WILDLIFE
but are more numerous in downtown Fort Pierce.
People are warned to refrain from feeding them. Once
dependency is established, there could be a peck of trouble
because they know where to find a meal. Other urban areas
around the state are at odds with bird lovers about controlling
overpopulation of these beauties because they are loud
and a nuisance. Many communities like Rio are overrun with
no recourse.
It’s also illegal to feed sandhill cranes. They congregate on
golf courses and along major roadways like St. James Drive
and their voices emit an eerie, guttural clack.
Bees are on the loose, too. A large colony was recently
removed from a utility box on Ravenswood Lane. It was near
a sidewalk, potentially causing a risk to pedestrians. Beekeepers
and trappers can be found online or in the phone book
when a situation is too close to home.
Armadillos creep around at night but have poor eyesight.
They burrow under decks and cooling units and dig holes in
yards looking for grubs. Remove items around the house that
might provide shelter for these unwanted guests and close
up gaps so scavengers like opossums don’t get in your attic
and create havoc. Since they don’t live very long, a carcass
can rest in crawlspaces or walls. Raccoons are also known to
creep into attics to give birth.
An opossum baby found away from its mother is considered
orphaned and needs urgent help. If unsure about any
baby animal – a small bird, rabbit or squirrel – Sgt. Lloyd
assures that it will be fine if left where they are and urges
people not to handle them. Birds often leave the nest before
they can fly and parents are usually nearby.
He added that baby rabbits are secure in a nest below >>
CITY OF PORT ST. LUCIE
City animal control officers David Lichtenfels and Lisa Brown will make
house calls when an animal needs to be removed.
Port St. Lucie Magazine 27
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