Let's talk snakes: The Copperhead Edition

It's time to have THE TALK again!  The everysnakeisnotacopperhead talk. The don’tgoaroundkillingsnakes talk. The snakesarebeneficialtotheenvironment talk.

I saw a report recently from a local news station, talking about snakes being seen more frequently and that we have six venomous species in North Carolina.

My experience has been that it doesn't take a lot to send folks off the deep end when it comes to snakes, and a lot of beneficial snakes end up being killed as a result.

So let's talk snakes!

If you want a really good resource, buy a copy of Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, 4th edition. I found used copies on Amazon for around $11 and new ones for about $13.  This science-based book tells how to identify snakes, provides pictures, and has range maps showing where different species are found.

Did you know NC is home to about 40 species of snakes?  That's a lot!  The information that people really want to know about is how many are venomous (poisonous is not the correct term to use).  The answer to that is six.  How many of those are in this area?  Only one.  Yep, the copperhead is the only venomous snake we have here.

So let's talk about copperheads.  If you know what they look like, some of their habits and how to avoid being bitten you don't have to be so afraid of them.  And we'll look at what you can do if you have a snake of any kind in your yard.

According to the book, copperheads are the most common venomous snake in most parts of our state. I spotted one on a sandbar in the creek on the greenway just last Sunday, and I've seen several over the years on my weekly walk.

“Copperheads are in the pit viper family, with a heat-sensing pit located between and slightly lower than the eyes and the nostrils.  This helps them locate warm-blooded animals as they are hunting for food. 
”

Identifying copperheads

What do they look like?  At maturity they are around three feet in length. According to Grover Barfield, Director of Carolinas Reptile Rescue and Education Center, baby copperheads can be a grayer shade of brown color when born and juveniles have a pale yellow to bright yellow to lime green tail, which they wiggle to attract prey.  The tail stays that color for around a year.  Copperheads usually have a Hershey kiss, or hourglass, pattern from the neck to near the end of the tail.  Like many animals there can be a variation in coloring and patterns.  The head is somewhat triangular and the eyes usually have a vertical pupil, but in low light conditions at night they can be more round.  You probably don't want to get close enough to see that, but it's easy to see with binoculars.  By the way, Barfield says that a Google search of copperhead photos does not provide reliable information for our area.  Instead he recommends the Peterson’s Field Guide discussed above.

Copperheads are in the pit viper family, with a heat-sensing pit located between and slightly lower than the eyes and the nostrils.  This helps them locate warm-blooded animals as they are hunting for food.  They will eat mice, insects, frogs and small birds.  One of their favorite insects are emerging cicadas, they can and will climb trees and shrubs to capture and eat them. 

 Don't want copperheads in your yard?  Eliminate potential habitat, like wood piles and other places to hide, and keep the grass cut short so that you can see them.  Be extra careful when you start moving pieces of wood around.  Copperheads, and lots of other snakes, will vibrate their tail against an object as a warning.  They also release a musk that Barfield describes as smelling something like a male cat sprays to mark his turf.  Some resources describe it as a cucumber smell.  

It's not unusual to see these snakes basking on rocks or pavement, absorbing the warmth.  They can be seeing during the day or at night.   According to Barfield, their habitat is "being destroyed at an exponential rate," so it's no wonder that we see them.

According to Greg Stringer, a NC Damage Control agent and local volunteer who relocates snakes, avoid using glue traps and netting.  All kinds of animals are trapped in those materials.  Also, moth balls and Snake Away aren't effective in deterring snakes from coming onto your property.  

Now for some really useful information.  How can you avoid being bitten?

First, if you see a copperhead, leave it alone.  They do not chase people, as I've heard more than once.  More people are bitten trying to kill or move the snake. so simply walk away.  Cornering a snake is never a good idea, as you leave it few options.

Wear gloves when you're gardening and avoid reaching into or under something when you can't see what's there.  Leaf litter provides good camouflage for copperheads, making it very difficult to see them.

