1st Response Wildlife - Tucson's Humane Animal Trapping & Removal Services

Josh's Phone Number: 520-260-9517

Search

12/08/2020

Screech Owl Rescued Ready For Relocation

From time to time, 1st Response Wildlife is called to help a business or homeowner with a bird that has found its way into a crevice, chimney, business, or a portion of a home that requires assistance to exit a confined space. Most attempts at safely capturing the bird for relocation are successful but, often they require equipment and gloves to ensure the bird is not harmed and, that the wildlife handler can safely handle the bird-especially raptors, without suffering injury.

Raptors must be handled with special care because their talons can pierce skin and, once they close onto an arm or hand, it is quite a chore to get them to release. Fortunately, 1st Response Wildlife had a selection of gloves, one pair of which provide protection from Raptor talons.

Pictured here is a rescued Screech Owl. The second picture is the same Screech Owl, ready for relocation, showing, in the background, the transfer enclosure, and a picture of Josh, owner of 1st Response Wildlife, wearing one of the protective gloves used to handle wildlife. Note, you can see, below the gloves, the extremely sharp Talons.

This Owl was safely relocated to a protected area, well away from the original building where it became trapped and is now happily ready to hunt again.

Posted at 06:27 AM in Hawks, Owls, Raptors | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: 1st Response Wildlife., Owl, Owls, Raptor, Screech Owl

03/28/2019

Gila Monster Education

Gila Monsters (Monstruo de Gila) are one of only a few venomous lizards in the world and the largest lizard native to the United States. They are protected and you should observe but not bother them or try and capture one. They have a mild neurotoxin but, do not have fangs. Rather the venom is released through grooves in their teeth when they latch on to a small animal or your finger as they chew. It is best to keep your children and pets away from them because, as with most wild animals, they can and will bite if they are bothered and feel threatened.

Their skin is beautifully designed in what looks like tiny beads in patterns of black, pink, yellow and/or orange. They can grow up to 2’ in length and, because they store up fat in their tails, can go for months without eating. In fact, if you see Gila Monsters in the spring or early summer, you may observe that their tails are slimmer than those seen in the late summer and fall because they find more prey in the late spring and summer than the winter months.

Their diet consists of eggs found in nests and young rodents they find in tunnels that pack rats make, burrows of mice, round tailed ground squirrel mounds and the like. The Gila Monsters are able to climb walls, trees, and are good at tunneling and digging into ground dwellings where they find burrowing prey.

In the video, you will see extremely rare footage of a Gila Monster consuming its prey. I observed and filmed it, just as it was finishing a meal of a round tailed ground squirrel it had pulled out of the burrow in the background. Since this Gila Monster found an active burrow, after it completed its meal, I watched it go right back to that same burrow, in search of another meal.

Gila Monsters spend as much as 95% of their life underground in burrows they make or have taken over from other burrowing animals. If you happen to see a Monstruo de Gila, it is either taking advantage of the sun to warm itself or on the move to look for food. There are exceptions to when and where you may see Gilas, however. One of my customers saw one several times in his back yard at night until, one night it climbed up his wall and went over into his neighbor’s yard.

Once again, these are beautiful lizards and, for the most part, create no immediate threat to humans. They are protected, are beneficial in helping keep down the rodent population but, on occasion, may become worrisome to a homeowner who may fear for the safety of their children, pets, or just feel nervous around reptiles. If you find that this is the case, please call 1^st Response Wildlife and, as a licensed professional, I will help you better understand what can be done about your “Gila,” and, if necessary, move it to another location.

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Josh Waling is a humane Licensed Animal Trapper who catches and releases wildlife, removing animals including bobcats (lince), snakes, rattlesnakes (serpiente de cascabel), raccoons (mapache), pack rats, gila monsters (monstruos de gila), rabbits (canejo), owls, bats, squirrels (ardilla) , coatimundi (gato solo), exotics, and domestic cats and dogs. He delivers service that is professional and fast and he is available 24/7. Give him a call the next time you hear unusual noises in the attic or crawl spaces in your home or if you see wildlife eating your vegetation, creating nests, and raising their young too close to your pets or children. 520-260-9517 Thanks!

Posted at 07:43 PM in Gila Monsters | Permalink | Comments (0)

01/16/2018

The sad tale of two Red Tail Hawks

Red Tailed Hawks are one of the few hawks that mate for life. They can be seen sitting on power poles, along the highway in trees, and on the tops of Saguaro cactus. They are large, beautiful hawks, easily identified by their colorful red tail.

Recently 1^st Response Wildlife received a call from a homeowner that had “some kind of large bird,” in their back yard between their perimeter wall and some large rocks. The “large bird,” was immediately identified as a Red Tail hawk. It did not seem to want to fly away and the first impression was that it might be hurt. (see below)

Using Raptor gloves and a net, it was easily captured by 1^st Response Wildlife and, upon inspection of its wings, (see below), it was determined that they were not damaged but, two of its talons were at a 90-degree angle and appeared broken. This, however did not seem to be an external reason for the Red Tail to be on the ground and essentially immobile.

A 360 inspection of the Red Tail seemed to show it was in some state of shock and, while it could maintain itself in an upright position while holding on to the Raptor gloves, it did not seem to be ready to be released back into the wild.

Red Tail-easily provides for identification.

A decision was made to take it to a rehabber for closer inspection by a veterinarian and, the next day, it was learned it indeed had been sick, also was covered in mites, was dehydrated, had passed away, and probably had picked that homeowner’s protected spot next to the wall to die.

Having a Red Tail die, even of natural causes is sad. What was a bit out of the ordinary, in addition to having been present when a Red Tail had chosen a place to die was, that, in the area where this Red Tail was found, Red Tails are rarely seen so, to have one show up in that neighborhood was a surprise. (About a mile away, they are seen routinely, soaring and hunting, and scanning the desert floor from atop power poles.)

Surprisingly, almost immediately after this Red Tail was removed from the homeowner’s property and, for the following few weeks, another Red Tail Hawk has shown up and has been seen perched on the top of a Saguaro and also soaring/circling around the neighborhood. As, Red Tailed Hawks are almost never seen in this particular area, the fact another Red Tail Hawk has suddenly shown up and apparently has been looking for its now departed mate, makes this tale of the two Red Tails even more sad.

1^st Response Wildlife is a business that cares for the animals in southern Arizona and works hard to ensure their safety-both in the process of trapping and relocation. When animals and, in this case, mates, are separated permanently from their life long mate, it bears reporting because the fact that animals themselves care and are committed to each other is a story worth telling.

If you have any questions concerning wildlife or have nuisance animals that you would like to have relocated, please consider giving 1^st Response Wildlife a call.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Josh Waling is a humane Licensed Animal Trapper who catches and releases wildlife, removing animals including bobcats (lince), badgers, Javelina, coyotes, snakes, rattlesnakes (serpiente de cascabel), raccoons (mapache), pack rats, gila monsters (monstruos de gila), rabbits (canejo), owls, bats, hawks, ducks, opossums, squirrels (ardilla), peacocks, coatimundi (gato solo), skunks (mofeta), ringtails, exotics, and domestic cats and dogs. He delivers service that is professional and fast and he is available 24/7. Give him a call the next time you hear unusual noises in the attic or crawl spaces in your home or if you see wildlife eating your vegetation, burrowing under your home, making nests, creating a nuisance, and raising their young too close to your pets or children or have an exotic sighting in your neighborhood. 520-260-9517 Thanks!

Posted at 06:57 AM in Hawks, Injured, Raptors, Rehab | Permalink | Comments (0)

01/12/2018

Border Badger Trapped and Relocated by 1st Response Wildlife

Arizona has badgers! You may have never seen one, which is not a surprise, and, you may never have seen one of their den entrances either. Since they are mostly nocturnal and spend most of the day underground, probably the majority of Arizonans, visitors, and even Law Enforcement personnel-who may be out all hours of the day or night, will rarely if ever see one. Some have reported seeing them in the early morning or early evening. During the cooler weather, they will, here in southern Arizona, stay underground for longer periods of time but probably never really hibernate because winters are not that consistently severe.

Across the U.S., there are at least 4 species of badgers. They are part of the weasel family with relatives like wolverines, weasels, fisher cats, otters, etc. Badgers are primarily carnivores and tend to hunt and dig out rodents, insects, and, if need be, plants.

Badgers are voracious diggers. If you have never come upon a “badger hole” or den entrance, then you will be surprised the first time you come upon a hole in the ground that can measure 10-16” across with very large mounds of dirt in front and/or around the entrance. Because badgers are short legged and can flatten their body very low to the ground, have extremely long claws (which are very efficient for digging), and actually a little bow-legged, they are well suited to a life of digging into and expanding a rodent tunnel in pursuit of a meal. Sometimes they will expand a rodent hole to become their den and, other times, just dig until they capture the rodent and leave a large mound of dirt with a large entrance hole as their “calling card,” which shows they have been working that area.

Recently, 1^st Response Wildlife followed up on a referral from a pest control company which reported large holes and lots of fresh dirt around a cement pad and under a sidewalk and trailer near the Mexican border at a Border Patrol outpost. Upon inspection, 1^st Response Wildlife determined the den holes were those of a badger. Since badgers, except during mating season, are mostly solitary animals, the choice was made to set just a few traps to capture and remove/relocate what was determined to be a single badger that had really become a nuisance. (The cement pad had tunnels running extensively underneath it and it had already cracks from one end to the other where a cave-in was imminent. The sidewalk and area under the trailer were also dug up to a point where dirt was piled almost to the bottom of the trailer from the ground up.)

Traps were set and the badger was caught. (see below)

Since the badger had become a real nuisance, the decision was made to relocate it to a site where there were lots of rodents-plenty of food, and a long way from its Border location.

Badgers can be dangerous and, if challenged by humans, or pets, really do some damage. Badgers growl before they attack to try and get whatever they consider is challenging them to reconsider bothering them further. However, attack they will, as you can see this badger charging the trap after an extended period of growling-from the YouTube video below. Even though the average badger in southern Arizona will probably not be any larger than 15-20lbs, a dog of almost any size would be no match for its claws. The badger growls and then attacks the trap in the video-also note the long non-retractable claws.

https://youtu.be/UgxOSVJBzX8

This badger was taken to a new home with plenty of food nearby. (see below)

By the time it was ready to be released, this badger was in a hurry to bug out. (see, in the YouTube video how fast it runs but, at the last frame in the video, it stops and looks back to make sure it is safe and can start looking for and digging its new home.)

https://youtu.be/6bBNBWmYKAg

1^st Response Wildlife works hard to work with homeowners, business people, and, in this case, the Border Patrol Officers, to understand wildlife concerns and, if necessary and, after inspection and discussion, humanely capture and relocate nuisance wildlife.

If you have any wildlife questions, issues with nuisance wildlife, please do not hesitate to give 1^st Response Wildlife a call.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Josh Waling is a humane Licensed Animal Trapper who catches and releases wildlife, removing animals including bobcats (lince), snakes, rattlesnakes (serpiente de cascabel), raccoons (mapache), pack rats, gila monsters (monstruos de gila), rabbits (canejo), owls, bats, hawks, ducks, squirrels (ardilla), peacocks, coatimundi (gato solo), skunks (mofeta), exotics, and domestic cats and dogs. He delivers service that is professional and fast and he is available 24/7. Give him a call the next time you hear unusual noises in the attic or crawl spaces in your home or if you see wildlife eating your vegetation, creating nests, and raising their young too close to your pets or children or have an exotic sighting in your neighborhood. 520-260-9517 Thanks!

Posted at 04:04 PM in Badgers, Video | Permalink | Comments (0)

09/15/2017

Great Horned Owl Removed from a Chimney by 1st Response Wildlife

1^st Response Wildlife is frequently called to remove animals from chimneys. Raccoons, for example, choose chimneys, along with attics, all the time as a safe place to birth their young. In those cases, the mother raccoon scouts out a chimney or attic where she can easily crawl in and out and feel that her young will be safe if she leaves to forage.

When 1^st Response Wildlife is called to remove a bird from a chimney, however, there is a bit of urgency because, once a bird falls into a chimney, it can no longer spread its wings wide enough to fly back out. So, as it descends into the chimney it basically flutters as it attempts to stop its fall but ends up down in the fireplace, if the flue is open, or in the opening above flue, if the flue is closed.

Methods of retrieving a bird in a chimney vary, depending on the size of the bird, the shape of the chimney, and whether the bird has actually fallen into the fireplace below or is situated in the area above the flue. In all cases, if a bird is retrieved, time is of the essence to remove it before it dies in the chimney/flue area. Sometimes a bird is injured or injures itself in the fall or in trying to get back out but, it always is in some kind of stress because of its situation.

1^st Response Wildlife recently responded to a call of a bird in a chimney and found that a homeowner had a rather large bird in the area just above the flue. After evaluating the situation, it was determined that the best approach in this case was to remove the bird by going through the fireplace and up into the flue, rather than trying to bring the large bird up and out of the chimney from above. Using “raptor,” gloves, the bird was challenged to react to an arm being placed in close proximity to where it was located above the flue and as predicted, it defensively grabbed the gloved arm. Since these gloves are Kevlar lined, other than pressure, there was no injury sustained as the owl reacted and, in fact, it probably felt a little more secure in being able to "perch," on something it could get its talons around rather than the sloping surface of the flue. This action allowed for its talons to be stabilized with the second glove and then it was safely removed.

When the bird was brought out of the flue, it was identified as a Great Horned Owl. Although not fully grown, its talons represented a significant danger if raptor gloves had not been used, and, without a rapid response by 1^st Response Wildlife to come and remove it, the owl would probably not have survived very long.

Below is a picture of Josh inspecting the Owl for any damage to its wing. (Safe removal and preparation for a release back into the wild always includes a close inspection of an animal removed after a fall down a chimney. If any injury is noted, then a rehabber is called and, before the animal/bird can be released, it must be treated and nursed back to health.) Note the raptor glove and, of course the soot from the fireplace and chimney on his shirt.

In the second picture, you can see that the Great Horned Owl has passed its health inspection and is ready to be released back into the wild. The chimney it fell into now has been covered to keep out any other birds or animals from falling into it or using it for the purpose of birthing and the Great Horned Owl is happily back hunting in the neighborhood.

If you have any birds or animals in your chimney, or any other wildlife questions, or service needs, please give 1^st Response Wildlife a call.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Josh Waling is a humane Licensed Animal Trapper who catches and releases wildlife, removing animals including bobcats (lince), Javelina, coyotes, snakes, rattlesnakes (serpiente de cascabel), raccoons (mapache), pack rats, gila monsters (monstruos de gila), rabbits (canejo), owls, bats, hawks, ducks, opossums, squirrels (ardilla), peacocks, coatimundi (gato solo), skunks (mofeta), ringtails, exotics, and domestic cats and dogs. He delivers service that is professional and fast and he is available 24/7. Give him a call the next time you hear unusual noises in the attic or crawl spaces in your home or if you see wildlife eating your vegetation, creating nests, and raising their young too close to your pets or children or have an exotic sighting in your neighborhood. 520-260-9517 Thanks!

Posted at 05:55 AM in Owls | Permalink | Comments (0)

Javelina and Relocation by 1st Response Wildlife

Arizona has Javelina. If you have not encountered them yet, you probably will. They often run in a herd of 6-12 individuals, comprised, usually with a dominant bull male, females, and 1-3 juveniles. You will see them crossing the road, in parking lots, in your yard, lounging under your trees, or even surprising you when you get home inside your tipped over trash can.

Javelina are not pigs. In fact, they are collared peccary which have migrated north from Central America and are found south all the way to southern areas in South America. There are a couple of species and, based on your location in the Tucson area, you may see males weighing in at 40-50lbs, while in southern Arizona-say around Sierra Vista, you will see much smaller Javelina with a bull male weighing in at only 20-25lbs. (Seeing a herd of Javelina in Sierra Vista may make you think you are seeing them in miniature.)

In any event, Javelina are not to be approached or challenged! They have 4 tusks-2 on either side of their mouth which can really tear up a pet or you. Last year, two women in Maricopa County were knocked over and their legs chewed up and, this year, two people have already been attacked in the Tucson area.

Their most common enemy is a coyote. People who walk their dogs may encounter a single Javelina or even a herd on their walk. Javelina’s eyesight is poor but, their sense of smell is acute. If they smell a dog in proximity to where they are feeding or passing through, they may stop and challenge or even come after the dog as a defense against their getting attacked by what they think is a coyote. The best option, if you see Javelina, with or without your dog, is to get out of the area.

1^st Response Wildlife is one of just a few wildlife companies licensed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department to humanely trap and relocate Javelina. Trapping is usually not the first choice for wildlife companies. Investigation as to why Javelina are frequenting an area, in someone’s yard, or making a specific area a place where they bed down is required. Sometimes people in a neighborhood, an RV park, or, who have property that is adjacent to a wash, are actually feeding them. This both encourages the Javelina to remain in that area and, raises the possibility that someone or someone’s pets will get hurt.

A call to 1^st Response Wildlife will result in a discussion with a business or homeowner as to the location, frequency, and level of danger, destruction, or nuisance perceived to be the result of Javelina. A couple of easy fixes are often the best solution:

Finding out who is feeding them and asking them to stop
Chasing them out of a back yard and then having a handyman install a fence/wall, or installing a gate to the property to keep them from getting in.
Waiting to put out the garbage until just a few hours before pickup-instead of leaving it out overnight
Choosing an alternate path or time of day to walk a dog.

Only after a determination of whether there is a real need to trap and relocate the Javelina in question, will actions be taken to capture them. There are various methods of doing this, ranging from hand snaring a single animal from a confined space, to setting up a formal baiting program and full sized Javelina trap. In cases where there is a large herd, AZGFD wants to get involved to dart and collar the herd so that after they are moved to another location, they can be tracked. Each case is different and always involves and follows the guidance of the AZGFD. The AZGFD has several locations around the state where they direct wildlife service companies to release Javelina that have proven to be dangerous and/or a nuisance. Some of these are within 30-40 miles of Tucson and some are several hours drive up into remote areas.

1^st Response Wildlife has been involved in the program to capture and release Javelina and the pictures and videos to follow highlight Javelina from several different perspectives:

Entering a trap
Working with a single Javelina that was hand snared in the open
The responses (2) of a Javelina in a transport kennel-not too happy and clicking its tusks
Taking care to keep a Javelina hydrated and cool as well as providing a calming environment for transport
Setting a transported Javelina in a new environment where it will no longer be a nuisance
Watching a Javelina released from its transport kennel

Javelina often feed at night. Using a trail camera, you can see two videos show them entering a trap

https://youtu.be/u17sWAMseUs

https://youtu.be/uh0CjzTntSA

This picture shows a single Javelina that was hand snared in the middle of Tucson that was causing an dangerous situation in a parking lot where workers were concerned about safely getting to their cars. The video that follows shows that he is not happy and, if you listen closely, in the first video, just after he was snared, he clacks his tusks. In the second video, he has been held for two days while he was being observed to ensure he was healthy, fed and watered, and now he is on his way to being relocated. Still not happy.

https://youtu.be/WLlvUzvoJzQ

In the transport kennel on the way to be released but still reminding, with the tusks clacking, that he can be dangerous

A general view of the type of environment where the Javelina will be released showing a variety of vegetation and cover.

If you have Javelina in and around your property that are causing a problem, challenging your pets, or are considered dangerous, please give AZGFD a call to discuss your level of concern, or give 1^st Response Wildlife a call. Not every Javelina call results, as described above, in capture and relocation. It is important to have your situation reviewed and a plan of action mapped out.

Trapping and relocating Javelina can be an expensive proposition, particularly if there is more than one Javelina. Set up a Javelina trap and baiting takes time and, if a Javelina’s range takes them away from the area of concern for a while (a week to three weeks or more), expectations of a quick fix can be disappointed.

Bottom line, if you have a Javelina problem or any other wildlife issues, please consider giving 1^st Response Wildlife a call to discuss.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Posted at 05:03 AM in AZ Game and Fish Urban Wildlife , Javelina, Video | Permalink | Comments (0)

04/21/2017

Stray, Injured Animal Capture and Transport by 1st Response Wildlife

From time to time, as a wildlife company, 1^st Response Wildlife receives calls asking for transportation of an injured wild animal to a animal rehabilitation hospital. There are also calls for stray dogs to be caught and taken to Animal Control. These calls come from homeowners and business owners who have not been able to find any other agency to help transport or capture and deliver an animal to an appropriate institution.

While wildlife services are the primary business for 1^st Response Wildlife, there are many times when the call for a sick, or injured dog has to be dealt with. In the case of dogs, almost all breeds can be transported.

Each call is different but 1^st Response Wildlife is prepared. Below are but a few examples and the methods of transport provided to ensure a safe and rapid response to these calls.

In most cases, a call will be received for a simple transport to either an Animal Hospital ER, or to Animal control. In other cases, a stray dog, a nuisance feral dog, or an injured pet is the reason for the call.

If a dog needs to be captured and transported, 1^st Response Wildlife has a variety of means for capture-none of which harm the animal.

Below are two large dogs that were captured, placed in transport kennels and taken to Animal control.

The two German Shepherds pictured below were found in a neighborhood and 1^st Response arrived on the scene and caught them in a back yard and transported them to Animal Control.

The first is being safely transported in a secure kennel and the second is at Animal Control being checked in.

From time to time, a sick or injured animal needs to be removed from a home or business and taken to an Animal ER. Pictured below is a 160lb very sick dog that had to be taken to an Animal Hospital ER.

To handle domestic animals of any size, 1^st Response Wildlife has acquired a variety of equipment to handle the job. Kennels of every size-small-to-large (the large ones are seen in the pictures above.) For sick or injured animals, 1^st Response Wildlife also has a variety of animal transport stretchers from small-to- large and from soft-to-firm.

There are firm animal transport stretchers like this 6 foot pet backboard with slots for snug transport straps.

A 4 foot long wider animal transport stretcher

Then there are soft pet transport stretchers that provide for secure transport to move an animal out of a tight space or down a narrow hallway. Below are a large-5'8" stretcher and a 3' stretcher

Again, while wildlife is the primary business for 1^st Response Wildlife, however, if you have a dog you would like transported or caught and taken to Animal Control, please consider giving 1^st Response Wildlife a call to discuss.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Josh Waling is a humane Licensed Animal Trapper who catches and releases wildlife, removing animals including bobcats (lince), coyotes, Javelina, snakes, rattlesnakes (serpiente de cascabel), raccoons (mapache), pack rats, gila monsters (monstruos de gila), rabbits (canejo), owls, bats, hawks, ducks, opossums, squirrels (ardilla), peacocks, coatimundi (gato solo), skunks (mofeta), ringtails, exotics, and domestic dogs. He delivers service that is professional and fast. Give him a call the next time you hear unusual noises in the attic or crawl spaces in your home or if you see wildlife eating your vegetation, creating nests, and raising their young too close to your pets or children or have an exotic sighting in your neighborhood. 520-260-9517 Thanks!

Posted at 12:59 PM in Dogs, Domestic, Exotic animals, House Cats, Injured | Permalink | Comments (0)

12/03/2016

Coatimundi Trapping and Relocation by 1st Response Wildlife

Question: Coatimundi, have you ever seen one? if not, but you find you have damage from digging around your home, peels from fruit from your fruit trees on the ground, in and around your home, ranch, or business, it may not be a skunk, a raccoon, a rock squirrel, or an armadillo, it may be a Coati!

