St. Francis Wildlife Association

There are many jobs for volunteers at St. Francis Wildlife. You can chose from a variety of chores, from getting involved with "hands on" animal care, to help us keeping with the maintenance of the facilities.

Spring and summer, when we receive many orphaned baby birds and mammals, is our very busiest time of year. Each baby bird needs to be fed about every 20 minutes! This is the time when we need more dedicated volunteers.

After working with us at St. Francis Wildlife, many experienced individuals also care for baby squirrels in their own homes.

Winter is the slow season for us, which means we have time to do all those little and big projects from our "to do list". Painting and repairing the indoor and outdoor cages, or entering data into the computer. Also, it is a good time to learn the everyday routines to care for the animals, so when the baby season comes you already gained some experience.

Volunteers are also needed to help organize fundraisers and special events.

To volunteer taking care of the animals you must be at least 18 years old, have medical insurance, all your regular vaccinations, no immune-compromised diseases, and sign a liability waiver.

Human-wildlife confrontations increase in the spring and summer when animals, focused on caring for their young, are more visible.

Dive-bombing birds can be a frightening experience, and a raptor with inch-long talons can be intimidating, but it's usually just a bluff to scare off intruders.

What can we do to when hawks, owls or mockingbirds are concerned about our close proximity to their babies?

Accommodate the birds by making the nest area off-limits for a while is the neighborly thing to do.

If that isn't possible, carry an umbrella or wear a hat with eyes on the back of your head. No kidding. Birds are discouraged from striking when they are being watched. Download and print this large pair of eyes, and tape it to the back of your hat.

Remember, like us, these birds are just doing their best to protect their young, and your inconvenience is only a temporary one. Rather than getting your feathers ruffled, feel fortunate that you live in a place where you can awaken to a symphony of birdsongs, and you can observe nesting behavior right outside your front door. Just don't forget to wear your hat.

All native wild birds have legal protection. It is unlawful to kill, harass or possess a wild bird or its nest.

Raccoons and foxes are mostly nocturnal. However, it is quite common, especially in urban areas, for a healthy animal to venture out during the day if it is hungry or its den has been destroyed. Frequently, mother raccoons and foxes that are nursing babies will be forced to search for food night and day.

Another reason why these animals may come near your neighborhood is cat food. When people leave cat food outdoors they are attracting other animals, not only cats.

The old assumption that if they are seen out in the day time they are rabid, it's not true.

Distemper is a very common disease in raccoons and foxes. Distemper symptoms closely resemble rabies symptoms. Both are related to the nervous system and may include paralysis, self-mutilation, circling, and lack of fear of humans. Distemper cannot be transmitted to humans.

Care should be taken when a raccoon or fox looks sick or acts strangely, but overreaction against all raccoons and foxes is unwarranted. Never attempt to catch these animals; they may bite in self defense, which will guarantee their death for rabies testing.

Build a Cage for St. Francis Wildlife Portable Cage Plans
Details coming soon.

Please be a responsible pet owner.

Many sick, injured and orphaned wild birds and animals brought to St. Francis Wildlife are victims of attacks by free-roaming pets, usually cats. If you rescue an animal (squirrel, bird, etc.) from your pet's mouth, it will usually die if it doesn't receive antibiotics. Take it to St. Francis Wildlife right away.

ABOUT TRAP-NEUTER-RELEASE (TNR) FERAL CAT COLONIES

St. Francis Wildlife feels that there is a better way to control homeless, feral cats than typical TNR programs. Returning feral cats to the streets does nothing to protect them from harsh weather, cars, parasites, diseases, fights with other cats and becoming a meal for Great Horned Owls, Red-tailed Hawks, foxes, dogs and coyotes. Subjecting cats to any of these cruel deaths is, at the very least, animal neglect.

These cats also spread disease. Not just rabies, but also feline leukemia. Cat scratch fever, encephalitis and toxoplasmosis spread to other animals, including people, through scratches, bites and feces. Food set out for cats also attracts wildlife, which can facilitate the spread of disease. Volunteer operated TNR programs are hard pressed to annually vaccinate all colony members. Additionally, some cats become wary of traps and cannot be caught for re-vaccination

They also take a tremendous toll on wildlife. Up to 30 percent of all the birds and animals people bring to Florida's wildlife rehabilitators, including St. Francis Wildlife, are victims of domestic pets, mostly cats. The FWCC reports that a single free-roaming cat may kill as many as 100 or more birds and mammals per year. Feral cats kill many more.

How can any of this be considered humane?

The University of Central Florida began an on-campus TNR program 15 years ago — and its feral cat population has gone from 150 cats to fewer than 10 cats. The reason for their success? An adoption program that found homes for 47 percent of the original cats, and aggressive colony management. Most evidence that TNR alone works to reduce feral populations is anecdotal at best.

Most TNR colonies simply congregate around free handouts provided by a well-meaning cat lover. New cats arrive, people dump unwanted pets, more kittens are born, diseases spread and the cats still kill wildlife. TNR might make animal lovers feel good, but it is not a realistic or humane solution.

