| Wildlife
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Also see our page on Attracting Wildlife
JANUARY
- As food becomes scarce during cold weather, skunks, fox, coyotes, opossum, raccoons and other wildlife will come closer to homes. Remove food sources like pet food and keep trash can lids tightly secured. Keep attic and basement doors closed to keep mice and other critters out of the home. Chimney caps will prevent squirrels and raccoons from coming down the chimney. Read HG 90 Dealing with Nuisance Wildlife.
- Leave the flower heads of perennials, like tickseed, purple coneflower and black-eyed Susans, to provide nutritious seeds for birds this winter. Perennials and ornamental grasses can also provide needed cover for over-wintering birds. If you choose to feed wild birds, be prepared to feed them for the entire winter season. Keep bird feeders and baths cleaned and replenished throughout the winter months. Put suet out for birds and keep bird feeders filled. Bird boxes can provide needed shelter to over-wintering birds.
- Squirrels will come to eat the bird food you put out even when your bird feeders are advertised as “squirrel-proof”. Learn to live with visiting squirrels or offer them alternate food like ears of feed corn. Consult the staff at your local wild bird store for more detailed feeding suggestions.
- Where deer are feeding on garden and landscape plants, apply a repellent, such as “Deer-Away”, “Hinder” or “Ro-Pel” to vulnerable plants. If deer pressure is heavy, try rotating repellents. Small deodorant soap bars and other types of repellents are used with some success.
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FEBRUARY
- The USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services program has a cooperative agreement with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Division, to provide the residents of Maryland with information on how to deal with nuisance wild animals. The USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Service operates a toll-free Nuisance Wildlife Information Line, 877-463-6497. Normal working hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. People calling after hours, or on weekends and holidays, may leave a message on the answering machine and calls will be returned during the next work day. See HG 90 Dealing with Nuisance Wildlife.
- Continue to feed wild birds through the remaining winter weeks. Black oil sunflower seeds and suet cakes are a good choice for a wide variety of birds. Keep bird feeders clean and provide your wild birds with fresh water. Squirrels will come to eat the bird food you put out even when your bird feeders are advertised as “squirrel-proof”. Squirrels quickly become tolerant to the hot pepper repellent added to some bird feeds. Learn to live with squirrels or offer them alternate food like ears of feed corn. Consult the staff at your local wild bird store for more detailed feeding suggestions.
- Store bird food in metal containers with lids to keep squirrels and other rodents out.
- Deer pressure on landscape plants is severe this winter due to very cold temperatures and snow cover. (EB 354) Where deer are feeding on garden and landscape plants, apply a repellent, such as “Deer-Away”, “Hinder” or “Ro-Pel” to vulnerable plants. If deer pressure is heavy, try rotating repellents. Small deodorant soap bars and other types of repellents have been used with some success. Read FS 655, Resistance of Ornamentals to Deer Damage.
- As food becomes scarce during cold weather, skunks, raccoons and other wildlife will come closer to homes. To prevent nuisance problems remove food sources such as pet food and keep trash can lids tightly secured.
- This is the mating season for foxes. Late at night they make a loud noise that sounds like a person screaming.
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MARCH
Occurrences:
- Those delightful peeping sounds you may be hearing in your neighborhood are spring peepers (listen), a very tiny frog (photo) that lays its eggs in marshes, ponds and slow-moving drainage ditches. (Read more on MDA's website.) Many other frogs, including wood (listen), tree, and pickerel frogs are also becoming active. Click here to read more about spring peepers and listen to their chorus visit
- One of the earliest reptiles to come out of hibernation is the Eastern Garter Snake (photo). This is a very common and attractive snake that ranges in adult size from 2-3 feet long. Their typical background color is a dark brown or black with a yellow stripe down the back and two narrower stripes down each side. Their background color can be variable; instead of being dark some garter snakes are a light greenish brown some even have a little red in them. The three stripes are always there. Small white diamond-like spots may also be visible going down the sides of its back. Garter snakes are completely harmless. To learn more about this and other snakes, refer HG 64 and watch our snake videos.
