The Great Outsmores

Concern for “orphaned” wildlife is simply human nature. Most people who come across a deer fawn, a young bird or a newborn rabbit will initially watch in amazement and then immediately wonder if the animal is in need of help. This spring, as newborn wildlife blossom into existence, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) encourages residents to resist the natural urge to rescue these “orphaned” wildlife.

“While a person may have good intentions, young animals unnecessarily taken into captivity lose their natural instincts and ability to survive in the wild,” says WRD Assistant Chief of Game Management John Bowers. Thus, the urge to “help” or “save” these animals is strongly discouraged both for the survival of the animal and the safety of the individual.

“Most of the time, young animals that appear to be helpless and alone are only separated from the adults temporarily. This separation of adults from newborns is a critical survival mechanism. Adults spend a significant amount of time away from their offspring to minimize predation, but do frequently check on their young,” explains Bowers.

“Additionally, handling wild animals and bringing them into the home poses a health risk for both people and pets. Wildlife can transmit life-threatening diseases such as rabies and can carry parasites such as roundworms, lice, fleas and ticks,” explains Bowers.

Residents who encounter a seriously injured animal or an animal that clearly has been orphaned should contact their local WRD office to obtain a contact number for a certified wildlife rehabilitator who is licensed to provide proper care for the animal until it can be released back into the wild. Individuals who are not trained in wildlife rehabilitation should not attempt to care for wildlife. Georgia law prohibits the possession of most wildlife without a permit.

Residents who encounter an animal such as a bat, fox, skunk, raccoon, coyote or bobcat during the daytime that appears to show no fear of humans or dogs, or that seems to behave in a sick or abnormal manner (i.e. weaving, drooling, etc.), should avoid the animal and contact the local county health office and/or a WRD office for guidance.

The animal may be afflicted with rabies, distemper or another disease. Residents should not attempt to feed or handle the sick animal. Pets, livestock and humans should be kept away from the area in which the animal was observed.

The two most important steps people can take to protect themselves and their pets from rabies is to 1) get pets vaccinated and 2) avoid contact with wildlife. As another precautionary step, adults should instruct children to NEVER bring wildlife home.

For more information on orphaned, injured or diseased wildlife, visit www.georgiawildlife.com, contact a local WRD Game Management Office or call (770) 918-6416.

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With the arrival of another bluebird nesting season, Georgians can help these brilliantly plumaged birds find the perfect home, according to the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division. Bluebirds, a beloved symbol of happiness, have charmed generations with their cheerful song, their beauty and even their fondness for nesting boxes.

The birds once depended on naturally occurring cavities and abandoned woodpecker homes in snags for nesting. But because of a shortage in these cavities, a lack that has affected other cavity nesters as well, bluebirds have largely become dependent on humans for nesting sites.

“This is an excellent time to start putting up bluebird boxes because eastern bluebirds are already looking for nesting sites in Georgia,” said Jim Ozier, a program manager with Wildlife Resources’ Nongame Conservation Section.

The Wildlife Resources Division Web site (www.georgiawildlife.com) has information on building and erecting bluebird boxes, complete with diagram instructions for the traditional round-hole box and the slot box (including the Gilwood nest box).

“Research has shown that the slot box design is very well accepted by bluebirds,” Ozier said. “We have also found that they work well at sites where people are having problems with house sparrows, an introduced species that may compete with other cavity-nesting birds.”

The design of the slot box allows for more sunlight to enter, making this type of box less suited for house sparrows.

Place bluebird boxes in open habitats with sparse trees and low vegetation, such as old fields, pastures and orchards. Many bluebird nest box efforts fail because boxes are put in shrubby and forested sites. When possible, mount the boxes on metal poles or sunlight-resistant PVC pipes equipped with predator guards.

“If you feel you may not have enough open space in your yard, go ahead and put up a box anyway because you may encourage other cavity nesters such as the Carolina chickadee or tufted titmouse to take up residence in your newly erected home,” Ozier said.

