Thinking about putting out your dogs’ shedded hair for birds’ nesting material? Think again.

Posted on March 2, 2022March 2, 2022 by John Reilly

With spring coming, two things will be happening around our homes: Birds will be building their nests and our dogs will be shedding their winter coats. This would appear to be a happy coincidence, as the dogs are apparently providing soft, comfortable nesting material for our returning bird population. However, we need to be extremely careful about this.

Dog fur, particularly their undercoat, is extremely soft and provides insulation – until it gets wet. When that happens, it hardens into a hard wad. And longer hairs are very strong and can wrap tightly around birds’ wings and legs – particularly nestlings. This can act like a tourniquet and tighten until that limb is lost or crippled[i].

These two factors make combed-out dog fur very undesirable for nesting material, but are not the worst danger associated with leaving their combed-out hair out for the birds. Many of us use flea and tick treatments to protect our dogs from those parasites. These treatments contain insecticides that are targeted at blood-sucking insects and the eggs that they lay on our pets’ skin. They are safe and effective in keeping our pets free from insect parasites, but they can also be highly toxic to birds and deadly to new hatchlings. And those insecticides are present on our dogs’ fur for weeks after each treatment.

I’m not going to address the issues associated with specific brands of flea and tick treatments, as they are generally considered safe for dogs and this article addresses only the use of their combed-out fur for nesting material. However, I do ask that, before discarding your dog’s spring shedding or putting it our for the birds, you become familiar with the ingredients of your preferred treatments and the risk to wildlife in disposing of that fur.

Check the manufacturers’ websites and the ingredients list on the flea treatments’ packaging. Commonly used insecticides in flea and tick treatments include Imidacloprid[ii], fipronil[iii] and fluralaner[iv]; all of which are highly toxic to birds and would be dangerous to their hatchlings. Encouraging birds to use fur that has been treated with these chemicals, even if its with the best of intentions, would be very cruel and harmful. If you are not sure what the ingredients of your flea/tick treatments are, then please play it safe and dispose of the fur in your household trash. Also, if you buy these treatments from anything other than a reputable veterinary pharmacy (either in-person or online), you really have no assurance what the ingredients really are or what their dosage is, making them risky to both your pet and to wildlife.[v]

Thanks for reading this. The key takeaway is that, although these treatments are safe, effective and beneficial to your pets, they can have undesired effects if your backyard wildlife is exposed to them. Be aware of their ingredients before putting your dogs’ shedded coats out for birds to use.

[i] Langas, A. (April 22, 2019) What Nesting Materials are Safe for Birds? Audubon. Retrieved from www.audubon.org/news/what-nesting-materials-are-safe-birds

[ii] NPIC (n.d.) Imidacloprid. Retrieved from Imidacloprid General Fact Sheet (orst.edu)

[iii] NPIC (n.d.) Finpronil. Retrieved from Fipronil General Fact Sheet (orst.edu)

[iv] Fox, M. W. (August 13, 2014) Researching the Possible Hazards of Products Made to Stop Fleas and Ticks. Washington Post. Retrieved from Researching the possible hazards of products made to stop fleas and ticks – The Washington Post

[v] Silvia, B. (February 15, 2021) Is it Safe to Buy Discounted Pet Medications Online? Consumer Reports. Retrieved from Safe to Buy Discounted Pet Medications Online – Consumer Reports

Help Prevent the Spread of Mange

Posted on September 9, 2021September 9, 2021 by John Reilly

From Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife – via Facebook

www.facebook.com/RIFishwildlife/photos/a.871562866211086/4678950772138924

Bird illness – update

Posted on August 7, 2021August 23, 2021 by John Reilly

Update (August 22, 2021). Cornell University’s Lab of Ornithology and the College of Veterinary Medicine have advised that, although the reason for the bird mortality is still undetermined, cases are declining the infection appears to be waning. State wildlife officials throughout the Midwest and Atlantic seaboard have rescinded their guidance to take down bird feeders. Mysterious Bird Disease – Take Down Your Feeders | The Animal Nerd

Update – although the mysterious illness that is killing songbirds in the mid-Atlantic and mid-west appears to be declining in those states (Zenkevich, 2021), the Hartford Courant is reporting that cases have now been identified in southern New England (Arnott, 2021). We are still being asked to refrain from putting up bird feeders and bird baths.