Attracting:
- Black oil sunflower seeds and suet cakes are a good choice to attract and feed a wide variety of birds. To attract your favorite species you have to provide the right combination of food and feeders. Visit Project Feeder Watch for “Feeder Types” and “What to Feed Birds”.
Wild bird stores are good sources for feeders and seed. Make sure to keep all feeders clean.
- Many birds are now actively scouting your landscape for a place to nest this spring. Now is the time to put up a birdhouse (nest box) in your yard to encourage nesting. Clean out and inspect existing nest boxes in your yard to make sure they are in good condition for the breeding season.
You can watch birds raise their young and also receive free pest control. Birds feed on many insects. Some bird species that use birdhouses (nest boxes) are:
Bluebirds (FS 799),
Purple Martins (FS 792),
Tree swallows (FS 800), and wrens.
Nuisance:
- The USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services program has a cooperative agreement with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Division, to provide the residents of Maryland with information on how to deal with nuisance wild animals. The USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Service operates a toll-free Nuisance Wildlife Information Line: 877-463-6497. Normal working hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. People calling after hours, or on weekends and holidays, may leave a message on the answering machine and calls will be returned during the next work day.
- Squirrels will come to eat the bird food you put out even when your bird feeders are advertised as “squirrel-proof”. To deter squirrels from robbing seed from feeders place a cover (baffle) over tube feeders or place a baffle on a post under the feeder. Keep feeders at least 15 feet from the house and vegetation so squirrels cannot jump onto the feeders.
- Moles and voles are becoming more active this month.
Moles create raised tunnels in lawns. Control by tamping down tunnels with your foot whenever they appear. Moles do not necessarily indicate a white grub problem. They feed on a wide range of soil critters.
- Voles create tunnels underground or runways on the surface that are not raised. Look for entrance holes about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Sometimes tunnels are shallow and are open along the soil surface. Voles feed on plant material such as roots, bark, or the entire plant. Where voles are a problem try using mouse snap traps baited with apples. Cover with a shingle or piece of wood to increase effectiveness.
- Where deer are feeding on garden and landscape plants, apply a repellent, such as “Deer-Away”, “Hinder” or “Ro-Pel” to vulnerable plants. If deer pressure is heavy, try rotating repellents. Small deodorant soap bars, and other types of repellents are used with some success.
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APRIL
- All wildlife is more active including amphibians like wood frogs and toads. Their mating calls are heard in vernal pools or even in your aquatic garden. The eggs that are laid will hatch in a couple of weeks and produce many small tadpoles. The tadpoles will develop into very tiny frogs in early summer. If you need to do some work in your pond be careful and try not to disturb the mating frogs or their eggs.
- Many bird species are scouting for nesting sites. Put up birdhouses.
- This month eastern box turtles and various species snakes are coming out of hibernation and may visit your yard. Consider yourself fortunate to see a box turtle. They are becoming very scarce through much of Maryland because of road mortality and habitat destruction. Observe it but don’t collect it as a pet.
- Change birdbath water at least weekly to discourage mosquitoes.
- Natural areas – Plant a wildflower meadow to provide food (nectar, seed) and shelter for birds, butterflies, and beneficial insects. See TT 70 Establishing & Maintaining Ornamental Flower Meadows for Low Maintenance Sites.
- Small spaces – You do not always need a large property to help wildlife. Plant window boxes and containers on decks and balconies with a mix of shrubs, annuals, perennials, and herbs to attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.
- Plant a butterfly garden – Butterflies add beauty and help pollinate flowering plants. A variety of nectar plants for adult butterflies and host plants (food) for the caterpillars will attract them. Milkweed species is a popular nectar and host plant for the Monarch butterfly.
Nuisance (HG 90)
- Rabbits feed on young and tender plants in flower and vegetable gardens. They clip young stems leaving an angled edge. Erect two foot chicken wire fencing secured to the ground or buried several inches to exclude rabbits. Cover small groups of plants with floating row cover. Use commercial repellents, blood meal, or sprinkle hot pepper flakes around plants.
