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As land is cleared away for urban growth, the natural habitat for wildlife grows smaller and smaller. Displaced wildlife enter “human” territory seeking food or shelter. Unfortunately, the loser in these human-wildlife conflicts is almost always the wild animal, who is removed or euthanized after people have fed them and encouraged them to come to their homes.
Here at Pasado’s Safe Haven, though, we promote mindful living, compassionate coexistence, and embracing the environment. When we first started our sanctuary many years ago, there were already wild animals living in the vicinity. We saw evidence of their visits with tracks and occasional sightings. We know that wildlife management tools like leg traps offer a “quick fix,” but the animals who are caught often suffer slow and painful deaths. Instead of making the wildlife leave their rightful homes, we decided to coexist with them. We did so by implementing some nature-friendly solutions.
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Llamas are natural herd protectors, and keep their herd on the alert for any predators. When we saw raptors like eagles and hawks flying in the skies above the farm, we planted trees. The foliage blocks the raptors’ line of vision, keeping our chickens and other cooped animals safe from harm.
The residents at Misty’s Kitty City stay safe and sound with their state-of-the-art fencing. The fence top has an electric wire to keep wildlife out, and inner fence is angled to ensure our kitties don’t try to stray.
We are also restoring large portions of our land, by re-planting native plants throughout our sanctuary. And at night, our animals are placed indoors to keep them safe from nocturnal hunters.
Compassionate coexistence means being aware of the changes that will affect your surroundings. It’s important to refrain from feeding wildlife, ensuring that all food storage containers are rinsed before recycle or disposal. Make sure that garbage cans, compost bins, and recycle bins are tightly secured, and store them in a shed or garage until the day of pick-up. Consider what you plant in your garden, selecting plants that produce fewer seeds, and keep your garden area fenced in. Keep your crawl spaces, sheds, and porches closed off, as well, using heavy gauge mesh buried at least one foot into the ground. Feeding your pets indoors and removing temptation can keep your pets safe and reduce your risk of an encounter.
Would you like to help promote our efforts for a compassionate coexistence? Your donation can help us continue to protect animals, both wild and domestic. One moment of your time can make a world of difference – and help us continue to share the
planet.
(don't forget
to ask your employer
to match your donation)
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