We all love seeing animals in the wild and want to help them however we can.  Adopting a few simple behaviors make our environment friendlier and less toxic for animals in the wild.

Here are a few very easy changes we can all make in our own daily lives that make the world a friendlier place for wildlife.

Avoid Rodenticides!

Rodenticides (rat poisons) are harmful to native wildlife such as bobcats, raptors, mountain lions, and coyotes.

Instead of using rodenticides, you can:

• Remove sources of food, water, or shelter from your yard
• Use bucket traps to relocate rodents
• Use snap traps if you want to kill rodents
• Build an owl box because the owls you attract will sound wonderful at night and they really love to eat rodents!

Eat Sustainable Seafood

River otters and other wildlife depend on water for habitat and food source.

Monterey Bay Aquarium developed the Seafood Watch guide to help consumers make responsible shopping choices when it comes to seafood. Download the app today and start helping otters!

Conserve Water

Frogs and other amphibians need clean water to survive, lay their eggs, and live as tadpoles.

Here’s how to conserve water in your home:

• Take shorter showers
• Only wash full loads of laundry
• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or washing dishes

More water in the wild means more water for animals!

Be Kind to Bees

Bees are pollinators and are essential for production of many of the fruits and vegetables that we eat.  Many native bees are threatened by Colony Collapse Disorder.

There are some ways you can help:

• Avoid using pesticides or chemicals in your garden
• Buy local, organic honey
• Plant bee-friendly flowers in your yard

Here are some bee-friendly plants you can add to your yard that are native to California:

Spring: Lavender, Lilac, Tansy Phacelia, Sagem California Poppym Sunflowerm Seaside Daisy

Summer: California Buckwheat, Bush Sunflower, Deerweed, Sage, Rosemary, Goldenrod, Thyme

Visit the UC Berkeley Urban Bee Lab for more info on how to help out local bees: https://www.helpabee.org/

 

Want More Information on Wildlife?

Read about Wildlife in Winter, More Wildlife in Winter, and Differences Between Similar Animals.  Then visit CuriOdyssey’s rescued native wildlife today!