- Woodpeckers may be heard this time of year tapping on wooden structures. This may be territorial behavior or actively searching for insects. They prefer soft woods like cedar. Dissuade persistent woodpeckers by tacking up some hardware cloth over the area. Small trees may be protected from wood pecker damage by draping nylon netting over the canopy and trunk. Protect branches and trunks of larger trees by loosely wrapping ¼ inch hardware cloth or burlap around them.
- Moles and voles are now very active again. Moles create raised tunnels in lawns. Control by tamping down tunnels with your foot whenever they appear. Moles do not necessarily indicate a white grub problem because they feed on a wide range of soil critters including earthworms.
- Voles create tunnels underground that are not raised. Look for entrance holes about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Sometimes tunnels are shallow and are open along the soil surface. Voles feed on plant material such as roots, bark, or the entire plant. Where voles are a problem, try using mouse snap traps baited with apples or peanut butter.
- The USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services program has a cooperative agreement with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Division, to provide the residents of Maryland with information on how to deal with nuisance wild animals. The program operates a toll-free Nuisance Wildlife Information Line: 877-463-6497.
MAY
- Rabbits and groundhogs can be a serious threat to flower and vegetable gardens, feeding on young and tender plants. Rabbits can be excluded with a low, 2 ft. high fence that is secured to the ground. Groundhogs can climb, so an additional strand of electric fence wire at the top is necessary. You can also repel them with commercial repellents, blood meal, or by sprinkling hot pepper flakes around plants. Polywire fencing connected to an inexpensive, solar-powered charger can successfully exclude deer. (HG 90)
- Check with your county health department before live trapping wildlife pests like squirrels, groundhogs, skunks and raccoons. You cannot move most of these to a park or nearby field. Call the USDA wildlife service at 1-800-442-0708 for more information.
- Snakes, turtles and toads are all very active by now. These are all very beneficial creatures. They are very sensitive to pollutants such as pesticides. Their presence in the landscape is a sign of a healthy environment. Snakes are not tolerated well by some people however; they are very beneficial and generally harmless. To learn more about them read HG 64 or watch our snake videos.
- Keep bird feeders and bird baths clean and provide your wild birds with fresh water. Remove bird nests attached to your house after the birds have left to prevent problems with bird mites coming into your home. These small mites do bite people. Bird nests may also be found in rain gutters, and chimneys. If you have problems with birds, try hanging aluminum pie pants or computer CDs in the landscape. The reflective surfaces help to deter pesky birds.
- Woodpeckers may be heard tapping on wooden structures. This may be territorial behavior or active searching for insects. They prefer soft woods like cedar. Dissuade persistent woodpeckers by tacking up some hardware cloth over the area.
- Where deer are feeding on garden and landscape plants, apply a repellent, such as “Deer-Away”, “Hinder” or “Ro-Pel” to vulnerable plants. If deer pressure is heavy, try rotating repellents. A new systemic product called Repellex is now available. Small deodorant soap bars have been used with some success.
- Those jelly-like masses you see in your pond are frog, toad or in some cases salamander egg masses. They should be hatching out by now producing hundreds of tiny tadpoles (frogs and toads) and (nymphs) if they are salamander eggs. Don’t disturb them. You can begin feeding your fish now.
Nuisance
- The USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services program has a cooperative agreement with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Division, to provide the residents of Maryland with information on how to deal with nuisance wild animals. The program operates a toll-free Nuisance Wildlife Information Line: 877-463-6497. Normal working hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. People calling after hours, or on weekends and holidays, may leave a message on the answering machine and calls will be returned during the next work day.
- Squirrels feed on tender new plant growth and dig up seeds, flowers, and bulbs in search of food. Discourage squirrels by removing access to food sources such as bird feeders. Rotate the use of commercial repellents. Protect individual or small groups of plants with a fine mesh netting or a floating row cover. To deter digging sprinkle crushed oyster shells over the surface of the garden. You can protect newly planted bulbs with a piece of one inch mesh chicken wire extending at least a foot beyond the edge of the bed and mulch.
