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  • Home
  • APAL
    • A-PAL History >
      • A-PAL Humane Society Leadership Team
      • APAL Leadership Opportunities
    • APAL Programs >
      • The Rusty Fund >
        • Rusty's Pet Tails
      • Save the Kittens
      • Spay or Neuter
      • Second Chance K9 >
        • TCK9-2014 Graduates
      • Community Cats >
        • Understanding Feral Cats
        • How to Trap a Feral Cat
      • Special Needs >
        • Special Needs Stories
      • Adopt a Friend
      • Trap-Neuter-Return
      • APAL Tracking Our Progress
    • Support A-PAL >
      • Volunteer for APAL
      • Foster for A-Pal >
        • Foster Forms >
          • Foster Program Protocol
          • Kitten Health Checklist
          • Kitten Growth Chart
          • Guide to Feline URI
      • Donate to A-PAL >
        • Donate your Car
        • Giving Tuesday 2020
      • A-PAL Wish List
      • A-PAL Facility Sponsor
    • APAL Events >
      • APAL Calendar
      • APAL Past Events >
        • SantaPaws2019
        • Bark in the Park 2019
        • Whiskers and Wine 2017
        • Whiskers and Wine 2014
        • Bark in the Park 2014
        • Whiskers and Wine 2015
        • Bark In The Park 2015
        • Maui Raffle
        • Santa Paws 2015
    • Partners >
      • Shelter Partners >
        • Shelter Partners on TSPN
        • Dec14News-PitBulls
        • Jan15News-Excel
        • Feb15News-BenefitsOfPets
        • Feb15News-HarmfulAlgaeBlooms
        • Mar15News-Hoarding
        • Apr15News-TNR
        • Sep15News-QAMargeB
        • Oct15News-ButteFire
        • Oct15News-Bats
        • Nov15News-SeparationAnxiety
        • Dec15News-Tips4Treats
        • Jan16-Volunteer
        • Apr16-TNR
        • July16News-Center
        • Sep16News-ACART
        • Nov17News-ServiceDogs
  • TCWC
    • Find an animal in need? >
      • Audio Wildlife Tips
      • WhereAreWe
    • TCWC History >
      • TCWC Leadership Team
      • TCWC Leadership Opportunities
    • Wildlife Programs >
      • Education >
        • TCWC Education Events >
          • TCWC Education Animals
        • WildlifeSavesUs
        • Living Wildlife Friendly >
          • Save the Bees
          • Holiday Decorations
          • Kill That Lawn
          • Songbird Concert Tips
          • Holiday Trash
          • Alert Your Birds
          • Water to Help the Critters!
          • Bread is for Sandwiches
          • No Dogs Allowed
          • Repurpose to Feed the Birds
          • GoNative
          • Netting It Out
          • Balloons
          • E-Waste
          • Organic Food
          • AllThatGlitters
          • Fly Strips and Glue Traps
          • Toxic Household Products
          • Recycling Pumpkins
          • Tree Trimming Tips
          • Saving Venomous Species
          • Think Biodegradeable
        • Nuisance Wildlife >
          • Nuisance-SayNoToTrapping
          • Foxlights
          • Wildproof Your Home
        • Gold Country Critters
        • Keep Them Wild and Free
        • TCWC Videos
        • Points to Ponder
      • TCWC-Tracking Our Progress >
        • TCWC 2016 Impact Report
        • TCWC 2017 Impact Report
        • TCWC 2018 Impact Report
        • TCWC 2019 Impact Report
        • TCWC 2020 Impact Report
      • TCWC Patients >
        • Success Stories >
          • 1 - Opossum Call
          • 2 - Raccoon Behind the Grill!
          • 3 - Saving a Raven
          • LongTripHome
          • Anita's Bird Comes Home
          • College the Wild Way
          • Releases
        • TCWC Critter Show
    • TCWC Events >
      • TCWC Calendar >
        • GivingTuesday2020
        • TCWC-WildlifeClasses2020
        • TCWC-WildlifeWorkshop2020
        • Paws&Claws2020
      • Past TCWC Events >
        • Paws & Claws 2019
        • No Dinner-Dinner
        • Paws&Claws 2018
        • AnimalScapes
        • Paws & Claws 2016
        • TCWC Grand Opening
        • Wildlife Workshop 2014
        • Paws & Claws 2014
        • Hot Rod Heaven 2014
        • Paws & Claws 2015
        • Paws&Claws2017
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        • TCWC-No Shower Baby Shower
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      • Art - the Cooper's Hawk
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      • Gretchen&Ginger
      • MajesticBird
      • DuckTherapy
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Trimming your Trees? - Be Careful of Nests!

Picture
There’s no place like home!

Trees provide shade, cool us in summer, grow fruit and nuts, and for many species of wildlife, provide a home.

Living or dead, trees provide nest sites for so many species of wildlife. Trimming your trees at the wrong time can destroy a wildlife nest and injure or orphan baby wildlife.

Pruning at the right time, when the plant is dormant, results in less flowing sap to attract insects, a less risk of disease, and promotes better wound healing. Pruning at the proper time assures a healthy tree that will have good growth as the weather improves.

The best time to trim most of your trees is when they are dormant. Conifers should be pruned in late winter. Prune non-blooming trees and shrubs in late winter as well as summer-blooming trees and shrubs. Spring-blooming trees and shrubs should wait until after they bloom, but prune as soon as you can.

However, before you even get out the pruners and loppers, remember that this tree may be someone’s home. Raptors nest in the crowns of tall trees. Barn owls use holes in old trees (and sometimes nest boxes). Both raptors and owls are nesting now. Oak titmouse, like the barn owl, nests in a cavity of a tree. Bluebirds nest in a hole in a tree, living or dead. And every type of woodpecker will nest in a tree cavity. Squirrels build leafy nests in trees as well, and the nest is called a “drey”.  All of these species and more are either using or building a nest just about now.

Nesting time for raptors and owls starts early – late winter to early spring. Songbirds start in early spring. Squirrels may start in December and continue through early summer.

Take a good look at that tree or shrub you are about to prune for nests. Remember, songbirds build small nests that can be difficult to see.

Look for bird poop on the ground and lower branches or birds flying away when you approach. Scrub jays will scold at you if you get too close to their nest. Also watch for birds and small mammals with nesting material or food in their beaks. If you see any of these signs, wait.

Waiting may be a couple of weeks to maybe a month. But waiting will ensure that wildlife has a chance to raise their young and give them the best start in life.

Every year, Tri County Wildlife Care receives birds and mammals that have been displaced by tree trimming. A little patience and a delay in pruning means that home sweet home stays in place long enough for wildlife to grow up.

Tri County Wildlife Care, a local nonprofit started in 1994, is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of our native wildlife and helping our community live in balance with wildlife. They envision a world where wildlife and people thrive together. For more information call (209) 283-3245, or visit pawspartners.org.

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