Coatimundi, a member of the raccoon and ringtail (Arizona’s State Mammal), family, are diurnal, which means they typically feed, forage, and move during the daytime. For this reason, if you are in southern Arizona and are driving or hiking through wooded areas, open grasslands, or scrub desert, you may have seen them-probably from a distance. One of their distinctive features is their long tail, often seen held straight up as they travel in bands of upwards of 15-25. Larger packs have been noted, but just to see a group of animals walking with what looks like walking sticks sticking straight up in the air for the first time, is really something to see. It is not uncommon to encounter a single Coati that has made a home for itself in a neighborhood or location where there is plenty of food. Below are two videos of a solo Coati that lives in Madera Canyon and has become so familiar with the animals around it that it walks through a flock of turkeys unfazed to get a drink of water. Meanwhile, in the observation area above this location are a dozen tourists with cameras filming the whole thing. Clearly, this Coati feels right at home!

Here she is calmly walking up and taking a drink out of a bird feeder

Coatimundi (Coatis) range from Central America up into Southern Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. The species we have here are white nosed Coatis and are slightly different than those south of Mexico into Central and parts of South America. Males are usually loners, with the exception of mating season but, the young and female Coatis are very social and often live and forage together as a band for a majority of their lifetime. In Central and South America, Coatis are often domesticated and, once they bond with their owner, they transfer their social bond to their band and are loving and loyal to their new “family.”

Coatis eat almost anything. Fruits, insects, small rodents, snakes, cactus fruit, eggs, and young birds make up a large portion of their diet. Their long nose is very sensitive to smell and it comes in handy when grubbing for insects, small rodents, or edible roots. Coatis can climb for food, to escape danger, and may choose climb and den in a crevice of a large tree. Their front legs are shorter than their back legs and when they are walking toward you it looks like their front legs are a little bowlegged. The front feet have long unretractable claws that are used for digging, self- defense, and it is a really unlucky dog that tries to mess with a male coati that decides to stand its ground or a female defending her young. The scratches to the face and eyes of a dog that takes a Coati on can be very serious.

Raccoons are far more prevalent in the city of Tucson and the surrounding developments than Coatis and Coatis are more prevalent on the outskirts of the city-in open land and on ranches and farms. It is a toss-up as to which species is seen more, raccoons or Coatis. Since raccoons come out at night and Coatis inhabit the fringes of urban areas, there are many residents of southern Arizona who have never seen either of them. Hands down, however, raccoons are more obvious in the amount of destruction they cause because they are well adapted to live in urban areas and happily live and raise their young around populated areas, in attics, sheds, and homes. (There are 10's of thousands of feral cats in and around Tucson which are fed by cat lovers. Raccoons also may be seen more frequently because they often compete for cat food that is left out for a feral cat(s) and, while around the home, help themselves to plants, or destroy other items in the neighborhood. Coatis, being more prone to travel in large bands, need more open space and will cause damage and dig around plants and cause havoc in other ways.

1^st Response Wildlife recently trapped a Coati that was being a nuisance and, relocated it to an area that was comfortable in terrain, food and water, and with plenty of room to forage and create a new home.

Below is a picture of a white nosed Coati in a trap.

Above is a picture of a Coati being a little shy, snuggling with a towel in the trap and wrapping its tail around it for more warmth. Below is the video.

Here is another short video of the Coati being released. This video is fairly short but, note the length of the tail and imagine looking out over an open area and seeing 15-25 tails that long moving through the desert, desert grass or scrub! Quite a sight.

If you have a Coati, raccoon, or ringtail that are creating a nuisance around property you manage, your home, or feel your children or pets would be safer if you chose an option for removal and relocation, give 1st Response Wildlife a call.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Josh Waling is a humane Licensed Animal Trapper who catches and releases wildlife, removing animals including bobcats (lince), coyotes, snakes, rattlesnakes (serpiente de cascabel), raccoons (mapache), pack rats, gila monsters (monstruos de gila), rabbits (canejo), owls, bats, hawks, ducks, opossums, squirrels (ardilla), peacocks, coatimundi (gato solo), skunks (mofeta), ringtails, exotics, and domestic cats and dogs. He delivers service that is professional and fast and he is available 24/7. Give him a call the next time you hear unusual noises in the attic or crawl spaces in your home or if you see wildlife eating your vegetation, creating nests, and raising their young too close to your pets or children or have an exotic sighting in your neighborhood. 520-260-9517 Thanks!

Posted at 07:34 PM in Coatimundi, Video | Permalink | Comments (1)

Snakes Around Wintertime

In the Sonoran Desert, snakes choose a number of different approaches to prepare for winter.

Each year, 1st Response Wildlife observes and is called to assist businesses and homeowners with snakes that either have taken up residence in their garage or home, or are reported on a property preparing for winter with a last meal.

In all cases, it is imperative that the species of snake be identified and appropriate action taken to ensure safety for the homeowner, the business, children and pets.

Below are two examples where 1st Response Wildlife was involved in identifying a winter-ready snake and/or removing it.

In the first, a gopher snake was observed and identified by 1st Response Wildlife, just after it had finished a last meal before winter. You will note there is a bulge of probably a round tailed ground squirrel half way down its body. While not dangerous, with a belly full of its last meal, this snake could not move as fast as it would if it did not have that extra weight/girth, so the guidance from 1st Response Wildlife, to the homeowner, was to leave it alone and let it find a winter home. (Gopher snakes are good to have around because they eat rodents throughout the warm season of the year.)

The second picture is a bit more troubling. It shows 2 diamondback rattlesnakes which 1st Response Wildlife removed from inside a home which they had chosen as a warm place to spend the winter. (These are only 2 of 4 rattlers that were removed by 1st Response Wildlife in November in response to calls from homeowners.)

These were captured in mid November but, it is not uncommon for calls to come in to 1st Response Wildlife in December-April, from a business or homeowner that has found a rattler behind a container, hidden along a wall, or even under a workbench. Snakes in sheds, garages, and even in homes, may be a little sluggish during those months but, nevertheless, they are still dangerous.

If you see a snake in or around your home or business, give 1st Response Wildlife a call to come, identify, and if necessary, remove it.

If you would like help with any other nuisance animals, noises, see or hear something in or around your home, business, or property and would like help identifying it, humanely removing it, with the assurance it will be relocated to live in a safe environment, please give 1^st Response Wildlife a call to discuss your options.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Posted at 10:48 AM in Gopher Snake, Rattlesnakes, Snakes | Permalink | Comments (0)

Skunk Removal-Tucson and Surrounding Areas

If you have or think you have skunks, call 1st Response Wildlife for humane live-trapping and removal!

Southern Arizona has 4 different species of skunks- common Striped Skunk, Hog-nosed Skunk, Spotted Skunk, and the Hooded Skunk. One of them, the spotted skunk, can climb, while the other three stay, dig, and forage at street level. What this means is that, for the most part, only the spotted skunk will be found in attics, on roof tops, or in storage spaces off the ground. Any of the 4 species, however, may find an entrance at ground level to a home, office building, foundation, or shed and enter looking for insects, mice or even shelter. From time to time, skunks, will eat something or just come to the end of their life and die inside a building, a wall, or a storage area. When this happens, the faster the location of the dead skunk can be found and the animal removed the better.

In areas where people have a habit of feeding feral cats, skunks, which are omnivores-eating insects, grubs, worms, plant root/bulbs, dead animals, mice, eggs, fruit, and small birds, a skunk will happily add food left out for a feral cat to their menu. With the exception of the spotted skunk, if one wants to leave food out for a feral cat, the best advice is to place it up on some elevated platform and the other three species of skunks will leave it alone.

For the business owner or the homeowner, skunks can be a real nuisance. A skunk startled or chased can spray and leave the distinct skunk smell for days. If this happens inside a building 1^st Response Wildlife has equipment that will help remove the smell.

Homeowners and Property Management Companies that have property with well-established plants may check their property one morning and, while they might not have considered it, realize they have had grubs or insects living around plant root systems. When a skunk shows up and starts digging for those insects and grubs, the damage to the plant/roots can be significant. (1^st Response Wildlife has trapped over a dozen skunks recently that dug under plants, looking for grubs, totally exposing root systems and, in some cases, killed the plant.) If you see significant digging, call 1st Response Wildlife and have the culprits live-trapped and removed/relocated.

On pretty much a yearly basis, rabid skunks are reported in southern Arizona-from Sierra Vista to Phoenix. Erratic behavior, seeing skunks in the daytime, or having a skunk, seemingly unafraid of a pet or human could be cause for concern. If you see this, call a professional.

If you have not seen skunks yet, here in southern Arizona, be aware that skunks amble slowly about their business and are usually are seen at dusk, dawn, or as many travelers have experienced, in the headlights of your car at night right before you run over them on the highway. Regardless of whether you have digging in your patio or around your plants at night or a skunk is acting erratic, walking around during the daylight, it is best to call a professional to come and remove it.

These pictures, below, highlight the extent to which skunks caused damage diging for grubs.

The skunks responsible for this damage were live-trapped by 1^st Response Wildlife and relocated.

The spotted skunk is the smallest of the 4 species of skunks and is, by far the friendliest and most inquisitive. The pictures and video below shows a spotted skunk, in a trap that feels pretty safe and takes its time leaving to go back into the wild.

Here, below, is a YouTube of the release of a spotted skunk.

https://youtu.be/iQ5Bty8PqqA

Striped and Hog-nosed skunks are a little more disquieted by human interaction and, like all skunks when provoked, either in a trap or after leaving a trap, will stamp their feet and try to warn anyone too close that they could spray at any time. Video, below, will show several skunks being released and one of them kind of turns around and being a little agitated, thinks about spraying, but finally decides instead, to amble off, just like the others.

Below are three YouTube videos of releases, first of a striped skunk and then, following, two Hog-nosed skunks headed out in their new home.

Striped skunk

https://youtu.be/bRTjDTxMFGU

A beautiful Hog-nosed skunk in the trap.

A calm Hog-nosed skunk ambling away

https://youtu.be/PL8ClYm7w9k

A slightly agitated Hog-nosed skunk being introduced to its new surroundings stops and considers spraying a few times. Note it keeps its tail straight up, ready, if necessary to spray.

https://youtu.be/ivSjzN99ynM

If you have skunk living and spraying/digging/grubbing in your area, around your business, home, or property you manage and believe they are a nuisance, call 1^st Response Wildlife, a professional wildlife live-trap service company, who would be happy to talk with you about trapping and relocating them for you. Giving 1^st Response Wildlife a call will result in the best outcome for you.

If you would like help with any other nuisance animals, noises in your building, see or hear something in or around your home, business, or property and would like help identifying it, humanely removing it, with the assurance it will be relocated to live in a safe environment, please give 1^st Response Wildlife a call to discuss your options.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Josh Waling is a humane Licensed Animal Trapper who catches and releases wildlife, removing animals including bobcats (lince), coyotes, snakes, rattlesnakes (serpiente de cascabel), raccoons (mapache), pack rats, gila monsters (monstruos de gila), rabbits (canejo), owls, bats, hawks, ducks, opossums, squirrels (ardilla), peacocks, Coatimundi (gato solo), skunks (mofeta), ringtails, exotics, and domestic cats and dogs. He delivers service that is professional and fast and he is available 24/7. Give him a call the next time you hear unusual noises in the attic or crawl spaces in your home or if you see wildlife eating your vegetation, creating nests, and raising their young too close to your pets or children or have an exotic sighting in your neighborhood. 520-260-9517 Thanks!

Posted at 09:25 AM in Skunks | Permalink | Comments (0)

10/06/2016

Whip Snake and Gila Monster Vs Glue Boards – Rescued and Removed by 1st Response Wildlife

If any homeowner or business has had a scorpion, roach, cricket, spider, or any other insect problem, the solution suggested by Do-it-yourself sites on the internet or supplied by Pest Control Companies almost always includes spraying around perimeters as well as glue board leave-behinds. Glue boards, pictured below, contain sticky long lasting glue that easily catches and holds insects that choose to walk through this container-placed along walls and especially close to garage door openings, and storage closets and where insects have been seen.

These glue boards are effective and help control the entrance of insects as well as act as good indicators of whether or not the perimeter spraying has reduced the number of insects around the property. Having said that, however, the glue that lines the bottom, sides, and top of these little boxes is also strong enough to adhere to and hold snakes and Gila Monsters.

1^st Response Wildlife has been called to homes and businesses on a number of occasions where a snake or Gila Monster has entered a garage or storage area that either had its door left open or, in some cases, a rodent had chewed an entrance hole into a space and the snake entered looking for a meal.

Here we see a Whip Snake that has been rescued from a glue board entanglement that is being rehabilitated by 1^st Response Wildlife before it is returned to the wild.

Here is a close up of a Gila Monster that was found in a garage with its head stuck in a glue board box after apparently going after a cricket or some other insect that was stuck in the glue. This close-up picture clearly shows that all the glue has been removed and it is now being released back into the wild.

In both cases, after using a technique that frees the animal, care is taken to hold it in a safe container until all traces of glue are confirmed removed and the animal is fully able to move around and capable of returning to the wild. Only then is the snake or Gila Monster returned safely back into the wild.

Ultimately, the animal is not permanently impacted by the effects of the glue but, if the business owner or homeowner does not call a Wildlife Service to come, catch, and release the animal, the glue is strong enough that the animal cannot extricate itself and will eventually starve to death. It is imperative to recognize that these glue board boxes are effective in insect control but also present a danger to animals that can be following their prey and become stuck. Instructions from a Do-it-yourself site on the internet or a Pest Control Company rarely include guidelines for checking glue boxes routinely for animal capture but, 1^st Response Wildlife would like to suggest that businesses and homeowners keep an eye out for animal activity when glue boxes are placed around and inside one’s property.

If you find that you have an animal stuck in a glue box and would like it humanely removed, rehabilitated, and returned to the wild, please give 1^st Response a call.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Posted at 08:26 AM in Gila Monsters, Gopher Snake, King Snake, Pet Snakes, Rattlesnakes, Rehab, Snakes | Permalink | Comments (0)

09/27/2016

Pack rat Removal and Destruction Addressed by 1st Response Wildlife

Pack rats in Arizona are more than a nuisance. They are destructive, dangerous, and everywhere! Many believe Javelina are the most destructive because of their size and what they can do to plants, cactus, and property. Pack rats, however, are even more destructive because they can climb over walls, squeeze into spaces in attics, businesses, sheds, grills, foundations, automobiles, and just about anywhere they can be assured there is darkness and protection from their predators. Once established, they gnaw wood, wire, PVC, grill or pool covers, and, basically set up shop. Since they can move into people living areas, they also can bring disease into your home or business in a way that external animals, like Javelina, cannot.

Books have been written by Rodentologists that highlight their success in rat removal in large cities, urban communities, food warehouses, and businesses. None of them, however have apparently tackled writing about and actually dealing with pack rats that live in Arizona. Their primary approach is to educate the business or city maintenance workers to remove or reduce a food source and the expected result is to encourage Norway or brown rats to choose other places to live. Here in Arizona, however, we are surrounded by desert, with unlimited food supplies, shelter material and access to homes, businesses, cactus, and rock outcroppings, and much of the food source and protective material is natural. There is no way to get rid of all the pack rats which live all around us, so, they just keep coming.

The stories from homeowners and businesses that trap and remove pack rats include repeated nesting and destruction from pack rats that occupy the nests, attics, grills, storage spaces, and the roots of cactus within days of the removal of one rat. 1^st Response Wildlife is called by dozens of business owners, Property Management Companies, and homeowners to consult with them about a pack rat problem. The key to understanding pack rats and determining what to do about them is to first recognize the damage they can do, then identify where they are living, consider their lifestyle, the conditions that exist in a given location where there is a pack rat problem, and how it can be addressed long term.

Pest Control companies provide a service to try and keep the numbers of pack rats low but, they really are not in the business of educating the public and addressing the larger pack rat problems that are present when pack rats invade a home, business, or the plants around the property. True, some number of pack rats will be trapped or even poisoned by a Pest Control service but, once a pack rat finds entry to a home or business, a more specific and long term strategy to get the rats out of the home or business must be employed. Again, 1^st Response Wildlife works with Pest Control companies to augment their services, actually go into attics, roofs, and homes or businesses and work to immediately remove and make those areas unattractive for future pack rats.

Pack rats, except when they have and are raising their young, are primarily solitary dwellers. This means that, unless young are present, there is usually just one pack rat in a nest. This also means that when the young move on from their mother, they must find their own place to live. As this happens, and a relatively safe place is found-either an empty nest left by another pack rat, or a new, relatively safe location, the pack rat sets about creating their own abode. They collect material which, in many cases, includes protective Cholla cactus sections that makes it more difficult for the animals, raptors, and reptiles that feed on them to enter their nest. Snakes-rattlesnakes, king snakes, and gopher snakes, along with Ringtails, Gila Monsters, and Owls, are not easily deterred by those barriers in the wild, however. Pack rats will, in any event, keep trying to keep as many of their predators away from their "runs," as possible. Below is an example of what a pack rat has done to create a Cholla-lined pathway to its hole which makes it difficult for a bobcat or coyote, feral cat, or even a curious dog to walk up to the hole because of the risk of getting cactus in its feet.

When a pack rat is trapped from a nest, it leaves behind its scent, droppings, urine smell, and its nesting material and, before long, another pack rat moves in and begins to add material to that nest. Nesting material can be comprised of just about anything. Here is an example of twigs, mesquite and Palo Verde pods.

Here is more nesting material, rocks, and sticks-filled with natural food-pods from desert trees

Here is a pack rat nest in the base of an Agave.

Here is an example of a pack rat nest that is almost hidden in a pool edge garden of Lantana,

Close by, the nesting material, which includes Cholla cactus sections has spilled out of the Hesperaloe parviflora, with the nesting activity becoming more obvious as winter approaches because of the added material brought in to ensure insulation.

Close by, for protection at night and partially during the day, a pack rat has created entrance and exit holes in a pool cover that gives it shelter from raptors, dogs, and bobcats, while having easy entrance and exits when it is foraging for food and shelter material.

More damage to the pool cover.

Automobiles and trucks are also a favorite nesting area for pack rats. There are untold numbers of Arizona residents who have left a car/truck outside and discovered, to their dismay, that trying to start it after a period of time results in no response from the engine, or discovering, after lifting the hood, a whole collection of material has filled the engine area. It may cost thousands of dollars in rewiring and also it is a very time consuming job of removing cactus, pods, and any other material-all the while trying not to get stuck by cactus or other material that is in between wires, battery or engine parts. The really frustrating part of this situation is that removing the material and trapping the rat which has done the damage does not guarantee that another rat will not take up residence immediately and start bringing in material again, chewing on wires, and leaving its droppings. (1^st Response Wildlife has worked with a number of these situations to help vehicle owners come up with a strategy to reduce a repeat pack rat infestation.)

Three ideas that many try to prevent pack rat nesting in an outside vehicle are; 1. Leaving the hood up over night with a light in the engine-since pack rats do not like a lot of light and; 2. Buying a gadget called Rid-a-rat that is sold by many hardware stores. This device has wires that connect to the car battery and then has a light which has a magnet on the back which directs the vehicle owner to attach it to the firewall. Some swear by this device and others, like the owner of this truck below, where a Rid-a-rat was installed, would tell you that they absolutely do not work, and; 3. There are a number of companies that advertise an electronic device that had an ultra-high sound that a person cannot hear but, supposedly, it is a deterrent for rodents. Again, research and homeowner’s experience, do not substantiate any significant success with these devices.

And then, of course, there are the homeowners who find that pack rats can climb and, especially, as winter approaches, any easy entrance to an attic, laundry room, shed, or grill, provides an excellent warm and safe-from-predator home for winter habitat and a great location for birthing and raising a whole new family of pack rats-just in time for spring.

1^st Response Wildlife worked with a homeowner who heard noises under the roof and in the attic and, when water started dripping and the inspection of the attic showed significant pack rat droppings, further inspection showed pack rats had chewed PVC water pipes and made a home in the ceiling-ruining the ceiling. Below, you can see an example of PVC with rat gnawing (in other parts of the water pipe, the pack rats chewed all the way through and the water ruined the ceiling, drywall, piping and the whole area had to be cleaned out in order to be replaced.)

This is the insulation filled with rat feces and nesting material.

Here is the ceiling with the insulation, drywall and insulation removed.

The bottom-line of this whole discussion is that pack rats are here to stay. They are destructive in many different ways, live as happily in the desert as in and around your house and it is only by understanding their behavior, habitat, and the potential damage they can cause when they get into the wrong places that a business, Property Management Company, or homeowner, can protect their property and vehicles from pack rats choosing the wrong place to call home. 1^st Response Wildlife has helped dozens of homeowners, businesses, and Property Management Companies with their pack rat problems. 1^st Response Wildlife believes that everyone with a pack rat problem needs to get involved in discussing and agreeing on the best way to remove the rats but, everyone should also be involved in looking at the longer term value of participating in a plan to keep future pack rat damage from occurring.

If you have pack rats in and around your property, hear gnawing noises at night in your walls or attics, discover droppings in a closet, shed, grill, or nesting material in a garage, attic, or somewhere it should not be, please consider giving 1^st Response Wildlife a call.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Posted at 11:59 AM in Bobcats, Coyote, Gila Monsters, Gopher Snake, Javelina, King Snake, Owls, Pack Rats, Raptors, Rattlesnakes, Ringtails, Snakes | Permalink | Comments (0)

09/20/2016

Rowdy Ringtails Identified and Relocated by 1st Response Wildlife

Ringtails, Arizona’s state mammal, are curious, beneficial in that they feed on rodents, insects, and other prey, but they are not often seen because they are nocturnal. They are a relative of the Coatimundi and Raccoons, also found in and around Tucson and southern Arizona but, their small size and shy nature allow them to live around homes, business, in and around rocky areas, without being observed. If you have not seen Arizona’s state mammal, the Ringtail, then you also are among thousands of Tucson residents who have never seen a Ringtail or may even be unaware that they happily live here in Arizona.

Ringtails are uniquely equipped for night hunting of mice, insects, bird eggs, and the occasional snake. Their small and slender bodies also make it easy for them to squeeze into attics, restaurant roofs, commercial businesses, and sheds in search of shelter as well as people food. 1^st Response Wildlife has trapped several Ringtails in commercial buildings where the food left in trash bins in employee break rooms, and/or happily consuming buns and other leftovers in/around fast food restaurants where night time access can offer easy feeding opportunities. They can climb up the side of a Santa Fe home/wall, trees, and their feet can turn almost 180 degrees. All which describes a great little mammal; nocturnal hunter, one that can climb and is able to squeeze into small spaces, lives happily in attics, buildings, rock formations, sheltered desert areas, is adaptable, and, as a rodent and insect eater, fills a valuable niche in the desert circle of life. Also known as “Miner’s cats,” these little guys have a long history, here in Arizona are really beneficial to have around-even if you have never seen one.

