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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife 

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

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

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Pack rat Removal and Destruction Addressed by 1st Response Wildlife

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More damage to the pool cover.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife 

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

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!

Great Horned Owl Sounds Alarm-1st Response Wildlife Responds

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife 

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

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

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!

 

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!

Pack Rat Trapping and Removal

Pack Rats are everywhere!  When they create their dens far from homes, cars, and businesses, they happily multiply and live out their lives.  They are, however, a favorite prey of raptors, reptiles, and other predators like Ringtail, Foxes, Skunks, and an occasional Coyote. If they take up residence in close proximity to your home or business, things change and they begin to affect you and they can be a real nuisance.  

The name Pack Rat actually covers a number of different species of “Wood Rats,” which live in the southwest.  These little guys build nests and dens in almost anything-rocks, around the roots of Prickly Pear and Agave cactus, your car engine, your grill, in your shed, in your attic, the walls of your home, or behind a storage bin on your patio.   You often discover them when you come across a debris pile, called midden, that can contain Cholla sections, Prickly Pear “ears,” or when you try to start a car/truck that has sat outside for some time and it refuses to start.   (There are lots of stories in Tucson and surrounding areas of $1000+ expenditures to repair the wires of a truck or car that has had Pack Rat damage, a TV service call to investigate a cable outage, or a sprinkler hose leak-all associated with these "rats.")

One of the interesting things I have learned about Pack Rats, in addition to their behavior, and their destructive/nuisance nature, is their value to botanists who research desert/arid plant life over long time periods.  They are called paleobotanists. Packrats will urinate on their midden.  The urine crystallizes and hardens into a substance called amberat.  The amberat, in its hardened form and with the dry conditions in Arizona, actually creates a historical record which, over time, has allowed paleobotanists to look through the contents of the midden and determine what the vegetation was around the time the den was constructed and material gathered to construct the den-kind of a self contained time capsule, if you will.

For the most part, the majority of my Pack Rat calls are related to customer sites where the Pack Rats have become a nuisance.  What customers report are noises in their attic, piles of debris around the base of cactus, their sheds, and holes under the house stuffed with Cholla sections, etc.  Since Pack Rats are, for the most part, nocturnal, unless you surprise one, you will see their midden, but not the rat.  Here is a little fellow that was curious enough, over night, to find himself in my trap.

 

Here is a picture of where he was living.

 

Here is a picture of the midden that he collected to surround his den.

 

What is almost as annoying as having Pack Rats in and around your business and home, is knowing that trapping and removing a Pack Rat from your property is not the end of the story.  Pack Rats are opportunists and, when a den is vacated-after its resident is trapped, another Pack Rat will happily take up residence in that same den, making it larger and adding its own midden.

The best approach to getting rid of a Pack Rat, and subsequent residents of the den/nest you find, is to give 1^st Response Wildlife a call and, along with my trapping service, I can remove the midden and treat the area so that other Pack Rats are discouraged from taking up residence in the same place.  If I trap Pack Rats in your attic or walls, similarly, the entrance holes must be plugged to keep others out. 

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!

Western Screech Owl

When I look at the little tufts of feathers on these small owls, measuring just 7-11” and having a wing span of 18-24”, I am reminded that they look like a miniature Great Horned Owl.  There are several different types of Screech Owls in the southwest, but the ones most often seen in the Sonoran desert are colored in patterns of gray, as those pictured here, and often move south for the winter.  (Those most often observed by my customers in the greater Tucson area, suddenly appear in the summer and stay around until the temperature drops sometime in October or November.)

These small owls are seen from time to time in sheltered areas around patios, courtyards, in Oleander bushes and trees during the daytime.  Once they select a protected place to stay, they come back again and again.  It has been reported, however, that children or even humming birds that torment them while they are resting, will drive them to choose another place to spend their day.  They will tolerate coming and going in a patio or tree/shrub close to people traffic and will hide behind foliage in order to stay in chosen areas.  Like other owls, their flight is soundless so that if you do have a Screech Owl or two living close by your home and they are flushed, unless you are looking in their direction, they may move to another spot without you hearing them move or fly to a new perch.

I have observed these beautiful Western Screech Owls camouflaged behind climbing vines in a courtyard and in trees and bushes.  I have included a few pictures to show them in locations where they return after a night of hunting. 

