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It's Spring again
Stoker:
Last evening I was walking my dog on the path behind my house. I live in the city. There was this young fella standing with a 5 gal pail and a cell phone recording something. The closer I got to him, I noticed a porcupine by a tree. Fair enough buddy is having a natural moment. What's with the fiver? I say Hi how's it going. Nice porcupine. Then he points out the baby one by the tree. only a day or two old. Turns out He saw the baby yesterday evening and the mother was gone and didn't come back for two hours. As he sat there and watched the wee one. Call fish and wildlife and finds out where to find a shelter for the baby. Now I know what the five gal pail is for. We talk for a bit, he is wondering if mom has brought food for the little one, as he doesn't see anything she brought. I remind him about mammals.
I have listened to his concerns. I explain how the system works. Mothers will hide their young when they go foraging for food. They return and feed. Sometimes a first time mother may not be as attentive as she should be. Law of the woods. I explain to him that he should back up about another 30 yards to give space, that he was creating stress to mom. It's ok to observe from a safe distance.
How many times do you here stories on the news about city people rescuing baby animals, by finding them and waiting a hour or so and don't see mom. Mom is watching you, only they are to unaware to see her as she is hiding. Leave well enough alone, unless there is a great amount of stress on the young one. Is mom dead and laying there? Figure it out. Sometimes people drive me nuts. I hope he made the right decision.
Sorry about the rant. Thanks for listening
Leroy
Digital Caveman:
You'd think city critters would be used to humans. At least the guy was trying to help rather than pester it.
JW_Halverson:
I deal with "rescued" babies all the time. *sigh*
BowEd:
--- Quote from: Stoker on May 22, 2021, 02:06:25 pm --- Last evening I was walking my dog on the path behind my house. I live in the city. There was this young fella standing with a 5 gal pail and a cell phone recording something. The closer I got to him, I noticed a porcupine by a tree. Fair enough buddy is having a natural moment. What's with the fiver? I say Hi how's it going. Nice porcupine. Then he points out the baby one by the tree. only a day or two old. Turns out He saw the baby yesterday evening and the mother was gone and didn't come back for two hours. As he sat there and watched the wee one. Call fish and wildlife and finds out where to find a shelter for the baby. Now I know what the five gal pail is for. We talk for a bit, he is wondering if mom has brought food for the little one, as he doesn't see anything she brought. I remind him about mammals.
I have listened to his concerns. I explain how the system works. Mothers will hide their young when they go foraging for food. They return and feed. Sometimes a first time mother may not be as attentive as she should be. Law of the woods. I explain to him that he should back up about another 30 yards to give space, that he was creating stress to mom. It's ok to observe from a safe distance.
How many times do you here stories on the news about city people rescuing baby animals, by finding them and waiting a hour or so and don't see mom. Mom is watching you, only they are to unaware to see her as she is hiding. Leave well enough alone, unless there is a great amount of stress on the young one. Is mom dead and laying there? Figure it out. Sometimes people drive me nuts. I hope he made the right decision.
Sorry about the rant. Thanks for listening
Leroy
--- End quote ---
That is what happens when well meaning people that are disconnected or uneducated from and about mother nature and their surroundings impose unrealistic human standards on animals.PETA is an example.
An injured animal rescue is a different story,or a human interfereance situation.
Life can be cruel and wonderful at the same time.I'm speaking from a lifetime of working with animals and hunting and fishing.
Stoker:
I know people are people. It just frustrates me that a hipster and a cell phone with "good intentions" does damage.
The good news, mama is still hanging around that big old willow tree. So maybe just maybe, someone listened. I can see the tree from the top of the hill behind my house. I haven't gone to close to the tree.
The natural area was a one of the reasons we bought a house there. Deer, birds and a creek does it get better in town. I have 2 garter snakes that spend a lot of time in my garden eating pests. I've taught my grandsons what berries and edibles you can eat. The good with the bad.....
Thanks Leroy
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