1^st Response Wildlife most recently responded to a call from homeowners who had nightly noises in their attic. Night-time flashlight investigation, by the homeowner, around the property and scanning of the roof revealed what looked like a small cat with large eyes and a tail with black rings. At first, it was thought that there were Coatimundi living in and around the home. However, the fact the noises were at night, the scuffling, and scurrying sounds were not those of a large animal, helped confirm the noises were not being made by a Raccoon, Coatimundi, or birds that somehow had gotten into the attic. When the constant night time noise did not stop, 1^st Response Wildlife was called, consulted, and an effort was launched to identify the intruder(s) and remove/relocate.

1^st Response Wildlife helped the homeowners talk through the possible animal species that they were hearing and, after an inspection, confirmed that, indeed, the homeowners had Ringtails happily living in their attic. In this particular instance, although Ringtails are great to have around, the night time noises and feces left in the attic were regarded as a nuisance and it was requested that they be trapped and relocated safely and humanely.

1^st Response Wildlife trapped a pair of Ringtails and set them up for release in a location that is a favorite haunt for this nocturnal mammal.

In the pictures below, this roudy male and female Ringtail are pictured in traps where they were live-trapped and are being fed while a location, suitable, but far removed from their attic abode is being selected. It should be noted that Ringtails are mostly solitary animals and being able to trap a pair (male and female) in the same transaction is rare.

First the female. (Note the large eyes, typical of nocturnal animals.)

Then the male:

In the YouTube video, below, you can see both the female(first) and then the male, being released in a rocky outcropping where there is plenty of food (mice, insects, and Kangaroo rats, etc.), and also water close by. Note that, after a few days of feeding them in preparation for release, both Ringtails are reluctant to leave the protection of their transfer traps and, in fact, it takes a little extra effort to encourage them to leave the comfort and protection where they have been housed. https://youtu.be/c0iGSoNTK6g

If you hear noises in your attic, walls, or see an animal or reptile that you cannot identify and believe it might be bothering you, your family, business associates customers or renters, please give 1^st Response Wildlife a call and let Josh discuss with you what you might have and what could be a good solution for living with, or removing and relocating the animal, reptile, or amphibian.,

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Posted at 10:15 AM in Coatimundi, Raccoons, Ringtails, Snakes, Video | Permalink | Comments (0)

09/15/2016

RARE Photos and Video of Humane Bobcat Family Relocation-by 1st Response Wildlife

Bobcats are a common sight in and around southern Arizona and greater Tucson. In fact, Arizona is one of the few states where bobcats are comfortable living and raising their families in urban areas, around homes, businesses, golf courses, and resorts. Some resorts, for example, believe having a family of bobcats walk through their grounds adds to the allure of their property and their support of nature.

When bobcats, however, decide to have their young in close proximity to a home where there are young children, small dogs, or even in an attic, then 1^st Response Wildlife is often called for a consult to determine if and how a business or homeowner should react. In some cases, there is no action required but, in other instances, an agreement is reached for the mother and kittens to be humanely live-trapped and safely relocated. The primary goal of a mother bobcat is to find a safe location to birth and raise her young to an age where they can fend for themselves. Choosing an attic, a protected area on a roof, a den in the desert above flood stage on the side of a wash, under a porch, or in a shed where there is an opening, are all pretty common locations chosen.

What follows is an extremely rare series of pictures and videos of a mother bobcat and her three kittens that had chosen a birthing location within 50 feet of the back door of a residence where three small children and two small dogs played and spent hours within a few feet of where the kittens were hidden. The mother instructed the kittens to remain hidden while she hunted for food but, the fact that children and pets could walk right up to the hiding place without knowledge of the kittens, placed them in some danger from a mother returning with food and possibly reacting in a protective way to their presence.

After a discussion with the homeowner, 1^st Response Wildlife was contracted to live-trap, remove and relocate the family unit.

Here is a picture of the hidey-hole where the three kittens were hidden, safe from coyotes, other bobcats (usually male bobcats which might want to kill them in order to protect their territory), people, hawks, or even javelina.

Hidey hole where Mother hid her three kittens

Here is a picture of the first two bobcat kittens that were removed from the hidey-hole by 1^st Response Wildlife using bite proof gloves.

After they were caught, the mother came back to check on their whereabouts and she was live-trapped as part of the process for family capture.

Here is a picture of the third bobcat kitten, again, captured with bite proof gloves after it came out and got itself isolated in a spot it could not get out of by itself. (note, even at this age, the size of the kitten's claws.)

Once the three kittens were caught, they were reunited with their mother in a large transfer enclosure complete with food and water-in preparation for transport to a safe location where they would be released, over a few days, back into the wild.

Here is a picture of the family, back together, in the transfer enclosure ready to be relocated.

Here is a picture of a safe location where the enclosure will be placed and then the mother will be allowed to search and find a new home to raise her young.

Here is a picture of the transfer enclosure with the family inside in the safe and protected location.

Here is a picture of the family inside the enclosure in their new location with the relocation process well underway.

1^st Response Wildlife provides a humane service for live trapping and relocation of animals that are creating a safety issue or are causing a nuisance in and around someone’s property or business. In mid to late summer, fall and winter, for the most part, this entails capturing an individual Coatimundi, Raccoon, Bobcat, Ringtail, Opossum, Skunk, Coyote, or even a domestic animal, such as a cat or dog. These relocations are relatively straight forward because the individual animal is creating a problem and can be live-trapped and relocated miles from the property where it is creating a problem. In the case of a domestic animal, a trip to Animal Control for adoption is an immediate solution.

In the case of families of animals, however, relocation is not a simple, live-trap, transfer, relocate, and release situation. The Arizona Game and Fish Department is very clear on how it wants Licensed Wildlife Service Companies to handle family re-locations. Foremost, a consideration for the health and safety of all members of the family is paramount. They must stay together, be moved to a safe location in proximity to water, a food source, and, to a protected environment. The release process 1st Response Wildlife uses to ensure these guidelines are followed, happens over several days and the family has to be monitored and the mother allowed to become acclimated to the sights, sounds, smells and surrounding area. This is called a “soft release.”

For this family of bobcats, a “soft release” was planned and, for probably one of the “first times ever,” the activity and guidance of the mother bobcat was caught on camera and presented below. The family was moved to a safe location where food and water was presented for 3 days and then, on the third night, the door to the enclosure was left slightly ajar so the mother could explore the surrounding area, find a spot she felt comfortable moving the kittens to and then return and guide them to their new home.

A trail camera was set up to capture the mother in the process of relocating the family.

In the YouTube videos below, you can see this happen over time. In this first one you can see the mother outside the enclosure looking around, checking the area and, as she leaves the viewing area, probably checking for food sources such as pack rat nests etc.. (note how narrow her sides are-common for a nursing mother.)

https://youtu.be/gtt4DraQ8IU

After she has looked around, she returns and calls to the kittens. You can see the eyes of the kittens still in the transfer enclosure.

https://youtu.be/UYPiG6cA_5Y

The first kitten is called, walks under the mother’s legs and they leave together. Looking inside the enclosure, you can see two sets of eyes remaining.

https://youtu.be/v3GxuYxWj1s

The mother returns and the second kitten leaves with her. Now, all you can see is just one set of eyes left in the enclosure.

https://youtu.be/ogFjx7SyQak

The third and last kitten (curiously) comes out of the enclosure and walks to the right of the picture. The mother does not enter the picture here but, she does collect this third kitten and the relocation of the family is complete.

https://youtu.be/eGUe9irqb6Y

About an hour later, a Javelina enters the picture and thankfully the entire family has successfully relocated and is safe.

https://youtu.be/1ynjmYEKIjg

1^st Response Wildlife uses this same process on other Wildlife families where the determination is made that relocation is in the best interest of the family and the particular area the mother has chosen to birth and raise them. Care is taken to ensure the safety of the family and the situation with the business or homeowner is satisfactorily addressed. This series of photographs and videos is unique because the actual relocation by the mother was captured in real time. It also demonstrates the care taken by 1^st Response Wildlife and the mother bobcat in scouting and then safely finding an acceptable and safe location, following a proven process that ensures the bobcat family and, in this case, the homeowner are satisfied with the relocation.

If you would like help with any Nuisance animals, noises in your building, see or hear something in or around your home, business, or property and would like help identifying it, humanely removing it, with the assurance it will be relocated to live in a safe environment, please give 1^st Response Wildlife a call to discuss your options.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Posted at 01:36 PM in AZ Game and Fish Urban Wildlife , Bobcats, Coatimundi, Coyote, Domestic, House Cats, Javelina, Opossum, Pack Rats, Raccoons, Ringtails, Skunks , Video | Permalink | Comments (0)

03/18/2016

Rattlesnake Danger Inside Homes!-1st Response Wildlife Responds

Arizona is home to 13 species of rattlesnakes and several dozen subspecies. In southern Arizona, probably the most prevalent rattlesnake a homeowner, hiker, or rancher encounters is the Western Diamondback. Rattlesnakes can be observed, starting in the spring, in a whole variety of locations such as crossing the road, on your patio, under a bush, along a wall, or crossing a trail.

1^st Response Wildlife has recently been involved in 2 very dangerous rattlesnake service calls where homeowners encountered Western Diamondbacks inside their homes.

The most serious happened in a home out near the base of the Rincon Mountains. It seems that a basement, rarely used, had become invaded by packrats. Over the winter, rattlers had been drawn to that location by the packrats and by the fact that, via an opening to the outside, the dark basement was a perfect place to set up a winter den. By the time 1^st Response Wildlife had been called, the homeowner had already encountered three Western Diamondback rattlesnakes inside the upstairs area and, by the time a full inspection and property search and monitoring occurred, no fewer than 13 rattlers had been discovered and removed. While, at present, no more rattlers have been found, the home is being monitored, a trap has been set in a key area of the basement, and everyone involved is on alert.

Clearly, this is a dangerous and somewhat exceptional situation. However, since rattlesnakes typically “den up,” for the winter, it is not uncommon to find several rattlesnakes which have been together during the colder months, emerging from their den in the spring in groups. It is just rare to have a large number of rattlers choose an occupied residence as their place to winter over.

While it is a surprise to find a den of rattlers in a home, it is not uncommon to find that, drawn to an opening or an occasionally open garage door, a homeowner will find a rattlesnake, in the spring, which has spent the winter behind some storage container or box. If a homeowner also has mice or packrats that have chosen their garage as a place to take up winter residence, this can be a magnet that draws rattlesnakes in initially and then, with the garage door closed, the snake ends up finding a hiding place where it stays until spring.

An extremely dangerous development involving mice and a winter rattler recently resulted in a call to 1^st Response Wildlife. It seems the rattler had entered the home in the fall from a nearby wash, either taking advantage of an open garage as a potential winter hideaway or because it sensed mice in the garage, followed their presence and then spent the winter and early spring, hidden away well fed and safe.

To answer a question that is sometimes asked, “do snakes climb?” the answer is, yes. In this case, the homeowner was walking around behind his car on his way to run an errand and, as he neared the back of the garage, he heard a rattle. Somewhat surprised, thankfully, he stopped, looked around and there, about shoulder/neck high, he saw a Western Diamondback female. She was sitting on top of a weed hoe, apparently trying to get out of the garage and, not finding an exit at ground level, had climbed as high as she could and was attempting to find an exit. The homeowner backed up, realizing that, in a few more strides he would have possibly been the recipient of a snake bite in the shoulder or neck area. He took the picture below and called 1^st Response Wildlife. As you can see, the picture was taken in a garage with only an inside light, which is not very clear but, the rattler is clearly visible, shoulder high, on the weed hoe.

Below is a picture, after the rattler has been removed to a transfer container, showing the rattler’s former location and the path it had to climb to reach the height where the picture was taken.

Here is the female Western Diamondback.

Here is a YouTube of that same rattler being safely relocated back into the wild.

https://youtu.be/618rj06yycw

Rattlesnakes in Arizona are not to be taken lightly. They provide a great service in rodent control and, left alone, unless they are in your back yard and you have pets or children, will co-exist with people and keep their distance. If they are in your home, as in the two situations above, however, they can be extremely dangerous, both because, when encountered, they may not have an easy path to escape and, because, a homeowner, child, or pet, may not see them until it is too late. If you find a rattlesnake on your property, in your home, around your pool or patio and would like it safely removed, please give 1^st Response Wildlife a call!

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Posted at 08:17 AM in Pack Rats, Rattlesnakes, Snakes | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bloody Bobcats!

Arizona has a significant bobcat population. Arizona Game and Fish Department, in fact, reports that thousands are taken by hunters and fur trappers each year across the state.

Here in southern Arizona, homeowners, hikers, golfers, and winter snowbirds typically enjoy bobcats in a different way-taking photographs, watching bobcats walk through back yards, lounging on patios, and even sharing a fairway or green during a round of golf. In rare cases, a small pet, chickens, or doves feeding at a bird feeder have become prey of bobcats in the neighborhood. When something like this happens, very often, a homeowner or Property Management Company places a call to 1^st Response Wildlife to discuss their options.

Here we see what homeowners often see and photograph outside their picture windows or just beyond their property line.

1^st Response Wildlife, as a licensed nuisance live trapper under the direction of the Arizona Game and Fish Department, is focused on working with homeowners and Property Management Companies to understand their specific situations, discuss and educate the interested parties on their options and then, if required, trap and relocate bobcats that truly are a nuisance. In some cases, making an area with pets or chickens more secure, changing bird feeder locations, and being aware of bobcat habits is all that is necessary. For others, however, when a female bobcat decides to have her babies in an attic, a bobcat really is preying on or threatening pets, the best option is to trap and relocate them.

One situation where bobcats were creating a nuisance resulted in the application of a term usually applied in the UK to this blog-“Bloody Bobcats.” While this term is broadly and often used or applied in jest, in the case of one homeowner, it turned out to have a specific application. It seems that bobcats in the neighborhood had decided that the front edge of their Santa Fe home was a great place to bring and consume their prey.

As you can see, this line that runs down the front of the home, just above the garage is ugly.

Closer inspection by the homeowner and then by 1^st Response Wildlife, identified the material constituting the line, as blood from prey that bobcats would bring and consume on the roof. (Hence the moniker, “Bloody Bobcats!”) The homeowner and his neighbor had observed and photographed bobcats in the neighborhood on a number of occasions. However, when this behavior continued and the line became more pronounced, it was decided to ask 1^st Response Wildlife to relocate them.

The area was inspected and it was discovered that, perhaps one influencing factor for bobcats choosing a roof as a dining location, was that a large herd of Javelina frequented the area. To confirm that competition for the same travel routes, a trail camera was set up and, as expected, for a period of time, the herd was photographed foraging around the perimeter of the home.

Here we see Javelina inspecting and actually tripping the bobcat trap.

Once the Javelina moved on and the area was cleaned up, as you can see in the somewhat grainy photograph below, taken at night, a bobcat returned and, in the picture below, came-to-trap. was removed and relocated several miles away where there was plenty of its normal prey, water, and shelter.

Here is the bobcat resting in the trap ready to be relocated.

Once the area was cleared, the bobcat was removed and relocated several miles away where there was plenty of its normal prey, water, and shelter

If you have bobcats living in your area, around your business, home, or property you manage and believe they are a nuisance, 1^st Response Wildlife would be happy to talk with you about your experiences and explore ideas for living with them or, if it is determined that they are really becoming a nuisance, trap and relocate them for you. Please give 1^st Response Wildlife a call for the best outcome for you and for what can be those, “Bloody Bobcats!”

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Posted at 06:30 AM in AZ Game and Fish Urban Wildlife , Bobcats, Javelina | Permalink | Comments (0)

02/17/2016

Rattlesnake removal in Tucson by 1st Response Wildlife

The rattlesnakes are out and, regardless of whether you are sure if the snake you see is a rattler or not, it is safer to call a professional to discuss the best way to deal with it and, if necessary, to remove it.

A rattlesnake bite is something 1st Response Wildlife has blogged about before and the key thing to remember is to leave handling of a rattler to the professionals.

You may encounter one rattler in the open, or one in your garage that came in looking for mice or a warm spot to spend the winter.

You may also find more than one. Here are two rattlers and then, the following picture shows them both being humanely on their way to being relocated to a safe distance from the home.

The 1^st Response Wildlife team has years of experience identifying, dealing with, trapping, and relocating reptiles, animals, and birds. They are professional and get the job done. Recognized as a contributing member to the Arizona Herpetological Association and a member of the National Wildlife Control Operators Association (NWCOA), 1st Response Wildlife is ready to assist you identify, educate you on the best way to deal with, relocate rattlers for you, and possibly help show you how to keep rattlers from coming too close to your children, employees, property, and pets.

Warm weather brings out all kinds of snakes that have been holed up during the cold weather and they are looking for a meal, a mate, and possibly somewhere other than where they have spent the last few months, be it in your garage, under a shed, or sharing a den.

If you hear a rattling, encounter a rattler, or think you may have a snake that you would like to have removed, give 1^st Response Wildlife a call.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Posted at 07:49 PM in Rattlesnakes, Snakes | Permalink | Comments (0)

02/03/2016

Coyote-Well On Its Way To Becoming a Chupacabra, Captured By 1st Response Wildlife

Coyotes in Southern Arizona are a fairly common sight. Often you can hear them “singing,” at night if they have their next meal cornered. For the most part, coyotes seen in and around urban areas have become quite comfortable living in close proximity with humans. The challenge this presents, of course, is that an unattended small pet often becomes a target for coyotes, with stories each year of coyotes killing cats, small dogs, chickens, and pet rabbits. The term, Anthropogenic, is used to describe a situation where humans have had an effect on nature. This term is often used to describe how urbanization of what formerly were open spaces, has caused coyotes to adapt to humans, buildings, and man-made habits and structures instead of historical environments around southern Arizona that only had cactus, trees, desert, and creosote.

Coyotes, living in urban areas, such as Tucson, South Tucson, Oro Valley, Green Valley, Vail, Saddlebrooke, and Catalina, because of their adaptive nature have expanded their food source from wild animals, road kill, and rodents to garbage, pets, and, in some cases cat/dog food from well meaning citizens who leave food out for feral cats. Hunting range, limited by structures and homes can reduce hiding places for prey and increase the potential for a meal that might be easier to obtain that hunting down and chasing a bobtail or jack rabbit in the open desert. This absence of fear has encouraged urban coyotes to the extent that they have been known to team-stalk someone walking their dog – where one coyote will approach from the front and the second and third will come up behind the dog walker and little dog(s) in an attempt to obtain an easy meal. Often, coyotes can become bold and do not necessarily run away when they encounter humans. Some might think this is because they mean to attack, but it may only be because former encounters with humans didn’t result in anything hurtful-reinforcing a comfort level that is not seen in other wild animals.

Recently, 1^st Response Wildlife was called to investigate and possibly trap a coyote that had been seen repeatedly around a heavily populated area. What was of particular concern by the Property Management Organization was that one particular coyote consistently was approaching the residents/renters and had been observed as close as 5 feet. It was also reported that this particular coyote did not look well and, in fact had begun to look like it was on its way to becoming a “Chupacabra.” (A Chupacabra, if you Google it, was once thought to be a scary mythical animal that attacked at night and was eventually named a goat-sucker/Chupacabra because it attacked domesticated animals, was hairless, and somewhat emaciated=scary) Scientists eventually realized that the term Chupacabra and the appearance of the animals documented were really just a coyote, a wild dog, or even a fox, with all having lost their hair due to Mange and, were probably too sick to chase normal wild prey.

There are three types of mange and all are caused by small mites called Sarcoptic mites which burrow under the skin, resulting in the animal scratching the area and eventually, as the mites spread, an animal becomes weaker and loses its hair in the areas where the infestation/mites reside. In the worst cases, in addition to losing hair, the animal develops bacterial infections as well – resulting in a very scary looking and smelly “beast,” of mythical folklore. Untreated, the mites keep burrowing in the host animal and can be transferred from one animal to another but are unique to the type of host animal. So, if a coyote has mange, also called Scabies, the mange is easily transferred in the den, where the coyotes come in close contact to each other, or to a dog that may have contact with a coyote but escapes. If a human were to come in contact with that particular canine mite, while some mites could be transferred to the human and cause some itching, a canine mite cannot survive on a human host and will eventually die.

Below are a couple of internet copied pictures of animals (Chupacabras) that are examples of the end state of what mange can do. (They are but two of dozens that can be found and are shown here for comparison purposes to the pictures of the coyote in question-further in this blog.)

After an inspection of the area where the coyote had been reported/seen and, as a result of numerous eye-witness descriptions of a rather ugly/sickly/scary looking coyote, 1^st Response Wildlife set some traps that are specific to canines.

The beauty of these traps is that they are not designed to catch cats, Javelina, bobcats, raccoons, or coatimundi. They also do not harm the animal but, hold it until a trapper can arrive, transfer it to a carrier and move it to another location. With respect to this particular coyote and, based on all the reports, 1^st Response Wildlife was fairly certain that this was probably a fairly sick coyote, with mange, that would need to, after capture, be taken to a rehabilitation location for inspection by a veterinarian. (Left alone in the wild, the Property Management Company and the residents/renters who had encountered the coyote at close range, reported that, it did not look like a healthy coyote and, its lack of mobility suggested that, without medical attention, it might not survive. In the mean time, however, they were all worried about the safety of their pet dogs and cats many of which were walked 2-3 times a day.)

Here we see the first picture of the captured target coyote. It has not been hurt and is just waiting for help.

Here we see the coyote, transferred to a carrier for transport to a rehabilitation facility. (Note its undernourished condition and the absence of hair on the rear end of the animal above the tail.)

Here is a close up of the right hindquarters of the target coyote clearly showing all the hair missing with a full blown case of mange. This animal, without help, certainly is on its way to looking like one of the Chupacabras pictured above.

The following day (animal was captured late in the evening), the animal was transported to a rehabilitation center which logged it into their facility where date, time, location of acquisition took place (for Arizona Game and Fish Department's records) and an assessment was made by a veterinarian. Thankfully, the animal was not harmed and there was a place in Tucson to take it for evaluation and follow through.

If you are a homeowner, business owner, Property Management Company and you find that you have a nuisance animal in or around your property, please give 1^st Response Wildlife a call to discuss options for dealing with it or humanely removing it.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Posted at 09:09 AM in AZ Game and Fish Urban Wildlife , Bobcats, Coatimundi, Colorado River Toad, Coyote, Domestic, Injured, Javelina, Raccoons, Rehab | Permalink | Comments (0)

01/26/2016

Great Horned Owl Sounds Alarm-1st Response Wildlife Responds

Southern Arizona has some of the most spectacular sunrises and sunsets. Homes are built with picture windows that allow for viewing the sights as well as shielding the home in the summer months from the most intense sunlight. Perhaps you have windows like these or even larger.