Next, don't walk around in your yard barefoot after dusk.  Remember those heat-sensors we talked about earlier?  The snake doesn't differentiate between your foot and a mouse.  It senses heat and strikes.  So put your shoes on and use a flashlight! 

What happens if you are bitten?

Adult snakes may elect to release the entire venom load, or inject a partial load, or deliver a dry bite which releases no venom.  You may have heard that the venom of juveniles is more potent, but that is not true.  Juveniles can control the amount venom injected just as adults do.   However, they have smaller venom glands and therefore don’t have the same amount of venom as adults.

Don't buy into those old legends that say to cut the area and suck out the venom - not true and not helpful!  Also, don't use a tourniquet or ice; these can cause a lot of damage.  Just head for the hospital.  While copperhead bites are painful, there are very few deaths resulting from them on an annual basis, and those result from pre-existing health conditions. Animals which are bitten require immediate veterinary treatment

When you see a copperhead, what do you do?

And now for the last bit of information that I bet you're going to find very useful.  Let's say you spot a copperhead (which you can now reliably identify). What are your options?

• You can do nothing. Trying to capture or kill a venomous snake puts you at risk.  Simply move away.

• You can squirt them with a strong stream of water from a safe distance.

If you have children and animals you may not love those ideas.  There are people you can call who will come and relocate the snake for you.  That includes both venomous and nonvenomous snakes, both of which have a place in the environment. Here are a couple:

• Greg Stringer (336-212-1673) - Greg volunteers his services.  He asks instead that you make a donation in his name to Carolina Waterfowl Rescue (cwrescue.org).

• Jay Bell - Jay is a former Animal Control officer who has an educational business called Reptiles 101.  He charges $25 for calls in Union County and $40 for surrounding counties.  He can be reached at 704-906-7524 or you can message him on Facebook at Reptiles 101.

Want more resources on snakes?  Here are some good ones: Name That Snake, Herps of NC, Carolina Herp Atlas, and NC Snake Identification & Education Group on Facebook.

This concludes my sometimes annual article on snakes.  I hope you found it educational and useful. Maybe, just maybe, someone is now interested in snakes! At least I hope you are no longer suffering from acute ophidiophobia, or fear of snakes.

Photos provided by Grover Barfield: adult, juvenile with tail color, adult in leaf litter

Barred {Owls} on the Greenway

“A pair of owls can check out a nest a whole year in advance before committing to it.”

Photo by Debbie LeBlanc Foster

We're right smack in the middle of baby bird season!  I've already had the first Northern cardinals, Carolina wrens, and Carolina chickadees fledge in my yard, and there are brown-headed nuthatches and Eastern bluebirds on the nest.  Exciting times!

We also had some very special babies on a property adjacent to the greenway in Matthews - barred owls!  These are the most common owls in our area.  They nest in cavities in trees, in chimneys, and in boxes.  It's not very hard to spot them, and they have a couple of vocalizations that help identify them.  One sounds like, "Who cooks for you?  Who cooks for you?  Who????"  The other sounds like a cross between monkeys run amok, gargling, and yodeling.  You'll know it from that description if you ever hear it!

The homeowners installed a barred owl box about eight years ago.  Last year they had their first residents, and it happened again this year.  An article from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology stated that the pair of owls can check out a nest a whole year in advance before committing to it!

Photo by Debbie LeBlanc Foster

The owls started visiting the nest box, which is installed on a two-story roof over the garage, around the first week of December.  The eggs were laid between March 20th to the 25th.  Barred owls usually lay two to three eggs, occasionally more, and they are dull white in color.  The incubation period ranges from 28 to 33 days.  While the female is on the eggs, the male brings food to the nest.

After hatching, the young remain in the nest for four to five weeks, growing larger and eating more every day.  Then the really exciting period begins - sightings of the young birds.  The first appearance of an owlet this year was on April 30th.  They don't leave the nest, but just stick their heads out.  This happens more often as they get closer to "branching" or leaving the nest site.  Two of the owlets fledged on May 2nd and 3rd, with the final baby leaving on Wednesday, May 6th.

