Animal Help Now

It's that time of year again!

Fall bird migration!🐦🕊🦅🦉🦆

This is when anywhere from 3 to 5 billion birds begin to prepare for winter by traveling to warmer areas of North & South America. The majority of the migration, 80%, is done at night in the dark.

We are asking individuals to please turn off outdoor lighting so the birds migrating at night do not become disoriented and collide into buildings. They can also become confused & exhausted from being drawn towards the light around large cities.

Help our precious migratory birds get to their destinations safely this fall!

Lights Out!

PHaR is leading the horse to water.

Fast-moving wildfire in Reno, Nevada, forces thousands to evacuate homes Human-caused Hawk fire covers more than 13,000 acres as blaze approaches University of Nevada campus in Reno

If you've encountered an injured bird or turtle on the road, you know all about the sickening feeling that washes over you. And if you've left an animal at home during these disaster-filled times, you know the unease you feel when shutting the door behind you. It doesn't have to be that way.

Our friend Marc Bekoff will be on Duncan Strauss' Talking Animals podcast tomorrow (Weds, Aug 12). Marc is a noted animal behaviorist and author. This promises to be a fascinating exchange. We may even hear a Goodall anecdote or two.

When: Weds, August 12, 11am to noon Eastern Time
Where: Tampa NPR affiliate WMNF (88.5 FM), and streaming live online at https://www.wmnf.org/programming/how-to-listen/
Who: Dr. Bekoff is professor emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

To join the conversation, you can call 813-239-9663, email [email protected], or text 813-433-0885.

International Owl Awareness Day!!!

Here are a few fun owl facts:

- Owls have asymmetrical hearing. Meaning one ear is located higher up on the head while the other is much lower. It gives them impeccable hearing. Owls tend to hunt with their ears & not necessarily their eyes. This asymmetrical ear placement is incredibly helpful for hunting when the owl can not see.

-Owls have silent flight. This is another amazing adaptation that assists them while hunting. Their feathers have a structural modification that assists with air rushing over their feathers causing less micro turbulence, or less sound while in flight.

-Owls unfortunately can not rotate their heads around 360 degrees like many assume but they can rotate them about 260. They have this ability due to having 14 cervical vertebrae. Humans only have 7.

-Engineers have been studying owls for years to help reduce the sounds of helicopters, fans, & planes like the stealth bomber. (The Peregrine Falcon was also studied to by engineers for this particular plane)

They say there's no such thing as bad publicity. Well, the owner of Chris' Beachside Bar (-beachside-bar on FB) and the owner of the Plaza Beach Hotel (https://www.plazabeachresorts.com/) in St. Pete, FL, might disagree.

The pair were arrested after allegedly attempting to prevent native birds from nesting in their natural habitat at the property that houses both businesses. A months-long investigation indicates they allegedly placed about a thousand mothballs in the bird's historical nesting area near the hotel and bar.

Please use mothballs sparingly. NEVER use them outdoors. That's a federal offense. They are toxic to wildlife and domestic animals, and they contaminate water supplies.

Plaza Beach Hotel: (800) 257-8998; [email protected]
Chris' Beachside Bar: (727) 873-9152

Please stop using glue traps and rodentcides!

From our wonderful friends at 411 Raccoon Solutions (FL).

We cannot emphasize enough how much damage rodentcides cause to wildlife and domestic animals alike.

This summer we have seen way too many posts of licensed wildlife rehabilitators struggling to save the lives of animals who have ingested rodenticides, whether directly or from secondhand poisoning, such as when an owl eats a poisoned mouse.

When you see bait boxes at a business, please educate management about the harm poisons cause and the available alternatives.

Wildlife rehabilitation is difficult under the best circumstances. We count on rehabilitators to be there for us. Poisonings often lead to death, but attempts to save lives can be heartbreaking, time consuming and expensive. Speaking out against rodenticides is one way the general public can make a difference.

NO MORE RODENTICIDES!!!!

The 'Jimothy' effect: Seattle raccoon inspires mural, food bank donations Viral raccoon ‘Jimothy’ has become an unlikely internet celebrity, inspiring artwork, a neighborhood mural and thousands of dollars in donations to the Ballard Food Bank.