- Moles and voles are active. Moles create raised tunnels in lawns. Control by tamping down tunnels with your foot whenever they appear. Moles do not necessarily indicate a white grub problem. They feed on a wide range of soil critters including earthworms. Voles create tunnels underground that are not raised. Look for entrance holes about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Sometimes tunnels are shallow and are open along the soil surface. Voles feed on plant material such as roots, bark, or the entire plant. Where voles are a problem try using mouse snap traps baited with apples or peanut butter. Cover with a shingle or piece of wood to increase effectiveness.
JUNE
Ocurrences
- This is snake mating season, their most active time of year. Snakes are beneficial creatures and should not be harmed. The most likely encountered large snake is the Black Rat Snake. It can grow to be about 5 feet long and found in both rural and suburban areas. (video)
- Snakes in the garden help control insect and rodent pests. It is very unlikely that you will encounter copperheads or timber rattlesnakes in your landscape. These are the only two venomous snakes in Maryland. Some harmless snakes, like corn snakes (video) and hog-nosed snakes, have similar coloration as copperheads. To prevent snake entry into structures seal up holes, cracks, and crevices around the foundation. Remove stacks of firewood, excessive mulch, and weedy gardens close to the home.
- This also the season for many species of turtles to be moving about looking for egg-laying sites. This often causes them to cross roads, always try to avoid hitting them and when possible move them off the road placing them in the direction that they were headed. Occassionally large female snapping turtles (video) are found in the home landscape laying eggs. Simply leave them alone, but do keep small children and pets away from them as snappers can inflict a very painful bite.
- Many bird species are lively singers when establishing and maintaining territories.
- If you hear birds singing at night, it is most likely the Northern Mockingbird. They tend to be males that have not found a mate. Mockingbirds have the ability to imitate other birds’ songs.
Nuisance
- The USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services program has a cooperative agreement with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Division, to provide the residents of Maryland with information on how to deal with nuisance wild animals. The program operates a toll-free Nuisance Wildlife Information Line: 877-463-6497. Normal working hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. People calling after hours, or on weekends and holidays, may leave a message on the answering machine and calls will be returned during the next work day.
- Seal off openings around doors, windows and vents to prevent wild animals from entering your house.
- Keep bird feeders and bird baths clean and provide your wild birds with fresh water. Remove bird nests attached to your house after the birds have left to prevent problems with bird mites coming into your home. These small mites do bite people. Bird nests may also be found in rain gutters, and chimneys.
- Recycle aluminum pie plants and computer CDs by hanging them in the landscape. The reflective surfaces help to deter pesky birds.
- Woodpeckers may be heard tapping on wooden structures. This may be territorial behavior or active searching for insects. They prefer soft woods like cedar. Dissuade persistent woodpeckers by tacking up some hardware cloth over the area. Small trees may be protected from wood pecker damage by draping nylon netting over the canopy and trunk. Protect branches and trunks of larger trees by loosely wrapping ¼ inch hardware cloth or burlap around them.
- Squirrels will come to eat the bird food you put out even when your bird feeders are advertised as “squirrel-proof”. To keep squirrels from robbing seed from feeders place a cover (baffle) over tube feeders or place a baffle on a post under the feeder. Keep feeders at least 15 feet from the house and vegetation so squirrels cannot jump onto the feeders.
- Squirrels feed on tender new plant growth and dig up seeds, flowers, and bulbs in search of food. Discourage squirrels by removing access to food sources such as bird feeders. Rotate the use of commercial repellents. Protect individual or small groups of plants with a fine mesh netting or a floating row cover. To deter digging sprinkle crushed oyster shells over the surface of the garden. You can protect newly planted bulbs with a piece of one inch mesh chicken wire extending at least a foot beyond the edge of the bed and mulch.
- Moles and voles are very active now. Moles create raised tunnels in lawns. Control by tamping down tunnels with your foot whenever they appear. Moles do not necessarily indicate a white grub problem. They feed on a wide range of soil critters including earthworms.