Arnott, C. (August 6, 2021). Bird deaths from mystery illness confirmed in Connecticut; Audubon advises ‘no birdfeeders’. Hartford Courant. Retrieved from Bird deaths from mystery illness confirmed in Connecticut; Audubon advises ‘no birdfeeders’ – Hartford Courant

Zenkevich, J. (August 4, 2021). Reports Of Mysterious Bird Disease Decreasing In Pennsylvania. Retrieved from www.sciencefriday.com/articles/bird-disease-decreasing/

Mysterious Bird Disease – Take Down Your Feeders

Posted on July 11, 2021August 22, 2021 by John Reilly

August 22 Update: Cornell University is still advising that, although the cause of the illness is still undetermined, cases are declining. Wildlife authorities in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Virginia, Kentucky and West Virginia, as well as the Audubon Societies in Maryland and Rhode Island, have lifted their advisories regarding bird feeders and bird baths (Nimmo, 2021; Audubon Society of Rhode Island, 2021; Wildlife Center of Virginia, 2021; WeinGartner, 2021). We are requested to continue regular cleaning of baths and feeders, using a 10 percent bleach solution.

July 31 Update: The illness is being reported in some Illinois counties where it had previously not been detected (Smith, 2021). Reports of infected birds are continuing to decline in Pennsylvania, along with Virginia and Kentucky (KDKA, 2021).

However, the Audubon Society is advising that the cause of the illness is still unknown. This is a particularly sensitive time, as many of our bird species will be departing on their annual migrations to Central and South America, and there is great concern that – if this disease is contagious – that it might be spread to native bird populations there. We will probably be requested to refrain from using our bird feeders and bird baths through the month of August (Gerrity, 2021).

July 30 Update: News sources in Virginia and Kentucky are reporting sharp declines in reported cases of the illness that’s been affecting the mid-Atlantic and midwest states (INSIDENOVA, 2021; Times-Tribune, 2021). As yet, the illness has not been reported in New England or west of Illinois.

Although this is encouraging news, the cause of this die-off of wild songbirds still has not been identified and it is still to be determined whether infected birds are contagious. So wildlife authorities throughout the affected states, and the surrounding states – including New England – are asking that we continue to take down our feeders and bird baths.

July 29 Update: Cornell University’s Lab of Ornithology and the College of Veterinary Medicine is reporting that cases of the songbird illness are declining and the mortality rates are decreasing; and that bird populations are stable.

July 28 Update:

The songbird illness continues to take toll on our wild bird population, and is now reported in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. It has not been reported in New England, or states west of Illinois, although residents of the surrounding states are being advised to take down their feeders and bird baths as a means of limiting birds congregating and reducing the spread of the disease.

The cause is still unknown, however scientists have eliminated known bird viruses and the bacterium that have caused previous similar outbreaks. The recent cicada brood hatching also appears to be unrelated to this disease, as it is being found in areas where the cicadas didn’t appear. At this point, twelve bird species have been found to be affected: the blue jay, European sterling, grackle, American robin, northern cardinal, house finch, house sparrow, eastern bluebird, willow tit, Carolina chickadee, and mayow tit (Patterson, 2021).

There is some speculation that the illness may be caused by toxins associated with invasive insect species, perhaps in concert with invasive plant species (Abbott, 2021). However this seems unlikely to be the case, as the illness would probably have been known to exist in the overseas locations where these species are native. However, the idea that a toxin is somehow involved would seem to explain why the disease mostly affects young birds, which would have been fed high concentrations of local seeds or insects.

July 11, 2021:

In the past few weeks, a new deadly disease has emerged on the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, affecting a wide variety of songbirds. Scientists are still trying to determine the nature of the illness and how it is transmitted, and whether it is a new virus or a fungal infection, but it is causing thousands of deaths across a wide range of unrelated bird species, including robins, blue jays, cardinals, woodpeckers, and others (Malakoff & Stokeland, 2021).