In any case, these windows also can become incidental hazards for our avian desert dwellers. There are lots of reports of Cooper’s hawks chasing doves or quail during daylight hours and having those fleeing capture smashing into what, to the hunted, is an escape route. Homeowners report stunned or worse, maimed or killed, humming birds, quail, and doves that have mistaken a window as a path to safety. Rarely, but, recently, several incidences of Owls hitting windows, for whatever reason, have resulted in early morning loud thuds on picture windows. One such collision resulted in a Great Horned Owl hitting a picture window with such force that it set off the home alarms. Needless to say, the family and their dogs were startled and seriously concerned as to the nature of the sound of something hitting their picture window and then the subsequent screaming of their alarm. On the patio, outside the picture window, they found this Great Horned Owl, stunned and out-cold. 1st Response Wildlife was called and after an on-the-spot evaluation it was determined that, while the Owl was immobile, it was alive and should be taken to a licensed rehabber for further inspection. What remained a mystery was what had brought a Great Horned Owl onto a covered patio with such force that it ended up smashing into the picture window. 1st Response Wildlife carefully gathered up the Owl and transported it to a rehabilitation site. (Here you can see the Owl, in a safe transport carrier-still out-cold.)

Upon arrival at the rehabber, the Great Horned Owl, (pictured here), has recovered somewhat, but is still a little foggy.

The rehabber logged the Great Horned Owl into their facility-capturing location the Owl had its incident, time, and date. (This is for their log that must be kept and reported to the Arizona Game and Fish Department on all animals submitted for rehabilitation). A thorough inspection of the Owl was completed and it was determined that nothing was broken and it will be kept until it is fully back to normal, at which time, it will be released back into the wild. A discussion as to the reason for the Owl hitting the picture window in the first place remains a bit of a mystery but, since the rehabber has two more Owls that have also had picture window mishaps, there are some theories as to whether this particular Great Horned Owl was being chased by another Owl that wanted this one out of its territory. Theory being that there was no prey in or around the patio where this collision occurred and the Owl had to fly a ways into and under a significant patio overhang. There may never be a complete explanation for this mishap but, based on the physical condition of the Owl, and the care that will be provided by the rehabilitation center, the story appears to be headed to a happy ending for the Owl. The homeowner and the family where it occurred are happy that the Owl is doing well and they did not have any serious damage happen to their home.

While rescuing wildlife is not the primary service provided by 1st Response Wildlife, from time to time, capture and transport to a rehabilitation center is provided.

If you would like help with Nuisance animals, noises in your building, up in your attic, your chimney, see or hear something in or around your home, business, or property and would like help identifying it, humanely removing it, with the assurance it will be relocated to live in a safe environment, please give 1^st Response Wildlife a call to discuss your options.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Posted at 02:48 PM in AZ Game and Fish Urban Wildlife , Injured, Owls | Permalink | Comments (0)

12/03/2015

Opossum Capture and Release-Back into the Wild by 1st Response Wildlife

Animal Trapping in Southern Arizona requires knowledge and handling of a wide variety of animals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds. 1^st Response Wildlife has years of experience in both educating the public about wildlife in the Sonoran Desert of Southern Arizona as well as humanely trapping and relocating a wide variety of species. Sometimes, homeowners, property management companies, and businesses are surprised to find animals in and around their facilities that may be causing a noise or have become a nuisance but is actually a species they have not encountered here before-or they did not think would be found in this area. For example, to native Tucsonans, the idea of thinking there is family or even a single Opossum in their neighborhood would probably be the last animal they would expect. And, to make a sighting even more remote, because Opossums are mostly nocturnal, to find an Opossum on your property could be quite a shock. Such an occurrence happened this fall.

Opossums, are a fairly common site in many eastern states, but are not often seen in and around greater Tucson, Oro Valley, Catalina, Marana, or Saddlebrooke. They are discovered occasionally after crawling into a load of produce or other bulk shipment from the south during the night and then, when that load is delivered north into Southern Arizona, the Opossum wakes up, ambles off and is found in a neighborhood, attic, or under a shed or manufactured home. Their normal range in Arizona, however, remains more to the south of Tubac in areas like Arivaca and down into Mexico.

Opossums are opportunistic omnivores-meaning they will eat almost anything-plants, insects, reptiles, and animals-alive or dead. Surprisingly they are mostly immune to venom from pit vipers which, given their range from Central America up into the southern border of Arizona and then across the southern states, rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouth snakes can become a meal for them. They are seen mostly at night and, when their food supply runs low in an area, they will move elsewhere in search of a new food source. Because of this somewhat nomadic nature, Opossums, do not often dig or create dens. Rather, they take shelter in piles of brush, storage areas, tree roots, larger spaces under manufactured homes, sheds, and, since they can climb, trees or even attics.

Opossums are the only marsupial found in north America. They can give birth to as many as a dozen young which remain in the mothers pouch, for a time, and, as she is raising them. Other than during the mating season, Opossums are solitary and actually, since the rarely carry rabies, provide, when left alone, a kind of clean up service in a given area. They do, however, have 50 teeth, will growl when challenged, and can cause a threat to small pets.

Recently 1^st Response Wildlife was called by a homeowner that was hearing sounds in the attic and around the home. Because there is such a wide range of animals found in the Sonoran Desert, one cannot always predict which animal is causing scrapes, sounds, or munching noises in a closed space like an attic. Responding to the call, 1^st Response Wildlife trapped this Opossum pictured below. Since this was clearly north of its normal range, it was determined that this animal should be evaluated and then transported back to an area that was within its northern range-both for safety related to the coming winter season and to be in proximity to other Opossums within its range.

Physical inspection identified it as a healthy male but, as it had probably hopped a ride on some load of material or vegetation that left it well north of its normal range, it needed to be prepared for a return. It was transferred to a larger holding enclosure, fed for a few days to ensure there were no health issues, and loaded in that enclosure into a truck.

You can see that this Opossum has taken to burrowing into a soft towel, provided for warmth and comfort.

The enclosure was then covered for a 60+ mile trip south.

After a search for a suitable habitat that had a food source, access to water, and shelter, the Opossum, as you can see, in the YouTube video below, was released back into the wild.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkgcVEYgQyI&feature=youtu.be

If you would like help with Nuisance animals, noises in your building, see or hear something in or around your home, business, or property and would like help identifying it, humanely removing it, with the assurance it will be relocated to live in a safe environment, please give 1^st Response Wildlife a call to discuss your options.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Josh Waling is a humane Licensed Animal Trapper who catches and releases wildlife, removing animals including bobcats (lince), coyotes, snakes, rattlesnakes (serpiente de cascabel), raccoons (mapache), pack rats, gila monsters (monstruos de gila), rabbits (canejo), owls, bats, pigeons, hawks, ducks, opossums, squirrels (ardilla), peacocks, coatimundi (gato solo), skunks (mofeta), ringtails, exotics, and domestic cats and dogs. He delivers service that is professional and fast and he is available 24/7. Give him a call the next time you hear unusual noises in the attic or crawl spaces in your home or if you see wildlife eating your vegetation, creating nests, and raising their young too close to your pets or children or have an exotic sighting in your neighborhood. 520-260-9517 Thanks!

Posted at 12:31 PM in AZ Game and Fish Urban Wildlife , Opossum, Video | Permalink | Comments (0)

11/09/2015

Reptile Education, Demonstrations, and Discussion by 1st Response Wildlife

The state of Arizona is home to the largest number of venomous snakes, the largest land lizard in the United States and the only venomous one. In addition, during Monsoon season, the Sonoran Desert Toad (aka Colorado River Toad) emerges from its hiding place underground, to feed and reproduce. Not all species in the southeast are either venomous or, in the case of the Sonoran Desert Toad, have powerful toxins. Arizona also is home to a number of non-venomous reptiles that are helpful in controlling the rodent and insect population.

Knowing the difference between the venomous species and the non-venomous species that live in and around homes, businesses, schools, parks, trails, and storage sheds, can be lifesaving. There are dozens and dozens of snake bites a year in Arizona with associated medical costs that can, with a significant envenomization, cost well over $100,000 to treat. In addition to the cost, the discomfort, recovery period and permanent limb and nerve damage can be devastating.

1^st Response Wildlife provides an on-call service to identify, remove, and relocate all species of reptiles. With 25 + years of handling reptiles, and dealing with the homeowners and businesses professionally, 1^st Response Wildlife is uniquely prepared to provide educational sessions to businesses, schools, Dude Ranches, property management companies, organizations, and groups interested in learning how to identify our reptiles and avoid snakebites.

!st Response Wildlife is licensed and has well over a dozen rattlesnakes from Arizona, South America, Mexico, and California. Education of the public is a cornerstone of and a requirement of the license to "Hold," venomous reptiles. With this license Ist Response Wildlife stands ready and is available to provide sessions on reptile safety, identification of different types of reptiles, and recognizing which ones have which type of venom (hemotoxin/neurotoxin, or both). Attendees find it valuable to see the differences between a pit viper (rattlesnakes) and non venomous snakes such as king snakes, gopher snakes and exotic constrictors. 1^st Response Wildlife will work with the educational site ahead of time to decide which species to bring.

Below are some of the reptiles that a site hosting an educational session can choose from for a session. Reptiles are transported and displayed in locked enclosures and, with the exception, if requested, of non-venomous reptiles-which students or attendees may wish to handle, there is no danger from venomous or non-venomous reptiles.

Below is a short list of reptiles which are available for an educational session:

Sidwinder

Western Diamondback

Albino Rattlesnake

Black Tailed Rattlesnake

Gopher Snake (approx 5'), non-venomous

Arizona Black

Mountain King Snake (approx 4') non-venomous

Mojave

Gila Monster

Patternless Rattlesnake-Rare, Pictured below

Schools, colleges, universities, and other non-profit can, host an educational session with 1^st Response Wildlife.

Homeowners, hikers, property management companies, businesses, playgrounds, and school yards all encounter snakes, lizards, and toads. If your organization, school, property management company, ranch, or business would like to have 1^st Response Wildlife provide education and discussion that would help you identify and better understand how to protect your students, family, pets, or customers, yet recognize and leave helpful reptiles alone to help with rodent and insect control, please give 1^st Response Wildlife a call. And, if, after a session, there is a need to install an exclusion barrier around your property or business to keep unwanted reptiles out, 1^st Response Wildlife would be happy to discuss the service options for this level of protection as well.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Josh Waling is a humane Licensed Animal Trapper who catches and releases wildlife, removing animals including bobcats (lince), snakes, rattlesnakes (serpiente de cascabel), raccoons (mapache), pack rats, gila monsters (monstruos de gila), rabbits (canejo), cayotes, pigeons, owls, bats, hawks, ducks, squirrels (ardilla), peacocks, coatimundi (gato solo), skunks (mofeta), exotics, and domestic cats and dogs. He delivers service that is professional and fast and he is available 24/7. Give him a call the next time you hear unusual noises in the attic or crawl spaces in your home or if you see wildlife eating your vegetation, creating nests, and raising their young too close to your pets or children or have an exotic sighting in your neighborhood. 520-260-9517 Thanks!

Posted at 12:58 PM in AZ Game and Fish Urban Wildlife , Colorado River Toad, Educational Sessions, Exotic animals, Gila Monsters, Pet Snakes, Rattlesnakes, Snakes | Permalink | Comments (0)

Roadrunner placed in Rehab by 1st Response Wildlife

Here in the Southwest, we have the largest member of the cuckoo family, the Greater Roadrunner.

Lovingly characterized in cartoons and folklore as an extremely fast runner, friendly and quirky, and mostly unafraid of human interaction, this bird really serves our area well as a significant predator. The Roadrunner feeds on insects, rodents, lizards, snakes, and, even snatches baby quail, from time to time. These birds run through the desert with surprising speed-12-15 mph and, if really startled or attempting to avoid predators or cars, will fly short distances.

Recently, 1^st Response Wildlife was called to inspect a residence for nuisance animals and, during the course of checking the perimeter, discovered the presence of feral cats. It seems neighbors in three homes surrounding the property being inspected were placing food and water outside for the cats and several cats were living in the neighborhood, to include one found on the roof of the property under inspection.

Neighbors reported that, in addition to feral cats, a Roadrunner had been living in the area for a while but, recently, they had observed it seemed unable to walk very well and they were concerned that it couldn’t run fast enough to escape a feral cat attack or even capture some of its normal prey. Fortunately, the Roadrunner was found in the back yard of the property where 1^st Response Wildlife was doing the nuisance inspection and it was captured and was taken to a rehabber. The rehabber inspected the injured foot and determined that, after a period of rehabilitation, where it will be fed and safely protected, its foot will heal and it will be eventually released back into the wild.

Here is the Greater Roadrunner safely housed in a transport container on its way to the rehabber.

Many residents of Tucson and the surrounding communities really underestimate the number of species and variety of wildlife that live in close proximity to homes, businesses, parks, and neighborhoods.

Arriving prepared for almost anything is fundamental to providing the quality of service 1^st Response Wildlife’s customers expect. 1^st Response Wildlife had the equipment, experience, and relationships with rehabbers to deal with the surprise of finding an injured Roadrunner in conjunction with a nuisance animal call. If you have bobcats, ringtails, or raccoons creating a nuisance, snakes in and around your home or business, scurrying or animal noises in your attic, bats observed in places where they shouldn’t be, please give 1^st Response Wildlife a call.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Posted at 06:29 AM in Injured, Roadrunner | Permalink | Comments (0)

09/10/2015

Pigeon Problems-Nuisance Removal and Barrier Discussion with 1st Response Wildlife

Pigeons love urban areas. There is usually lots of food, shelter, and places to roost or just hang out.

They are seen all over the greater Tucson area sitting on buildings, light poles, electric wires, and they are found roosting in attics, under eaves, or anywhere there is enough safety to keep them protected from predators or the weather. Unfinished attics, buildings with consistently open windows, rooftops with structure, and even unused, but sheltered commercial air conditioning units or swamp coolers can offer them locations for overnight stays and roosting sites.

Pigeons are usually tolerated because they are not aggressive to homeowners or business owners. They are good looking birds and, they mostly stay out of the way of direct contact. With no deterrents or barriers to roosting sites, pigeons will often choose where they want to roost or hang out for daylight hours, resulting in piles of droppings which are both annoying to business and homeowners and, which may be harmful.

1^st Response Wildlife works with residential customers who call with a pigeon in their chimney, trapping and removing pigeons that have chosen a home or business as the best place to roost, hang out, and create a nuisance. 1^st Response Wildlife also has techniques and pigeon barriers that can be installed to keep pigeons from landing on ledges, hanging out on rooftops and over entrances.

Below are a couple of pictures of pigeons being removed, by 1st Response Wildlife from a customer site, where they were creating a nuisance.

Pigeon droppings from large flocks of pigeons can result in a much larger problem, beyond just being a nuisance. Large flocks of pigeons can create a significant problem. This material has been well documented to contain dozens of harmful fungus and bacteria. So, in addition to the droppings being unsightly and annoying to homeowners and business customers, large amounts/piles of droppings create a significant health hazard. Given the dry climate in Arizona, it does not take long for their droppings to dry and harden. When disturbed by foot traffic or by workers who are called to remove the dried material, it turns to dust. Attempts made to clean up the droppings, fungus spores and bacteria in the pigeon droppings easily aerosolize pathogens in the droppings. This material may contain harmful fungus, and bacteria which, when inhaled can cause respiratory problems for those involved in clean up or, if disseminated by wind, can affect others

The dangers of and variety of the pathogens in pigeon droppings is well documented. The CDC and most pest control companies warn homeowners or business owners with large amounts of pigeon droppings to hire experts for clean up. (See CDC publication- Control of Health Hazards Associated with Bat and Pigeon Droppings at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nas/RDRP/appendices/chapter6/a6-133.pdf.) In fact, professional clean up of large amounts of droppings often require respirators and other protection. (Hazmat suits are also a consideration.)

Below are two pictures of pigeon droppings in an unfinished facility that had openings that made it easy for pigeons to adopt the area for a roosting site. The first is an overall view and the second is a close up of the droppings that essentially have made the area unusable until the droppings are removed.

If you have or think you have a residential pigeon problem, consider calling 1^st Response Wildlife. A rule of thumb in considering who to call would be to consider the location of the pigeons, the amount of and location of droppings, and the level of annoyance. For larger projects, call a pest control company. For example, if you have a pigeon problem where a large flock of pigeons is roosting or hanging around on top of rooftops, ledges, swamp coolers, air conditioners, etc., it might be time to call a pest control company like Arizona Pest Control. (Pest control companies usually have a division dedicated to installing pigeon deterrents around structures for large business projects and protective gear used in cleanup.) Below are two examples of pigeon barriers installed on a business. The first is a bird barrier that allows maintenance of the equipment, but prevents pigeons from roosting, nesting, and accessing the equipment.

The second is an example of bird spikes that discourages birds from landing on a ledge, edge of a roof, or entrance. These come in various sizes and lengths. Both the bird spikes and the bird barriers are manufactured to last for years.

To summarize, pigeons can be tolerated and enjoyed as part of the wildlife in and around your facilities-if they are not bothering or interfering with your business or creating a problem around your residence. If, however, they are creating a nuisance, consider calling 1^st Response Wildlife or a pest control company to discuss approaches that can prevent them, using barriers, to discourage them from choosing your property as their home, or to have them trapped and removed.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Josh Waling is a humane Licensed Animal Trapper who catches and releases wildlife, removing animals including bobcats (lince), snakes, rattlesnakes (serpiente de cascabel), raccoons (mapache), coyotes, pack rats, gila monsters (monstruos de gila), rabbits (canejo), owls, bats, hawks, ducks, squirrels (ardilla), peacocks, coatimundi (gato solo), skunks (mofeta), exotics, pigeons, and domestic cats and dogs. He delivers service that is professional and fast and he is available 24/7. Give him a call the next time you hear unusual noises in the attic or crawl spaces in your home or if you see wildlife eating your vegetation, creating nests, and raising their young too close to your pets or children or have an exotic sighting in your neighborhood. 520-260-9517 Thanks!

Posted at 06:54 AM in Domestic, Pigeons | Permalink | Comments (0)

08/16/2015

Rock Squirrel Families Removed and Area Cleaned Up by 1st Response Wildlife

Rock Squirrels are really busy in the Sonoran Desert during the summer. They search for food in new areas; they create significant damage burrowing under sheds, patios, hot tub slabs, and foundations. They also start and raise new families.

One homeowner in Tucson experienced not one but two families of rock squirrels this summer. The first family moved in, dug their burrows and began raising their family in the back yard. The burrow seen below is an example of the damage to the area and, as you can see, has exposed an underground pipe which could be a gas line. Not only is the burrow entrance hole large enough for a pet or a child to step in and possibly break a leg, but it has exposed a pipe.

1^st Response Wildlife was called and trapped the whole family. Below, you can see the members of the family peering out of their respective traps. 1^st Response Wildlife trapped and held family members in a protected environment until all of the family had been caught and reunited. Together, they were moved well over a dozen miles away and released back into the wild as a family unit.

Unfortunately for the homeowner, however, the backyard invasion, for the summer was not over. Within a short period of time, a rock squirrel scout was observed-probably the male of a new family, and a whole new family moved into the back yard area. Soon burrowing under a shed revealed a family of rock squirrels again was creating a nuisance.

1^st Response Wildlife was called again and, once again, the entire family was trapped, held until all members were caught and accounted for, reunited, and released back into the wild.

Below are some of the pictures of this new family, one even eating raspberries while being held until all family members were caught.

Here we see the burrow entrance under the shed and then, following the removal of the rock squirrels, the clean up that returns the shed foundation back to normal.

Finally, with the dirt replaced, a cement block over the area, helps and future rock squirrels from choosing this area for burrowing.

If you have rock squirrels burrowing in your yard, under foundations, patios, or sheds, please give 1^st Response Wildlife a call to have them removed. 1^st Response Wildlife is experienced in trapping and humanely releasing individual rock squirrels or, as you can see from this and other posts, whole families back into the wild.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Josh Waling is a humane Licensed Animal Trapper who catches and releases wildlife, removing animals including bobcats (lince), snakes, rattlesnakes (serpiente de cascabel), raccoons (mapache), coyotes, rock squirrels, pack rats, gila monsters (monstruos de gila), rabbits (canejo), gophers, owls, bats, hawks, ducks, ground squirrels (ardilla), peacocks, coatimundi (gato solo), skunks (mofeta), exotics, pigeons, and domestic cats and dogs. He delivers service that is professional and fast and he is available 24/7. Give him a call the next time you hear unusual noises in the attic or crawl spaces in your home or if you see wildlife eating your vegetation, creating nests, and raising their young too close to your pets or children or have an exotic sighting in your neighborhood. 520-260-9517 Thanks!

Posted at 06:32 AM in Rock Squirrels, Squirrels | Permalink | Comments (0)

08/02/2015

Bats where they shouldn’t be? Call 1st Response Wildlife!

Summer in the Tucson, Green Valley, Oro Valley, Catalina, Saddlebrooke Ranch, Picture Rocks, and other areas of the Sonoran Desert is a time when bats by the 10's of thousands help reduce the insect population and keeps homeowners, visitors, and pets, pretty much protected from mosquitoes. We are blessed to have over 2 dozen species of bats that help us in the summer.

In the evening, if you have the time to park and watch the area around major bridges-over-washes, you will see thousands of bats leave on their evening hunt. If you are sitting on your patio or in your courtyard at dusk, you may also see a few or a group of bats suddenly drop from roof top hideaways and fly off to feed for the night.

Bats in and of themselves, avoid contact with people, pets, and major objects, using sound to navigate and find their food. (Using a technique called echolocation-like ultrasound). Unless a bat encounters netting, is sick, gets lost by inadvertently entering an open garage door, or is one of the species that feeds on grasshoppers, scorpions, centipedes, and crickets on the ground and gets stranded, one rarely sees a single bat isolated and/or away from a common roosting area.

Each summer, 1^st Response Wildlife receives calls about a single bat in a business, a home, or from a homeowner that has discovered significant amounts of droppings (guano) beneath a tiled roof, Viga joints (Heavy round timbers/beams that protrude through exterior walls of Santé Fe style homes), or the joints of a wall and exterior ceiling. One of the reasons for calls is that it is pretty common knowledge that bats carry disease-of primary concern, rabies. Since only a licensed Animal Trapper, a representative of Animal Control, or the Arizona Game and Fish Department should deal with bats, it is extremely important that a homeowner or business owner, have bats dealt with professionally.

1^st Response Wildlife has years of experience helping homeowners and businesses deal with bats. In many cases, after an evaluation of the situation is completed, education on what the options are to deal with a bat issue is all that is needed. If, however, there is a lone bat in a business or home, or if a homeowner has a significant guano problem, then 1^st Response Wildlife has equipment, materials, and techniques that can help remove a single bat and/or encourage a family of bats to find another place to call home.

Pictured below are a few examples of activity where a business or homeowner worked with 1^st Response Wildlife to deal with bat problems. (It should be noted that one method bats use to get into small cracks or openings in homes or businesses is to land on a wall and then, using what amounts to small finger nails on the tips of their wings, they will crawl up a wall and squeeze into an opening that, to a homeowner, looks impossible for anything to be able to access.)

Here are a couple of examples where a homeowner had enough bat guano that they wanted to have their family of bats find elsewhere to roost.

Here is an entry point bats were using at the joint where the Viga meets the wall in a Santé Fe style home (Note the flashlight. Peering deep into the entrance, I could see a family of bats roosting.)

Here is a single bat in a business that found its way into the business overnight and the employees found it the next morning.