Many people don't know that birds learn to fly on the ground and don't return to the nest once they leave it.  This is true of owls, too.  They hop and practice flapping their wings, and usually end up in some kind of cover so that predators can't find them.

They'll stay in the general vicinity, building their flight skills and learning to hunt, with their parents nearby.  In total, these birds are with the parents for around four months!  

Here are several pictures of the owl family.  The first is likely of the male, soaking wet after a night of rain.  The next Is one of the parents sitting in the woods, watching the nest box.  The final picture is one of the owlets, taken a day before the first one fledged.

This owl family kept people using the greenway engaged for months as they passed by the nest box.  Hopefully they'll be back next year to nest there again.  

We'll have to wait until December to see!

Photo by Debbie LeBlanc Foster

The Hummers Are Here!

“  Everybody loves these ruby-throated hummingbirds, which are nicknamed “flying jewels.””

Photo by Debbie LeBlanc Foster

Few birds get quite as much notice when they migrate back into our area as the ruby-throated hummingbirds.  Everybody loves these little guys, which are nicknamed "flying jewels."

Right now we're seeing the early migrants coming through, but it shouldn't be more than a couple of weeks until our regulars come back.  The males come first, followed by the ladies shortly after.

How can you attract these tiny birds to your yard?  

There are two things you can do - hang feeders and plant native plants.

Let's start with the feeders.

If you already have a feeder, give it a good scrub (get those ports clean!), rinse well, and let it dry in the sun.  You can either purchase liquid nectar, a powder that you mix with water, or make your own with four parts water to one part sugar.  Refrigerate the unused portion.  A quick search recommended using the refrigerated nectar within 7-14 days.

Photo by Debbie LeBlanc Foster

There are three critical pieces of information about using feeders.  First, you have to keep them clean.  This means frequent scrubbing in hot weather.  Next, please DO NOT use red dye.  It's harmful to the hummers and totally unnecessary.  The feeders themselves are red, which will attract the birds.  Finally, nectar has to be kept fresh.  That means changing it out every couple of days during our hot weather.  The bottom line is, if you can't commit to these three requirements then a feeder isn't the best choice for you.

The next way to attract hummingbirds is native plants.  The bonus here is you get bright, beautiful plants and the birds - win, win!

In my yard the three most popular plants are our native honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), bee balm (Monarda didyma) and our native scarlet hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus).

The honeysuckle is a vine that pretty much stays covered in blooms.  I've seen mine bloom year-round.  Right now It's got about 50 blossoms.  I'm including a picture so you can appreciate how beautiful this plant is, and how it looks nothing like that pesky invasive Japanese honeysuckle.

I  was surprised the first time I saw hummers on the bee balm.  But they did it so consistently that I've been able to get some fabulous pictures of them.

“The blooms are big enough to be used as a lawn chair for the birds!”

Photo by Debbie LeBlanc Foster

The final plant is our native hibiscus, not the kind you see for sale in the big box stores.  This spectacular plant grows on canes and produces dinner-plate sized vibrant red blooms.  At the end of the season there are seed pods that you can share with friends, or you can just dig up a cane. As you can see from the picture, the blooms are big enough to be used as a lawn chair for the birds!

Now that we have the time to hang out in our yards we can really appreciate Mother Nature as she morphs from winter to spring.  Go outside and watch for the hummers!

Birding While In Isolation

“A mixed blessing is that we may have more time on our hands, and are home more.  The question is, what do we do with that time?”

These are scary times and a lot of us are worried and feel helpless when we watch the news.  I am, too, but I'm also grateful that this is happening during the spring.

New life is emerging all around us.  We see plants breaking through the soil.  We see insects starting to fly around.  And we see birds starting their mating seasons and other birds on their spring migration.  It's a grand time to be outside!