This infected bird was found in Washington DC in May of this year

The symptoms include crusted and inflamed eyes and the neurological symptoms include inability to stand and head tremors. The birds are unable to fly or feed themselves and eventually die.
The disease was first noted in the Washington DC area in May of this year (USGS, 2021), but rapidly spread to the adjacent states. It is now appearing in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and is continuing to spread. Although the nature of the illness is still unknown, based on its rapid spread throughout the eastern and midwestern states, it appears to be highly contagious across a wide range of bird species (Zenkevitch, 2021; ).

We can help to limit the spread of the disease by reducing the number of places where songbirds congregate and are likely to infect each other. State authorities, even in areas such as the New England states in which the disease has not yet been found, are asking that we take down our bird feeders and bird baths until the disease has subsided, and that they be thoroughly cleaning with a 10 percent bleach solution before being put back in use (RI DEM, 2021; AP, 2021).

This isn’t a lot to ask. If we’re feeding the birds because we want them to be well fed and we enjoy having them in our lives then, until this disease runs its course, it makes sense for us to encourage them to look for natural sources of food and not congregate in large numbers at a common feeding site. Our wild bird populations are already under stress from climate change and loss of habitat. There is no reason for us to add to that by facilitating the spread of a disease. Lets take down our feeders and bird baths, clean them thoroughly, and wait until we hear that its safe to put the up again.

Abbott, B. (July 27, 2021). Opinion: Seeking to Solve Mystery Songbird Illness. CTPost. Retrieved from www.ctpost.com/opinion/article/Opinion-Seeking-to-solve-mystery-songbird-illness-16342822.php

Associated Press (July 8, 2021). Residents Told to Stop Filling Feeders to Avert Bird Illness. Retrieved from apnews.com/article/ct-state-wire-birds-health-environment-and-nature-412ec4d6d2ec8c1c23f772a577795394

Audubon Society of Rhode Island (August 20, 2021) Bird Feeding Can Resume in Rhode Island. Retrieved from asri.org/news-events/2021/audubon-monitoring-bird-illness-in-mid-atlantic.html

Fisher, F. (July 27, 2021). Cornell experts not overly alarmed by mysterious songbird sickness. Retrieved from www.ithaca.com/news/ithaca/cornell-experts-not-overly-alarmed-by-mysterious-songbird-sickness/article_ae73fa12-efc6-11eb-9a3f-ef82b40e923f.html

Gerrity, K. (July 30, 2021) An Update From The Connecticut Audubon Society About Bird Disease. Patch. Retrieved from patch.com/connecticut/essex-chester-deepriver/update-connecticut-audubon-society-bird-disease/

INSIDENOVA (July 29, 2021). Mystery songbird illnesses, deaths improving in Northern Virginia. Retrieved from Mystery songbird illnesses, deaths improving in Northern Virginia | Headlines | insidenova.com

KDKA (July 31, 2021). Reports Of Illnesses In Songbirds Declining After Mysterious Disease Caused Dozens Of Deaths. Retrieved from pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2021/07/31/reports-of-illnesses-in-songbirds-declining-after-mysterious-disease-caused-dozens-of-deaths/

Malakoff, D. and Stokeland, E. (Jul 6, 2021). Songbirds are Mysteriously Dying Across the Eastern U.S. Scientists are Scrambling to Find Out Why. Science Magazine. Retrieved from Songbirds are mysteriously dying across the eastern U.S. Scientists are scrambling to find out why | Science | AAAS (sciencemag.org)

Nimmo, T. (August 20, 2021). Kentuckians can put bird feeders back outside after mystery illness. WCPO. Retrieved from www.wcpo.com/news/state/state-kentucky/kentuckians-can-put-bird-feeders-back-outside-after-mystery-illness

Patterson, R. (nd). Don’t Feed the Birds! PA. The Mysterious Death of a Songbird in Japan Sparks and Investigation. Pennsylvania News Today. Retrieved from pennsylvanianewstoday.com/dont-feed-the-birds-pa-the-mysterious-death-of-a-songbird-in-japan-sparks-an-investigation-life/183199/

Rhode Island DEM, Division of Fish and Wildlife (July 8, 2021). Wildlife Health Alert. Retrieved from www.facebook.com/RIFishwildlife/

Smith, K. (July, 30, 2021). First cases of mystery songbird illness seen in suburban wildlife centers. Daily Herald. Retrieved from www.dailyherald.com/news/20210730/first-cases-of-mystery-songbird-illness-seen-in-suburban-wildlife-centers/