- Voles create tunnels underground that are not raised. Look for entrance holes about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Sometimes tunnels are shallow and are open along the soil surface. Voles feed on plant material such as roots, bark, or the entire plant. Where voles are a problem try using mouse snap traps baited with apples or peanut butter. Cover with a shingle or piece of wood to increase effectiveness
- Rabbits can be a destructive nuisance in flower and vegetable gardens, feeding on young and tender plants. They can be excluded with a low, 2 ft. high fence that is secured to the ground. You can also repel them with commercial repellents, bloodmeal, or by sprinkling hot pepper flakes around plants.
- Prevent deer from feeding on garden and landscape plants, by applying a repellent, such as “Deer-Away”, “Liquid Fence”, “Deer-Off”, “Hinder” or “Ro-Pel” to vulnerable plants. If deer pressure is heavy, try rotating repellents. Small deodorant soap bars and other types of repellents are used with some success. Polywire fencing connected to an inexpensive, solar-powered charger can successfully exclude groundhogs and deer. Grow plants seldom damaged by deer. See FS 655 Deer Resistant Ornamentals.
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JULY
- Rabbits are a frequent nuisance in flower and vegetable gardens, feeding on young and tender plants. They can be excluded with a low, 2 ft. high fence that is secured to the ground. You can also repel them with commercial repellents, bloodmeal, or by sprinkling hot pepper flakes around plants.
- Remove bird nests attached to your house after the birds have left to prevent problems with bird mites coming into your home. These small mites do bite people. Bird nests may also be found in rain gutters, and chimneys. (Read more...)
- Continue to provide your wild birds with fresh water.
- Moles and voles are active now. Where voles are a problem try using snap traps baited with apples. (FS 654) Moles can be controlled by collapsing tunnels and installing spear traps in new runways. In more rural neighborhoods black rat snakes will feed on both voles and moles.
- Where deer are feeding on garden and landscape plants, apply a repellent, such as “Deer-Away”, “Hinder”, “Ro-Pel”, “Liquid Fence”, “Repellex” to vulnerable plants. If deer pressure is heavy and the repellents are not doing the job very well, try rotating repellents. Small deodorant soap bars hung on the shrubs or on sticks around the plants you want to protect have been used with some success. A strand of electric fence about three feet high around your garden and property is helpful. This may sound too low but it works as deer always sniff around before entering an area and will get shocked by the wire. Baiting the fence with aluminum foil smeared with peanut butter will help teach the deer about electric fences.
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AUGUST
Occurrences
- Ruby-throated hummingbirds (photo) continue to visit flowers and nectar feeders. Keep nectar feeders clean and change nectar solution frequently during hot weather to prevent spoiling.
- Keep birdfeeders and baths cleaned and replenished. Change water frequently to avoid mosquitoes.
- Wildlife tends to feed more heavily on vegetable crops during dry seasons when little water is available.
- Snakes, turtles, frogs, spiders, and toads are beneficial creatures that should not be harmed. Box turtles may occasionally take a few bites out of low hanging tomatoes but their damage is very minimal. Let them enjoy a few good bites, there is no need to be concerned of their presence in your vegetable garden. Place a bird bath saucer in the ground in your yard for turtles and snakes to drink water. Keep the water clean the same as you do for birds.
- The hummingbird moth may be seen sipping nectar from flowering plants during the day. Unlike most moths which feed at night. The hummingbird moth resembles a hummingbird or a bumblebee.
Nuisance
- Ground hogs can be destructive around the home and garden. They feed on a wide range of vegetables and ornamental plants and will gnaw and chew on wooden boards and siding. They dig burrows in soil or may inhabit areas under decks and porches. If you cannot live with the groundhog, you will have to consider live trapping. Some county animal control offices may euthanize live-trapped groundhogs. They will not live long if re-located and you may be adding to someone else’s problems. There are trappers you can hire to take care of your problem. Contact the Nuisance Wildlife Information Line at 1-877-463-6497 for trapping information in your county.
