DFW Wildlife Hotline

🦇No plans for Halloween week? Love wildlife? Bats usually are associated with Halloween for the wrong reasons... How about going to appreciate them from afar this week, for the right reasons!

Texas has many bat viewing areas. Just make sure to respect their space by:

1. Being quiet, whispers only
2. Do not point flashlights or use flash photography
3. Do not throw objects at them
4. Give them space, especially when emerging out
5. If you find bats on the ground do not touch them. Contact us and/or look up the closest bat expert on www.batworld.org

🌱Call us for any wildlife concerns or conflicts:
972-234-WILD (9453)
🌱Visit our website:
https://www.dfwwildlife.org

Bat viewing sites: (30-60 minutes before sunset)
https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/bats/bat-watching-sites/ #:~:text=Stuart%20Bat%20Cave%20is%20a,as%20late%20as%20mid%2DOctober.

Photo shows bat species and places to appreciate them.
Photo credit: TxDot https://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/library/pubs/kids/bats.pdf

🍁Reasons not to rake your leaves:

1. Moths lay eggs on dried leaves
2. Natural mulch, fertilizing soil
3. Suppress weeds
4. Insulates plants
5. Pest control by offering food for lizards, birds, turtles, frogs, and insects that overwinter in the fallen leaves
6. Prevents erosion from rainfall

🍁Raking them around trees, garden beds, or in other areas is also beneficial.

🍁Avoid burning leaves as this can be illegal in city limits, cause air pollution, & fire hazards.

🌱Questions or concerns? Call us at (972) 234-9453 (WILD)

Brrrrrrrrrrr it’s getting cold outside 🥶
You might be finding little critters in your motor, so make sure to give it a good tap and look before heading to work in the mornings. 🌱🐾

🌱Questions or concerns? Call us at (972) 234-9453 (WILD)

Please check to see if your home has one of these downspouts. Remove them if you see them, bobcats chase rodents up these and end up getting their necks stuck. Thank you 🌱🐾

Why you should contact your pest control company and ask them to remove the rat boxes & glue traps from your property:

🌱Rodent boxes:
1. When a mouse/rat ingests rodenticide they do not perish right away, they can become easy prey for predators like owls/raptors, coyote, and bobcat. This causes toxicity in the predator. As the poison builds in their system. Their immunity becomes compromised and makes them vulnerable to parasites such as manage.
2. Glue traps: A very agonizing death for many species, not just for the mouse or rat in which it was intended for. Many birds get stuck to these and it rips out their feathers without being able to free themselves without intervention and careful set of hands in rehab. Inhumane and agonizing death.

🌱Solution:
1. Removal of food and shelter opportunities such as stored paper and fabric. Use metal containers for food not plastic. Dumpster and garbage can control.
2. Electronic sensor deterrents
3. Seal garage with products easily found on Amazon
4. Humane traps, if you use this option make sure to check the traps every day. It is a simple catch and release box. Issue with this during spring are the babies they may have outside. So if possible release near by but seal entrance ways inside the house.

🌱Letting wildlife do their job is much easier and more effective. A fox can catch a much higher number of rats/mice compared to a single box; but a single box can kill a link of animals. Owls, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, snakes… the list goes on. Say no to glue traps & rodent boxes. Contact your pest control company today.

🌱Questions or concerns? Call us at (972) 234-9453 (WILD)



Photo credit: Robert Saucedo, Karin Hargrave Saucedo

🌱Soon you might be seeing more of bobcat kits learning their own way around. Fall season means kits usually leave their parents but if there is a plentiful supply of food they will stay together until winter time. No need for concern unless they are injured.

Around 9-10 months the kits are evicted after having many life skill lessons from mom. Other male bobcats will be approaching her so she will encourage her kits with growling for them to move on. Typically, the siblings will stay together a little while longer. Females will usually stay closer to their mother’s territory.

🌱Questions or concerns? Call us at (972) 234-9453 (WILD)



Photo credit: Sent to us from a caller in 2021

🌱Planting native plants helps the flora and fauna flourish by:

1. Water conservation: require less water due to adaptations to local climate and soil.
2. Less maintenance.
3. Healthier for your family due to decreased desire to use pesticides.
4. Wildlife support: provide food and shelter to local wildlife.
5. Biodiversity: plant a wide variety created diverse ecosystem.
6. Erosion control: the strong roots help your soil from erosion.
7. Resilient: less money will be required for your yard to look beautiful. Don’t forget your front yard too. Leave the leaves where they are, help the soil regenerate.

🌱Share with your family and friends, start a conversation!