Times-Tribune (July 29, 2021). Kentucky Fish and Wildlife provides update about bird illness investigation. Retrieved from Kentucky Fish and Wildlife provides update about bird illness investigation | Local News | thetimestribune.com

USGS (July 2, 2021). UPDATED Interagency Statement: USGS and Partners Continue Investigating DC Area Bird Mortality Event. Retrieved from UPDATED Interagency Statement: USGS and Partners Continue Investigating DC Area Bird Mortality Event

Weingartner, T. (August 20, 2021). As ‘Mystery’ Bird Illness Continues, Some in Tri-State May Put Bird Feeders Back Out With Precautions. WVXU. Retrieved from www.wvxu.org/environment/2021-08-20/mystery-bird-illness-bird-feeders

Wildlife Center of Virginia (August 20, 2021). Update of 2021 Avian Unusual Mortality Event. Retrieved from www.wildlifecenter.org/news_events/news/update-2021-avian-unusual-mortality-event

Zenkevich, J. (July 7, 2021). M ore Than 1,000 cases of Mysterious Bird Disease Reported in Pennsylvania. WESA. Retrieved from More than 1,000 Cases of Mysterious Bird Disease Reported In Pennsylvania | 90.5 WESA

Suburban Wildlife – Backyard Critters

Posted on April 4, 2021April 4, 2021 by John Reilly

Above and below: Local wildlife captured on a backyard trail cam

If you live outside of a major city, you might be surprised to learn that your home is part of an ecosystem. Your yard is a place where animals roam, hunt, forage and raise their young; and you are part of it by virtue of the boundaries you place on it, the shelter and food sources that you create, and the dangers that you bring to it.

Set up a trail cam outside your house before you settle down to an evening of television and you will see what I mean. In the mornings, you will see pictures of animal comings and goings in the night that you probably never knew were happening. You will find that you are sharing your turf with opossums, rabbits, raccoons, skunks, woodchucks, coyotes, foxes, owls and other critters that you may never have been aware of. They are your neighbors and live their lives right under your nose. They are the reason that your dog wakes you up in the night and barks to go outside.

What’s your part in this? The best thing you can do is be responsible and be aware of their behaviors.

First off: Control your pets. Always keep your cats indoors and do not let your dog outside at night without keeping an eye on him. Your cats are predators by nature and will attempt to hunt and kill birds and any other small animals that they can get. Further, your cat is prey for the larger predators in your area. By keeping your cat indoors, you are increasing its life expectancy by 12 to 15 years^1,2.

Second: Keep your trash inaccessible and use bins that cannot be opened by wildlife. We do not need to attract wildlife to our homes or invite them to visit us for food.

Third: Do not feed them. If wildlife is present in your neighborhood, that means they have plenty of food and do not need you to supplement their diets. And, the fact is, the sugar, fat and salt content in our diet is just as unhealthy for them as it is for us. You are not doing them any favors by sharing it with them. I am not saying to take down your bird feeder, just don’t share your breakfast cereal or dinner leftovers with them. And absolutely do not feed your pets outdoors or leave their food bowls outside. Not only do your pets’ bowls attract wildlife – sharing them with wildlife is an avenue for diseases.

One of the main reasons to admire wildlife from a distance is that they can carry diseases and parasites that are dangerous to both humans and our pets. Not only profoundly serious diseases such as rabies and distemper, but tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, parasites such as mange, fleas and scabies, and other communicable diseases. You can keep these illnesses and parasites outside by simply taking simple precautions about your pets and their food.

Lastly: Leave them alone. Do not try to make friends with them. In fact, the more wary they are of people, the better. If you see a critter that seems to be unafraid of you or tame; or if one approaches you, it is probably sick³. In fact, animal welfare organizations across the country are seeing increases in diseases such as canine distemper^4,5, a disease that can be spread to unvaccinated dogs.

Summing it up: Just recognize that we share the world with wildlife, and we should respect their space. We can enjoy them from a distance, but for our benefit and theirs we should minimize our intrusion into their lives. We also need to protect our pets by keeping them from having any interactions with wildlife and keeping their vaccinations up to date.