- Voles may be a serious problem chewing on plant material. Voles are especially harmful to spreading junipers stems, and other woody plants that tend to creep along the ground. These types of plantings provide good coverage for voles. Use snap traps baited with apple pieces to reduce their numbers. Natural predators such as Black Rat Snakes will do a very good job in keeping their populations in check.
- Where deer are feeding on garden and landscape plants, apply a repellent, such as “Repellex”, “Deer Off”, “Deer-Away”, “Hinder” or “Ro-Pel” to vulnerable plants. If deer pressure is heavy, try rotating repellents. Small deodorant soap bars, human hair and urine and chili pepper sprays are some other less conventional repellents that have been used with some success. Polywire fencing connected to an inexpensive, solar-powered charger can successfully exclude groundhogs and deer.
- Low, wire fences buried several inches into the ground are the surest method for excluding rabbits. You can also buy repellent products or sprinkle crushed red pepper around vulnerable plants.
- Where raccoons are a problem, secure trashcan lids with bungee cords and don’t leave dog food outside. Keep soffits and all vent screens in your attic in good working order to prevent raccoons from entering your home.
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SEPTEMBER
Occurrences
- Snakes, turtles, frogs, spiders, and toads are beneficial creatures that should not be harmed. The eggs of king snakes, black rat snakes, hog-nosed snakes and ring neck snakes are hatching now. You may observe snakes in the landscape. They should be left alone. If the snakes are in your house, gently place them in a box or a trash can and release them outside.
- Shorter days trigger the hummingbird’s migration instinct. Leave your hummingbird feeders up through October.
- Keep birdbaths cleaned and re-filled frequently with fresh water. Leave the large seedheads of black-eyed susans, coneflowers, and other perennials for birds to feed on over the winter.
- You may encounter Monarch butterfly migration during the month. Migration may be modified by weather patterns.
Nuisance
- The USDA, APHIS, Wildlife services program has a cooperative agreement with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Division, to provide the residents of Maryland with information on how to deal with nuisance wild animals. The program operates a toll-free Nuisance Wildlife Information Line: 877-463-6497.Normal working hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. People calling after hours, or on weekends and holidays, may leave a message on the answering machine and calls will be returned during the next work day.
- Where deer are feeding on garden and landscape plants, apply a repellent, such as “Liquid Fence”, “Deer-Away”, “Hinder”, or “Ro-Pel” to vulnerable plants. If deer pressure is heavy, try rotating repellents. Small deodorant soap bars and other types of repellents are used with some success. Polywire fencing connected to an inexpensive, solar-powered charger can successfully exclude groundhogs and deer.
- House mice and sometimes field mice may be more noticeable around and in homes due to the onset of cool weather. Keep turf and weeds properly mowed around your house and seal all cracks.
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OCTOBER
Occurrences
- Squirrels are busy gathering nuts of oaks, hickories, and beech for the winter. They eat what they need and store the rest. Gray squirrels bury nuts at many locations. They find their nuts by sense of smell and memory and may end up eating nuts buried by other squirrels. Often squirrels store nuts in attics, so prevent their entry by securing hardware cloth over openings.
- October is a peak month for fall migration. This is a good time to observe hawk migration. Several hawk species may be seen on their flights to their wintering homes. The white-throated sparrow migrates from the north and frequents our area until spring.
- Hummingbirds migrate in response to changes in day length and other environmental cues. Leave your hummingbird feeders up to make food available for late migrants.
- Black rat snakes are still hatching now. These harmless baby snakes are not black at hatching but are a light gray with dark brown rectangular markings down the back. Their length at hatching is around 10 inches.
- At this time, Eastern box turtle hatchlings may found in the landscape. If you should find one consider yourself lucky to have box turtles actually reproducing in your area. Box turtles throughout our area are on a rapid decline, seriously threatened by development and cars. No matter how cute it is, do not keep the baby turtle as a pet. Baby box turtles are very difficult to raise in captivity, it will very likely die.