🪴Get Started here:
🌱Start a new habitat & get on the biodiversity map here: Homegrown National Park
https://homegrownnationalpark.org/about-us/

🌱Native Plant Society’s page to help you get started: Native Plant Society of Texas
https://www.npsot.org/resources/native-plants/native-plants-database/

https://www.npsot.org/our-work/class-schedule/plant-lists-by-ecoregion/

🌱Texas Parks and Wildlife:

https://tpwd.texas.gov/wildlife/wildlife-diversity/wildscapes/wildscapes-plant-guidance-by-ecoregion/

🌱Call us for any wildlife concerns or conflicts:
972-234-WILD (9453)
🌱Visit our website:
https://www.dfwwildlife.org

Photo credit:
North CentralTX Area Plant/ Texas Blackland Praire & Crosstimbers

Heads up! From October 14 through November 17, I'll be dimming my nightly light shows (like we have for the past 4 years 💅) to help the 1 in 4 migrating U.S. birds that have Texas as a part of their trip fly safely! 🕊️

As the icon of one of American birds' favorite cities, it's important for me to do my part in helping my flying friends - join me by dimming your lights, too! 🤍

Oh, and wondering if my dimming actually helps? Check out Audubon Texas Lights Out Texas initiative to learn more. - The Ball

Halloween Decorations
🎃Problems:
- Fake spider webs (or any entangling fibers): Many species including birds of prey can get entangled in them.
- Toxic materials that may look edible to birds, bats, or other wildlife; such as plastic bugs.
- Decorations with loops, hanging materials, and circles; example:
hanging burlap with holes in them- these loops can cause a choking hazard when wildlife inadvertently put their heads though whilst foraging. As well as a danger for flying wildlife.
- Candy and its wrappers, small toys: When ingested can cause toxicity or entanglement in bowels.
- Drivers be alert for trick-or-treaters but also for wildlife that maybe seeking refuge from the unusual gatherings and lights in the neighborhood.
- Strobe lighting: Can confuse and disorientate many wildlife especially the ones that rely on night vision to navigate. Animals like the opossum already have poor vision, adding the disorientation of light can unintentionally coerce them towards roadways.
- Strings of lights: Wildlife can become entangled in them; example: an adult male deer’s antlers can easily get caught in them.
- Avoid crossing through front lawns while trick-or-treating so contact with nocturnal animals can be avoided.
- Do not bleach or try to preserve pumpkins that are outside; example: bleaching Jack-o’-lanterns so that they may last longer can cause severe toxicity to the wildlife who may naturally eat them.
🎃Solution:
- Have educated discussions with neighbors encouraging a safe, and fun Halloween.

👻Call us if you have found any wildlife in distress, or have any questions: 972-234-WILD (9453)

👻Visit our website:
https://www.dfwwildlife.org/

Today is North Texas Giving Day!
For every dollar you give to the DFW Wildlife Coalition Hotline today, you help give two native wild animals a second chance to survive. Your donation helps reduce wildlife orphaning and euthanasia so that we can share our backyards and cities with our local wild neighbors. Thank you for your support! Donate today:

Communities Foundation of Texas | North Texas Giving Day North Texas Giving Day is the largest one-day giving event in the country. Donate from September 1 - 19!

Have you seen a coyote or bobcat in your neighborhood and are wondering if they need to be relocated?

The DFW Wildlife Coalition Hotline is a resource that can help you to understand the role that coyotes and bobcats play in our ecosystem, what behaviors are normal, and when hazing is necessary to create healthy boundaries between humans and wildlife. If a coyote or bobcat is sick or injured, we can help! We have a team that will treat animals with mange and even track animals that need to be rescued.

We exist to help DFW residents and our local native wildlife, but we need your help! This North Texas Giving Day, please donate to the DFW Wildlife Coalition Hotline and make a difference for wild animals around you. Donate today: https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/organization/Dfw-Wildlife-Coalition

We are here to help you 365 days/year from 7 am to 10 pm. at 972.234.9453 or [email protected].

Communities Foundation of Texas | North Texas Giving Day North Texas Giving Day is the largest one-day giving event in the country. Donate from September 1 - 19!

Teenage wildlife

🌱It’s about that time our “teens” go out and learn the way of the world from their parents. You might be seeing more of them during the day or night. No cause for concern unless they are injured.

🌱We are here for you & our wildlife 7 days a week. 365 days of the year. Support us this North Texas Giving Day. Early giving is NOW! If you can donate you will help wildlife get the correct course of action, and be there for people like you who need someone to assist in the right direction.

🌱Questions concerns? Call us.
(972) 234-9453 (WILD)

🌱Link to donate: (also found in our Instagram bio)

https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/organization/Dfw-Wildlife-Coalition

🌱Thinking about hiring a wildlife removal company or trapping unwanted wildlife on your property? Studies show that trapping is not humane, and relocated animals rarely survive due to territorial issues.

🌱The DFW Wildlife Coalition Hotline can empower you to make sure wild animals are safely evicted and wild mothers take their babies with them when they go - or we can refer you to a vendor that meets the National Humane Society’s standards.

🌱We exist to serve DFW residents and our wild animal populations, but we rely on volunteers and donations to keep this service going. This North
Texas Giving Day, donate to support the DFW Wildlife Coalition Hotline! Donate today:

https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/organization/Dfw-Wildlife-Coalition

We are here to help you 365 days/year from 7 am to 10 pm. at 972.234.9453 or [email protected].

Early giving has begun for North Texas Giving Day! Click the link below to jump start us!

Link to donate:

https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/organization/Dfw-Wildlife-Coalition

Gone fishn’ ? 🎣

Before you do, save this on your phone. 🐢🌱

Sunday funny!