The Critter Hunter

I receive numerous calls every week about “Can you please rescue these baby bunnies/rabbits”.  Whether it is a nest that is found in the lawn or they see the rabbits running around in the back yard; or the kids caught them and brought them home in a box or a cat or dog got to the nest, the facts are:  A female cottontail rabbit will dig a 3-6 inch depression in the ground usually right out in the open. She will use dry grass and her own hair to line the nest where she will give birth to as many as 8 young, which are hairless and blind. The female will keep them covered up but will not stay with them. She may return once every 12 hours to nurse them.  The Rabbit mothers milk is very rich and the baby bunnies grow extremely fast.  The female Rabbit may have up to 6 litters in a single season, if weather permits.  As soon as the baby bunnies are fully furred and their eyes are open they will leave the nest and spread out at this time.  They will pretty much rely on eating vegetation and will give up nursing.  Even though the baby bunnies are still very small they are quite capable of taking care of themselves but are still very fragile and should be left alone.

If the baby bunny is mortally wounded or any broken limbs the animal will absolutely not survive or can it be rehabilitated. They are too fragile to fix.

I do not recommend handling them because you can wind up hurting them very easily.  My motto is always; Let Them Go, Let Them Grow.  Again these animals do not need to be rescued.

If you are unsure about a situation please give All That’s Wildlife, Inc. a call.

Rick Wilberschied a/k/a The Critter Hunter

It’s the breeding season for Whitetail Deer.  I was coming home the other day and saw a Buck chasing a Doe in a corn field that had just been cut. The Doe ran about 50 yards from the road. I slowed my truck down thinking she was going to run out in front of me.  I pulled over and watched them for a while. The Buck kept chasing her closer to the road till they were finally 10 yards off of the shoulder. She grew tired from the relentless chase and bedding down in plain view. He stood in back of her for a while waiting for her to get back up, he also grew tired after a while and bedding down not far from her.

This scene plays out all over the country this time of the year.  Here in Illinois alone there are over 100,000 vehicle Deer collisions reported every year. A lot of these collisions could be avoided just by taking the proper precautions as a driver. Be more aware when driving through wooded areas or around standing crops. At night use your bright lights if there is no one in front of you and there is no oncoming traffic. I’ve experienced by having my bright lights on I was able to see a Deer about 15 yards off to the right in front of me ready to cross the road.  I was able to slow down in enough time. I know there are instances where they will run out and hit the side of your vehicle, like for instance, two weeks ago an absolutely monstrous Buck ran across a stretch of a two lane blacktop straight into the side of a passing pickup truck.  The woman that was driving was able to keep the truck on the road.  She was a little shaken but was not hurt. The Buck did not survive the collision. As I’m sitting here writing this story I can hear a combine off in the distance picking corn. Deer make standing crops part of their shelter and food source.  A moving combine in a corn field pushes the Deer ever closer to the road and in the path of danger.

Be aware, be careful while driving.

Rick Wilberschied aka The Critter Hunter

www.allthatswildlife.com

Coyotes in the woodpile!

While doing some yard work, a couple discovered an animal lying down by their wood pile. It was a coyote and they called me.

The coyote was tucked into a spot by their firewood. Upon closer inspection, I had determined the animal was struck by a vehicle. It suffered multiple broken limbs and couldn’t move that well. She was definitely suffering and I had to do something quick. So I put the catch pole around her neck to subdue because her natural instincts were in high gear and she was snapping, snarling and biting at me. I did the humane thing and euthanized her. It was quick and painless. This animal had been suffering for days. This is never an easy decision for anyone to make. But as a wildlife control professional, I have to make hard decisions on a daily basis. They are necessary but not always pleasant.

Coyote sightings around or near homes should be taken very seriously. They are highly opportunistic animals and can be become quite bold and brazen. They may approach humans when accompanied by pets or children. There have been a lot of reports over the recent years of Coyote human confrontations.

You can find out more about Coyotes on my web page, All That’s Wildlife or contact us at 1-847-980-5561, or via email at rick@allthatswildlife.com

Cute But Dangerous1

Cute But Dangerous2

It is that time of the year again where we start to get frequent calls regarding female red fox (vixen) with litters of kits (baby fox) appearing from underneath sheds, decks, and large concrete stoops. It really amazes me sometimes how people don’t even realize that a fox is living on their property until the kits start to emerge from the den.  They are roughly 4-5 weeks of age at this time. People start complaining about dead animal parts lying around in their lawn and on their decks. The vixen is starting to introduce solid foods into the kits diet. The little grayish fluffy balls of fur start to wander out of the den to check out the world outside for the first time.  At first they stay very close to the entrance of the den but soon will start to wander around and check out their surroundings, still not straying too far away. They will wait for the mother to come back and bring them birds, rabbits, chipmunks, mice and other small creatures. She is teaching them what they are going to eat when they are able to hunt for themselves. They will take the best part of the animal at first and leave the less desirable morsels strewn around the yard for later consumption. Other pieces become just toys. This will create an untidy little scene for those with weak stomachs.  What you are seeing is raw nature at its finest.  This is a photographers or wildlife observers dream.  People will ask me “can you or will you remove these animals’. They have concerns about their childs safety and safety of their pets, as well as concern for their neighbors well being.  My answer to them is of course but I also inform them this can get a little expensive and time consuming.  I also let them know that it isn’t a 100% guarantee that we can get the mom and kits. She hunts day and night to bring back enough food for all her kits.  This can make it very difficult to capture her. She will take short breaks, sometimes up to an hour to spend nursing and grooming of her babies.

If we trap the whole family, which could be very difficult and time consuming, they cannot be relocated successfully.  As strong as her motherly instincts are if relocated to a different area her own survival would become the most important thing to her. She will abandon her kits in which they will perish by starvation or predation.   In my own personal opinion do not try to approach them at all as cute as they are they are still a wild animal and pose a threat. If they are not creating a large problem they will usually be gone within another 4 weeks of foreseeing them. When they are strong enough to accompany their mother on hunting trips which is usually about 8-10 weeks of age they will leave the den. They may come back a few times but will eventually disappear and abandon the den site and will wander their territory.  If a customer wants them removed we can certainly provide them with that service. They can call an  All That’s Wildlife, Inc. professional for an assessment.  If you choose to let them be—only enjoy them from a distance.

Rick Wilberschied a/k/a The Critter Hunter

Coyote Sightings and Confrontations

It is becoming all too familiar wherever you go!  Coyotes are everywhere.  In wildlife control we notice them more than most, yet the calls are coming in to ATW more and more every week.

Our callers are always a little excited HEY!!!  I just spotted a coyote in our yard – is this normal?  Do you think it might have rabies?  Should we stay in the house?  Do we have to put the dog on a leash???  There are a lot more questions too.

If you find yourself, your family members or a pet in a confrontation with a coyote, FIRST, NEVER EVER approach any wild animal.  SECONDLY, if you come across a coyote – don’t run.  Always make yourself look BIG!!!  Make a lot of noise.  Yell.  Clap your hands.  Keep making loud noises.

If a coyote comes on to your property, usually they are just passing through.  They dine on almost everything and as the winter wears on they look for easy meals and begin to lose their natural fear.  They are opportunistic and see meals in:  trash, bird feeders, BBQ grills, pets, children and sometimes adults.

You can read more about Coyotes on my web page, www.allthatswildlife.com or contact Rick Wilberschied at 1-847-980-5561, or via email at rick@allthatswildlife.com