Attracting
- When planning your wildlife friendly backyard don’t forget to include native trees and shrubs that produce fall and winter persistent fruits. The fruits are an important food source for migratory birds, winter residents, and other wildlife. The plants also offer nest sites and cover. Some fall fruiting trees and shrubs include: dogwood, persimmon, black gum, oaks (acorns), and eastern white pine (seed bearing cones). (HG 120)
- Some fall fruiting native trees and shrubs with winter persistent fruits include: Eastern red cedar, sumac, American cranberry bush viburnum, Northern bayberry, American holly, and winterberry holly (include male and female plants for cross-pollination). Fruits of these trees and shrubs may remain long after ripening and may not be eaten by birds until frozen and thawed many times. These are important food sources for overwintering birds and early spring arrivals.
- Introduce native plants into your landscape by replacing dead or dying non-native plants with native species. You can also create new beds for plants in areas that are existing lawns.
- Rake some leaves into your ornamental beds. The leaves serve as mulch which breaks down into organic matter. The mulch slowly releases nutrients and offers weed control. A layer of leaf litter also provides a valuable hibernating habitat for important predatory insects and other beneficial small animals such as frogs, toads and snakes.
- Leave the large seedheads of black-eyed Susans, coneflowers, and native grasses for birds to feed on over the winter. Plants also offer shelter and provide winter interest in the garden.
- Clean all nest boxes and feeders. Scrape and remove debris and scrub with hot, soapy water. Rinse and let dry. Some birds that are cavity nesters such as (chickadees and titmice) may use the nest boxes for roosting during the winter.
- Don’t put your bird bath away. Birds need fresh water for drinking and bathing throughout the fall season. Clean frequently and keep filled with fresh water.
- Use your fall trimmings and leaves to build a brush pile in the corner of your yard or near the edge of a wooded area. Brush piles offer winter protection for ground dwelling birds, small mammals and a hibernaculum for reptiles.
- You can supplement birds’ natural diet with purchased seed, suet, etc. Winter through early spring are popular times to feed when natural food sources are less available. Birds can be fed year round. It is okay to stop feeding for short periods or permanently. Birds have evolved to adapt to different types of food sources. Black oil sunflower seeds and suet cakes are a good choice for a wide variety of birds. To attract your favorite species you have to provide the right combination of food and feeders. For information on feeding birds see Cornell's All About Birds website.
Nuisance
- Where voles are a problem try using mouse snap traps baited with apples. Fall is a good time to trap. Voles accept the bait readily after the first hard frost when desirable foods are less plentiful. Reduce populations before the winter when woody plant damage is greatest. (FS 654)
- Where deer are feeding on garden and landscape plants, you may need to use several approaches for control. Apply repellents such as “Liquid Fence”, ”Deer-Away”, “Deer-Off”, “Hinder” or “Ro-Pel” to vulnerable plants. If deer pressure is heavy, try rotating repellents. Small deodorant soap bars have been used with some success. Grow plants seldom damaged by deer and consider fencing options. (FS 655)
- House mice may be more noticeable around and in homes due to the onset of cool weather. Keep turf and weeds mowed closely around your house. Seal all cracks.
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NOVEMBER
Occurrences
- Many birds molt in the fall, losing and replacing many feathers. Some birds change color and look different after molting. Male goldfinches are brilliant yellow and black in summer and olive brown in winter. They look much like the female. Juveniles resemble males in winter.
- If you notice large quantities of seed missing from your bird feeders, squirrels and raccoons may be the culprits. However, some bird species such as chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, some woodpeckers, and blue jays cache (store) food for later use. Blue jays often bury their seeds and nuts just like squirrels.
- Some woodland species of butterflies such as the angle wings overwinter as adults in MD. They look for tree hollows, exfoliating bark of trees, rock crevices, and log piles to hibernate. These butterflies take nutrients from rotting fruit, damp soil, and dung. They occasionally visit flowers for nectar.
Attracting
- When planning your wildlife friendly backyard don’t forget to include native trees and shrubs that produce fall and winter persistent fruits. The fruits are an important food source for migratory birds, winter residents, and other wildlife.