A mixed blessing of the Coronavirus is that we may have more time on our hands, and are home more.  The question is, what do we do with that time, at our home?

I think it's really important that we give children a love of, and connection to, nature.  They will not protect and conserve what they do not love and are not connected to.  What better time than spring to give them that connection?

Can you identify 12 of our bird species?  Can your children?  Even young children can recognize color and size differences, which is a great start to identifying birds.

Here are some birds that are so common in our area that we'll have a lot of opportunities to study them.  Binoculars can help, but most of these are right out in front of us and we can easily see them with the naked eye.

1. Northern Cardinals - Our most common bright red bird. Males and females have different coloring, with females being less bright.

Image via Unsplash

2. American Robin - These guys usually come in a group, and they feed on the ground.

Image provided by author

3. Crow - We actually have two crows in this area, the American Crow and Fish Crow. They can be hard to tell apart by sight, but their calls are very different.

Image via Unsplash @jacksondesign

4. Eastern Bluebird - Males and females differ in color, with the females being pretty drab compared to the beautiful, bright blue males. These guys like to visit feeders, which makes them easy to spot.

Image provided by author

5. Blue Jay - These birds are much larger than the bluebirds, and a different color blue. They also have a cone-shaped crest on their head and they can be quite noisy. Their nickname is "Sentinel of the Forest" because they sound an alarm when predators are near.

Image via Unsplash @erinw

6. American Goldfinch - These tiny beauties visit feeders, too, and love sunflower chips and thistle. The males are a vibrant yellow with black markings and the females are more of a washed-out yellow. Goldfinches change color during the winter, with males and females becoming more of a drab olive color. People mistakenly think they migrate away from here because they're not used to seeing them in their winter coloring.

Image via Unsplash @mimurphy

7. Mourning Dove - These birds look a little on the chubby side, and are a soft gray. They hang out in trees and on feeders. They're known by their soft cooing sound, which some people think sounds sad.

Image provided by the author

8. Carolina Wren - These are adorable little brown birds with a white eyebrow and an upturned, perky little tail. They are huge singers and you would think the sound is coming from a much larger bird. They will build a nest absolutely anywhere - in shoes left outside, on top of a tire, in a mailbox.

Image provided by the author

9. Carolina Chickadee - These are small black and white-ish birds with bright black eyes. They're very helpful to beginning birders since they say their name - chickadeedeedee!

Image provided by the author

10. Red-bellied woodpecker - These are pretty big and very vocal. It's easy to spot them once you know their call. Their red head is a lot easier to see than their red belly.

Image provided by the author

11. Black vulture - Large birds who are sometimes called Mother Nature's cleanup crew. Some people mistakenly call these buzzards, but we don't have buzzards in the US. These birds are awkward on the ground but soar gracefully in the air.

Image provided by author

12. Barred owl - This is the most common own in our area and there are a lot of them around! The best way to make sure you're identifying them correctly is to listen for them. Their call sounds like they're saying, "Who cooks for YOU? Who cooks for YOU? Who? Who?"

Image provided by author

And there you have it - twelve birds that you can easily see around Matthews, many in your very own backyard!

Enjoy spring!  Go get a dose of nature!

Leave the Leaves!

Save your weekends! Protect your back! Support our wildlife and environment!

Photo by Debbie LeBlanc Foster

With temperatures still hitting 90 in October, it seems like fall was a long time coming this year, but looking around town, we finally have some beautiful fall color. That means that fallen leaves will be right around the corner.

How about a plan to save your weekends, protect your back, save some cash, and support our wildlife and environment, all at the same time?

Raking is hard on the back and time-consuming. Leaving the leaves on the ground provides fertilizer for trees and shrubs, so no need to go buy fertilizer. That gives you time for dinner and a movie, with no trip to the chiropractor needed.

Many kinds of wildlife depend on leaf litter. Eastern towhees, brown thrashers, and white-throated sparrows scratch around in the litter looking for tasty worms and bugs, which make their homes in the decomposing leaves.