Here is a close up of that bat (Medium sized) in a transfer container

A Mexican Free Tailed bat (extremely small-can fit into very small cracks) Picture enlarged

If you encounter a bat in your home, business, see a bat on the ground in the daytime; please remember it is best not to touch it! Since bats do carry diseases, primary among them being rabies, make sure you get your pets vaccinated regularly and, for goodness sake, keep any children or others from touching or picking one up. Rabies can be spread by saliva, not just from a bite. Remember, many of the bats we have here in the summer have extremely small mouths and may not be able to actually open their mouth wide enough to bite a medium or larger animal, or even an adult finger. However, if a child, person, or an animal finds a sick bat and handles or plays with it, the saliva can be transferred and cause serious problems. In the case of a pet, particularly one that has not been vaccinated for rabies, the saliva from the pet’s mouth can mix with that of the bat and rabies can be transmitted even more easily. Rabies can be deadly to humans and animals, so bats are not to be taken lightly!

Please call 1^st Response Wildlife if you have bats that you find in your home or business, guano under eaves or overhanging roof tiles or Viga.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Josh Waling is a humane Licensed Animal Trapper who catches and releases wildlife, removing animals including bobcats (lince), coyotes, snakes, rattlesnakes (serpiente de cascabel), raccoons (mapache), pack rats, gila monsters (monstruos de gila), rabbits (canejo), owls, bats, pigeons, hawks, ducks, squirrels (ardilla), peacocks, coatimundi (gato solo), skunks (mofeta), exotics, and domestic cats and dogs. He delivers service that is professional and fast and he is available 24/7. Give him a call the next time you hear unusual noises in the attic or crawl spaces in your home or if you see wildlife eating your vegetation, creating nests, and raising their young too close to your pets or children or have an exotic sighting in your neighborhood. 520-260-9517 Thanks!

Posted at 07:58 PM in AZ Game and Fish Urban Wildlife , Bats | Permalink | Comments (0)

07/22/2015

Cats on a Hot Tan Roof, Captured and Returned to the Wild by 1st Response Wildlife

The greater Tucson area is home to dozens of families of Bobcats. Mothers with kittens, and free ranging males are a common sight around businesses, golf courses, homes, and in state and national parks. Most of the time, the only involvement a hiker, golfer, tourist, homeowner, or motorist has is related to taking a picture, watching them walk through an area or, less frequently, lounge on a patio-seemingly oblivious to human encroachment on their territory.

This spring and summer, however, there have been several mother bobcats which decided to have their kittens in places inconvenient to homeowners, property owners, or resorts. 1^st Response Wildlife has responded and helped relocate these bobcat mothers with their kittens to safe and comfortable surroundings.

Most recently, a homeowner engaged 1^st Response Wildlife to capture a mother and her kittens. The mother had chosen a location to have and raise her kittens to hunting age up on a flat/tan Sante Fe roof. Much of the roof was open and hot, hence the reference to “Hot Tan Roof,” but there was a location that was well shaded by a mesquite and well insulated by brush, mesquite pods and detritus which had accumulated over several years. The homeowner had small dogs and was concerned about safety for their animals and possibly for visitors whom the mother might think were a threat to her kittens. Once the kittens grew and climbed down the mesquite, there might even be a confrontation with pets. This prompted a call to 1^st Response Wildlife.

At first, it was thought that there were only two kittens and a mother, living on the Hot Tan Roof. However, after those three were humanely captured and re-united in a transfer crate, a third kitten was spotted and then heard crying for its mother. It hid in a woodpile, but 1^st Response Wildlife was successful in capturing it free hand and the family was re-united

Here are the first two kittens safe in a little basket

Here are those two kittens with their mother in a transfer crate

Here is the third kitten, captured free-hand, by 1^st Response Wildlife

Here is the family re-united. One playful kitten has learned to climb and has climbed up the side of the transfer crate and, if you look closely, you will see the third, recently re-united kitten just peeking out from behind its mother.

Finally, the whole family is now safely hidden in the transfer crate, just starting a 3-5 day “soft release,” back into the wild. (Note the water bowl.) The mother and kitts are fed and watered during this transition period. What is interesting is that, each day, the water is changed because the kitts love to play in the large water bowl and it needs to be refreshed.

If you have small children or pets, manage property, or find that bobcats, raccoons, ringtails, or other animals have taken up residence in locations that you believe are not compatible with your family, your pets, your renters, or guests, please give 1^st Response Wildlife a call and discuss options of relocating them safely to another location. If, however, they are on or around property and are not bothering family, pets, renters, or guests, take pictures, enjoy the wildlife we find here in the desert, but do not feed them.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Josh Waling is a humane Licensed Animal Trapper who catches and releases wildlife, removing animals including bobcats (lince), snakes, rattlesnakes (serpiente de cascabel), raccoons (mapache), coyotes, pack rats, gila monsters (monstruos de gila), rabbits (canejo), owls, bats, hawks, ducks, squirrels (ardilla), peacocks, coatimundi (gato solo), skunks (mofeta), exotics, pigeons, and domestic cats and dogs. He delivers service that is professional and fast and he is available 24/7. Give him a call the next time you hear unusual noises in the attic or crawl spaces in your home or if you see wildlife eating your vegetation, creating nests, and raising their young too close to your pets or children or have an exotic sighting in your neighborhood. 520-260-9517 Thanks!

Posted at 03:26 PM in Bobcats | Permalink | Comments (0)

06/28/2015

Raccoon Family Humanely Relocated by 1st Response Wildlife

Greater Tucson, Vail, Green Valley, Oro Valley, and beyond have seen a great deal of raccoon activity this spring. 1^st Response Wildlife has several customers who have discovered that their business or home was chosen as a great birthing location for a new family.

Recently, a call to a home to investigate cooing, chirping noises, and night time rustling sounds, resulted in the capture of mother raccoon and her new kits. The kits were snuggled together in a small crawl space which, while a safe and adequate location for birthing, over time would have become completely inadequate for a growing family. In fact, as you will see in the videos and pictures below, these kits, which didn’t even have their eyes open when captured, would have soon outgrown the small space where they were found and the homeowner would, in short order, have had a real problem as the mother tore out more insulation to create a larger place to raise her young.

1^st Response Wildlife has a philosophy and practice of humanely relocating animals. In a case like this, where a complete family is captured, capturing the family is only the beginning of a process to ensure the family unit is comfortable and is transported and released in a manner that preserves their wild nature, and also retains protection for survival.

For this family, a site for relocation was chosen that was close to a food source, running water, and a well protected environment. (It even had half a dozen large trees with holes in their trunks that could easily become a new home for this family.) The mother was captured first and the sounds of the babies chirping, cooing, and moving around led to the discovery of their hiding place. Once the family unit was complete, they were all transferred over night to a “transfer” enclosure-seen below.

Exploration of a place to relocate and release, resulted in preparation for travel to the new location. The babies were moved, one by one, (see below).

All of them were eventually placed in a comfortable swath for the trip. (See below-note the sounds the kits make, which was key to locating them)

Here we see the mother, in the transfer enclosure with the kits held over night in preparation for transfer the next day.

Here is a picture of the family, packed up and ready to be moved to their new home/release site. The mother is by herself, with the babies in smaller gray enclosure behind her, in the truck, tucked in their little swath of cloth, on their way to their new home.

Once at the new location, the family is reunited back into the transfer enclosure, food and water are presented and the process of a “soft,” release back into the wild begins. After a few days, the process is complete and, while you may have trouble seeing into the enclosure, this picture below is of an empty enclosure. The mother has left, found their new home, come back for the kits, taken them one-by-one, and the enclosure is ready for removal and reuse for the next family.

If you think you have raccoons which have taken up residence in or around your property, are losing fish from your fish pond, hear noises on your roof or in your attic, please give 1^st Response Wildlife a call to help you identify and work with you to figure out the best approach to dealing with them. Raccoons can be destructive, messy, and they are smart. Whether you have a large male, or a new family that has moved into your home, attic, or is tearing up parts of your property, 1^st Response Wildlife can help.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Posted at 07:32 AM in Raccoons | Permalink | Comments (0)

06/13/2015

Cute, but destructive: 1st Response Wildlife Helps a Homeowner with a Nuisance Rock Squirrel Family

1^st Response Wildlife traps and relocates all of the squirrels found here in the Sonoran Desert. Of the three most commonly found in the greater Tucson, Oro Valley, Catalina, Green Valley and Vail areas, Rock Squirrels are the largest in size and most destructive to foundations, vegetables, sheds, cement slabs, and other areas in and around dwellings and businesses.

The other common squirrels-the Round-Tailed Ground Squirrel and Harris’ Antelope squirrel, are also destructive, creating extensive burrows and underground tunnels, but they usually dig their entrance holes more in open desert, around plants, or under trees. Newcomers to the area often mistake the Round Tailed Ground Squirrels as small Prairie Dogs and Harris’ Antelope Ground Squirrel as Chipmunks.

The Rock Squirrel seems to like to create its living space under structures. 1^st Response Wildlife has found entrance tunnels under sheds, hot tubs, garages, large Aloe Verde plants, homes, businesses, and other locations where a Rock Squirrel can create a burrow under extensive overhead structures which are often man made rather than open desert. Some reports have included pictures of near collapse of a structure due to Rock Squirrels removing significant amounts of dirt from a corner or a large portion of the building. One recent customer of 1^st Response Wildlife had large amounts of dirt removed from under a foundation, filled it with cement, and this year, Rock Squirrels were back burrowing back under the foundation, just to the side of the new cement!

Recently 1^st Response Wildlife was called by a homeowner who loved animals but realized that what were once one Rock Squirrel, then two, had become a family of Rock Squirrels. Initially it was fun to watch one or two Rock Squirrels playing around cactus and a foundation wall. When spring of this year came, however, the homeowner finally realized the two had multiplied and the back yard was now where the Rock Squirrel family was being raised. When the family number grew to 7, the homeowner realized that these cute Rock Squirrels and their even cuter offspring were destroying the garden, burrowing under plants and areas that would be compromised and one was even observed eating a lizard. The cute family of Rock Squirrels had transitioned from being cute to becoming a nuisance.

Pictured below is an example of the size of a Rock Squirrel’s burrow entrance.

Here on the back of one of 1^st Response Wildlife’s trucks are the traps holding the family of 7 Rock Squirrels-ready for transport

These pictures show an adult and then one of the youngsters who tipped over his water and is still a bit wet.

Once the entire family was captured, they were moved 20 miles away and released in a safe area, complete with water and shelter. The burrow entrances were filled in and the homeowner was happy to be able to replant some of the vegetables and plants that had been destroyed, was hopeful that the lizard population would return to normal, and was pleased that the family unit was retained-albeit in a distant location.

If you find that you have a family of Rock Squirrels burrowing around your home or business creating a nuisance, running on your roof or, as 1^st Response Wildlife has already found this year, running loose inside the living room of a home, please give 1^st Response Wildlife a call to discuss safe and humane ways to capture and relocate them.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Josh Waling is a humane Licensed Animal Trapper who catches and releases wildlife, removing animals including bobcats (lince), snakes, rattlesnakes (serpiente de cascabel), raccoons (mapache), pack rats, gila monsters (monstruos de gila), rabbits (canejo), rock squirrels, owls, bats, hawks, ducks, squirrels (ardilla), peacocks, coatimundi (gato solo), skunks (mofeta), exotics, and domestic cats and dogs. He delivers service that is professional and fast and he is available 24/7. Give him a call the next time you hear unusual noises in the attic or crawl spaces in your home or if you see wildlife eating your vegetation, creating nests, and raising their young too close to your pets or children or have an exotic sighting in your neighborhood. 520-260-9517 Thanks!

Posted at 08:42 PM in AZ Game and Fish Urban Wildlife , Rock Squirrels, Squirrels | Permalink | Comments (0)

04/29/2015

Bobcat Mother and Kitts Returned as a Family to the Wild by 1St Response Wildlife

Over Easter weekend, a mother Bobcat and her two kittens were captured just outside of a home owner’s front door. Fearing for the safety of his guests, his pets, and the mother with new kittens, he called 1^st Response Wildlife who came and free-snared the mother, collected the kittens, moved them miles from the birthing area and prepared to provide a "soft release," in a new location. (You will see, in the video below, that these kittens do not yet have their eyes open and, you can just imagine, that the mother will fight to protect them if she felt they were being challenged by children, pets, or visitors to this home owner’s residence!)

What follows is an example of a careful safe method of moving a family to a new location in what is called a “soft release.” This approach allows for the family to function in a safe environment, acclimate to a new location-complete with sights, sounds, food source, and no disruption in the child rearing by the mother.

The first step in the process was to move the mother to a large transition kennel, complete with water, her kittens and food. At the same time, a focus on providing a den environment, with a covering of the kennel calmed the mother down and, within a few minutes, she had begun nursing her young again.

For a few days, she was provided food and water and the activities of bonding with her young continued while 1^st Response Wildlife searched for a safe place to release the family.

After a new location was found, the babies were removed for the trip to a new location. Below, you see the mother, a bit apprehensive for a move and without her kittens, and the transfer kennel loaded, with the mother, ready to travel to the “soft release,” location.

Now you see the mother, in the transfer kennel, loaded and ready to travel to her new family location.

The kittens are carefully moved in the video below, to a transfer kennel that is housed inside the truck, in order to keep them safe, calm, and in a controlled environment.

https://youtu.be/tAJYbMl0s9k

Here they are in their small kennel, ready for transport inside the temperature controlled environment of the truck.

The location, selected below, was ideal because it offered a safe location, access to water, lots of observed natural prey for a bobcat family, and in a quiet setting. Note that transfer kennel is covered to allow sounds, smells, and some visual access to the surroundings but, it also is covered extensively to keep the family feeling as safe as they would be in a hillside den.

Food and water were provided for several days. This even included euthanized pack rats, etc., which are common to the area where the release is set.

After almost a week, the door to the kennel is left open 8-13 inches. This allows the mother to feel comfortable leaving her kittens to hunt and return with food from the surrounding area.

After 2-3 more days, when the location was checked, the mother and kittens had left the security of their temporary home and she had found a new den that was nearby. Note the door is ajar. It allowed for exit and entrance for the mother while she hunted and searched for a new den or equivalent. Eventually, the family found a new home and the temporary transition kennel was removed.

This was a great example of 1^st Response Wildlife helping a home owner with what could have been a dangerous situation for children, pets, and guests, while, at the same time ensuring that a Bobcat mother and her kittens would continue as a family unit and acclimate to a new location.

If you have any Bobcats, Raccoons, Ringtails, Skunks, or other animals which may potentially cause a problem for you, your pets, your guests, or even your renters, please give 1^st Response Wildlife a call and discuss options for dealing with them.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Posted at 02:39 PM in Bobcats | Permalink | Comments (0)

04/28/2015

Animal Education, Animal Capture, Animal Trapping, Animal Rescue, Animal Relocation-1st Response Wildlife Does It All!

Southern Arizona, the Sonoran Desert, and greater Tucson are homes to a number of wild animals. Many are beautiful, when observed in the wild, but can be a threat to small pets, children, and a nuisance to a business or residence. The Arizona Game and Fish Department has very clear guidelines for approaching situations where an animal or reptile is observed on and around property. Whenever possible, the protocol is to observe, accommodate, film, and appreciate our wildlife-but not disturb.

However, if you, as a homeowner, a business owner, a Property Management Company, or a renter, feel that an animal, reptile, or even a dog has become destructive, a nuisance, or a threat to yourself, your family, or a pet, please consider giving 1^st Response Wildlife a call to discuss your options.

The general rule of thumb, 1^st Response Wildlife follows, is to first listen, understand, and investigate a concern. Information and education about a particular animal may be all that is necessary to put one’s mind at ease. However, if an animal or reptile turns out to be an orphan, is living too close to a home, burrowing under sheds, decks, and/or is destructive or threatening in nature, then a plan of action which often includes an open free style capture, trapping the animal, or even rescuing it, may be the best response. In most cases, nuisance animals, reptiles, and birds, will be relocated to a safe but distant location from where they were captured. (Birds, rescued/retrieved from a chimney, often will be released immediately, in the area where they were captured-after the chimney/entry point has been sealed up, to ensure they remain in their home area but do not venture back down into an open-ended chimney stack.)

The list of animals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds which 1^st Response Wildlife works with customers to better understand and direct the recommended plan of action, is quite extensive. With the exception of protected species and those which need special one-time permits from Arizona Game and Fish Department to remove and relocate, services available to homeowners, businesses, Property Management Companies, and renters include Education, Capture, Trapping, Rescuing, Relocation, and seminars about:

Animals and Reptiles of Arizona, Bobcats, Raccoons, Ringtails, Coatimundi, Foxes, Skunks, Squirrels, Pack Rats, Harris’ Antelope Squirrels, Kangaroo Rats, Rabbits, Gophers, Round Tailed Ground Squirrels, Lizards-exotic and regional, Colorado River Toads (aka Sonoran Desert Toad) Tortoises, Bats, Gila Monsters, Owls, Buzzards, Ducks, Hawks, Rattlesnakes-any species, Gopher Snakes, King Snakes, Night Snakes, Long Nosed Snakes, exotic snakes (which may have been released), Coyotes, Dogs, other former pets-Peacocks, Iguana, etc.. Special permits can be obtained by a homeowner or business for specific bird and animal removal or deterrents, but it is best to check with 1^st Response Wildlife and AZGFD for larger animals, such as Javelina, Puma, Bears, Badgers, etc.

Part of the service 1^st Response Wildlife offers, in addition to its primary work directly with animals, is giving seminars on reptiles or animals in Arizona, as well as helping homeowners, businesses, and Property Management Organizations better understand how to live with our diverse population of animals and reptiles. Frequent discussions about how to snake-proof your home, how to keep rock squirrels, mice, and skunks from returning to your property, and in-depth property and building inspections to point out and close up points of entry for unwanted “guests,” is a key part of "a day on-the-job" for 1^st Response Wildlife.

If you have small children, animals or feel that animals, reptiles, or birds, native to the area should not be living as close to your family or business as they are currently, please give 1^st Response Wildlife a call to discuss safe and humane ways to work to potentially relocate them.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Josh Waling is a humane Licensed Animal Trapper who catches and releases wildlife, removing animals including bobcats (lince), snakes, rattlesnakes (serpiente de cascabel), raccoons (mapache), pack rats, gila monsters (monstruos de gila), rabbits (canejo), owls, bats, hawks, ducks, squirrels (ardilla), peacocks, coatimundi (gato solo), skunks (mofeta), exotics, and dogs. He delivers service that is professional and fast and he is available 24/7. Give him a call the next time you hear unusual noises in the attic or crawl spaces in your home or if you see wildlife eating your vegetation, creating nests, and raising their young too close to your pets or children or have an exotic sighting in your neighborhood. 520-260-9517 Thanks!

Posted at 03:46 PM in AZ Game and Fish Urban Wildlife , Bats, Bobcats, Coatimundi, Colorado River Toad, Ducks, Educational Sessions, Exotic animals, Frequently Asked Questions FAQs, Gila Monsters, Gopher, Hawks, Injured, Javelina, Orphaned, Owls, Pack Rats, Pet Snakes, Pigeons, Rabbits, Raccoons, Rattlesnakes, Rehab, Ringtails, Skunks , Snakes, Squirrels | Permalink | Comments (0)

04/13/2015

SNAKES ALIVE! 1st Response Wildlife Posts to help Homeowners Become Snake-Aware

Spring sun in Arizona warms the ground resulting in the emergence of small wildlife and reptiles. This explosion, particularly of small rodents (Rabbits, Pack Rats, Round Tailed Ground Squirrels, Harris's Antelope Squirrels-look like an Eastern Chipmunk, and Kangaroo Rats, and Mice), attract one of their strongest natural predators-snakes.

Of particular interest to the homeowner, business owner, and Property Management Company, is the fact that snakes, which, as the ground warms, begin hunting and foraging around foundations, woodpiles, patios, under bushes, and open garages. In the heat of the summer, snakes are seen well into the night, as they appear on paved roads, patios, and garage cement slabs in order to absorb the heat. In the spring, however, as the ground warms, they are seen more in the daytime and move to protected areas earlier in the evening because, since they are cold blooded, their activity slows in parallel with the temperature.

Snakes serve a very important role in the cycle of life in the Sonoran Desert because, along with Raptors, Raccoons, Skunks, Coyotes, Ringtails, Bobcats, Gila Monsters, and other rodent predators, snakes help keep these nuisance rodents in check. Learning to live with snakes, however, is a challenge to some. The question is how to recognize and accept snakes in close proximity to a home or business and, when to call for help in capture and relocation of those which are determined to be dangerous to family, pets, and visitors.

1^st Response Wildlife helps by working with homeowners, business owners, and Property Management companies to identify, evaluate, educate, and, when necessary, relocate snakes. There are snakes which are essentially harmless and great to have around and there are others which, after an evaluation and discussion in regard to their proximity and threat to animals and people, should be relocated.

Whether you decide to request a service call by 1^st Response Wildlife to capture and relocate a snake on your property or not, it is probably a good idea to become familiar with a few of the most common snakes seen in and around the greater Tucson area and in the Sonoran Desert-particularly if you hike, have young children, pets, or invite frequent visitors to your home or business. (You can have your dog(s) snake-avoidance trained but, while this may keep your pet safe, if your dog encounters a snake on your property, you still have the dilemma of how to deal with it.)

While Arizona has the largest number of rattlesnakes of any state, and several relatively harmless non-venomous or less venomous snakes, many of the rattlers here are only found in specific regions of the state. What this means is that in the greater Tucson area and, unless you are hiking or exploring at higher altitudes, the species of rattlers you will see in this area are fairly predictable. Below are 6 of the most commonly seen snakes you may see. Three are rattlers and three are beneficial to have around. All consume the rodents, mentioned above, lizards, or even insects.

Most common rattlesnake seen is the Western Diamondback-note the viper shaped head and striped tail

Also seen pretty routinely in certain parts of the Sonoran Desert is the Mohave/Mojave Rattlesnake

Seen in the flat desert in greater Tucson, Marana, etc., often at night, is the Sidewinder Rattlesnake. In addition to its viper shaped head, Sidewinder Rattlesnakes have what look like distinguishing horns, actually protruding scale formations, above each eye.

Beneficial to have around and an excellent rodent hunter, is the Gopher Snake.

Also beneficial as a rodent hunter as well as a snake predator-to include rattlesnakes, is the King Snake.

Less often see in the daytime, but often seen in the evening or night is the Long Nosed Snake.

Note the distinct difference between the poisonous snakes and the beneficial snakes. The rattlers are all pit vipers, have rattles, and have distinct shapes to their heads. The beneficial snakes have no rattles, have more pointed and smooth heads and are usually constrictors.

Snakes can be discovered on your property, observed while hiking, or discovered while you are doing some gardening, working in your garage, or playing outdoors with pets or children-essentially any time. Foraging for prey will take them to search your garage, wood piles, slither under and around bushes, coil up by your planters, and, even cross your property in plain sight.

