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February 2010 The Great Outdoors
Wildlife survival
 by Jack Spaulding
Outdoors Writer
Most animals survive winter on their own; others try to freeload
Wildlife’s ability to survive harsh weather and challenging situations has always mystified me. The howling winds and bitter cold of Indiana winter makes me wonder how some species survive from one year to another.
Some of the lucky few undergo hibernation or an extreme reduction in metabolism. Groundhogs nap away the winter days while snapping turtles take their last breath and bury themselves underwater in the muddy bottom long before the first ice crusts the water.
Wild critters are tough and smart. I have seen three-legged deer and geese with broken wings unable to fly, and they seem to do just fine. However, being restricted by a severe physical handicap must really stack the odds against such critters when it comes to dodging predators.
Last week, I had the opportunity to see one tough hen turkey. The bird possibly suffered a broken leg as a young bird or suffers from a birth defect rendering one leg almost useless. The joint of the left leg fails whenever she puts weight on it. For all practical purposes, the bird is one-legged.
The hen turkey is the unofficial pet of the employees of Hydraulic Press Brick at Brooklyn, Ind. The hen can often be seen gleaning the soybean fields or patrolling the company’s property. Many of the trucks loading from the location also haul grain as well as the company’s product, Haydite. In the winter, it is at the cleanout point where you are most likely to see the resident hen. Over the past few years, she has become tolerant of the trucks and drivers, but keeps a wary eye.
The hen must be able to fly to roost every evening. Sitting on a roost with only one good leg must make for a difficult life, but the hen endures. I am sure flight is the only way the bird can avoid coyotes, raccoons and dogs.
Another physical defect compounding life’s problems for some critters is a lack of camouflage.
Being seen or not being seen by predators makes a real difference when it comes to survival. All white albino or piebald squirrels bearing large patches of white hair make easy treetop targets for hawks.
Other albino and piebald critters suffer the same difficulties. Albino and piebald deer only have a slight advantage during winter when there is snow cover. During most of the year, a white deer stands out like a snowball in a coal pile.
Many albino and piebald animals also have other genetic disorders. Even though it seems such a rarity should be given a level of protection, most wildlife biologists advise not to give these creatures any special treatment. The additional genetic disorders they may carry can actually pose a threat to the entire population.
Nuisance Wildlife info online
Speaking of survival, all kinds of critters are looking for a nice warm, dry place to hang out as the temperatures plummet and the snow begins to pile up. Whether it’s an attic or a nice warm crawl space, no area of your home is off limits to occupation by an unwanted house guest.
My sister Mary called one evening with the news, “I’ve got a raccoon living in my attic. I need help!!! NOW!!!”
After a little kidding about her claiming the raccoon as a dependent and finding it a good school in the area, I looked up the Indiana Nuisance Wildlife hotline for her. She called the number and was able to get in touch with a professional trapper who helped take care of the problem.
Now, along comes progress and the nuisance wildlife hotline is no longer available.
Rather than let our fingers do the walking, nuisance wildlife assistance information is now available on-line. Hoosiers trying to deal with nuisance wildlife can now access a broad range of information any time of the day, any day of the year on the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Web site.
An easy link to the DNR’s new Nuisance Wildlife online product is on the main DNR Web site. Simply go to www.dnr.IN.gov and click on the “Dealing with Nuisance Wildlife” icon (look for the photograph of a raccoon). It also can be accessed at www.IN.gov/dnr/fishwild/2351.htm.
The DNR previously shared a wildlife conflicts hotline with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but the phone line was staffed only during business hours and was not reachable at night or on weekends or holidays.
The Nuisance Wildlife page provides specific information on the general characteristics, food habits, distribution, reproduction, prevention and control techniques, and disease threats of many species of mammals and birds, as well as general information about snakes.
Many wild animals in Indiana have become displaced as the result of urban growth and removal of habitat. While some species may move to other areas where natural habitat exists, some actually thrive in urban settings. Wild animals are protected by the state of Indiana for all residents of Indiana, but sometimes they cannot peaceably coexist.
Because of the large number of raccoons and other species causing problems for landowners throughout the state, the DNR is unable to provide assistance to actually help remove the animals. The DNR does offer some solutions and advice on how to try to prevent future problems and remove the wild animals to resolve the problem.
The DNR also licenses individuals to provide nuisance wild animal control services to the public. Find one near you by going to http://wildlifehotline.info/ and clicking on the “Find A Professional” link near the top of the page.
I’m all for the advancement of technology, but limiting nuisance wildlife information to only individuals able to access a computer leaves a lot of elderly and less technology adept individuals at a loss. With the new innovation the information is available 24/7, but I guess if you don’t have a computer “mouse” in the house, you may have to put up with the raccoon in your attic.
For Hoosiers without computer access and with a problem critter, I would suggest calling the sheriff’s office and request the county conservation officer to call you.
till next time,
Jack Spaulding is a state outdoors writer and a consumer of RushShelby Energy from Milroy. Readers with questions or comments can write to him in care of Electric Consumer, P.O. Box 24517, Indianapolis, IN 46224; or e-mail jackspaulding@hughes.net.
Written By: eceditor
Date Posted: 1/26/2010
Number of Views: 148
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