Prevent Conflicts with Wildlife Before They Occur

Preventing Conflict Around Your Home and Yard 

Driving with Wildlife in Mind

Dealing with Orphaned or Injured Wildlife

Preventing Conflict Around Your Home and Yard

2. Enjoy wild animals from a distance.

3. Never handle or attempt to pet or feed wildlife.

4. Do not keep wildlife as pets.

5. Use secure-fitting lids on garbage cans that are outside. Keep your trashcans in a closed garage or shed. 
Put your trash containers out the morning of trash pick-up, rather than the night before.

6. Supervise outdoor feedings of pets, and clean the area well afterward. If possible, do not feed pets outside.

7. Keep cats indoors and supervise domesticated pets when outside at all times.

8. Be sure your dogs and cats are up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations.

9. Regularly clean outdoor grills.

10. If you keep a bird feeder, clean up spilled seed to avoid attracting other forms of wildlife.

11. Keep your home in good repair.

12. Secure chimneys with a chimney cap and cover dryer vents.

13. If you think a wild animal may be sick or injured, contact your local Animal Control Officer, Police Department, or the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife immediately. See resources page for a complete resource listing. 

14. If you think a wild animal may be sick or injured, contact your local wildlife rehabilitator.

Driving with Wildlife in Mind

Spring and fall are the busiest times for wildlife, as many animals are active foraging for food and shelter.  During these seasons, animals are on the move, so it is important for motorists to drive with caution and be on the lookout for animals.

Human population growth and the rapid development of suburban and rural areas contribute to animal-car collisions. There are things you can do to help prevent accidents that harm both people and animals:

• Stay alert and scan the roads as you drive.
  
• Pay attention to wildlife warning signs posted on roads. Signs are posted in areas where animals most often cross roads. Keep in mind that some species, like deer, travel in groups, so when there is one crossing the road, it is important to slow down and look for others about to cross.
  
• Be especially alert at dawn and dusk when animals are most active.
  
• Drive slower, especially at night. Drivers have more time to avoid hitting wildlife when driving at slower speeds. Lowering your dashboard lights while driving at night will often help you to see the reflection of your headlights in the eyes of animals near the road in time to brake.
  
• Watch for wildlife on roads that are bordered by natural habitat, agricultural fields, or forested woods.
  
• Do not litter.  Watch for areas with a high amount of litter along roads, as litter is an attractant for wildlife.
  
• If you hit an animal, report it to the local police, animal shelter, wildlife officials, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (617-727-3151), or the Massachusetts Division of Environmental Law Enforcement (800-632-8075). Let them know that the injured animal is a traffic hazard so someone will respond quickly. Remain in the area if possible until help arrives. If an endangered species is involved, report the accident to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Do not attempt to move the animal unless you are certain you can do so with complete safety. It is best to leave this to the experts, as an injured animal may not know you are trying to help and could be dangerous. Leave your car hazard lights on or use emergency road flares to alert oncoming traffic.
  
• If you have concerns about animal-car collisions, get involved in your local government's zoning and planning meetings on road construction, urban expansion, and loss of wildlife habitat. You can also write to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

Dealing with Orphaned or Injured Wildlife

In the springtime concerned people often mistake young animals left alone to be orphaned. It is quite common for the young of many mammals and birds to temporarily be left by their parents while they are out foraging. The parents conceal their young and periodically return to the nesting sites to feed and care for them. If you find a young wild animal who appears to be orphaned, it is best to leave her alone, unless she is facing imminent danger. You should not touch or approach a wild animal, as the scent of a human will often deter a parent from returning or accepting their offspring. Even leaving a human scent leading to the animal can attract predators. It is best to wait at a safe distance and observe the animal until her parents return, which could take several hours.

An injured wild animal can be very dangerous, and it is best to never approach or try to move or handle an injured wild animal. Contact your local wildlife rehabilitator, police department, animal control officer, or the Massachusetts Department of Fisheries and Wildlife immediately if you think a wild animal is injured. Click here for a list of wildlife rehabilitators in Massachusetts.  Without putting yourself in danger, try to make sure the animal is out of danger, and wait until the authorities arrive to help.

In the case of birds, except for turkey vultures, it is a myth that touching a baby bird will orphan him, as birds do not have scent glands. Returning a baby bird to his nest will not orphan the bird, but should only be done if the fledgling is in a dangerous situation - part of learning to fly comes with being on the ground. If you are unable to keep an eye on the bird from a distance for a few hours, leave the bird alone. Parents will not approach when humans are present. If you cannot find the nest, and the young bird is in immediate danger, carefully place the bird into a box and contact your local wildlife rehabilitator.