Georgians can support conservation projects for migrating hummingbirds and other nongame wildlife through buying a wildlife license plate featuring a bald eagle or a ruby-throated hummingbird. They can also donate to the “Give Wildlife a Chance” state income tax checkoff. Sales of the wildlife plates are the main source of funding for the Nongame Conservation Section.

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Hang up your feeders and they will come! Ruby-throated hummingbirds and other avian acrobats are returning to Georgia from their wintering grounds to the south. Ruby-throated “hummers” may travel more than 600 miles from Mexico to Georgia.

“If you haven’t already seen a ruby-throated hummingbird in your backyard, you should soon,” said Jim Ozier, a Nongame Conservation Section program manager with the state’s Wildlife Resources Division.

Following the long, grueling migration, this diminutive bird must seek out about half its weight in food every day. Typical body weight of a ruby-throated hummingbird is 3 to 3.4 grams. To maintain their high metabolism, hummingbirds must feed frequently on high-energy food sources such as rich but easily digested nectar, or tree sap that collects in yellow-bellied sapsucker foraging holes. Hummingbirds also need protein, which they obtain by eating tiny spiders and small soft-bodied insects found on flowers or in sapsucker holes in trees.

Hummingbird enthusiasts can provide rich food sources for these travel-weary visitors by planting coral honeysuckle, columbine, bee balm and other native plants, as well as by putting up hummingbird feeders. Periodically clean feeders, making sure that all molds and bacteria are removed. But do not use harsh cleaning agents. Feeders can be easily cleaned in dishwasher or with mild soap and warm water.

Refill hummingbird feeders every few days with a simple mix of one part sugar to four parts water. For best results, bring the water to a boil before adding the sugar and then continue to boil three to four minutes, allowing the mixture to cool before filling your feeder. Refrigerate unused portions.

Homeowners who seem to enjoy the greatest success in attracting hummingbirds combine the use of feeders with planting flowers that produce an abundance of nectar. When planting flowers for hummingbirds, incorporate flowers that bloom from early spring through fall. Flower gardens will also attract a variety of other enjoyable nectar-feeders such as butterflies.

Occasionally, “lost” migrant hummingbirds not considered native to this region are seen at feeders. To report unusual hummingbirds seen in your backyard, please contact Wildlife Resources’ Nongame Conservation Section at (478) 994-1438. Information sheets on Georgia’s hummingbirds can be found at www.georgiawildlife.com.

Georgians can support conservation projects for hummingbirds and other nongame wildlife by buying a wildlife license plate featuring a ruby-throated hummingbird or a bald eagle and U.S. flag for their vehicle, or by donating to the “Give Wildlife a Chance” state income tax checkoff. The checkoff and nongame license plate sales are primary funding sources for the Nongame Conservation Section, which receives no state appropriations.

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Over the break, I was talking with one of my old hiking buddies who was actually bitten by a Cottonmouth when he was younger. He’s Ok now, of course, but I hope the following info. will help somebody avoid this kind of horrible encounter and also help us not to fear all snakes as they play their part in our local ecosystems.

Of Georgia’s 40 or so native species of snakes, only six are venomous and dangerous to humans. Most snakes we come across outdoors are not harmful at all, so please don’t harm them! If you encounter a dangerous snake, or you’re unsure what kind it is… leave it alone, and back away slowly.

• Copperhead
  (Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix)
  Copperheads, the most common of Georgia’s venomous species, are between two and three feet long when fully grown, and come in two races: Southern and Northern. The Northern race (left picture) is a pale brown or gray, and the Southern race (right picture) appears a dull orange. Both have broken hourglass bands stretching their body’s length. Copperheads are usually lethargic hunters, preferring to lie and wait for passing rodents. They prefer rocky outcroppings common to the mountains, but can be found all across Georgia, save the most extreme Southern portions of the state. Copperheads lie dormant, hibernating all winter, are most active in the Spring and Fall, and become primarily nocturnal during the hot Summer months.