If you encounter a snake, are unsure of its classification, the best advice is to leave it alone and quietly back away. However, if you would like to consider having it removed, please give 1^st Response Wildlife a call.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Posted at 09:57 AM in Pet Snakes, Rattlesnakes, Snakes | Permalink | Comments (1)

1st Response Wildlife Helps Homeowner With An Easter Bobcat Mother and Kittens

Spring in the Sonoran Desert brings the blossoming of plants as well as the birth of wildlife babies. We are blessed, here in Tucson and the surrounding desert to have an abundance of wildlife which, in many cases, is comfortable living in close proximity with humans. Arizona, as a matter of fact is one of the few states where Bobcats, Raccoons, Ringtails, and sometimes, even Mountain Lions feel as much at home around people as they do, say, in the northern states, living in forests and hills-as far as possible from human interaction.

When there is no danger to the wildlife or to a homeowner’s children or small pets, a happy medium of each enjoying the other’s company is achieved. However, if there is a clash or concern related to having wildlife, such as a Bobcat family living close to your home or business, then it may be time to give 1^st Response Wildlife a call.

Over Easter weekend, 1^st Response Wildlife was called to a home where a mother Bobcat had recently given birth to two kittens and had decided that an area just outside the homeowner’s door was as good a place as any to raise her young. The babies, in the picture below, were very small and the mother very protective. If they had decided to live on the desert side of a wall, in a den on the side of a wash, or under a tree, close to the home, things would have been different but, in this case where there could be small animals and visitors who had to walk right by them to get to the door into the home, it appeared best to consider relocating them.

With great care, 1^st Response Wildlife performed an open snare capture of the mother which resulted in her being placed in a locked transport.

The kittens, barely able to see or move much beyond their location in the corner of the front patio area, were collected and placed in another protected carrier for transport.

Once the family was safely removed from the homeowner’s property, they were taken to a safe location where steps were taken to calm the mother down, provide water and natural food, and the babies and mother were placed in a transition cage. This cage and the reunion of the family was the beginning of a protocol to return the Bobcat, with its kittens, back into the wild.

In a subsequent blog, when the Bobcat mother and her kittens are returned to the wild, a description of that process will be penned, along with pictures, to show how 1^st Response Wildlife works to protect and maintain the family unit, all the while, moving the family many miles from the original homeowner’s location so the kittens will grow up in a new location and not imprint with their original birthing location.

Currently, the reports of the process of returning the family to the wild are good. The kittens are nursing well, the mother is comfortable in her new surroundings and, it is expected that she will be hunting and finding a new home for her young within a week, in a new location, but still not far from human habitation.

If you have small children, animals or feel that a family of Bobcats, Raccoons or other animals, native to the area should not be living as close to your family or business as they are currently, please give 1^st Response Wildlife a call to discuss safe and humane ways to work to potentially relocate them.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Posted at 05:45 AM in Bobcats | Permalink | Comments (0)

03/15/2015

1st Response Wildlife Relocates Destructive Male Raccoon

Springtime in the Sonoran Desert brings out lots of critters. 1st Response Wildlife, from April - June, receives lots of calls about activity in attics, sheds, under manufactured homes, porches, and in businesses-often related to mothers with young that are creating a nuisance. Earlier in the year, however, a predominance of calls are related to adult animals which are out foraging for food, looking for nesting material, or checking out places to create a new den. Pregnant female animals are often the source of noises in the attic, missing dog or cat food from a patio or back porch, or new entry points in a building. Male members of species such as raccoon, rock squirrels, bobcats, skunks, or fox, more often than not are just foraging for food after a winter nap.

This past week, a report was received of a disturbance that was total destruction of a set of new flowers in pots on a patio down in Green Valley. Investigation by the home owner resulted in actually viewing a large male raccoon that was quickly identified as the source of the problem. Initial attempts at capturing and discouraging the raccoon to find somewhere else to forage, were unsuccessful. 1st Response Wildlife was called and, this large male raccoon was safely captured and relocated 35+ miles away in new desert surroundings, complete with a water source and plenty of room to roam. Needless to say, the homeowner will probably not ever receive a visit from this fellow again, and the flowers, destroyed by this large male raccoon, now replaced, will grace their patio once again!

If you hear noises or see destruction in and around your home or business, please consider giving 1st Response Wildlife a call to help identify, capture, relocate, and help you keep nuisance animals or reptiles from returning.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Posted at 02:05 PM in Bobcats, Raccoons, Skunks | Permalink | Comments (0)

03/14/2015

Marana’s Founders’ Day Visitors Enjoy Seeing Native Reptiles

March 7^th, Marana’s Heritage Conservancy celebrated its 36^th annual Founders’ Day celebration at Ora Mae Harn Park, 13250 N. Lon Adams Road in Marana. 1^st Response Wildlife had a booth at the park where it exhibited 7 rattlesnakes, two non venomous snakes, a Gila monster and 1^st Response Reptile and Animals of the Sonoran Desert Guide Books for visitors to see.

1^st Response Wildlife’s booth was located in the “kids,” section of the exhibits, nestled between the Martial Arts/Gym exhibits, in front of the climbing wall and next to the snow cone booth. Families, couples, Firemen, Policemen, and other interested parties took time to view the rattlers in their locked displays, page through the Guide Book's pictures, ask questions and, for those more adventuresome, hold and get their picture taken with one of the non-venomous snakes.

1^st Response Wildlife brought representative examples of 7 of the rattlers, native to Arizona some of which, however, are not found in the immediate area surrounding Tucson or Marana. The fact that visitors could view and ask about the various reptiles from different parts of Arizona made it more interesting than just seeing the common varieties to the immediate area. In addition, since 1^st Response Wildlife is in the business of trapping and relocating nuisance animals, as well as reptiles, lizards, and exotics, many visitors commented on finding value in being able to page through the 1^st Response Wildlife Animal Guide Book, which have pictures of a majority of the animals common to Arizona, some not seen either in the area, or rarely seen at all because they are primarily nocturnal.

The exhibit below had the following on display: Venomous snakes-Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, Arizona Black Rattlesnake, Speckled Rattlesnake, Sidewinder Rattlesnake, Black Tail Rattlesnake, Mojave Rattlesnake, and Tiger Rattlesnake. Venomous Lizard-Gila Monster. Non-venomous-Northern Mountain King Snake and Gopher snake. (Note the venomous snakes have locks on the displays, but to the right, in the front, is a simple glass enclosure with the Gopher snake in it that is secure, but not locked. This is because this particular Gopher snake is one of the “education,” reptiles and has proven to be gentle. In the back left of the exhibit, you can see the 1st Response Wildlife Guide Books on the table.)

Several children and some adults asked and were allowed to experience holding and taking pictures with one or more of the non-venomous Gopher and Northern Mountain King Snakes. These snakes remained friendly and provided visitors with an experience of getting up close to a reptile without fear. Here we see an adult getting a chance to handle a gopher snake. The following picture is of a child getting to know a gopher snake.

All in all, it was a good, but long day for visitors and, certainly there were a number of children who expressed interest in reading this blog to find out more details on reptiles and animals of the Sonoran Desert.

If you have any nuisance animals, reptiles, or even exotics that you find on your property and would like help in understanding what can be done to discourage them, or would like to have them removed, please do not hesitate to give 1^st Response Wildlife a call.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Posted at 07:27 AM in Bats, Bobcats, Coatimundi, Colorado River Toad, Domestic, Educational Sessions, Frequently Asked Questions FAQs, Gila Monsters, Gopher, Pack Rats, Pet Snakes, Raccoons, Rattlesnakes, Ringtails, Skunks , Snakes, Squirrels | Permalink | Comments (0)

01/27/2015

1st Response Wildlife Responds to Calls for Winter Rattlers

Winter in the Sonoran Desert of Southern Arizona is considered a time when reptiles, tortoises, and some mammals find, holes, dens, caves, nests, and protected places to hibernate. This belief, that winter hibernation of dangerous species, such as rattlers, makes the desert safe, results in homeowners, snowbirds, who come to the desert to escape the cold of the north, and others, to possibly let down their guard. While, for the most part, few rattlers are seen on hiking trails, out in the open, crossing paths, streets, or sunning themselves in the late afternoon on patios, rocks, and the asphalt, homeowners, and business owners, in particular, should remain vigilant.

Since the desert temperatures can fluctuate from below freezing at night to over 75 degrees on a warm winter’s day, it is not uncommon to see some mammals moving around, bees eating from your hummingbird feeder, and droppings from night time visits by mice,and rats. One has to expect that, if it is warm enough for the natural prey of a rattlesnake to have been warmed enough to emerge for short periods of time, there is a likelihood that, from time to time, a rattlesnake could be spotted as well. The big question is always; where?

Rattlesnakes have interesting habits in the desert and it is important to understand some of their behaviors as the weather turns cold and the mild south western winter progresses. Rattlesnakes are cold blooded and their metabolism slows down as the temperature cools. Therefore, they need to take cover for both survival from predators as well as finding a place where, unless the temperature rises, they do not have to consume much energy.

Rattlesnakes can be found underground, in caves, way back under rocks, in pack rat dens-even sharing a den over winter with a pack rat, and, in your garage,shed, or wood pile! Garages seem to be a favorite. Often the garage doors are left open for extended periods of time, making it easy for a rattler, following a wall in the late fall, to turn a corner and find a protected area with lots of hiding places for a winter sleep. When a garage is closed, the ratter is protected from direct cold and, if the garage, or even the garage door is insulated, the temperature remains fairly constant-creating an environment very similar in temperature range to a cave, or deep hole.

1^st Response Wildlife has had several calls for winter rattlers in garages this winter. Homes where a homeowner has taken the opportunity to work in a garage that is a comfortable 65-70 degrees, seem to be the most common. Homeowners or business owners find It is much easier to re-organize, clean, and put things away in that temperature range than in the heat of the summer when it can be over 100 degrees outside and 105-115 in that same garage/shed/storage area.

Below are a couple of pictures of a yearling winter rattler that was eventually spotted by a homeowner after a couple of hours moving things around in her garage. She related that she must have had her hand within inches of this little fellow several times before spotting it and calling 1^st Response Wildlife. Fortunately, the rattler, which had decided her garage was a perfect place to hibernate-close to birdseed, tools, and any mice that might have come along, was sluggish and really did not strike.

Once disturbed, although relatively slow, the yearling rattler began to move along the garage wall.

Winter daytime temperatures in the Sonoran Desert sometimes soar from 50 degrees, to over 80 degrees. While this is well below a summer time desert temperature of 95 degrees and over, if a rattler happens to be in a spot that is warmed by the sun deep enough into the ground, it may come out and search for and ambush a pack rat, kangaroo rat, round tailed ground squirrel, or mouse which also may have been curious enough to emerge from their topor. (Torpor-temporary period of inactivity for some mammals)

Below is a mature diamondback winter rattler that has emerged next to a brick wall the base of which is set more than 2’ in the ground. As the sun warmed the wall, heat extended well underground and, on a 75-80 degree day, a winter rattler has emerged. (You will note that the rattler, although out in the open, is well camouflaged against the wall. the gravel in front of the wall, and other small rocks.)

1^st Response Wildlife, when called to collect and relocate winter rattlers, prefers to remove them from a business or homeowner location (garage, shed, wood pile, along a wall, etc.) and hold them until spring, when a release in a safe location will better ensure survival. (With spring time temperatures consistently above 80-90 degrees, one can be sure normal rattlesnake prey will also be out, on the move, and plentiful.) Winter rattlers are kept in a safe enclosure in a controlled environment and released, in the spring, unharmed, back into the wild.

Based on the number of winter rattlers seen and the calls 1^st Response Wildlife receives in the months from December-April, it is strongly suggested that businesses, HOA management, and homeowners keep their employees and family members educated about the potential of finding rattlers outside in the winter months as well as in garages, storage sheds, in wood piles, behind pots, or other places around their business or home. While they may be sluggish and slow moving, don’t assume rattlers are any less dangerous.

For any rattlers, nuisance animals burrowing around your foundations, or other trapping needs, please give 1^st Response a call.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Posted at 01:50 PM in Educational Sessions, Pack Rats, Rattlesnakes, Snakes | Permalink | Comments (0)

10/22/2014

1st Response Wildlife Rescues

1^st Response Wildlife, in addition to trapping and relocating nuisance animals and reptiles, also works with homeowners and businesses that find and report an injured animal or bird to a rehabber-who then gives 1^st Response a call to participate in a rescue. Tucson is blessed to have animal rehabbers and animal hospitals which treat and, when possible, nurse abandoned or injured wildlife back to health-until they are ready to be released into the wild.

Recently, 1^st Response Wildlife responded to two calls for help in capturing and brining injured raptors to be inspected and considered for rehabilitation.

The first was a Black Vulture that had been hopping from one neighbor’s yard to another favoring its right wing. You have probably seen vultures soaring over the Sonoran desert in search of road kill or other “remains,” that they favor. Here in the greater Tucson area, there actually two kinds of black winged vultures-the Turkey Vulture and the Black Vulture. The Turkey Vulture is a bit larger and, if you see one up close, it has a red to maroon hairless head. The Black Vulture is a bit smaller and its head is hairless and black/grey. (See a picture of a Black Vulture, courtesy of the National Geographic Magazine illustrated by Donald L. Malick, below)

When 1^st Response Wildlife arrived at the homeowner’s residence, the Black Vulture was on the ground, able to run and hop, but not able to fly. The homeowner had seen it in the neighborhood for a few days and realized that it could not fly and therefore, it probably would starve, if left in its condition. Using a net and carefully pursuing the Black Vulture, after following it through more than half a dozen back yards, the Vulture was captured, secured in a transport kennel (see below), and transported to a rehabber. The rehabber, inspected it to determine whether is should be transported to Valley Animal hospital for treatment of a break in its wing. (You will note, in the transport, that the Black Vulture looks hot and has its mouth open. Remember, this vulture had not been able to fly, eat or have access to water, for at least 3 days. In a few more days, it would have been too late to save it.)

The Rehabber, in the picture below, is seen, inspecting the Black Vulture's wing

The second rescue occurred in response to yet another call from homeowners who had observed a Red Tailed hawk which also appeared to have a damaged wing. This raptor could get up into a tree, hop from branch to branch but, clearly, after several days, the homeowner and neighbors reported it could not fly, soar, and easily dive to capture food.

When 1^st Response Wildlife arrived, the Red Tailed Hawk had managed to make its way almost 35’ up into a tree. Using a ladder and an extension pole, the Red Tailed Hawk was encouraged to hop to an outer branch, from where it was able to soar safely to the ground. It was not able to fly, so again, carefully approaching it and using a net, 1^st Response Wildlife was able to safely capture it.

Below is a picture of the Red Tailed Hawk, secured by Josh, from 1^st Response Wildlife, followed by a picture of the Hawk in a transport.

In the transport, on its way to the rehabber.

Here we see the rehabber carefully inspecting the Red Tailed Hawk’s wings to determine where the injury was located, before making a determination as to whether it needed attention at the animal hospital or whether a few weeks in an aviary with time to heal would allow for its release back into the wild.

Rescues of raptors, injured, orphaned, or abandoned juvenile animals, reptiles, and birds, are not the-day-to-day line of business for 1^st Response Wildlife. However, being able to work with rehabbers, animal hospitals, homeowners, and businesses to help preserve the wildlife we enjoy here in Southern Arizona, is one of the services that makes the job of animal management worthwhile.

If you have an injured or orphaned animal on or near your property, please consider what role you can play in helping that animal survive. There are a number of rehabbers in Tucson who nurse these animals back to health and then release them into the wild. Feel free to call a rehabber and discuss what you observe and together it will be determined what plan of action would be appropriate. Rehabbers will determine if a rescue is called for and that is where, very often, 1^st Response Wildlife is called to humanely capture and rescue the animal.

For any nuisance animals, burrowing around your foundations, noises in your attic or chimney-or other trapping needs, please give 1^st Response a call.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Posted at 01:52 PM in AZ Game and Fish Urban Wildlife , Hawks, Injured, Orphaned | Permalink | Comments (0)

09/11/2014

When Things Go From Bat-To-Worse, Call 1st Response Wildlife

Bats, here in the Sonoran Desert, provide a great service. They eat mosquitoes, flying insects, and some even go-to-ground and capture centipedes and scorpions. Bats roost by the 10s of thousands under several of the bridges here in Tucson. In fact, recently, until it caused too much congestion, docents from the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum were present in the evenings at one or two of those bridges to explain, to interested families who stopped by at dusk, just how beneficial bats were to our environment. The number of those interested, however, became too much for the available parking and now, if you still want to stop by at dusk, you can see the thousands and thousands of bats almost form a cloud as they darken the sky on their way to hunt for food, but without a knowledgeable docent to identify the type of bats you are seeing and educate you on their life and feeding habits. Your alternative, of course, is to take your family to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and engage one of the docents in conversation. (I am sure they would be happy to give you the same information.)

We are blessed to have over a dozen kinds of bats here in the Sonoran Desert and as stated, they provide a great service, keeping the insect population-especially mosquitoes, in check. However, as the title of this blog suggests, sometimes things, in regards to bats, can “go from Bat (play on words) to Worse.” This can happen when bats decide to take up residence around a home or business in large numbers. When this happens, once they have set up residence, their guano and urine begin to imprint that area and it becomes a magnet for other bats, a home for the current population and it can create a real nuisance.

1^st Response Wildlife has a lot of experience in helping businesses and home owners with their bat issues. (A previous blog discussed the potential for diseases bats carry and/or spread-rabies, etc.) Techniques for removal, challenging their return after a night of hunting, and encouraging them to choose somewhere else to roost is offered as a routine service. Sealing points-of-entry and educating the business or homeowner in things that can be done to keep bats from returning are also part of the service that 1^st Response Wildlife provides.

Some homeowners, businesses, and even environmental agencies choose to accommodate bats in their area by providing bat houses, strategically placed to attract and house bats. Below is an example of a bat house placed by the environmental agency responsible for one of the sanctuaries in Cochise County. Bat houses are common in environs where temperatures are not as consistently hot as those in the Sonoran Desert and, if you like to have bats around and want to have a bat structure away from your home or business; it would be wise to research both construction and placement before, perhaps, buying one on the internet.

Bats can enter through very small spaces and, while you probably cannot see them sleeping in those areas in the daytime, tell-tale droppings (guano) will alert you to their presence. Again, if there are only a few bats, their benefit to reducing mosquito and insect population may offset any issues they may cause. However, when you get a family that grows to nuisance size, it is probably time to give 1^st Response Wildlife a call to come and help you encourage your bat family to move elsewhere. Below are two pictures. The first shows where the wall of a home meets the roof line as an example of how small an opening a bat needs to land and crawl up out of sight for its place to spend the day sleeping.

The second picture shows significant bat droppings (guano) that has alerted the homeowner that they have more than a few bats living up under the eaves and it is time to call 1^st Response Wildlife.

Pictured below is a Pallid bat with a centipede followed by a Pallid bat with a green cricket (courtesy of

http://www.animalseatinganimals.com/2011/08/what-do-bats-eat.html).

Pallid bats are one of the few bats that choose to land, rather than chase and capture insects in flight. While they capture scorpions, crickets, grasshoppers, centipedes and other types of insectc-and the occasional lizard, on the ground, they will take their prey to a spot in a bush or tree to consume it.

In addition to the Pallid bat, shown above, and the Mexican Free-Tail bat pictured in a previous blog, 1^st Response Wildlife has been called to help home owners and businesses identify and deal with several other types of bats. The one that has been the most fascinating this summer, however, has been the Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat, pictured below. Their most distinctive appendage is their large ears.

If you find that you have a bat loose in your home or business, suspect they have found a way into your attic, notice excessive droppings under the eaves of your home or business, or observe an inordinate number of bats leaving and returning at dusk and dawn and would like to discourage them from using your property or business as their summer home, please give 1^st Response Wildlife a call.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Posted at 04:36 PM in Bats | Permalink | Comments (0)

07/30/2014

Rock Squirrel Damage and Disease Exposed by 1st Response Wildlife

Rock Squirrels (Spermophilus variegatus), are some of the most handsome of the squirrels found in the Americas-see below. They can however, be a real nuisance as well as a carrier of disease. Unlike the Arizona Gray, or the Apache Red squirrels in Arizona, or Eastern Gray, or Red Squirrels, back east, the Rock squirrels found in the Southwest US, although they can climb, spend their time on the ground and in burrows underground.

1^st Response Wildlife receives dozens of calls from Homeowner Associations (HOAs), homeowners, schools, and businesses to investigate and relocate Rock squirrels which have wreaked havoc in and around buildings, under fences, destroying gardens, and leaving ugly entrance holes to their burrows. The size of their burrow entrances can also be dangerous in playgrounds/parks for children and athletes as well as in horse arenas where their holes are large enough, if stepped in, to break a leg. Rock squirrel burrows also can continue several yards under structures which, in some rare occasions, compromise the flooring and supports of the structure. In other cases, holes under gates, fences, and walls, have established a new pathway to allow other critters to enter a homeowner or business enclosure. (Fences, walls, decks, porches, and piles of debris seem to attract them.)

A good example of this is seen below. In this example the size of the hole under the fence is large enough to allow rabbits to enter and a homeowner’s small dog to escape.

Rock squirrels also find porches, decks, and sheds comfortable places to birth and raise their young. These structures provide protection from the weather and an environment with a more constant temperature-which 1^st Response Wildlife labels as Rock squirrel “favorites.”

Often overlooked by homeowners, businesses, and HOAs, where Rock squirrels are observed but have not necessarily built burrows or, as of yet caused significant damage, is the fact that Rock squirrels are known carriers of disease. Since they are primarily ground dwellers, are in constant contact with the ground/underground, they easily can become a host transport for fleas which carry bubonic plague.

1^st Response Wildlife is very careful when handling live Rock squirrels during the transport and relocation process. (Even deceased Rock squirrels should be handled with gloves to help protect from the potential of fleas.) So, along with the potential damage Rock squirrels can have on your home, business, or structure, when you combine that with the potential for disease, 1^st Response Wildlife suggests Rock squirrels observed around your property, parks, or business, should be removed/relocated. 1^st Response Wildlife will humanely remove and relocate the Rock squirrels. See below.

If you find that you have one or more Rock squirrels creating a nuisance in and around your business or home or, if you have small children and pets that you are concerned might come in contact with the fleas Rock squirrels may have, please give 1^st Response Wildlife a call to discuss how we, together, can decide how to best deal with removing them.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Posted at 11:07 AM in Rock Squirrels, Squirrels | Permalink | Comments (0)

07/21/2014

1st Response Wildlife Gets Help from the Monsoons in Identifying a Raccoon as the Culprit in Damaging Crops

Raccoons, Coatimundi, Skunks, Rock Squirrels, Badgers, Javelina, Deer, and even Pack Rats, are notorious for digging around structures, gnawing on plants, and, in some of the cases, a few of these animals can climb or reach up to eat fruit. Summertime has lots of calls coming in to 1^st Response Wildlife to evaluate, educate the business or home owner on which animal is being a nuisance and, if necessary, relocate it. One of the challenges of this business is trying to help the customer identify which of the variety of “critters,” that are found in the Sonoran Desert, is actually the guilty party.

Technology is playing more of a role in helping identify what is digging around structures, what is destroying plants, and disturbing animals, or making holes in buildings. If the animal can be observed, motion detector pictures taken, or helpful phone camera shots of the destruction forwarded before a trip is made to meet with the business or home owner, it reduces the time between identification and lure/bait selection, if relocation is warranted. This becomes especially helpful if the customer is calling from a distance of greater than, say 50 miles, because bringing the wrong equipment, lure/bait, snare or tools, could warrant another trip and time-to-remedy the situation will have been extended.