“Butterflies and moths may over-winter as pupae and caterpillars. Eastern box turtles, worms, salamanders, toads, toads and even chipmunks use leaves for food and shelter.”

Look carefully, and you may find other critters in those leaves. Butterflies and moths may overwinter as pupae and caterpillars. Eastern box turtles, worms, salamanders, toads, toads, and even chipmunks use leaves for food and shelter.

Brace yourself for a startling statistic. In 2015 the Environmental Protection Agency reported that yard debris comprised almost 35 million tons of material, representing 13% all waste. A large percentage of this went to municipal recycling, while the rest went to landfills. Is this a problem?

Yes, it is. Decomposing yard waste releases methane gas into the atmosphere. Our landfills are reaching capacity, and leaf material just doesn't belong there. Rake it under and around trees and shrubs, run over it with a mulching mower or use it in a compost bin. Here's a link with great information on different types of composting.

So when spring arrives next year, you can pat yourself on the back for giving Mother Nature a helping hand - and all of her little creatures, too! Just leave the leaves!

Fall Plant Sales for Native and Unusual Plants

Happy Fall! There are several ways to tell that we're into the fall season - a date on the calendar, the weather, and the fall plant sales. Ok, I admit we're only into fall by two out of three there, 'cause the weather sure isn't showing it.

We can't control the weather, but we can sure add to our yards by hitting up some of the sales. Here's a list of them.

Photo by Debbie LeBlanc Foster

Wing Haven Fall Plant Sale

• Members only 10/2 from 9-5

• !0/3 from 9-5

• Here's a link to the list of plants that will be available: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/575b2f93859fd0ac8b82b10e/t/5d8d1ed6824b1c61e60ceae2/1569529558723/2019+FALL+plant+list.pdf

• Park only in clearly marked areas.

UNCC Fall Plant Sale

• Members-only 10/3. from 12-3. Definitely worth joining to get first dibs!

• Sale - 10/4, 10/5 - 9-3

• CAB building, UNC Charlotte. 220 CAB Lane, Charlotte, NC 28262

• Plants are clearly marked: native plants, rare or choice plants, growing conditions.

• Lots of people available to answer questions.

• Parking on-site

• All proceeds go towards the gardens and greenhouse

CPCC - Cato Campus Annual Fall Plant Sale

• Sale - 10/4 - 9-6; 10/5 - 9-noon

• Follow this link for more information and a 10% off coupon: https://www.cpcc.edu/news/cato-campus-host-annual-fall-plant-sale-oct-4-5?fbclid=IwAR3pbHhkzypQxmo33eJTLGqvWhuGXIsXMi4V1Lgz1eDnZaPYA0oTMu9dics

• Parking on-site.

Grab lots of native plants that benefit our pollinators and wildlife!

Get your fall on, y'all!

Easy Actions for Sustainability

It’s hot and I’m bothered. 

Why?  Because I’m an unabashed, unapologetic tree-hugger.  I like big trees and I cannot lie! Because I’m a Central Carolinas Master Naturalist, National Wildlife Federation Habitat Steward and Habitat Host and Habitat Ambassador, and Audubon Ambassador, and Mecklenburg County Master Composter, and have  certificate in Native Plant Studies from UNCC I get a lot, repeat, a lot, of feeds to my Facebook account on all things environmental.

And folks, let me tell you, we’re in a mess.  Between habitat loss, mass tree-cuttings, use of exotic plants instead of natives, loss of environmental legislation, climate change, and the huge issue of plastic use (just to name a few), we’re in a big mess.

The question is, what the heck can we do about it???? As individuals we can’t set policy, single-handedly control elections, change the behavior of manufacturers.  But we can still take action and make a difference.

I’m going to be sharing a variety of ideas in the coming weeks.  What I’m hoping is that you find a few of them that you will commit to.

Let’s start with straws.

