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CAPE WILDLIFE CENTER @2006
A juvenile squirrel is treated for injuries after being hit by a car at the Cape Wildlife Center. |
It’s the time of year for kids to leave home. They’re off on their own road for the first time and a little unsure of how everything works…Mom and Dad have always been there to guide them. It can be a scary, dangerous world out there. Parents hope their preparation is sufficient.
Humans aren’t the only ones sending our kids out into the world. Wild animal parents in our neighborhoods are sending their offspring off on their own now, also. It’s dispersal time, the time for juvenile animals to find home territories of their own. These young animals have watched their parents and hopefully have learned how to find food and avoid danger. But the juveniles don’t have the experience to handle all the situations they encounter.
Our wild neighbors don’t have safeguards. Even though young animals may have learned that roads are dangerous, they are inexperienced at timing their crossing and dodging cars.
At the Cape Wildlife Center the number of juvenile patients mounts in late August and early September. Young mammals, the victims of car strikes, arrive daily. Some can be helped and will survive; others have injuries that are too severe for treatment.
• A juvenile squirrel that was hit by a car came in unable to stand or move his legs. X-rays ruled out a broken back; the young mammal is under treatment for spinal trauma and excessive swelling of the spinal cord.
• A young rabbit was not as lucky. She became a dispersal casualty of the season.
• A young fox, hit early in the morning, arrived unconscious and in critical condition. From an initial examination, nothing appears to be broken, but she is being stabilized and on medication until she is strong enough for further testing.
Many animal/vehicle collisions can be avoided. We can slow down while driving, be more alert and keep our eyes on the road. We can scan the edges of roads for wildlife who are about to cross and be on the lookout for young animals. The times to be especially watchful are dawn, dusk, and the first few hours after dusk when many species of wildlife are active.
We have the ability to “Give Wildlife a Brake!” Wild animals risk their lives each time they must cross a road to find food, shelter, or escape predators. We can each lower their risk by driving as if that animal might be one of our own children, about to make a dangerous mistake, and stay vigilant for the benefit of all.
posted September 1, 2006
