery store. On blustery, cold days, we can snuggle up with cozy blankets before a fireplace. Our local wildlife doesn’t have it so easy, what with the summer’s dry season causing a shortage of edible vegetation and prey animals such as field rodents. Homes and businesses constructed during spring and summer months often forces wildlife further away from their natural habitats. You can help the wildlife’s chances of survival by providing sources of food, fresh water, and shelter. Planting native trees will give food and shelter to birds, squirrels, and other small animals. Plant winter flowers such as Kniphofia, and keep your birdbath and birdfeeders, including hummingbird feeders, clean and filled. Put out bowls of meal worms for the insectivorous critters. Year-round birds like emerald-and-scarlet Anna’s hummingbirds, wintering birds like golden-crowned sparrows and orange-and-black varied thrushes, and avian travelers like red-yellow-and black western tanagers just stopping by on their migratory route will be most thankful and you might have a rainbow of autumn and winter colors in your yard, come rain or shine.
And speaking of migration, be a dear to deer and drive with extra caution: October to December is deer migrating season. The drought has caused wildlife to come closer to human habitation and roads in search of food and water. There are over 100,000 deer-and-vehicle collisions reported each month in the United States. A few safety reminders may help prevent this tragic occurrence:
***************************************************
A heartfelt THANK YOU to the wonderful WERC team: The volunteers who feed our animals, clean up after them, tend to injuries, build and maintain enclosures, and participate in public events; our veterinarians who donate their expertise and time in the care and treatment of the animals; and to all of our generous supporters who help us provide the food and shelter for our educational and rehabilitation animals.
Fall is also the season for a flurry of activity among wildlife to enable their survival during cold winter months: Cliff swallows and rufous hummingbirds are migrating south to warmer climates with a more plentiful supply of insects, bears and marmots are fattening up and preparing dens for hibernation, and squirrels and acorn woodpeckers are gathering and hoarding thousands of nuts in tree granaries to eat in the winter when food is scarce. [Clarabelle, the Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center’seducational, non-releasable acorn woodpecker shown in photo, doesn’t have to worry about being sheltered from inclement weather or having enough to eat—at any time of the year. She is fortunate to be provided with plenty of acorns, pine nuts and peanuts, live worms, and fresh fruit inside her roomy aviary.]
We humans are fortunate, too—if we’ve forgotten an ingredient for making that cinnamon crumble apple pie or garlic mashed potatoes, just grab a shopping list and head on down to the corner grocery store. On blustery, cold days, we can snuggle up with cozy blankets before a fireplace. Our local wildlife doesn’t have it so easy, what with the summer’s dry season causing a shortage of edible vegetation and prey animals such as field rodents. Homes and businesses constructed during spring and summer months often forces wildlife further away from their natural habitats. You can help the wildlife’s chances of survival by providing sources of food, fresh water, and shelter. Planting native trees will give food and shelter to birds, squirrels, and other small animals. Plant winter flowers such as Kniphofia, and keep your birdbath and birdfeeders, including hummingbird feeders, clean and filled. Put out bowls of meal worms for the insectivorous critters. Year-round birds like emerald-and-scarlet Anna’s hummingbirds, wintering birds like golden-crowned sparrows and orange-and-black varied thrushes, and avian travelers like red-yellow-and black western tanagers just stopping by on their migratory route will be most thankful and you might have a rainbow of autumn and winter colors in your yard, come rain or shine.
And speaking of migration, be a dear to deer and drive with extra caution: October to December is deer migrating season. The drought has caused wildlife to come closer to human habitation and roads in search of food and water. There are over 100,000 deer-and-vehicle collisions reported each month in the United States. A few safety reminders may help prevent this tragic occurrence:
- Slow down!
- Deer are most active at night between 6 and 9 p.m.
- Be aware of your surroundings. Watch for posted deer crossing signs.
- Use high beam headlights as much as possible at night.
- Deer usually travel in herds – if you see one, it’s likely that more are following.
- If a collision seems inevitable, don't swerve to avoid the animal. Hitting oncoming traffic could be even worse. Be prepared to brake hard. If you do hit a deer, do not attempt to move or rescue the deer yourself. They are very dangerous animals. Call 911 to report the accident.
***************************************************
A heartfelt THANK YOU to the wonderful WERC team: The volunteers who feed our animals, clean up after them, tend to injuries, build and maintain enclosures, and participate in public events; our veterinarians who donate their expertise and time in the care and treatment of the animals; and to all of our generous supporters who help us provide the food and shelter for our educational and rehabilitation animals.
Colleen Grzan
WERC, the Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center, provides the community with rehabilitation services for orphaned, injured and sick native wildlife. It is supported solely by donations from businesses and the public.
WERC, the Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center, provides the community with rehabilitation services for orphaned, injured and sick native wildlife. It is supported solely by donations from businesses and the public.