Let’s start with straws.  I’ve seen some articles that said straws are not a big problem in the overall scheme of things.  But straws are an easy thing for us to control, so let’s start there.

First, just say no.  When you’re eating out and a server gives you a straw, smile and give it back.  I always do it at the beginning of the meal so that it doesn’t get wet or dirty, and I don’t know what happens to unused straws at the end of the meal.  Are they put back into the box or thrown out because they’ve been on the table?

If you really want to use a straw, take your own.  There are so many options to choose from.  I’m including some pictures.  I found all these online.  They’re cheap and durable.

No more plastic water bottles

The next step?  No more plastic water bottles.  According to www.earthday.org humans purchase 1,000,000 plastic bottles per MINUTE.  The really horrible thing is that the US only recycles about 23% of theirs. 

Butts don’t swim

Final idea for today: if you’re a smoker, please don’t throw your butts on the beach or in our bodies of water.  Please don’t toss them on the ground where they can be swept into our storm drain system, ultimately ending up in our streams and rivers.  Chemicals that leach from the cigarette are often toxic and harm wildlife, bodies of water, and the ecosystem.

Here’s a visual for you:  in 2018 the Ocean Conservancy’s annual clean-up resulted in 2,412,151 cigarette butts being collected.  According to oceanconservancy.org those butts would line the distance of five marathons!

 If you’re someone who loves going to the beach, pick up trash while you’re there.  You’ll do a good deed and get some exercise.  Get your kids involved, too.

I was with a group of friends at a local coffee shop recently.  I always have a reusable straw in my purse, but I was really happy to see a friend pull one out.  Another friend questioned her about it and she replied that she only uses it on Thursday afternoons at the coffee shop.

Room for improvement?  Sure.  But it’s a starting point.  It’s a change and it’s moving in the right direction.

Spring Plant Sales: Creating your native garden

Photo by Debbie LeBlanc Foster

If you're a gardener this time of the year is like Christmas all over again!  Lots and lots of native plant sales where you can get your fix.

Two of my very favorite sale are at Wing Haven and UNCC at the McMillan Greenhouse.  Both have excellent selections of plants and, great for beginners, knowledgeable people to answer your questions. Both have a Membership Day the day before the sale opens to the public.  Believe me, it's worth it to join!  Just show up the day before and pay the membership fee.

Wing Haven's sale started Thursday, April 4th and runs through Saturday, April 6th.  Hours are 9-5.

UNCC is next week, from Thursday, April 11th (12-3) through Saturday, April 13th (9-3). 

You'll see perennials, groundcovers, vines, shrubs and trees, along with annuals.  And there will be plants for sun and plants for shade.

Get there early and follow signs for parking at each location.

See ya there!

Photo by Debbie LeBlanc Foster

Creating a Wildlife Habitat, Part V: Sustainable Practices and Certification

Image courtesy National Wildlife Federation

Hope you've enjoyed this series on how to create wildlife habitats in your yard, school, place of worship and business.

Let's add one more requirement - sustainable gardening practices. This means being aware of what you're using and under what conditions. Some people will choose to go the all organic route, while others may have a problem that may need to be addressed strategically with a chemical.

Choose the most environmentally-friendly tool for the job and follow directions carefully. Avoid spraying on a windy day because you might contaminate your food and water sources.

---

Now we’ve covered the essentials.

Food, water, cover, places to raise young, sustainable gardening practices? Check!

There's just one thing left to discuss: how to certify your wildlife habitat; it's incredibly easy. Visit the National Wildlife Federation Certify page and fill out the simple application form. There is a one-time fee of $20 which goes to National Wildlife Federation. You'll receive a personalized certificate with a number for your site, a subscription to the Garden for Wildlife e-newsletter, a one-year membership to NWF, a subscription to National Wildlife magazine, 10% off NWF catalog merchandise (great for items for your yard and gifts for nature lovers), and an option to purchase a sign designating your yard as a Certified Wildlife Habitat with National Wildlife Federation.

