Keep wildlife safe in your backyard.
Fencing can be very damaging and even lethal to wildlife. Not only do animals get caught and trapped in fencing, but large fencing installations may disrupt wildlife paths and historical migration routes.
Fencing can create a complete barrier to ungulates, with fawns and calves unable to cross, they become stranded and separated from the herd and may die from predators or starvation. Birds can also collide, break wings, and become impaled by barbs.
Promote natural beaver recovery through plantings and beaver dam analog installations.
Think Wild's Beaver Works program is dedicated to supporting beaver success in Central and Eastern Oregon by conducting outreach and community-based beaver habitat restoration for and with landholders, tribes, agencies, and the public. Beaver-occupied wetlands promote wildlife biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and greater tolerance to wildfire, drought, and floods.
Contact us for advice around:
- Beaver behavior and biology
- Where to prioritize in-stream work that can enhance beaver establishment
- Beaver Dam Analogue (BDA) support and design for sediment aggradation and flood plain connectivity
- Infrastructure adaptations (culvert protective fences, flow devices, tree fencing) for up and downstream neighbors concerned about beavers
Lead Based Ammunition is a Common Cause of Lead Poisoning in Wildlife
Lead from ammunition is the primary source of lead toxicity in many species, like bald eagles, due to whole bullets or fragments left behind in live prey, gut piles, and carcasses. It is likely that the eagle recently fed on a carcass or prey animal that contained fragmented lead ammunition.
Raptor lead toxicity increases during hunting season as gut piles or unrecovered game contaminated with lead are ingested by eagles, raptors, corvids and many other species, resulting in multiple food chain toxicities. Eagle nests near farms and agricultural areas can also be susceptible to toxic lead accumulation when lead shot is used for pest control, as adults may feed poisoned rodents to their nestlings.
Glass barriers and windows pose a significant threat to our feathered friends every day, but especially during migration.
According to the Bird Alliance of Oregon, window strikes are the cause of death for up to 1 billion birds each year. At Think Wild’s hospital, over 25% of all birds treated between September 1 and December 31, 2023 were admitted due to injuries caused by window collisions. Of those patients, 68% did not survive.
Birds aren’t able to distinguish windows and glass as a barrier and are often attracted to them instead due to reflections of trees, foliage, and clouds.
There are a variety of permanent and temporary infrastructure changes that can be made, including decals and films, to help make glass more visible to birds and prevent strikes.
Once the pile is ignited, there is little time for animals to escape. It’s like your house suddenly going up in flames, with you trapped inside. Yikes!
Please consider the animals that may be in your pile and scare them out before you light it up. If possible, move parts of the pile, create lots of noise or other activity to frighten animals out of doomed hiding places.
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BARBED WIRE FENCE REMOVAL
FREE SERVICE
Barbed wire is extremely hazardous to wildlife and domestic animals. Every year numerous calls are received regarding owls, falcons, hawks, songbirds and mammals that have become entangled in barbed wire fencing. Many struggle there until they die.
Contact:
Sam Bachman
Deschutes County Juvenile Community Justice
541‐322‐7650The barbed wire is taken down and removed for recycling in a timely manner. The posts are left in place to mark property boundaries.
WAYS TO MAKE YOUR BACKYARD WILDLIFE FRIENDLY
Bird Feeder
A native bird feeder supports wildlife and provides entertainment for you! In the winter months, birds welcome extra food and nutrition from a backyard feeder. Do your research and get creative - different types of feeders and food will attract various species of birds.
Native Pollinator Garden
Create a garden with native flowers to support pollinators, including bats, bees, butterflies, beetles and birds in your backyard. Cluster brightly-colored flowers in clumps of at least 4 feet in diameter to attract pollinators, and include a source of shallow water for pollinators to drink from. Cascade penstemon and Indian paintbrush are easy to grow, drought-resistant flowers that attract hummingbirds and bees, respectively.
Native Landscaping
Native landscaping provides native wildlife habitat while making yard care easier for you! Native plants are well suited to Central Oregon soil and climate, which reduces the need for supplemental water once established. Shop for seeds and live plants from local nurseries, who can typically advise on choosing the right plant for your yard.
Leave Leaves
Fallen leaves and yard debris provide habitat and food for butterflies, bees, beetles, butterflies, and more. Decomposing leaves will also improve your soil quality, structure and water retention. You can also combine leaves with sticks branches to create brush piles that provide shelter and nursing habitat for young animals.
Put Off Pruning
Many animals give birth to young between the months of March and August, and some are using trees in our yards for nursing and roosting during these months. Pruning trees in the Spring poses risk of injuring or orphaning wildlife and damaging nests needed for protection and growing. Wait until Fall or Winter months when animals are no longer using the trees for nursing, or be sure to carefully check branches, trunks, and cavities for any nests before trimming.
Keep Cats Indoors
Please keep your cats indoors to prevent them from hunting and killing wildlife. specially in the Spring, when young are especially prevalent and vulnerable.