Since the greater Tucson area, Pima, Pinal, and Cochise Counties have such a plethora of active animals this time of year, the more information that the business or home owner can supply to help narrow down what is causing problems, before the initial visit, by 1^st Response Wildlife, the better.

Recently, such a situation presented itself. A business owner called 1^st Response Wildlife with a report of an animal digging, stripping fruit trees, and disturbing young plants. Located over 100 miles from Tucson, a one-way trip without pin-point knowledge of what could be causing the problem could have been an expensive exercise.

Here are a couple of pictures of what was happening. From the first picture, it is not really clear what is digging, nor, from the second picture-which shows a protective tube around tender plants has been lifted, can the animal be identified or what sized equipment should be brought down for an on-site evaluation.

Fortunately, the business owner was able to snap a few pictures of the type of digging and destruction-above and then, the clincher- helped specifically by the Monsoon rains, was that, the rains made the ground soft enough so that the animal causing the problem left these footprints, below. Clearly they show it as none other than a masked marauder-Raccoon. An alternative suggestion had been Coatimundi, but, based on experience and other factors, it was pretty clear Coatis were not involved here. (There also had been some thought, before the footprints were discovered, in talking with the business owner, about other larger animals to consider, Deer, Javelina, etc. but, with these prints, it was pretty clear what identification 1^st Response Wildlife was going to make.)

The equipment was chosen, the lures/bait packed and, based on discussions with the business owner, it was determined that the nuisance animal, when captured, would be relocated. Using the right sized equipment and focused on areas of disturbance, the Raccoon was humanely captured, relocated and the business owner will no longer have it bothering his plants.

If you have digging or disturbances, inside or out, it is helpful if you can see and snap a picture of the animal causing a nuisance to your business or around your home. In some cases, it may be better if the animal is left alone and the area is secured in such a way as to make it difficult for it to bother your property but, in other instances, for all concerned, it would be beneficial to relocate it. In either case, if you have, what you think is a problem, please do not hesitate to call 1^st Response Wildlife.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Posted at 02:07 PM in Coatimundi, Raccoons | Permalink | Comments (0)

06/01/2014

1st Response Wildlife Traps and Humanely Releases Hog-nosed Skunk

Skunks in greater Tucson, north in Saddlebrooke, and south to Green Valley, and Tubac, can be a real nuisance. Earlier this year, there were two different reports of dozens of cases of rabid skunks south of Tucson. While skunks are known to carry rabies, more often, skunks, left to themselves live and thrive doing what they normally do, foraging for insects, worms, fruit, seeds, rodents, etc. However, when skunks move into an area where they begin to build a home under a porch, in a shed, or destroy a vegetable or flower garden, 1^st Response Wildlife is happy to work with a homeowner or business owner to capture and humanely relocate an individual or a family of skunks.

Four skunks are found in Arizona-Spotted, Striped, Hooded, and Hog-nosed skunks. Since skunks hunt at and after dusk, Arizona residents do not routinely see skunks destroying their gardens or digging under sheds, patios, or setting up shop under a manufactured home. Hog-nosed skunks are not seen in the valley as frequently as their more common relative, the striped skunk but, they are larger and, when they begin to dig in and around a home, the Hog-nosed skunk can create a fair bit of damage.

A homeowner, northwest of Tucson, contacted 1^st Response Wildlife with a skunk problem. It seems that there was some animal digging in the flower garden, possibly looking for worms or grubs. Its digging was destroying the plant roots and killing plants. Below you can see a hole where the dead plant to the right used to be and, clearly, although this is but one of many plants destroyed, continued digging and destruction of this kind was ruining this homeowner's garden.

The homeowner was not sure what kind of animal it was but, after installing a motion detecting camera, the picture below confirmed it was a Hog-nosed skunk.

1^st Response Wildlife set some traps and, as you can see in the picture below, the Hog-nosed skunk was captured and was ready for relocation.

Since the homeowner was upset at the amount of real damage to the flower garden, 1s Response Wildlife determined that the best strategy for a new home for the skunk would be miles away in a safe and comfortable environment. Below is a picture of the skunk’s transportation with a backdrop of safe location where it will be released back into the wild.

Once the trap is positioned, the trap is opened and the skunk is encouraged to leave and begin getting acquainted with its new surroundings. The video which can be viewed at the URL below, shows that it took a little coaxing with several squirts of water to get the skunk to leave the security of its temporary home-the skunk trap. You will see that, as the skunk exits the trap, it stops, looks back, and as it begins to realize its freedom, at first takes a defensive stance. It then walks away from the trap, directly toward 1^st Response’s beautiful assistant. Please notice that, at no time, did the skunk feel threatened and did not even posture as if it were going to spray. This is a great example which dispels the myth that skunks always spray when they come in contact with humans. In this case, the Hog-nosed skunk was in close proximity twice and did not spray. Click on the link below to watch the video of the release.

http://youtu.be/4vSSi_TLZtQ

After the Hog-nosed is out of the trap, the picture below is a still of its investigating its surroundings before it eventually wandered off into the desert.

If you think you have a skunk problem, find that an animal is digging in your garden, under your shed, or you have small animals/pets you are worried might come in contact with animals that roam around after dark, please give 1^st Response Wildlife a call.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Posted at 06:55 AM in Plant & Cacti, Skunks , Video | Permalink | Comments (0)

05/31/2014

Surprise! Baby Raccoons! 1st Response Wildlife Cares

Spring in the Sonoran Desert brings with it the blossoming of the trees, cacti, and a plethora of new babies. Nature and its circle of life tend to have a huge affect on the ultimate survival of newborn in the desert. Quail, seen with 15 walnut sized babies trailing them through the desert, are observed a month later with only one or two half grown youngsters. Similarly, Bobcats, rabbits, ground squirrels, rock squirrels, and even rattlesnakes rarely have all their spring babies reach maturity.

This past week, there was a rare find of 5 baby raccoons under the floor of a greenhouse. The immediate reaction from 1^st Response Wildlife in a situation where baby raccoons are discovered in an area that is inconvenient for the homeowner or a business is to try and find the mother. The next step is to capture the mother, collect all the babies, and relocate the “family” safely to a location where they will have a chance to survive without creating a nuisance.

Unfortunately, in this case, there was no mother to be found in or around these babies and they were taken to Forever Wild Animal Rehabilitation Center. (www.forever-wild.org). Again, what makes this story unique is that a family of baby raccoons usually consists of 2-4 cubs. Routine calls to 1^st Response Wildlife for raccoon family removal from attics, chimneys, under a residence, or porch, yields a family of juvenile cubs whose numbers have already been reduced due to predation, lack of food, or a litter which originally only had 3-4 members.

In this instance, it is quite clear that these cubs were from a large litter, had not suffered any predation or apparent reduction in number, but lacked a parent. Bringing them to Forever Wild will have a great outcome because, after inspection and placement in a near natural habitat, most likely, they will all survive, without loss to predation, and, once they can fend on their own, will be released back into the wild.

Below are a few pictures of the cubs at Forever Wild. The first is of the 5 cubs and the second is one cub with the owner of 1^st Response Wildlife.

Here is a close up with the owner of 1st Response Wildlife showing one of the cubs.

We are pleased to report the cubs, after inspection, are all in good shape, are receiving special individual attention at Forever Wild and are all expected to reach full maturity before release.

If you discover a family of raccoons in your attic, under your porch, under a shed, or hear noises in your walls, please do not hesitate to give 1st Response Wildife a call.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Posted at 12:39 PM in Orphaned, Raccoons, Rehab | Permalink | Comments (0)

05/26/2014

Peacock-Homeless and Hungry; 1st Response Wildlife Responds!

Peacocks are not considered wild animals. In fact, they are considered domesticated fowl. They make great watchdogs, keep the snake population at bay, are beautiful, and they eat commercial feed. On the other hand, they fly, if not penned in a structure that has a roof and closed walls, escape is relatively easy.

Recently 1st Response Wildlife responded to a homeowner who reported a beautiful, juvenile female Black Winged Peacock alone, homeless, and hungry in the desert here in greater Tucson. With the help of neighbors, the peacock, seemingly always on the move, was found, humanely captured and crated-ready for a new home.

The challenge that 1st Response Wildlife faced, however, was in finding a safe and long term home for this peacock. Since peacocks are not considered wild animals, many of the rehabbers prefer not to accept them. Their reasoning is fairly straight-forward. There is no outlet for them. If the peacock is not injured, there is no release plan back into the wild because it was not wild to begin with.

Contacting known owners of peacocks and trying to find a home for this Black Winged Peacock, however, had a happy ending. Pat Rydeen has a business in Marana where she rescues, raises, and keeps several different types of show fowl. She has a business that survives on donations, called "Pat's Ears Wings N Things." She has at least 7 different kinds of peacocks, at least half a dozen show-type unique chicken breeds, show pheasants, ducks, and even a few goats. Pat really likes peacocks and had a couple of Black Winged Peacocks already, so putting this juvenile in with a male and a female had it feeling at home in no time.

Below are some pictures of the Black Winged Peacock captured and transported to Pat's place, a picture of Pat's sign, and a couple pictures of the Black Winged Peacock feeling at home enough that it began eating right away. There is also a picture of one other of the 6 different types of peacocks that Pat has, for comparison-a white peacock.

If you would like to donate to Pat's rescue business, feel free to contact her directly-520--682-5593, send a donation to or look her up at 11620 N Derringer Road Marana, AZ 85653. (Call first if you go) She does good work and donations really help.

Below are the pictures

First is the Black Winged Peacock humanely caged and headed to Pat's

Arrival at "Pat's Ears Wings N Things"

Rescued Black Winged Juvenile right at home with its new family-enjoying its first meal in its new home!

Additional Peacocks at Pat's place

White Peacocks

1st Response Wildlife was happy to work with the homeowner to capture this peacock, find it a safe and secure new home and make the acquaintance of Pat Rydeen, have a tour of her facility, and better understand how a rescue and hosting of domestic fowl business works.

If you have orphaned, injured, or nuisance animals in your neighborhood, please give 1st Response Wildlife a call and we will do everything we can to help you find a humane and safe solution for both you and the animal.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Posted at 10:02 AM in Domestic, Exotic animals | Permalink | Comments (0)

05/13/2014

Rattlesnakes on your property-Call 1st Response Wildlife to remove them!

1^st Response Wildlife is experienced and ready to help you with any snakes on your property!

This is the season and the temperature is now at a point where homeowners and businesses alike are finding rattlesnakes on their property. 1^st Response Wildlife has 18+ years experience dealing with Snakes in the Sonoran Desert of all types and is particularly adept at helping a homeowner or business identify and relocate the unwanted venomous types.

There have been two alerts this year already, one from a local paper and, this week, from the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) in regards to the appearance of rattlesnakes. The latest reminder, from AZGFD is for hikers, homeowners, pet owners, families with small children, gardeners, and business owners about the possibility of encountering unwanted animals-due to the fact that Tucson, Catalina, Oro Valley, Saddlebrooke, Vail, and Green Valley are all in a drought situation and reptiles, along with other wild animals will be moving into urban areas looking for food and water.

1^st Response Wildlife would also like to remind gardeners, landscapers, business owners, families with children and small pets to be alert and careful around shrubs, walking and hiking at dawn and dusk, and looking carefully on patios, porches, and especially before reaching in to retrieve a ball from under a bush or to trim a shrub. Snakes, especially rattlesnakes blend easily into their surroundings and strike from almost any position-stretched out or coiled. You may encounter them on the prowl for prey, coiled up under a bush or, as some have reported and photgraphed, in a mating dance (see below).

1^st Response Wildlife is an expert when it comes to rattlesnakes. If you observe one on your property and would like it humanely captured and removed, please do not bother it but, observe where it is located, make the call to 260-9517 and every effort will be made to work with you as quickly as possible to remove it.

Arizona is blessed to have a wide variety of reptiles, the largest number of different species of rattlesnakes of any state in the union, but, since the state of Arizona values all wildlife, unless you are being threatened by rattlesnakes or any reptiles, it is best to get a professional, like 1^st Response Wildlife involved to help you remove and protect it so that the balance of life in the wild can be maintained.

The most common rattlesnakes you will encounter in the greater Tucson area are the Western Diamondback, the Mojave (also spelled Mohave), the sidewinder, possibly the Black Tail, and, depending on your elevations, even a few of the 13 species of rattlers in AZ.

Below are a few photographs to help you be sure you are dealing with a rattler. Bottom line, however, it is better to be safe than sorry. Calling 1^st Response Wildlife will help confirm identification before removal. (Hovering your cursor over the pictures will reveal the identity.)

If you find a rattler on your property, please give 1^st Response Wildlife a call.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Josh Waling is a humane Licensed Animal Trapper who catches and releases wildlife, removing animals including bobcats (lince), snakes, rattlesnakes (serpiente de cascabel), raccoons (mapache), pack rats, gila monsters (monstruos de gila), rabbits (canejo), owls, bats, hawks, ducks, squirrels (ardilla), coatimundi (gato solo), skunks (mofeta), exotics, and domestic cats and dogs. He delivers service that is professional and fast and he is available 24/7. Give him a call the next time you hear unusual noises in the attic or crawl spaces in your home or if you see wildlife eating your vegetation, creating nests, and raising their young too close to your pets or children or have an exotic sighting in your neighborhood. 520-260-9517 Thanks!

Posted at 01:55 PM in AZ Game and Fish Urban Wildlife , Rattlesnakes, Snakes | Permalink | Comments (0)

05/11/2014

Rescuing Juvenile Owls in Greater Tucson-1st Response Wildlife, Helping Them Survive

Owls in the Sonoran Desert come in a variety of sizes. Burrowing, Screech, and Pygmy Owls are small and often seen only as mature adults. Two of the largest owls, found in the Sonoran Desert, Barn Owls and Great Horned Owls, while not often seen in the daytime as adults, are found routinely as juveniles. You might ask why that is. Primarily, when these larger owls grow to a size where, when it is time to test their wings and begin active competition for space, if they fall from their nest and not be able to get back to its safety, they are so large that they are easily noticeable by homeowners and business people. Also, because of their size and the fact they are still juveniles, not quite able to fly/escape; they are easy prey for coyotes, dogs, cats, and other larger predators. In some cases they have been hurt when they tried to fly, their parent may have been hurt or killed in a night-time hunting accident, or, as is often the case with Barn Owls, a nest in a bale of hay is sold and transported to a feed store and, only then are baby Barn Owls discovered-parent-less.

Whatever the reason, 1^st Response Wildlife averages several calls in the spring to pick up and transport juvenile Owls to rehabbers, where they are raised until they can fend for themselves before they are safely returned to the wild. Again, because of their size, while there are calls to rescue and nurture smaller owls to maturity, the vast majority of Juvenile Owl calls in the spring are for the larger juvenile Great Horned Owls and Barn Owls.

Below are but a few of the pictures of Juvenile Great Horned Owls and Barn Owls which have been rescued and transported to one of the rehabbers which takes in, nurtures and then returns Owls to the Wild. (If you hover your cursor over the pictures, there are labels which identify what is pictured.)

These Juvenile Barn Owls, pictured below were, similar to others that were discovered last year in hay delivered to a feed store, living parent-less in hay and, without a quick response and transport to a rehabber, where they are being, for the moment, hand fed, it is easy to see, based on their age, that they would not have survived.

Four other juveniles were also among almost half a dozen Juvenile Great Horned Owls 1^st Response Wildlife has transported to a rehabber this spring. (Each juvenile has its species, location where it was found recorded, the individual or business that discovered and reported it logged, and paperwork is submitted to Arizona Game and Fish Department. This helps document territorial population of the species etc.) Again, without direct care and nurturing to maturity, it is highly likely that none of these would have survived. Below are pictures of transport, physical evaluation by a rehabber, and current juvenile accommodations. Once these juveniles have completely feathered out, they are transferred to a large fly-way structure where they will practice flying, learning to eat food naturally found in the desert and, finally released back into the wild.

If you find an owl of any size that appears to be abandoned, hurt, or unable to find its way back to its nest, please call 1^st Response Wildlife or one of the rehabbers in the Greater Tucson area and we all would be happy to work with you to determine the best course of action to protect these valuable resources.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Josh Waling is a humane Licensed Animal Trapper who catches and releases wildlife, removing animals including bobcats (lince), snakes, rattlesnakes (serpiente de cascabel), raccoons (mapache), pack rats, gila monsters (monstruos de gila), rabbits (canejo), owls, bats, hawks, ducks, squirrels (ardilla), coatimundi (gato solo), skunks (mofeta), exotics, and domestic cats and dogs. He delivers service that is professional and fast and he is available 24/7. Give him a call the next time you hear unusual noises in the attic or crawl spaces in your home or if you see wildlife eating your vegetation, creating nests, and raising their young too close to your pets or children or have an exotic sighting in your neighborhood. 520-260-9517 Thanks!

Posted at 07:50 AM in AZ Game and Fish Urban Wildlife , Hawks, Injured, Owls, Raptors, Rehab | Permalink | Comments (0)

05/10/2014

1st Response Wildlife Works to Protect Mother Duck and Her Brood

Ducks and other water fowl enjoy access to water all across greater Tucson in natural settings as well as backyard pools. While your backyard pool might not be your choice for a mother duck to raise her young, it may be appealing enough for a mother duck to choose somewhere in close proximity to your home or pool to make a nest. The fact that there is water close can make the building of a nest under a Texas Ranger bush, or other sheltered area an ideal choice for mother duck. At other times, ducks will make a nest in a neighborhood, miles from natural water, but in a safe, to the mother duck, sheltered spot.

Regardless of whether a homeowner discovers a nesting duck or a mother with her newly hatched brood of ducklings, if you are worried about their safety, please call 1^st Response Wildlife for a humane and safe removal/relocation.

1^st Response Wildlife gets numerous calls for these types of duck family removals, especially in the spring, when mother ducks decide to lay their eggs in close proximity to homes and businesses. While the selection of nesting areas may seem protected and adequate to a mother duck, residents with children and pets may become concerned that, when the eggs hatch, the ducklings will not be safe. In other cases, home and business owners, worry that a nest in an exposed area leaves little protection from predators.

Fortunately, the rehabbers in Tucson are happy to accept mother ducks, with ducklings, and raise the ducklings to maturity. Once they are able to survive on their own, they are all released back into the wild where there are several safe waterways, lakes, and ponds for them to establish their new homes.

Below are two pictures of a mother Mallard duck with her 9 ducklings. The first picture appears bluish because of the light, at the time they were rescued by 1st Response Wildlife and delivered to a rehab organization that accepts ducks.

The second picture was taken 2 weeks later, showing the mother Mallard is fine and the ducklings are growing.

If you find an unwanted family of ducks making their home in your yard or around your business or, as the summer progresses, you find that an individual or family of ducks has decided that your pool area looks like a great place to call home and you would like to have them relocated, 1^st Response Wildlife would be happy to work with you relocate them. The welfare of the ducks and your property will be given every consideration. If it is determined that the ducks would be better off being introduced elsewhere or, if they are injured in any way, 1^st Response Wildlife will work to relocate them safely and, if necessary take them to a rehabber until they can fend on their own.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Josh Waling is a humane Licensed Animal Trapper who catches and releases wildlife, removing animals including bobcats (lince), snakes, rattlesnakes (serpiente de cascabel), raccoons (mapache), pack rats, gila monsters (monstruos de gila), rabbits (canejo), owls, bats, hawks, ducks, squirrels (ardilla), coatimundi (gato solo), skunks (mofeta), exotics, and domestic cats and dogs. He delivers service that is professional and fast and he is available 24/7. Give him a call the next time you hear unusual noises in the attic or crawl spaces in your home or if you see wildlife eating your vegetation, creating nests, and raising their young too close to your pets or children or have an exotic sighting in your neighborhood. 520-260-9517 Thanks!

Posted at 04:24 PM in Ducks, Injured, Rehab | Permalink | Comments (0)

04/16/2014

1st Response Wildlife Customers Sometimes Find Round-Tailed Ground Squirrels to be a Nuisance

Round-Tailed Ground Squirrels seem to be everywhere this year. You can find more about them, along with dozens of pictures by looking up either Xerospermophilus tereticaudus or Spermophilus tereticaudus, on the web. 1st Response Wildlife has been receiving calls from numerous homeowners and businesses to see if there is anything that can be done about these little smooth-furred squirrels which build extensive underground tunnels and delight in creating endless burrows in the desert.

Left to themselves, unless you are riding a horse through the desert or on your property, chasing a soccer ball, shagging a fly, or just sitting on your back porch hoping to relax without watching your plants getting nibbled, they are kind of cute and remind you of a miniature Prairie Dog. If, however, they come into your yard, play ground, athletic field, or business, they can really be a nuisance.

Below, courtesy of "Focus On Nature Tours," is the first of 4 pictures of these little fellows and the entrance to their living quarters..

This little fellow digs holes that are entrances to his underground world and, at other times, he just digs holes. The picture below shows an entrance to his underground set of tunnels.

As the temperature rises, here in the Sonoran desert, you can expect the Round-Tailed Ground Squirrel to emerge from one of its holes a little earlier each week-starting in the spring. You will also find that they are usually listed as omnivores, which simply means they eat plants and they especially like those which are high in water content. They also, however, will eat ants, crickets, larger insects, like grasshoppers, termites, and other insects and, based on our observation they can be opportunistic feeders as well. What this means is that they have things they would prefer to eat but, provided with the opportunity to feed, you may see them on your bird feeder competing with the song birds, doves, or quail or even, as 1st Response Wildlife has seen, feasting on road kill in the middle of the road.

These little fellows are pretty fast but, they are routinely snagged and hawks, badgers, snakes, and even coyotes consider them a great catch. In our experience, since our primary business is not photography but, instead, evaluating animal situations, educating our customers, and, when appropriate, relocating animals here in the greater Tucson area, we typically do not take pictures from a long distance. If you try to get close to one of these squirrels, they usually have several hidey holes they use as escape routes and, without a long range camera in our bag, we are challenged to get close-up shots. As result, above and below we have relied on photos of the squirrels, for this blog, on other sources. The second of the two squirrel pictures used herein is from a blog, managed by Judy Hedding in Phoenix. Pictured after the Round-Tailed Ground Squirrel below, we show an example at a customer site of a problem that is representative of many calls to 1st Response Wildlife-where a back yard, playground, or business was being overrun by ground squirrels.

Below, within a 4' area, there are 5 holes!

Underground tunnels and the proliferation and range of these animals can make it difficult to determine, without sitting and watching your property for a significant amount of time, just how many you have living and burrowing in and around you. If you think you have a problem with these Round-Tailed Ground Squirrels, 1st Response Wildlife would be happy to consult with you and review options you have to reduce their number in your area. We have helped customers decide how to deal with dozens so far just this year!

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Josh Waling is a humane Licensed Animal Trapper who catches and releases wildlife, removing animals including bobcats (lince), snakes, rattlesnakes (serpiente de cascabel), raccoons (mapache), pack rats, gila monsters (monstruos de gila), rabbits (canejo), owls, bats, hawks, ducks, squirrels (ardilla), coatimundi (gato solo), skunks (mofeta), exotics, and domestic cats and dogs. He delivers service that is professional and fast and he is available 24/7. Give him a call the next time you hear unusual noises in the attic or crawl spaces in your home or if you see wildlife eating your vegetation, creating nests, and raising their young too close to your pets or children or have an exotic sighting in your neighborhood. 520-260-9517 Thanks!