• Canebrake or Timber Rattlesnake
  (Crotalus horridus atricaudatus)
  Timber rattlesnakes, sometimes called Canebrakes, are between three and a half and four feet long when fully grown. They boast a thick triangular head, and come in two “phases,” the pale phase and canebrake phase. The canebrake phase (left picture) has dark V-shaped bands with a dark stripe behind the eye. The pale phase (right picture) is a yellow brown with dark brown blotches and a black tail. They are commonly found in cane and bamboo thickets, rocky outcroppings, and lowland forests.

• Cottonmouth a.k.a Water Moccasin
  (Agkistrodon pisvivorus conanti)
  Four feet long when fully grown, the Water Moccasin can be found around nearly any fresh water habitat including streams, rivers, ponds, marshes, and lakes, especially when bordered by lowland pine forests. Their bodies are a dark brown, with with dark yellow-brown bands. Cottonmouths can be distinguished from other water snakes by the deep between the nostrils and eyes, and a dark stripe on the side of the head, buffered by yellow on top and bottom. Unlike most other snakes, cottonmouths swim with their heads far out of the water. They can also be recognized by their tell-tale white mouth (inside), but I hope most readers don’t ever get close enough to realize what I’m talking about.
• Pigmy Rattlesnake
  (Sisturus miliarius)
  The pigmy rattlesnake is about two feet long when fully grown, with a broad triangular head with interlocking rattlers at the end of a thin tail. Two races inhabit the Georgia, and both races are pictured below:

  Dusky Pigmy Rattlesnake	Carolina Pigmy Rattlesnake

  Pigmies are one of the more aggressive species, however their short fangs sometimes fail to puncture clothing and boots. They’re common to pine flatwoods, prairies, marshes, and water sheds.

• Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
  (Crotalus adamanteus)
  Georgia’s largest rattlesnake, the Eastern Diamondback can grow up to five feet long. Eastern’s have a broad triangular head, and smoky gray body with dark brown daimonds surrounded by pale yellow. Rattler is horny, and interlocked. Easily distinguished by their light and dark diagnal lines across the face. E. Diamondbacks are very unpredictable, and should be given a wide berth. If you find one, freeze and let the snake move on. Habitats include hardwood and pine forests, palmetto stands, and fields along the coastal plain and peidmont.
• Eastern Coral Snake
  (Micrurus fulvius fulvius)
  Coral snakes are one and a half to two feet long when fully grown, and closely resemble two of Georgia’s non-venomous species, the milk snake and scarlet snake. Coral snakes are slender shiny creatures with yellow, black, and red bands. Their snouts are black, but their non-venomous relatives are red. Coral snakes are found mostly in Southern Georgia, near marshy wooded areas and streams. They are usually very shy, and solitary, but are highly venomous and should be avoided at all times. To distinguish a Coral snake from it’s harmless relatives, remember these three things:
  1. Red and yellow bands touch = dangerous
  2. Coral snakes have black noses
  3. ” If red touches yellow, it can kill a fellow. If red touches black, it is a friend of Jack.”

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This was reportedly taken on the South African coast, and is was verified as real by snopes.com:

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SAVANNAH — An alligator attack killed an elderly woman whose mauled body was found in a pond, according to an autopsy performed today.

A biologist for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources says it was the first time an alligator killed a person in Georgia since 1980.

Read the whole article here.

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It appears that you can have pet deer still in Georgia… I never knew. Over the weekend the owner of the Trail of Tears Ranch in Cherokee County was gored to death by a pet red deer.  It appears that the deer had been acting aggressively due to the coming rut, no word on why he was in the animal’s pen when it happened.

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This one from Alphatrilogy.com a hunting & fishing blog:

Ever Wonder Why Some Male Elk Have Such Long Antlers?

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This guy must make one hell of a linebacker. Not bad for single “A” ball.

I’m thinking a post route across the middle is out the question. This guy & his harem were photographed at Estes Park High (where my wife formerly taught) on the practice football field.

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