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

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.

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!

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!

 

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

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!

 

 

 

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!

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!

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!

Great Horned Owl Removal and Relocation

Great Horned Owls are the second largest owl found in the US.  Their range brings them to Arizona where you may see them in the rafters of hay barns, sometimes in tall palms and, occasionally, if they are wounded or hurt, in a conspicuous place such as on a swing set, or even on the ground with a drooping wing. 

These are large birds which hunt at dusk and at night.  The female is actually larger than the male.  They stand almost 2’ tall and their wing span can be up to and sometimes exceed 4’.  What makes these owls so cool, in my opinion, is that they are almost 100% silent when they swoop in for the kill on rodents, small snakes, or other prey.  It is only when they are climbing up and away with their prey firmly in their talons, that you might hear a slight, “whoosh,” but, for the most part, they are really prolific hunters because they are so quiet.

From time to time, homeowners have reported that they fear for their small pets or juvenile members of a dog or cat litter that may go outside to play in their yard.  If you think that a Great Horned Owl is creating a problem, call a professional, like myself. These Owls, along with all other Owls in Arizona, must be left alone and only handled, if necessary, by a professional who has a permit to work with them.  If you find an injured Great Horned Owl or have one that you think could create a problem for you or your pets, please call  1^st Response Wildlife 520-260-9517.  If it is determined that the owl is hurt or injured, an attempt will be made to capture it and take it to a rehabilitation center.

The Owls pictured here, in fact, are but two of a dozen rescued owls currently being rehabilitated for release.  Almost all of these will be ready for release back into the wild-with the exception of a few that have broken their wings or other injuries that may require them to be cared for continually.

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!

Barn Owls Removal and Relocation ~ To Rehabilitation

Barn Owls are somewhat unique in that they are distinctive in appearance and coloration. These owls have a pale-to-almost-white coloration, are a medium sized owl with no ear-tufts, and a heart-shaped face.  They are primarily nocturnal hunters but you may see them at dusk or dawn. Unless a family has taken up residence in your immediate area, you may never see them anywhere but at the Desert Museum or you may inadvertently discover young, as those pictured here were found, in a nest built in hay.  (As their name suggests, Barn Owls are found to frequent hay barns, church steeples and places that offer good protection.)

The Barn Owls you are seeing here were found as juveniles in a load of hay that was delivered to a local feed store and, needless to say, as the hay was being unloaded, the feed store staff was quite surprised.

The Barn Owls were fairly young and unable to survive on their own but were safe and protected where the nest was built. However, when the hay was moved, they were exposed to a life without adequate feeding or a chance, on their own, to survive.

In this instance, their survival is a great success story.  They were taken to a rehab center where these pictures were taken.  While they have been raised from juveniles to almost adults, the process of humanely caring for them has prepared them for release back into a life on their own without domesticating them.  I have been following their growth and maturation process for weeks and I can tell you this is a good example of animals becoming orphans, through a fluke in their normal habitat being moved during their time in their nest, but being rescued and carefully nursed correctly.  Volunteering at a rehabber's facility and helping care for these Barn Owls and the rest of the animals, is but one example of  why 1^st Response Wildlife does what we do and also highlights why, as a standard business practice, I feel so strongly that understanding the animals we have, here in the Sonoran Desert, and helping, when we can, give back to the community by bringing hurt or orphaned animals to and also volunteering, as often as I can is a fundamental part of what 1^st Response Wildlife 520-260-9517 is all about.

(As a side note, rehabbers, in general, are 100% non-profit organizations which serves the greater Tucson area by accepting and rehabbing sick, hurt, and orphaned animals.   Any donations contributed to this important work goes directly to the care, feeding, and rehab of animals.  If you would like to contribute monetarily, you can do this on line at their web page or in person.  From time to time, The Desert Museum will also accept orphaned animals, as will a few rehabbers up in Phoenix.) 

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!

 

Josh Waling, Humane Wildlife Catch/Release

Licensed Animal Trapper in Arizona

Cell: 520-260-9517

Hours of Operation: 24/7

Location: Tucson, Arizona (surrounding areas)

Email: [email protected]

Josh Waling is a humane Licensed Animal Trapper who catches and relocates 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), rock squirrels, Colorado River Toads (Sonoran Desert Toads)coatimundi (gato solo), ringtail, skunks (zorrillo), gophers, coyotes, badgers, Javelina, exotics, and 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. 520-260-9517 Thanks!

Scroll down to follow me and see posts with photos, videos, and educational information on the wonderful animals, and reptiles that call southern Arizona their home. 

Thanks, from 1st Response Wildlife~Josh!

Tucson Humane Wildlife Animal Trapping & Removal

Hi, my name is Josh Waling and I have loved animals since the day I was born. I live in the heart of the Sonoran Desert-Tucson, Arizona, which is one of the most unique places in the world. We have as much indigenous wildlife as the Peruvian and Amazon jungles. I have been catching and handling exotic reptiles for over 25 years. I've been humanely trapping nuisance wildlife here in the Sonoran Desert for 10+ years and I love my job. I get to help sick, injured or orphaned animals find their way back to the wild. I also like to educate the public about our animals here in the Sonoran Desert to help both people and wildlife live together harmoniously. My passion is reptiles, but I have found a love for working with all animals including bobcats, skunks, rattlesnakes, coyotes, ringtails, raccoons, coatimundi, badgers, javelina, and even domestic dogs. So, I hope everyone will enjoy following my adventures. Check out the posts, videos and pictures below to see what I've been up to lately. :) Since I have a GoPro head mounted camera, and a number of field cameras that capture photos and video day or night, if there are any animals or reptiles you would like to see that I haven't posted, feel free to email me.

 Give me a call if you need help with any animals that may have found their way onto your property and need to find a way back to their home, ask for an education session or just call for information on animals you would like to know more about. I would be happy to chat with you and, if you need my services, I will be there in a timely and professional fashion to remove them from your home and help them find their way back to either nature or a proper rehab facility. Thanks!

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

Thanks. Josh

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), skunks, coyotes, pack rats, gila monsters (monstruos de gila), rabbits (canejo), owls, pigeons bats, squirrels (ardilla), coatimundi (gato solo), coyotes, badgers, possums, javelina, ringtail, rock squirrels, 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. 520-260-9517 Thanks!