Posted at 01:45 PM in Gopher, Hawks, Snakes, Squirrels | Permalink | Comments (0)

03/20/2014

Tucson 1st Response Wildlife Gives Back With Educational Sessions

The Arizona Sonoran Desert is recognized world-wide for its diversity of animal and plant life-some only found here in our area. We are blessed to have the largest number of rattlesnake species, strong populations of amphibians, mammals, and birds, and a supporting climate that allows the species found here to thrive.

While 1st Response Wildlife is focused on the core business of humanely capturing, relocating and, if an animal is orphaned or hurt, working with rehabilitation organizations to bring that animal along, when possible, to a point where it can be released back into the wild, there is another aspect of its mission, which is to educate the public.

It is surprising that so many residents of Tucson, Oro Valley, Green Valley, Marana, Catalina, and Sahuarita live in close proximity to this plethura of animal life and yet, may not ever see, understand, or appreciate those species that live just on the other side of their walls or along the trails they hike. Some of our animals and reptiles are gorgeous and helpful and others are dangerous.

As a trapper, licensed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, a key part of the mission of 1st Response Wildlife is to educate the public about how to interact with our wildlife particularly in regards to those that can be harmful and especially the ones that are commonly encountered by you, your children, and pets. Seeing those animals, reptiles, and amphibians in person and hearing the facts relating to the appropriate responses one should employ if they are encountered, helps protect family and pets from harm. While we are blessed to have a place where much of the wildlife in our area can be seen up close-the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum, there are still many unanswered questions and thousands of children and residents who would benefit from a more personal educational session that allows for questions and answers and first hand experiences and facts which 1st Response Wildife can provide.

One of the ways 1st Response Wildlife gives back to the community is through educational sessions where either slide shows, accompanied by talks regarding these animals are presented or, sessions, where a few representative specimens, when possible, are brought along, as part of a demonstration to help the public understand their "neighbors." Being able to identify and understand when and how to respond in a situation where one encounters an animal or reptile, can save a life!

Recently 1st Response Wildife had the opportunity to bring several specimens to a school and conduct two sessions in a safe outdoor setting. The sessions encompassed demonstrations of non-venomous constrictors (snakes that capture and kill by constricting and suffocting their prey-rather than using venom) of Arizona as well as some venomous reptiles and one amphibian. Children were encouraged to view the dangerous species, safely housed in display cages and, for the non-venomous species, they were encouraged and allowed to inspect, touch, and feel their cool smooth scales.

Below is a video that takes into account the scene where a Gopher Snake and a Mountain King Snake are held for the children while, on the table, between the two presenters, the venomous species are safely housed for viewing, but not touching.

http://youtu.be/TxVTaRJupfw

Below is a picture of children touching the beautiful Mountain King Snake-a constrictor that eats rats, mice, and even rattlesnakes

Children being introduced to a Gopher Snake-another constrictor that eats pack rats, mice, etc.

Safely housed in a display case is a Mojave Rattler-its venom contains both neurotoxins and hemotoxins.

Beside the Mojave is a Western Diamondback Rattler, probably the most common rattlesnake found around greater Tucson-its venom is a hemotoxin.

Most often seen after a Monsoon rain, the Sonoran Desert Toad (aka Colorado River Toad), is extremely dangerous to pets and can cause allergic reactions in people if handled without gloves.

The Gila Monster lives underground most of the time and eats round tailed squirrels, pack rats, eggs, etc.

Along with these demonstrations, 1st Response Wildlife also educates the attendees about the reptiles and amphibian lifestyles, dangers, and what to do if they are encountered.

If you would like to have 1st Response Wildlife come and present to your Home Owner's Association, school, business, or organization, please feel free to give 1st Response Wildlife a call and an educational session can be set up with live specimens or powerpoint slides. Discussions will include habitats, how to react when encountering animals, reptiles, and amphibians, as well as what to do if you, your children, or pets are bitten.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Josh Waling is a humane Licensed Animal Trapper who catches and releases wildlife, removing animals including bobcats (lince), snakes, rattlesnakes (serpiente de cascabel), raccoons (mapache), pack rats, gila monsters (monstruos de gila), rabbits (canejo), owls, bats, hawks, squirrels (ardilla), coatimundi (gato solo), skunks (mofeta), exotics, and domestic cats and dogs. He delivers service that is professional and fast and he is available 24/7. Give him a call the next time you hear unusual noises in the attic or crawl spaces in your home or if you see wildlife eating your vegetation, creating nests, and raising their young too close to your pets or children or have an exotic sighting in your neighborhood. 520-260-9517 Thanks!

Posted at 08:54 AM in AZ Game and Fish Urban Wildlife , Colorado River Toad, Educational Sessions, Gila Monsters, Injured, Orphaned, Snakes, Video | Permalink | Comments (0)

02/28/2014

Humane Bobcat Release From Rehab by 1st Response Wildlife

1st Response Wildlife works with non-profit rehabilitation centers to ensure that young Bobcats, raised in a protected, but close-to-wildlife-conditions environment can be released humanely and safely back into the wild. These Bobcats find their way to a rehabber after found abandoned, hurt, or captured when they are too young to take care of themselves.

I have taken Bobcat kitts and other animals to rehab centers until they are ready to be released back into the wild. Because I have done a lot of work with Bobcats and feel very comfortable handling them, I was asked if I would come, capture and then release the ones in the pictures and video below, back into their new home. They had been raised to maturity and were helped to remain distant and conditioned for life in the desert.

Here are a few pictures of these beautiful creatures, my humanely capturing them in their enclosure, kenneling them with the rehabber's help, and then a video of their release. Enjoy.

The Bobcat pictured below is one of two kits that was brought to a rehabber and nursed to maturity.

Here is the same Bobcat below snared humanely, the capture step to allow me to control it and put it in a kennel for transport.

Now that I have the Bobcat snared, I place it in the kennel, which I will then take to an open area for release. In the following YouTube video, you will see me catch and, with help, kennel both of the Bobcats, now grown from kittens.

http://youtu.be/0f2LrqrPDyo

After we catch the two Bobcats, we release them back into the wild. The following YouTube video shows the rehabber and her assistant encourage the two Bobcats to leave the security of the transfer kennels and take up residence in the wild. You will see that I follow one of the Bobcats to show you how easily these beautiful animals blend into their surroundings. What I am trying to show is how easy it is for your, on a hike or a walk in the desert, to walk by a Bobcat and never see it.

http://youtu.be/T315kCncDy0

1st Response Wildlife gets calls from homeowners and businesses all the time with reports of Bobcats sightings, in Tucson, Oro Valley, Green Valley, Marana, Catalina, and Sahuarita, and even down in Sierra Vista. Bobcats in our region are probably more comfortable living and raising their young in closer proximity to people than in most other states. If you think you are having a problem with Bobcats, think you have an orphaned Bobcat kit(s) in and around your home or business, or see an injured Bobcat which looks like it could be nursed back to health, please give 1st Response Wildlife a call.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Josh Waling is a humane Licensed Animal Trapper who catches and releases wildlife, removing animals including bobcats (lince), snakes, rattlesnakes (serpiente de cascabel), raccoons (mapache), pack rats, gila monsters (monstruos de gila), rabbits (canejo), owls, bats, hawks, squirrels (ardilla), coatimundi (gato solo), skunks (mofeta), exotics, and domestic cats and dogs. He delivers service that is professional and fast and he is available 24/7. Give him a call the next time you hear unusual noises in the attic or crawl spaces in your home or if you see wildlife eating your vegetation, creating nests, and raising their young too close to your pets or children or have an exotic sighting in your neighborhood. 520-260-9517 Thanks!

Posted at 05:30 AM in AZ Game and Fish Urban Wildlife , Bobcats, Orphaned, Video | Permalink | Comments (0)

02/18/2014

1st Response Wildlife Skunk Myths and Facts

It seems every year there are news stories, reports and some hysteria about skunks, here in the greater Tucson, Green Valley, Catalina, Oro Valley and Marana areas. One of these has to do with rabies and others include concerns about whether a homeowner or business should call a trapper to remove and relocate them.

Recently, in a conversation with one of the authorities on skunks, I came across a really nicely organized list of skunk Myths and Facts. After contacting the author, who had posted them on her web page, permission was granted for a reposting on my site. I would like to thank Share Bond, President of S.K.U.N.K.S, for allowing the reuse of Myths and Facts, with a few edits, for my blog.

Thanks to Share, I am happy to include the following "Myths and Facts," for you:

FAQs about Skunk Facts and Myths

http://www.stinkybusiness.org/myths.htm

1. Myth: Skunks are rabies carriers. (Fact: This erroneous statement implies that all skunks carry rabies. All mammals can contract rabies if infected from the bite of a rabid animal. Most wild animals stay clear of skunks to avoid being sprayed in the eyes, so the odds that a skunk will get bitten by another species are rare.)

2. Myth: Skunks are the number one carrier of rabies. (Fact: Unvaccinated outdoor cats and free-roaming dogs are a much higher risk because of their access to wild animals. The reported totals of how many skunks have rabies are very biased numbers. Each county has a different animal that ranks number one.)

3. Myth: Foaming at the mouth is a sure sign of rabies. (Fact: Foaming at the mouth can also be a symptom of distemper, coccidian, round worms, ticks, or other internal or external parasite overload, diabetes, poisoning, liver failure, epilepsy, allergies, herpes, and severe dehydration and emaciation, all of which are more common than rabies.)

4. Myth: If you are bitten by a rabid skunk, you will die. (Fact: Research statistics show that 70% of those untreated victims of rabid animal bites did not get ill or contract rabies when they followed proper and immediate cleansing of the wound.) Still, it should not be treated lightly!

5. Myth: Animal rehabilitators might accidentally release rabies-infected orphan skunks. (Fact: Highly unlikely if done right.) In the four to five months it takes to rehabilitate baby skunks, any who have rabies would have shed the virus and already died. Any skunks released will have been observed long enough to be confident they do not have rabies.

6. Myth: Skunks carry rabies up to two years. (Fact: This has never been proven. Even IF it were true, you can only get rabies from a bite of a rabid animal up to a week before it shows clinical signs of rabies whether it is two weeks or two years. At that time the rabies would be in the saliva where you could contract the virus. The rest of the "carrying" time you, nor any other animals, would not get rabies.)

7. Myth: According to the Dept. of Game & Fish, the only way to check an animal for rabies is to remove its head and examine the brain. (Fact: There are procedures that can be done on live skunks. Saliva, tear duct, hair follicle, and estrogen testing are four, but they aren't considered as reputable. It is even possible that a piece of brain tissue could be extracted from boring a little hole in the brain where the animal wouldn't have to be destroyed. What is considered to be the most reliable method to confirm rabies, however, remains removal of the head and examination of the brain.)

8. Myth: There is no rabies vaccine for skunks. (Fact: This is not true! There is documented proof that the Imrab "killed virus" rabies vaccine works on 100% of the tested skunks, and it immunizes from one to two years. This vaccine has been sold for over 20 years for dogs, cats, ferrets, and other animals, with coverage ranging from 1-3 years after inoculation.) It may not appear on labels from the manufacturer so it is best to check with your veterinarian if you have or are considering a skunk for a pet. For rehabbers, vaccinating skunks before release helps in rabies control.

9. Myth: Skunks walking around during the day is a sure sign that they have rabies. (Fact: Skunks will come out any time of the day or night when there is food available. Trying to fool skunks by placing pet food outside during the day does NOT work. Orphaned baby skunks look for their mother, food and help 24-hours a day until they find what they need. You would most likely only see them during the day.)

10. Myth: You can get rabies if sprayed in the eyes. (Fact: You can only get rabies from the saliva when bitten. There are rare cases where one could get rabies from handling the blood of a rabid animal's brain or if a rabid animal was shot in the head and it got into a cut or eyes.)

11. Myth: If you are sprayed in the eyes by skunk spray, you will go blind. (Fact: This is not true.) There are a couple rare cases where an animal and a human died after being sprayed in the eyes by a skunk, but it was because of the stress from it that caused a heart attack. The dog was left without being cleaned of the stench and it couldn't handle this. The man had such a bad heart that any kind of stress would have had the same results.

12. Myth: Skunk spray is urine. (Fact: It is an acrid yellow oily foamy spray that comes out of a gland that is just inside the anal area.)

13. Myth: Skunks spray each other. (Fact: Skunks do not spray each other. They may "whiff" when they are startled, play/fight or mate, but this airs out quickly.)

14. Myth: Skunks spray all the time. (Fact: If not startled or defending their young, they will rarely spray. They give plenty of warning signals before spraying. Their spray is a precious commodity that is saved for only life-threatening situations. In a perfect situation, a skunk could actually go through life never spraying anything.)

15. Myth: Skunks cannot spray unless their back feet are on the ground. (Fact: Because skunks rarely spray, this is how these myths were determined. A skunk can spray when the tail is held down or under, when it is doing a handstand-especially in the case of a spotted skunk, and when being hung by their tail. They simply choose not to most of the time.)

16. Myth: A skunk cannot spray when hung by the tail. (Fact: See #15.)

17. Myth: A skunk cannot spray when the tail is tucked underneath to hide the anus. (Fact: See #15.)

18. Myth: Skunks smell. (Fact: They are very clean animals and actually smell better than dogs. It is only what they spray that smells.)

19. Myth: Skunks can jump and climb well. (Fact: Only the little spotted skunk climbs. Striped skunks have limited climbing abilities and don't fall well. They cannot climb items such as table legs or jump like a cat. A wild skunk can only get into a garbage can or onto a picnic table if there are bags of garbage piled next to it, or if the benches are next to the table. To get over a fence, one side of the fence has to have a heavily-foliaged bush next to it or a huge pile of lumber that they can scramble up onto, but then when they get over to the other side, they have to make a long fall and sometimes can't get out/down. With the exception of the spotted skunk, skunks don't climb into your attic, chimney or roof. If you smell a skunk up there, there is a rare chance that it could be a spotted skunk, but more likely that it is an owl that was sprayed while killing a skunk.)

20. Myth: Skunks kill chickens. (Fact: Skunks cannot chase and catch fast animals such as the mouse, rat, or chicken unless it is dead, injured or trapped. They usually eat the eggs, babies in nests or slow chicks.)

21. Myth: Skunks are useless vermin. (Fact: Skunks are important to the balance of nature. They kill all rodents; black widow spiders, rattlesnakes, scorpions; and garden pests such as snails, crickets, gophers, grubs; cockroaches and all other insects.)

22. Myth: Skunks are polecats. (Fact: A polecat is a weasel. The European polecat is the common household pet, the ferret.)

23 Myth: Skunks are in the weasel family. (Fact: Skunks are no longer considered to be in the mustelid family, but a family of their own. They never were really "in the weasel family" even when they were considered a mustelid, any more than that they would be in the otter, wolverine, badger, etc. family. They are now in the mephitid, or mephitidae, family.)

24. Myth: Domestic skunks are just wild skunks. (Fact: Any animal that is more than three generations removed from the wild is considered domestic, but reputable skunk breeders have been breeding their stock for up to 60 years.)

25. Myth: If a domestic skunk escapes from a home, they can survive. (Fact: Only wild mothers teach their young how to survive in the wild. Plus domestic skunks are descented; hence they have no way to protect themselves.)

26. Myth: If domestic skunks escape, they will spread disease to the wild skunk populations. (Fact: They are rabies free because of breeding, have been inoculated with the rabies vaccine, and are much healthier stock than the wild skunks. However, (25), since many domestic skunks were raised in captivity, they cannot fend for themselves when they escape. It is best to call an animal trapper immediately to get help in re-capturing them to help them survive.

27. Myth: Skunks are nocturnal. (Fact: They are crepuscular which means they come out mostly at dusk and dawn.)

28. Myth: Skunks are afraid of bees. (Fact: Skunks love to eat bees. One of the reasons bee keepers build hives up and away from the ground is that skunks are not good climbers and a commercially set-up bee hive is relatively safe. A bee hive occurring in nature, however, low to the ground or in the case of ground bees, is a great target for skunks.)

29: Myth: Skunks are afraid of other animals. (Fact: Skunks are fairly self reliant because they are aware of their ability to spray, which really annoys other animals. You may see skunks frequent an area where people are consistently leaving out food for feral cats. Skunks can be drawn to food left out for these cats and get used to co-mingling with them. Cat food, canned tuna, as well as other odiferous offerings call skunks as well as cats and this can be both annoying to neighbors when skunks are surprised and spray, or create a nuisance in the neighborhood because residents do not like skunks around. The easiest way to reduce the number of skunks competing with the cats for food is to build/place the food up off the ground and call the cats when the food is offered and leave the food out only for a limited period of time before taking it away. Never leave the food for long periods of time or overnight. Using this method, the cats will learn to come when called and become familiar with time limits. By the time skunks or other animals would have come to look for the source of the smell of food, it will be gone and soon they will lose interest.)

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Josh Waling is a humane Licensed Animal Trapper who catches and releases wildlife, removing animals including bobcats (lince), snakes, rattlesnakes (serpiente de cascabel), raccoons (mapache), pack rats, gila monsters (monstruos de gila), rabbits (canejo), owls, bats, hawks, squirrels (ardilla), coatimundi (gato solo), skunks (mofeta), exotics, and dogs. He delivers service that is professional and fast and he is available 24/7. Give him a call the next time you hear unusual noises in the attic or crawl spaces in your home or if you see wildlife eating your vegetation, creating nests, and raising their young too close to your pets or children or have an exotic sighting in your neighborhood. 520-260-9517 Thanks!

Posted at 03:24 PM in AZ Game and Fish Urban Wildlife , Frequently Asked Questions FAQs, Injured, Orphaned, Skunks | Permalink | Comments (0)

02/16/2014

Tucson 1st Response Wildlife's 3 Most Encountered Hawks of the Sonoran Desert

In greater Tucson and Pima County, we are blessed to see several different hawks over the course of the year. In the winter months, we will see a wider variety but, in the winter of 2014, for example, the warmer weather probably has reduced the wider variation seen in other years.

Three of the hawks we see, here in the Sonoran Desert most often, are the Red Tailed Hawk, the Cooper’s Hawk, and the Harris Hawk. Each has its own personality, behavior and range.

The Red Tailed Hawk is a large hawk found all over the US and is probably the most prevalent hawk you will see soaring as you drive. Their name comes from the red on the underside of their tail feathers that develops as they mature. I rarely get calls from a homeowner or business owner to capture and relocate them because they hunt in the open and attack from above. Where 1^st Response Wildlife does get involved in Ret Tailed Hawk calls is primarily to help rescue one that is injured or a young bird that has, for some reason an undeveloped wing that, will not allow the hawk to develop and survive.

The one pictured below is a gorgeous specimen that cannot fend for itself because one of its wings has not developed and has become an educational bird that is living at Forever Wild-a rehabilitation center just south of Tucson.

The Cooper’s Hawk is a medium sized hawk and is easily distinguished, at rest and in flight, by its shorter wing span and longer tail. This hawk is very fast and able to maneuver to catch pigeons, doves, and other birds in flight. In fact, if you have a bird feeder, you have or will see a Cooper’s Hawk visit and probably attempt to prey on the larger birds from time to time. This hawk’s range is from southern Canada to northern Mexico and you will see them all over this region. 1^st Response Wildlife does get calls to help capture and release Cooper’s Hawks from businesses and other locations where they may have chased a bird into a warehouse or structure and then find they cannot figure out how to exit. Because they are so focused on their prey, they will sometimes hit structures and injure themselves, fly into buildings, and need to be rehabilitated. I have even had customers report seeing them attached by a bobcat from below and behind when they were sitting on a homeowner’s wall looking at doves in a tree. For those injured, I find that taking them to a rehabilitation center, like Forever Wild, allows them to be inspected, treated and then, if possible released back into the wild. For those I capture in structures, garages, and warehouses, after inspection, if they are unhurt, a simple release allows them to return to a life of freedom. The Cooper’s Hawk below is currently one that Forever Wild is rehabbing for release.

One of my favorite hawks of the Sonoran Desert is the Harris Hawk. These are large Hawks and are only found in the Southwest US-AZ, NM, Texas, Southern CA and south to Argentina. They feed on larger animals like ground squirrels, rabbits, reptiles, and ground birds like quail and partridge. What makes them unique is that they are one of only two raptors that live and hunt as a family. In and around Tucson and the Sonoran Desert, you will see them in family groups of between 3 and 8. They cooperate in catching their prey much like coyotes or wolves hunt, driving their prey toward another family member and spelling each other as the chase evolves. You will often see them together on a tree limb or electric power poll sitting close and even on top of each other and frequently exchanging places. In fact, one of the more common causes of death for these hawks is that they will land on top of each other on an unprotected electric wire and one will fall off, hit a wire, make a connection and get electrocuted. The Harris Hawk family is matriarchal, where the dominant female is in charge. They tend to find a territory and, if prey is plentiful, you will see them frequently. 1^st Response Wildlife gets few calls for relocation of the Harris Hawk. Most calls are for an injured bird which will result in a stint at a rehabber where it is nursed back to health. As mentioned above, because these birds are territorial and somewhat friendly to humans, it is not uncommon for a Harris Hawk to be nursed back to health, released in the wild, and then adopt the territory of the respective rehabber as part of its new home. Below are two pictures of Harris Hawks. The first is one that has an injured wing and will remain as an educational bird by the rehabber, Forever Wild. The second is a rehabbed and released to the wild, Harris Hawk that has adopted, as part of its territory, an area around where it was rehabbed and can be seen often, returning to hunt in the area of its adopted human family.

For a great experience in having an opportunity to see these and other hawks in flight and up close, be sure to make time to check when the raptor demonstrations take place at theArizona Sonora Desert Museum. They schedule a raptor demonstration that exposes visitors to several types of Hawks and, in addition to seeing them in their structures, the Hawks are, during demonstrations, released to fly overhead, land close by, and accept food from the docents.

If you have a Coopers Hawk in one of your structures, find any injured Hawk on your property or close by, please consider giving 1^st Response Wildlife a call and I will work with you to humanely accommodate capture, inspect, and either transport it to a rehabber or release it back into the wild.

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife

Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517

Josh Waling is a humane Licensed Animal Trapper who catches and releases wildlife, removing animals including bobcats (lince), snakes, rattlesnakes (serpiente de cascabel), raccoons (mapache), pack rats, gila monsters (monstruos de gila), rabbits (canejo), owls, bats, hawks, squirrels (ardilla), coatimundi (gato solo), skunks (mofeta), exotics, and domestic cats and dogs. He delivers service that is professional and fast and he is available 24/7. Give him a call the next time you hear unusual noises in the attic or crawl spaces in your home or if you see wildlife eating your vegetation, creating nests, and raising their young too close to your pets or children or have an exotic sighting in your neighborhood. 520-260-9517 Thanks!

Posted at 04:46 AM in AZ Game and Fish Urban Wildlife , Hawks, Injured, Orphaned | Permalink | Comments (0)