References:

Suburban Wildlife – Deer

Posted on March 29, 2021March 29, 2021 by John Reilly

Deer are becoming more and more common in human-populated areas and are establishing themselves as a fixture in our neighborhoods. In the coming months we are going to see increased deer activity as fawning season begins in late April and May. Depending on your viewpoint, they’re a nuisance and garden thief, or they’re an attractive addition to your local community. In either case, there are some do’s and don’ts that you should keep in mind.

First off, do not feed them or do anything to attract them to your home. For one thing, not all of your human neighbors would appreciate it – particularly those with gardens. And any food that you might put out would also attract other animals that you might not want to have nearby, such as mice or rats. The deer in our backyards are feeding themselves very nicely and do not need your help. In fact, we do not want them to become even more accustomed to human habitats than they already are. For their own sake, we want them to be cautious around humans and avoid us. Another reason to keep them at a distance is that they carry parasites and diseases (ticks, mange, lyme disease, leptospirosis, salmonella and giardia, to name a few) that are contagious to us and our pets¹. Your pets belong in your yard; the deer may visit from time to time but do not need to be regulars. In fact, it’s a bad idea to let them become regulars.

In the spring you might encounter a fawn that is bedded down in a corner of your yard or in a wooded area. This is common. The fawn is fine, you should leave it alone and keep your pets and children away from it. Unlike a lot of other animals, deer do not keep their unweaned young with them 24/7; they will leave fawns in a safe, quiet place while they graze nearby². So, if you see a fawn, just assume that it is most likely not orphaned or abandoned and does not need your help. If you are concerned about it, set up a camera and watch it for a day or two to see if the deer returns. If she doesn’t, call a wildlife rescue organization.

Summing it up, deer are cute and attractive animals. Even though they live close to us, they are still wild animals and its better for all concerned if we leave them alone and admire them from a distance.

References

American Veterinary Medical Assocation. Disease Precautions for Hunters. Retrieved from Disease precautions for hunters | American Veterinary Medical Association (avma.org)
Mizejewski, D. (2015, April 15). Finding a Fawn: What to do, retrieved from Finding a Fawn: What To Do • The National Wildlife Federation Blog : The National Wildlife Federation Blog (nwf.org)

Eastern Coyote Myths and Reality

Posted on February 14, 2021February 14, 2021 by John Reilly

Its coyote season again. This is the time of year when coyotes mate and establish dens and territories in preparation of new puppies arriving in the spring. We can expect new encounters and sightings in our neighborhoods in the coming months. So, I thought this might be a good time to discuss some commonly held notions and beliefs about them.

Myth Number One: Coyotes roam in packs. Everyone knows that.

Actually, they live in small groups of about 5 individuals, consisting of a dominant male and female pair, with a few lower status members and any puppies that have been born that year. In some cases, the “pack” may consist only of the breeding pair and any pups they may have. The size of the pack is limited by the availability of game and the level of danger in that environment – in areas in which they are hunted or more likely to be killed by automobiles, their “pack” size tends to be smaller.

A third to a half of the coyotes that you may encounter don’t belong to packs at all, and are solitary animals. They may be individuals who have left their packs and are looking for mates, or a looking for a pack to join, or just like being alone.¹

The misconception that they live in larger groups may be due to their vocalizations. When they get together for a good howl, two or three of them can sound like ten, as seen in the below video:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtsZoIe3Czk

Myth Number Two: Coy-wolves. They’re enormous.

Not so much. Coy-wolves are not a thing.

Before Americans started moving west, coyotes were rare east of the Mississippi River. Starting over 100 years ago, coyotes from the American west began moving into Ontario, CA, taking over the space left by other predators being forced or hunted out. As they drifted eastward, they intermingled with hybrid wolf populations in Canada, and became genetically distinct from the western coyote populations. These hybrid coyotes are generally referred to as Eastern Coyotes.

A genetic study of coyotes in the New York area found that they generally 64% coyote, 13% gray wolf, 13% eastern wolf and 10% dog. This should not be interpreted as meaning that they are interbreeding with domestic dogs. That DNA was picked from the hybridized wolves they interbred with on their way east. There is some speculation that species that are endangered or under pressures to survive, such as wolves, are more likely to breed with other, more successful species. ²

As a result of this genetic mixing, the coyotes we see in the US northeast are somewhat larger than their western counterparts and have slightly larger heads. The ones that you are likely to see in your neighborhood will be between 20 and 40 lbs, about the same as a small- to mid-sized dog. But they’re not coy-wolves.

