Creating A Pet-Friendly Garden That’s Good For People, Too
Nature’s Nursery, a Whitehouse wildlife center, has launched a public awareness campaign designed to help area residents who come across baby animals in their yards this spring.
The nonprofit organization takes in nearly 2,000 injured or orphaned wild animals each year from a six-county region. It also operates a free hotline that fields almost 14,000 calls a year, including many from people who have found an animal they believe needs help.
Laura Zitzelberger, operations manager, said typical calls may come from someone who has found a nest of baby squirrels after trimming a tree or a business owner who is concerned because a duck has laid eggs in a planter near his front door.
“The majority of the time, the animal in question does not need ‘rescuing,’” Zitzelberger said.
Two of the most common calls are from people who have found baby birds or baby bunnies.
“With young birds, as long as they have feathers, it’s OK if they’re on the ground,” Zitzelberger said. “The parents are probably watching from a nearby tree and will return to care for the babies after the humans leave the area.
“If they’re not yet feathered and have fallen from the nest, it’s OK to put them back, or even to hang a makeshift nest from a lower branch in the same tree. The parents will continue to care for their young, even if they have been handled by humans. It’s an old wives’ tale that mother animals won’t take their babies back if they’ve been touched by people.”
In the case of bunnies, many people are surprised to learn that a mother rabbit has nested in their yards, especially when they have dogs or cats.
“Rabbits often nest near homes or in yards with pets, but that does not automatically mean intervention is necessary,” Zitzelberger said. “If your pet discovers a nest, you can place a sturdy laundry basket upside-down over the nest and weigh it down with a book while your pet uses the yard. Remove the basket when your pet is indoors.
“As with birds, you can return bunnies to the nest, even after they have been handled by humans. But never move a rabbit’s nest to another location.”
Baby rabbits are old enough to be on their own when their eyes are open and they’re as big as the palm of your hand, Zitzelberger said.
Young squirrels begin to climb down from trees at an early age, too, she said, so it is not unusual for people to see them in their yards. But even very small baby squirrels whose nests are destroyed may not require intervention.
“Squirrel mothers make two nests,” Zitzelberger said. “If the main nest is damaged, they will move their babies to the second one, even if they have been handled by humans. If you have picked up the babies, it’s best to put them back near the base of the tree where you found them. If you want to watch to make sure the mother returns, do so from indoors.”
In the case of ducks nesting in places that seem inappropriate, Zitzelberger has seen it all.
“We have one business that calls every year because they always get a duck nesting in an island in the middle of their parking lot,” she said. “But mother ducks are smart, and believe it or not, they do have a plan. They know where the nearest water source is, and that can be up to a mile or two away. But when the time comes, they will lead their hatchlings to it – even across a busy street or in an urban area.”
The worst thing people can do is try to move a nest, Zitzelberger cautioned. It not only endangers the eggs, it is illegal.
“Most people don’t realize that disturbing a waterfowl nest is against state and federal law,” she said. “The best thing to do is just leave the nest alone. If the mother needs to cross a street when she walks the babies to water, it’s OK if a human follows from a safe distance and stops traffic. But even then, you run the risk of spooking the mother, and she may fly away.”
So when does an animal need to be rescued?
“Any time a baby animal has been caught by a dog or cat, or you know the mother has been killed, intervention is necessary,” Zitzelberger said. “In that case, you should put the animal in a quiet place and keep it warm, but do not feed it or give it water. Then call Nature’s Nursery.”
Zitzelberger stressed that people should never attempt to raise baby animals themselves.
“Not only is it against the law, it presents a health risk,” she warned. “Many wild animals carry diseases and parasites that can be transmitted to domestic animals and humans, especially children. Some can even be fatal.”
The best thing to do if you have a question or find an animal in distress is to call Nature’s Nursery, according to Zitzelberger.
“We are available during normal business hours, seven days a week, 365 days a year,” she said.
The center can be reached by calling (419) 877-0060. More information is available online at www.natures-nursery.org.
Garden Calendar:
Perennial Plant Sale Planned For Saturday, May 17
The Black Swamp Hosta and Daylily Society will hold its 13th annual perennial plant sale on Saturday, May 17. The sale will be held in the parking lot of Bassett’s Supermarket in RiverPlace Shoppes on Dixie Highway in Perrysburg. The sale starts at 8:00 a.m. and runs until plants are sold out, rain or shine. Hostas, daylilies, grasses, ferns, wildflowers and more will be offered. This fund-raiser supports the organization’s projects at Toledo Botanical Garden and 577 Foundation, and its garden book program at all area libraries. Call (419) 874-8964 for more information.
Maumee Senior Center To Host Plant Sale
The Maumee Senior Center will host its annual plant sale on Saturday, May 17 with plants, baked goods and gently used items from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Over 1,000 locally grown plants from members, including annuals, perennials, herbs, roses, shrubs and vines, will be offered. The center is located at 2430 S Detroit Ave., Maumee. For more information, call (419) 893-1994.
Whitehouse Flower Sale Benefits Bittersweet Farms
Bittersweet Farms and the Whitehouse village parks and recreation committee will host a flower sale on Sunday, May 18 from noon to 4:00 p.m. to benefit Bittersweet Farms and provide flower stock for adopted flowerbeds in the village park. The sale takes place in Whitehouse Park. For more information, contact Michelle Tippie at (419) 877-4849 or at mtippie@whitehouse.ohio.gov.
Toledo Zoo Announces Annual Spring Plant Sale
The Toledo Zoo will host its annual spring plant sale on Sunday, May 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at its Anthony Wayne Trail entrance. Growers participating in this year’s event include Bench Farms, Ben Sell Greenhouse, Blue Apple Farm, Jeffers Greenhouse, Master Gardeners Club, Naturally Native Nursery, Ohio State University Extension Service, Rhode’s Garden Fresh, Schmidlin Produce, Select Stone Co. and Summershades Nursery. Trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, tomatoes and hanging baskets will be available for purchase.
The event will feature talks by master gardeners and tours of the zoo’s gardens. Zoo admission applies for the talks and tours.
Sale Planned At Sunshine Acres Greenhouse
Sunshine Acres Greenhouse, a vocational services program at Sunshine Children’s Home, 7223 Maumee-Western Rd., Monclova, will host its first plant sale on Tuesday, May 20 from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. Assorted flowering plants, flats, baskets, planters and hand-painted pots will be available for purchase. For more information, call (419) 865-0251.