 
Western Screech Owls are often mistaken for Elf Owls.  The most noticeable physical difference is the tufts of feathers which the Western Screech Owls have, just above their eyes.  The Elf Owl, while roughly the same size, has a rounded head with no tufts on the top of its head.  Screech Owls begin feeding just after dusk and will feed on insects, small mice, some lizards, small birds, or small snakes that are out and about at night.  Frogs are also on their menu but, since frogs are usually seen only after a monsoon, the Screech Owls are more reliant on the menu above.  If you wonder if you have a Screech Owl or two that have taken up residence around your home, one of the easiest ways to look for them, since they may be well camouflaged, is to look for spot on the ground on your patio, under bushes, or around climbing vines that have white droppings.  Looking up, you might spot a Screech Owl spending the day with you.

Since the Western Screech Owl takes advantage of nests made in the Saguaro Cactus that others birds have drilled out and expanded-called a Saguaro Boot, if you spend any time in the desert or have Saguaros on your property, it is not out of the question for you to observe a Screech Owl or even a Pigmy Owl or other bird peering out of hole high up on a Saguaro in early spring. (See my blog on the Saguaro Boot to better understand how these “Boots,” are formed and to see a couple of pictures of what they look like inside a Saguaro.)

These Owls are plentiful in the Sonoran desert but, they are protected.  They are small enough that there is nothing to be afraid of in regards to children and small animals.  Since they try and sleep most of the day, if you observe them, be glad they are around for the insects and animals they eat, and leave them alone.  If, however, you find one injured, please call 1^st Response Wildlife or one of the rehabilitation centers here in the greater Tucson area like Forever Wild. www.foreverwild.org.

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), 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!

 

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!

Saguaro Cactus Boot

Here in the Sonoran Desert, we are blessed to be the home of the Saguaro Cactus.  They are seemingly everywhere.  Animals and especially birds love Saguaros for a whole list of reasons.  When the Saguaro bloom, the white winged dove can be seen sitting on them helping pollinate them as they sip the flower’s nectar.  As a perch and lookout point, all manner of hawks, wrens, quail, and even bobcats find the top of a Saguaro an excellent vantage point from which to survey the area, as a place of rest, or even a platform from which to hunt.

Inside the Saguaro cactus, however, is a place that birds discovered, centuries ago, is a haven from the desert heat and a safe place to build a nest.  High off the ground, a hole drilled into a Saguaro by a Gila Woodpecker or Gilded Flicker provides safety from predators.  More importantly, creating a nesting place inside a Saguaro, where the resulting temperature is several degrees lower than the intense desert heat, is a major plus.

Creating a nesting home or hideout inside a Saguaro, however, is not an overnight job.  First, a hole is created by one of the birds mentioned above or others, which creates a hole that continues inside to become a cavity large enough to accommodate a nest.  The Saguaro, in response to this invasion or injury, responds in order to defend itself and reduce water loss, by secreting a protective substance to “patch,” itself-almost like first aid, called a Saguaro Boot.  This can take a year.  (It should be noted that insects also burrow into and create homes in the Saguaro.  The Saguaro also creates a protective “Boot,” around these invasions, but they are much smaller and are not large enough to be used by birds.)

When a bird compromises the outer skin of the Saguaro, creates a hole and then drills in and downward, the Saguaro responds, by depositing a hard substance, called callus tissue that contains a woody substance, lignin, which surrounds the hole made for a nest.  This response is good for the cactus, because it prevents the loss of water and, it is great for the animals because of the safety it affords, its lower temperatures and, because it is waterproof, it ensures the young will be safe and dry.  The result is a lined cavity which is then used by several different kinds of birds as a hiding place, a place to build a nest, or a respite from the heat of the afternoon sun.

Called a Saguaro Boot, these internal chambers can be expanded, over the years, if additional carve-outs and expansions are made by subsequent nesting birds that take advantage of the initial wound.  To protect itself, the Saguaro continues to deposit the resinous protective shield.  In the life of a Saguaro, the Saguaro Boot retains its structure.  Even after the Saguaro dies and the external skin decays, you may see, internal to a Saguaro “skeleton,” a boot that remains fairly intact.

The Saguaro Boot then, becomes a destination for a variety of bird families as a place to raise their young.  Some species will use a specific Saguaro Boot just once, and others, will return.  In a previous post, I mentioned that small owls, such as Screech Owls, Elf Owls and the like will use the Saguaro Boot as a nesting place.  In addition any number of finches, sparrows, purple martins and others also find the Boot, a great nesting option.

If you find a cute furry family of owls or the like using one of these in your backyard, enjoy them and leave them alone.  If however, your dogs or, maybe even neighborhood children are disturbing them, call me at 1st Response Wildlife 520-260-9517 so that I can move them into a safer place in the wild.

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), 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!

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!