Possum Pat

06/19/2026

Yes, groundhogs eat your garden. They're vegetarian tanks. But before you poison: a single groundhog moves approximately 700 lbs of soil per year through its burrow system — aerating and mixing subsoil with topsoil. Abandoned groundhog burrows are used by foxes, skunks, rabbits, opossums, and snakes for denning and shelter. The burrow system provides drainage and prevents localized flooding. Groundhog solutions that WORK: Hardware cloth fence — 4 feet tall, buried 12 inches deep with an L-shaped footer (they dig). This is THE solution. Electric fence (low-voltage, garden-specific). Harvest crops promptly. Plant a "sacrifice garden" at the edge of your property — clover and alfalfa that groundhogs prefer over your veggies. What DOESN'T work: poison (kills non-target animals — hawks, foxes, dogs eat poisoned groundhogs), fumigation (inhumane and often fails), relocation (they die in unfamiliar territory).

06/19/2026

06/18/2026

SNAKE! SIX FEET LONG! IN THE YARD! GET THE SHOVEL!

Stop.

That's a black rat snake. Pantherophis obsoletus. The most beneficial snake in the eastern United States.

It's NON-VENOMOUS. It's harmless to humans, pets, and children. It CANNOT hurt you. If cornered, it might vibrate its tail in leaves (sounds like a rattlesnake — it's bluffing), musk (smells bad), or bite (feels like a pinprick, zero danger).

What it DOES:
Eats 200+ mice and rats per year.
Eats chipmunks that dig up your bulbs.
Eats copperhead EGGS (yes, it eats venomous snake eggs).
Eats the rodents that spread hantavirus, Lyme disease, and other diseases.

Black rat snakes are constrictors — they squeeze prey, they don't poison it. They're excellent climbers, often found in rafters, trees, and sheds.

A single rat snake in your yard provides the same rodent control as poison bait stations — without the risks of secondary poisoning to hawks, owls, and pets.

What you should do:
Leave it alone. It will move through your property naturally.
Don't use rodent poison — it kills the snakes that eat the rodents.
Appreciate it — a 6-foot black rat snake in your yard means you have a healthy ecosystem.

It's free pest control that works 24/7, 365 days a year.

Put the shovel down.

06/18/2026

I went out to my garage to get a roll of paper towels and to my surprise this is what I found!

06/18/2026

Wow. We never imagined one post, or one little fawn would reach so many people

It’s always encouraging to see wildlife education being shared and to read the kind, supportive comments. But some people still don’t quite understand what wildlife rehabilitation is.

We are not here to interfere with nature. We are not taking healthy animals from the wild, and we are certainly not pulling fawns from a predator’s mouth. Our role is to help wildlife that has been injured, orphaned, or displaced because of human impact.

Every animal that comes through our doors is given a chance. Sometimes that means medical treatment, rehabilitation, and release back to the wild. Sometimes it means providing comfort, dignity, and freedom from suffering when recovery is not possible.

We work closely with veterinarians every day who help guide these difficult decisions. Not every wild animal can live successfully in captivity. Deer cannot survive with missing multiple limbs. Cottontail rabbits often experience extreme stress in long-term captivity (etc. etc.) Keeping an animal alive at all costs is not always the kindest option.

Our mission is simple: alleviate pain and suffering, provide the best care possible, and whenever we can, return wildlife to where they belong- the wild.

Thank you for those joining us- and for sharing education and kindness!

06/17/2026

Grumpy face, a li’l scruffy, standing or hopping and fully feathered? Yup, that’s a fledgling. Unless they’re injured or in danger, you can usually let them be.

A fledgling is a bird who’s just left the nest. They don’t fly much at first, but this is normal. If they can stand or hop and are covered in feathers, they’re likely fine. Their parents are usually nearby foraging for food to feed them. If you’re not sure, wait and watch from a distance to see if the parents show up.

If a fledgling is in a road or other dangerous spot, it’s OK to move them to a safer place nearby but only a few feet away! A fledgling is still dependent on their parents, and the parents must be able to find them.

Every summer, we admit many dozens of healthy fledglings who were rescued by mistake. Their rescuers certainly meant well, but the consequences for that bird (not being raised for their parents) and for us (many more birds in care unnecessarily) are steep. Whenever possible, we ask the rescuers to return them where they found them and wait to see if the parents return.

**Note: Pigeons are the exception. Pigeons stay in the nest a long 4 weeks and look almost like adults when they fledge. Usually if a pigeon looks too young to be out of the nest (short wings, short tail, fuzzy head), they are.**

If you’re not sure, send us a photo or contact your local wildlife rehabber.

Your donations feed a lot of babies and fledglings this time of year! Please consider helping: 🔗 bit.ly/wbfdonate

06/17/2026

11 more out the door! Unfortunately 6 more intakes tomorrow as another rehabber returns a few she had for me! 😫

A few pics from today release- Thank you Natalie & Luke for this great local site! Also, Bridget, Thank you!