What to do when the wildlife you love isn't

where it should be?

Heather Ainsley
ECB Publishing, Inc.

It was a hot day when a local Monticello resident stopped by the house she was pet sitting for to check on the animals. Nothing at all seemed out of the ordinary as she let the two Dobermans, Roxy and Rose, outside in the yard to relieve themselves. Suddenly, Rose began showing a lot of interest in the side of the yard, which was blocked by a wire fence. The petsitter saw a flash of what looked to be a grey and white mass flailing on the other side of the fencing, and immediately thought, “Oh no! Maybe there's a squirrel stuck in the fence!” Wishing to prevent injury to all animals present, she immediately called both dogs into the house, and went to the fence to try and release the poor squirrel from its misfortune, to resume doing, well, whatever it is that squirrels do all day. But what she discovered upon approaching the fence was not a small grey and white tree rodent in distress, but a small yet formidable juvenile alligator, of all things! The flash of grey and white she had seen from a distance was the edge of its tail as it bluffed aggressively in the presence of the large dog. At just under three feet long, the small alligator was no real match for a pair of large dogs, but he wasn't content to go down without a fight!
After giving the animal space over the course of several hours in the hopes that he would leave of his own accord, and seeing he was still stubbornly pacing the large, fenced-in yard, the petsitter called the proper authorities and the little alligator was relocated to a more appropriate place than the backyard on Pearl Street in Downtown Monticello! As she was no stranger to displaced wildlife, the petsitter knew just who to call and when, but do you?
Florida is full to bursting of diverse habitats and that makes it home to an incredible variety of wildlife. From thick forests that are home to black bear, panthers and bobcats, to riverbanks visited by manatee, alligator, otter and a wide array of fish species, to countless species of bird and other wildlife, Florida is any nature-lover's dream. Hobbyists come from miles around to walk the hiking trails, visit the numerous state parks and view these animals in their natural setting. But with a hefty population of human inhabitants, it's only a matter of time before nature and man meet.
So what do you do when you happen across rural wildlife in your not-so-rural backyard? The first step is not to panic, and to give as much space to the animal as possible. This means removing children and any pets from the scene, and returning inside or putting yourself at a significant distance. Even an animal that is not considered “dangerous” by predatory standards can still lash out and do significant damage when spooked, startled or harassed. Remember that this animal is not where it should be, and is likely disoriented and nervous being in an unusual setting.
Determine if the animal actually needs intervention. Many animals will find their way calmly back to their own habitat if left unmolested. Animals that need intervention may be injured, acting strangely, causing damage to property, pose a direct threat or are in immediate danger, or may linger in the area longer than expected. It is not uncommon for an animal to take a quick break somewhere it feels safe before continuing on its way. The majority of wildlife encounters do not require intervention.
If you feel like the animal could use assistance, or are unsure, it is always best to call a wildlife specialist. Florida is full of wildlife, and has great resources to help protect and relocate displaced animals.
For wildlife that poses a threat to others or has become a nuisance, call Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) on the Wildlife Alert Hotline at (888) 404-3922.
If you have found an injured or orphaned animal, and are certain that it needs intervention, you should contact a Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator in your area. Keeping any sick, injured, orphaned or otherwise impaired wildlife beyond the time necessary to transport to a Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator is a violation of Florida law. A Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit is required to rehabilitate any wildlife yourself. This includes any care beyond immediate transport of wildlife to a Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator. Some Licensed Rehabilitation facilities for the North Florida area are:
Wildlife Rescue Coalition of Northeast Florida, located in Jacksonville. Their contact information is (904) 779-5569.
St. Francis Wildlife, located in Gadsden County. Their contact information is (850) 627-4151.
If the animal in your yard is a domesticated animal, contact your local humane society facility or your local animal control office.
Wildlife is part of what makes living in Florida so enjoyable. But when wildlife ends up where it doesn't belong, it can be a sticky situation for both you and for them! Remember not to try and tame wild animals; as cute as some of them may be, they have their natural ecosystem to which they must return to to maintain the balance, and live out their lives naturally. We can all do our parts by understanding wildlife behavior, and making unanimous efforts to coexist with our feathered, furry and scaly neighbors.
For more information about what you can do to help resolve and prevent conflicts with wildlife, visit the FWC website at: https://myfwc.com/conservation/you-conserve/wildlife.