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

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!

 

 

 

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

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

Exotic mammals, reptiles, birds, and amphibians capture and removal in the Tucson area

Exotic animals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and arthropods can be found in Tucson and the surrounding areas of Vail, Catalina, Oracle, Marana, Green Valley and Sahuarita by the hundreds, if not thousands in homes, businesses and pet shops.  The business of selling, feeding, gifting, and breeding exotics is quite extensive and I have found that it is just another part of my business to get a call to search for, capture and rescue of exotics. 

While the list of exotics found in the greater Tucson area is quite long, I am called most often to help families, and occasional a retailer in recovering or capturing and escaped boa, python, monitor lizard, iguana,  a large African tortoise, or an injured exotic bird.  Some exotics that have been “adopted,” or brought into Arizona are either no longer legal to sell or legal to have as pets.  

Most reptile breeders and retail stores can tell you which animals, birds, or reptiles are legal and safe to have in your home.  If you have questions about something and are not sure as to whether it is ok to have it in captivity,  you can always look it up on the internet under posted articles that describe and name what is legal in Arizona and what is protected.  Using the following categories and reference numbers, you can easily check before purchasing or acquiring a new addition to your collection or buying one as a pet for a family member.

ARIZ. COMP. ADMIN R. & REGS. R12-4-406 - Restricted Live Wildlife

Article listing "restricted live wildlife" as defined in R12-4-401 is quite exhaustive and names what is restricted and not permitted.

Most of my calls for exotics entail capture of a pet that has escaped and the owner just wants it returned. This does not mean that the owner necessarily knows it has escaped.  Sometimes a neighbor will find a large monitor lizard wandering through their yard, a large African Tortoise walking up their driveway, or a 6’ or larger python hanging around a bird feeder trying to catch its lunch.  Other times, a pet iguana, (shown below) has escaped and, since the owner has raised it from when it was 6” long at the pet store, she just wants her pet back.  

In all of these instances, I am happy to work with the owner, neighbor, or business that has an exotic on their property, has one that has escaped, or found one that is injured.  For the most part, I will return the exotic to its owner, if known but, sometimes a large reptile may have been purposely released or abandoned-especially if it is a 6-9’ python, a 5’+ monitor lizard, or 100lb or more African tortoise.  In cases where no owner can be found, I will try and find a home at one of the rehabilitation organizations I work with, such as, the Desert Museum, or one of the licensed rescue organizations which accept large rescued reptiles, amphibians, and birds.  Please give 1^st Response Wildlife a call if I can help or if you have a question about an exotic that has escaped, one that has shown up on your property or you would like help identifying what it is that may be causing concern in regards to whether it might dangerous to your pets or children.

Thanks, Wildman Josh :)

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), 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. 520-260-9517 Thanks!

 

Arizona Game and Fish Urban Wildlife & 1st Response Wildlife

AZ Game and Fish Urban Wildlife

I believe one of the most important parts of my responsibilities as a licensed humane trapper and relocation expert of animals, reptiles and birds of the Sonoran Desert, is helping my customers understand the rich mix of animals, reptiles and birds we enjoy.  I do not automatically hurry to capture and remove animals that are not injured or sick without talking to my clients about their individual situation and what they are experiencing with some animal that is found in and around their business or home.

Working closely with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, I carefully consider and discuss what is occurring and then, with my clients discuss the principles that the state of Arizona has in place to deal with an animal or reptile.  In many cases, a business owner or home owner can, with a little education, learn how to either live with, accommodate, or discourage an animal from being a nuisance and, one of the best resources I use is to refer them to the Arizona Game and Fish Urban Wildlife web pages, where there are extensive videos, discussions and suggestions concerning the wildlife in Arizona. 

This website, http://www.azgfd.com/w_c/urban_wildlife.shtml represents a great compendium of information and also represents the commitment that Arizona has to helping you co-exist with the animals we find here.  Along with my blog, I find that my clients are more comfortable with my approach, suggestions and, if I really do need to remove, relocate, or capture and take an animal or reptile to a rehabilitation center, everyone involved, including the critters, have a better outcome.

I communicate with Arizona Game and Fish on a regular basis and, in fact, their regulations in managing wildlife require that I keep them informed about my work as well as report and seek counsel on an ongoing basis so they can better understand what I see happening with wildlife, where it is happening, and how our wildlife management can be improved.

For more information about my approach to helping you with your wildlife questions, nuisance animals, or injured or sick critters, rattlesnakes, and bats, feel free to contact 1^st Response Wildlife, www.1stResponseWildlife.com, or my cell at 520-260-9517.  If you want to read more in-depth explanations and descriptions of our extensive animal and reptile population and find ideas on how you can co-exist with them, you will find that the Urban Wildlife section of the Arizona Game and Fish website, above, is an excellent resource.

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 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!

Raccoon Babies ~ Removal & Relocation ~ 1st Response Wildlife

1st Response Wildlife received a call awhile back to remove some raccoons from a client's attic (although they probably just heard the sounds and scratching). When they got up there they actually found 3 orphaned baby raccoons and they were moved to a Rehab Center until the reach full size.  At that time they will be released back into the wild. Here is a photo of them...they are obviously just a tad bit camera shy! ;)

Be Sure to give 1st Response Wildlife a call if you hear noises in your attic or crawl space!

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

 

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!

Coatimundi Animal Removal & Relocation to a Licensed Rehabilitation Center

This adorable coatimundi unfortunately will never be able to be released back into the wild. It was being fed on a large property for a long time and lost it's ability to forage on it's own, so now it must be cared for at a licensed rehab center for the rest of it's life.  This is one example of why it's not a good idea to get wild animals dependent on humans on their food and survival.  If you come across wildlife that you suspect that have become dependent on humans for food, call 1st Response Wildlife and they will quickly and professionally remove and relocate them for you.

Call Josh (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), badgers, coyotes, Javelina, Possums, 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!

Animal Removal Services ~ Raccoons

Have you ever heard sounds in the attic? Those sounds might be raccoons and you should call 1st Response Wildlife to take care of this nuisance wildlife animal for you right away. Here is picture of a raccoon family that was taken out of an attic and is now headed for relocation in a safe place.

If you think you have raccoons, ringtails or other animals in your attic, please call 1st Response Wildlife (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!

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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!