St. Francis Wildlife supports making cats indoor pets and containing feral cat colonies (TNR cat colonies) within secure fencing that cannot be breached by the cats from inside or by other animals, wildlife or unsterilized cats, from outside. In addition to food, cats also need veterinary care and protection from adverse weather.

Cat lovers need to focus their energy and resources on socializing and finding homes for feral kittens and creating a truly safe and humane haven for the cats they love and for the other animals, human and wild, that live with them.

Use cat enclosures to safely contain outdoor cats or feral cat colonies:

http://www.mastergardening.com/outdoor-living-cat-fencing.html ,
www.safekitty.com
http://www.purrfectfence.com/outdoor_cat_enclosures.asp.
http://www.just4cats.com/

For more information:

� Critical Assessment of Claims Regarding Management of Feral Cats by Trap–Neuter–Return, Conservation Biology, August 2009, www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/policy/cats/Management_claims_feral_cats.pdf
� Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) Policy on Outdoor Cats: www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/facts/wildlife_cats.html
� Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) Policy on Feral Cats: www.myfwc.com/WILDLIFEHABITATS/Cats_Free_RangeDomestic_index.htm

American Bird Conservancy (ABC) Position on Managed Cat Colonies: http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/policy/cats/materials/colonies.pdf

More . . .
1. Learn how to make your outdoor cat a happy indoor cat.

3. Watch a video from the Humane Society of the United States

4. A safe cat is a happy cat, and outdoor cats are not safe. Inside cats live longer lives.

5. Take the time to help stray animals: Return them to their owners; find them a good home; or take them to a humane shelter, like the Tallahassee Leon Community Animal Service Center.

6. Don't abandon an unwanted pet in the wild. Learn about alternative solutions.

Why the answer to "Oh, Mommy, the (baby squirrel, fawn, cottontail rabbit or other wild species) is so cute; can we keep it as a pet?" should always be "No":

1. Baby animals may seem tame now, but they will grow into aggressive and unpredictable adults.
    2. Wild animals are happiest when they are wild and free.
    3. They may carry diseases.
    4. There are plenty of wonderful dogs, cats and bunnies at the Tallahassee Leon Community Animal Service Center who need homes. Check out their online kennel.

Click on the picture above to learn how to help cats and wild birds!

There are many ways you can help wildlife, either in your everyday life, or getting directly involved on the care of St. Francis Wildlife's patients. St. Francis Wildlife offers you advice about following environmental safe practices, and gives you the opportunity of volunteering your time, making in kind donations, or participating in our fundraising events.

VolunteerIf you are interested in volunteering, please check the links bellow for more information, fill out the application, and call us at 850-627-4151.

1. Overview of Volunteer Work

2. Volunteer Opportunities (PDF)

3. Volunteer Application and Waiver (PDF)

Donate

St. Francis Wildlife depends almost entirely on donations of caring people like you. You could make a tax deductible donation or have fun shopping for food and supplies from our wish list yourself!

DONATE

HELP WILDLIFE EVERYDAY

Live in harmony with your wild neighbors

What to do when birds swoop down on you
Why do you see raccoons and foxes during the day?
Protect neighborhood foxes: Print and post this sign in your neighborhood (PDF)
Where birds are colliding with windows or glass doors, print and hang this hawk silhouette
Be a responsible pet owner
Avoid using pesticides and learn about the alternatives
Consider wildlife-friendly alternatives to barbed wire (PDF)

Create a backyard refuge for wildlife

Top 10 ways to help nesting birds
Plant native trees, shrubs and other vegetation to provide natural food, water, and cover for wildlife
Leave dead trees and stumps standing

Build homes for wildlife

Nest box basics (PDF)
Nest boxes for bluebirds, chickadees, and other small songbirds (PDF)
Nest boxes for barn owls
Nest boxes for flying squirrels (PDF)
Osprey platform (PDF)

Keep your cat indoors

Cats and wildlife overview
Cats, birds, and you brochure (PDF)
Trap, neuter, and release (TNR) movie
Domestic Cat Predation on birds and other wildlife (PDF)
How to make your outdoor cat a happy indoor cat (PDF)
More cat links

BUILD A CAGE

Many of the outdoor cages at St. Francis Wildlife are two decades old and need to be replaced. St. Francis is always looking for friends with carpentry skills to help repair old cages and build new ones.

Learn More

SPEAK UP FOR WILDLIFE

Are you concerned about an issue affecting wildlife or the environment we share? Write a letter or e-mail, make a telephone call, send a fax, or pay a visit, to the agency involved in the problem, your government representatives, or local newspapers.

Be concise. Get the facts. Stick to one issue. Use your own words. Explain why you feel the way you do and how the issue affects you. Ask the legislator, agency or business to do something specific. Ask for a reply. Be persistent. Your opinion counts, but only if it's heard!

Report wildlife law violators

Build a Cage for St. Francis Wildlife

Portable Cage Plans

Details coming soon.

Create a refuge for wildlife.

Build Homes for Wildlife

Attract Birds

Watching Wildlife

VolunteerIf you are interested in volunteering, please check the links bellow for more information, fill out the application, and call us at 850-627-4151.

Donate

HELP WILDLIFE EVERYDAY

BUILD A CAGE

SPEAK UP FOR WILDLIFE