Watching the Wildlife

If you're subscribed to the South End email list, there's been some chatter about wildlife.

Even though we're in the city, we do have plenty of wildlife in the area.   Aside from your birds and squirrels, you'll find opossums, skunks, and the popular raccoon.  Between the parks and our green rear yards, there are plenty of places for wildlife to hang out.   Some tips if you have any wildlife encounters.

• Respect each other.   Give animals their space.  Leave them alone and they'll leave you alone.
  
• Don't pet or feed them animals.  feeding them will bring them back and interfere with their natural foraging.  Trying to pet them can get you bitten..
  
• If you find a visitor sleeping on your deck in the morning, leave it alone.   It'll wander off once it wakes up.
• Raccoon droppings can contain worms.  If you find droppings, pick them up with a gloved (not bare) hand.   you don't want to kick or sweep it off the porch, as it could break up and leave small particles on the porch, then you're outside with bare feet and...
• Unless you're on your porch or in the adjoining room, don't leave your door open.  An animal can walk form a porch into your home if the door is open to a dark room.
• Unless an animal has come into your home, don't call animal control.  
• You probably ignored the last two comments because you have a deck a few stories up.   Animals can climb.  They can jump from house to house.  They can make it onto any deck or rooftop.

So enjoy your outdoor space, and respect the critters the share it with us.