Never covered adequately – the impact of increasingly severe extremes on wildlife, which must seek shelter in ever more urbanized environments.
“Houston SPCA’s Wildlife Center of Texas is already seeing the effects of yesterday’s storm as some of nature’s smallest storm victims are being brought into the center for essential care,” Julie Kuenstle, the organization’s vice president of communications, said in a news release. “The center is currently caring for hundreds of wild animals and has already taken in nearly 100 wild animals, mostly baby birds, this morning.”
Remove dirt, debris from birdbaths and fill with clean water. Put out extra birdseed or suet in your yard. Check under trees in your neighborhood for injured or orphaned wildlife hidden under fallen branches and get them to the Center as soon as possible.
For anyone who comes across an animal in distress, the Houston SPCA offers these tips to follow:
- Carefully place the orphaned or injured animal in a box with soft rags and a warm (not hot) waterbottle, a rice sock or a heating pad set low until it is safe to get them to the Houston SPCA’s Wildlife Center of Texas
- Never attempt to feed or give water to any distressed wildlife as they may have water in their lungs or other serious injuries
- Place the animal in a warm and quiet environment away from regular household noise and pets until you can get them to the Houston SPCA’s Wildlife Center of Texas
- Remove dirt and debris from birdbaths and fill it with clean water
- Put out extra birdseed or suet in the yard
- Check under trees around the neighborhood for injured or orphaned wildlife potentially hidden under fallen branches and get them to the Center as soon as possible