2010 - Summer

Page 1

The Greening of Maplewood

Maplewood Seasons

Where The Wild Things Are

By Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner Wild animals are everywhere. These animals all have a special place, or habitat, that they call home. Many animals claim your back yard or even your house as their habitat. Over the years, I have shared my house with mice, bats, even a bull snake I found in my closet (no doubt looking for the mice).

All animals need four things in their habitat: food, water, cover, and space. Urban growth and development have created the perfect habitat for some animals. They find shelter under our decks or in our wood piles. They find an abundance of food when we leave out pet food or garbage cans. Squirrels, raccoons, opossums, skunks, birds, deer, and turkeys are just a few of the wild animals that live with us in Maplewood. Some of the rarer species include mink, eagle, or weasels. Some wild animals overpopulate our urban

Summer 2010

environment and can damage plants or structures, becoming a real nuisance. There are also animals that are adapting to urban environments, expanding their habitat, or just happen to wander into ours. Over the years human interactions with coyotes, bears, and cougars seem to be increasing and causing quite a wild rumpus! A black bear in a back yard tree can make quite a news story. But it can also pose a real danger to humans and the wild animal.

Sustainable

Maplewood

Maplewood city code has ordinances in place to help prevent or deal with conflicts. First and foremost, don’t leave your garbage in bags outside overnight. Residents must store their garbage in rodent-proof containers and have their garbage removed by a licensed hauler at least once a week. City code prohibits feeding of deer (see Deer article on page 2).

If an animal is making mischief of one kind or another you can deal with this through live trapping of unprotected animals only steel spring traps or discharging of a firearm (including bee bee guns) is prohibited in Maplewood.The problem with live trapping is you need a place to release the animal. It is illegal to release animals at most parks and preserves, so you’ll need to get permission from a landowner. Also make sure the release won’t have a negative impact on our native ecosystems (see Minnesota Wild article on page 4). For other advice on dealing with nuisance wild animals, visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resource’s website at www.dnr.state.mn.us/livingwith_wildlife. Living with wildlife brings joy and beauty. By learning more about the basic needs of wildlife species, our efforts to influence wildlife will be more effective. We have to manage our own behavior and property in ways where we can enjoy wild things, without them becoming a nuisance. And now, let the wild rumpus begin!

Turkey

Cottontail Rabbit

Photo by Jim Williams

Photo by Karen Wachal

“Wild Things” Found In Maplewood

Bald Eagle

Coyote


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