By James MacKenzie
Special to Black Press
Do you feel like it was only last week that the sun set at 9 p.m.?
Time shifts happen fast, and for wildlife, these shifts mark a change in behaviour, habitat, and most importantly, survivability. This past summer鈥檚 hot weather, bounty of food, and long days allowed our local animals the opportunity to mate and rear little ones. As a result, there are a lot of young, naive animals preparing for their first winter. This article will outline some common problems these animals face and ways we can help them survive the fall and winter.
Some animals, like our provincial bird the Steller鈥檚 jay, or perhaps a lumbering black bear, fattened up on berries, spend much of their summer up the mountains. The available habitat to these altitude-loving animals shrinks due to snow cover, meaning the carrying capacity of the lowlands is further stressed by the autumnal influx of new animals. These travelling animals face many threats, but vehicle or truck collisions are one of the biggest.
If you are the owner of a motor vehicle, this is a very important time to slow down when driving, especially around dawn and dusk. If a deer darts across the road, expect there to be more animals present. Animals are also attracted to the side of the road because garbage or even organic and compostable material is often thrown out the window by passing motorists. Your apple core or banana peel could attract raccoons and deer to the highway, or bugs and mice, which in turn attract owls or hawks that are vulnerable to vehicle strikes.
This fall, consider being even more of an ally to our wildlife. Slow down when driving and avoid putting food on the side of the highway, including leftover Halloween pumpkins, and consider keeping your cats inside to keep our backyard birds safe. Above all else, as we move into the winter be mindful of the needs of the animals you share space with. Observe, and if you see an animal in need of help, call the Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society (MARS) Wildlife Rescue at 250-337-2021.
James MacKenzie is a MARS Wildlife Rescue education and volunteer co-ordinator
