Photo by Dottie Tison

Today, I took a look at our local Westsound Wildlife Shelter’s web page, and noticed eighty-four animals have been treated since January 1. That number begins the spring season, when wildlife are injured through territorial disputes, accidents to young, and run-ins with human neighbors.

This month Westsound Wildlife Shelter will host a fundraiser auction on April 25. Wildlife are part of everyone’s ecosystem, whether rural or city. If you have a local wildlife shelter, now would be a great time to show how much you care by making a donation or pledge. It’s always the right time to be a good neighbor!

Another way to be a good neighbor is to avoid using pesticides and herbicides. Read labels carefully, and look for safe products that state “organic”, “all natural”, or “non-poisonous to animals”. An organic orchardist in central Washington once told me, “Anything you put on your plants, trees, or in the soil [fertilizer or compost] eventually goes into ground water.” Think about that next time you drink water! And remember that wild animals are also affected by what we spray on our plants and how we amend in our lawn and garden soil.

Photo by Dottie Tison

There are so many ways to keep habitat safe for our wildlife neighbors. Depending on where you live, turning off nighttime, outdoor lights offers nocturnal animals like owls and bats a friendly habitat. Owls and bats keep rodent and mosquito populations down. When you prune, leave trees that birds nest in alone. No trees? Arbor Day is coming up soon. Consider adding a species tree or shrub to your yard that would benefit local birds and squirrels.

Living with wildlife: Last week I headed to the back of our property to remove an outdoor faucet cover. I was off in my head and didn’t notice a young deer until we were about twenty feet from one another. He stood up from his sunny nap, and I muttered, “Oh, so sorry, so sorry.” That deer had a good seventy-pound advantage on me, hooves as sharp as knives, and a small but dangerous rack on his head. To my relief, he ambled down the hill as I turned to the side of our building. We both enjoy living on the land, and we both have found ways to cope with each other. He eats the blackberries and wild grasses in the field; I have a deer fence around our domestic plants.

Parting thought: Wild animals play important roles my novel, Who Is Mackie Spence? and I very much value their presence in my daily life. Happy Spring to all!

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