Myth Number Three: Coyotes attack people. Everyone has a story.

No. They don’t. They really want nothing to do with us. You and your kids are safe from them.

Coyote attacks are, in fact, very rate. There is only one recorded incident of a human being killed by coyotes in the United States. Most cases in which humans have been bitten by coyotes are instances in which the coyotes were being fed (its never a good idea to feed wildlife) or in which people were attempting to save their pets from a hunting coyote.³

There are stories of people who claim that they were “stalked” by a coyote while out walking or hiking. It is more likely that the coyote was simply curious, or had been fed by someone, or has simply become habituated (accustomed) to humans and is less fearful than it should be.

Myth Number Four: Coyotes are rabid. One bite and you die.

Not really. There is a coyote strain of rabies, but that is limited to a population in Texas. They are considered to be a disease vector for rabies, but no more so than any other wild predator. The primary risk of a rabid coyote is one that was bitten by an infected animal of another species.^6,8

Not a Myth: Coyotes can prey on pets and livestock

Yes, this can happen. Coyotes are opportunistic predators and will attempt to make a meal out of any small prey they encounter. This can include your pets, including smaller dogs or cats, or any other pet animals that you may leave out in your yard.

Dogs can be particularly vulnerable. We encourage them to be social with their fellows and they may approach coyotes that they encounter. Particularly so at this time of year then coyotes are mating – a fertile female coyote can be very interesting to a male dog. ⁴,⁸

That said, they don’t make a practice of eating our pets. Nor, contrary to popular belief, do they live largely on our garbage. Studies of eastern coyote scat from urban and suburban areas show that they live primarily on rodents, fruit (Yes, they have a sweet tooth and like berries or apples and pears) and deer (whether they hunt deer, or are scavenging road-killed deer carcasses is unclear). ^2,5,7

The easiest way to protect your pets from coyotes to not let them roam, and don’t let your rabbits and chickens freely wander around your yard. Keep them in protected runs. And take particular care to have them secure at night. Eastern coyotes hunting habits are shifting in response to human behavior and they are becoming more and more nocturnal – when we are less active. ^3,4

Lastly, we also share our suburbs with other predators, including feral cats and dogs, raccoons, foxes, weasels, minks, owls, etc. Although coyotes are becoming more and more common in our neighborhoods, its likely that they are being blamed for predation done by other species.

What’s the takeaway?

The reality is that they are present in your neighborhood. They are getting used to the flood of noises, smells and activity that we create, and are thriving in our urban and suburban ecosystems. They are somewhat beneficial as they prey on rodents such as rats, mice and moles that can become nuisances if left unchecked. They’re not going away and we need to cohabitate with them, just like we do with foxes, raccoons, opossums, weasels, raptors and other local predators.

So what to do? First off, do not – not – ever feed them. That is that unkindest thing you can do to them. Having them become unafraid of humans and seeing us as a food source is dangerous for both them and us.

If you encounter one or more? Scare them. Make yourself look as big as possible and make a lot of noise. The more they fear humans and avoid us, the better for all concerned. ⁹

¹ General Information About Coyotes | Urban Coyote Research

² Nagy, C., (2017) New York’s Newest Immigrants: Coyotes in the City. Anthrozoology Graduate Program, Canisius College

³ Coyotes and people: What to know if you see or encounter a coyote | The Humane Society of the United States

⁴ Coyotes are everywhere and breeding season is here, so watch your pets (newbernsj.com)

⁵ Gerhart, S. and McGraw, M. (2007) Ecology of Coyotes in Urban Landscapes. Proceedings of the 12^th Wildlife Damage Management Conference

⁶ urbancoyoteresearch.com/coyote-info/disease

⁷ Suburban coyotes, foxes favor wild prey over pets and trash – THE WILDLIFE SOCIETY

⁸ How to Protect Your Pet from Coyotes | PetMD

9 What To Do If You See A Coyote – CoyoteSmart (coyotesmarts.org)