- Some fall fruiting native trees and shrubs with winter persistent fruits include: Dogwood, Black Gum, Oaks, Eastern red cedar, Sumac, American cranberry bush viburnum, Northern bayberry, American holly, and Winterberry holly (include male and female plants for cross-pollination). Fruits of these trees and shrubs may remain long after ripening and may not be eaten by birds until frozen and thawed many times. These are important food sources for overwintering birds and early spring arrivals.
- Rake some leaves into your ornamental beds. The leaves serve as mulch which break down into organic matter. The mulch slowly releases nutrients and offers weed control. A layer of leaf litter also provides a habitat for beetles, spiders, amphibians, reptiles and other important predators in your landscape. Ground feeding birds feed upon the insects.
- Leave the large seed heads of black-eyed Susans, coneflowers, and native grasses for birds to feed on over the winter. Plants also offer shelter and provide winter interest in the garden.
- Clean all nest boxes and feeders. Scrape and remove debris and scrub with hot, soapy water. Rinse and let dry. Some birds that are cavity nesters such as (chickadees and titmice) may use the nest boxes for roosting during the winter.
- Don’t put your bird bath away. Birds need fresh water for drinking and bathing throughout the fall season. Clean frequently and keep filled with fresh water.
- Use your fall trimmings to build a brush pile in the corner of your yard or near the edge of a wooded area. Brush piles offer winter protection for ground dwelling birds, small mammals, snakes and box turtles.
- You can supplement bird’s natural diet with purchased seed, suet, etc. Feed winter through early spring when natural food sources are less available. Birds can be fed year round. It is okay to stop feeding for short periods or permanently. Birds have evolved to adapt to different types of food sources. Black oil sunflower seeds and suet cakes are a good choice for a wide variety of birds. To attract your favorite species you have to provide the right combination of food and feeders.
Nuisance
- Where deer are feeding on garden and landscape plants, you may need to use several approaches for control. Apply repellents such as “Liquid Fence”, “Deer-Away”, “Deer- Off”, “Hinder”, or “Ro-Pel” to vulnerable plants. Small deodorant soap bars, have been used with some success. If deer pressure is heavy, try rotating repellents. Grow plants seldom damaged by deer and consider fencing options.
- Where voles are a problem try using mouse snap traps baited with apples. Fall is a good time to trap. Voles accept the bait readily after the first hard frost when desirable foods are less plentiful. Reduce populations before the winter when woody plant damage is greatest.
- Store birdseed in metal cans with tight fitting lids to keep squirrels and mice at bay. These critters can chew through plastic lids.
- Fox are more prevalent now in suburban and urban areas. They are not very shy and become easily accustomed to humans. They are wild animals, however, and should not be approached or encouraged. Do not allow fox, skunks and raccoons access to edible trash, or dog, cat or bird food.
- The common house mouse and sometimes the field mouse are more noticeable around and inside homes due to the onset of cool weather. Keep all food including dry pet food and bird seed in secured containers. Use live or kill traps and baits if needed.
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DECEMBER
- Leave the large seedheads of black-eyed susans, coneflowers and other perennials for birds to feed on over the winter. Plan to feed and supply water to birds for the entire winter season.
- Where voles are a problem try using snap traps baited with apples.
- Store bird seed in metal cans with tight fitting lids to keep squirrels and mice at bay. These critters can chew through plastic lids.
- Fox are more prevalent in suburban and urban areas. They are not very shy and become easily accustomed to humans. They are wild animals, however, and should not be approached or encouraged. Do not allow fox, skunks and raccoons access to edible trash, or dog, cat or bird food.
- Where deer are feeding on garden and landscape plants, apply a repellent, such as “Deer-Away”, “Deer Off”, “Hinder” or “Ro-Pel” to vulnerable plants. Small deodorant soap bars, human hair and urine, and chile pepper sprays are some other less conventional repellents that have been used with some success. If deer pressure is heavy, try rotating repellents.
- Squirrels will come to eat the bird food you put out even when your bird feeders are advertised as “squirrel-proof”. Learn to live with visiting squirrels or offer them alternate food like ears of feed corn.
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