Speaking of the signs, I highly recommend purchasing one. It's a great way to help educate your neighbors, clients, and anyone else who happens to pass by on how easy it is to provide habitat for wildlife. Prices range from $30 to $99. Check out the joint NC Wildlife Federation and National Wildlife Federation sign below with Ranger Rick! I also added a picture of the higher-end sign.

Here's hoping that I see lots more of these signs sprouting up all over Matthews as more people jump on board!

Image courtesy National Wildlife Federation

“Signs are a great way to help educate your neighbors, clients, and anyone else who happens to pass by on how easy it is to provide habitat for wildlife. ”

Creating a Wildlife Habitat, Part IV: Safe Places

Image courtesy Unsplash

In recent weeks we’ve discussed how to provide food and water. In this article we’ll look at providing cover and places to raise young.

Just as with food and water, these elements can be natural or man-made.

Cover gives an animal a place to escape predators. Trees, shrubs, rock piles and brush piles are great examples of places to dart into cover. Think about proving cover at different levels, from the ground up. Using native plants can give you cover as well as food, so you get a double benefit. They can also provide nesting sites for those animals who use trees and shrubs.

Man-made cover and places to raise young are the many boxes available. Examples include houses for bats, owls, birds and bees, just to name a few. Do your research to find out how to provide appropriate housing for whatever you’re trying to attract. Bat houses have to be at a certain height and face a certain direction. Particular species of birds require boxes of a certain size and the hole must be a specific diameter. Birds generally prefer to have cover behind (but not touching) the box, with open area to the front. You can even make a toad abode by turning a terra cotta flower pot on its side so that the toads have easy access to a cool place.

A common design for a bat house

In short, think like the wildlife you’re trying to attract. Location and protection is very important to wildlife.

Next time you’ll find out how to certify your wildlife habitat and how you can order a sign.

Creating a Wildlife Habitat, Part III: When Critters Get Thirsty

Photo courtesy Unsplash

Now that we’ve covered where to create wildlife habitats, what the requirements are, and looked at how to provide food for wildlife, let’s turn our attention to how to provide water. 

This is one of my favorites, because there are so many different ways to provide it, and because you can accessorize your water features!

As with the other elements, this can be naturally occurring or provided by you. Examples of natural water sources include ponds, lakes, streams, creeks, wetlands and even low places in your yard which hold water.

Man made water sources include bird baths, which come in a variety of sizes, materials and styles. Consider having more than one and varying the heights. If you want something to double as a water feature and yard art check out the beautiful glass models and metal baths with sculptures of birds. 

Another idea is to use the saucer from a terra cotta or plastic pot. You can set these on the ground, on a stump, or on a deck rail - or all three of those. Remember, some wildlife will stay close to the ground while others will drink and bathe higher up.

One thing to consider is placement. Avoid putting a water feature close to bushes where predators, like outdoor cats, can hide.

Now for the accessories! Water wigglers are battery-operated devices that agitate the water very slightly. This keeps the water fresher longer and discourages mosquitos from laying their eggs. Genius!

Another accessory is a dripper/mister. Birds are attracted by the sound of water, so you can set this for a very slow drip or a faster one that you can use to fill the bird bath. Put water-loving plants around it to catch overflow. Or you can use the mister, which puts out a very fine spray, cooling the area around it and some birds, like hummingbirds, will flit back and forth through the mist.

A similar idea is to use quarter inch tubing and snake it up a tree. You can purchase different ends which will allow different levels of spray. You’ll need a splitter to attach to the faucet, and will attach the tubing to that. You might notice birds bathing by rubbing against the wet leaves. 

Think about adding several different water features to really ramp up your habitat!

Photo by Debbie Leblanc Foster

Creating a Wildlife Habitat, Part II: Food for Thought

In the last article we looked at sites for wildlife habitats (homes, businesses, places of worship, and public sites such as parks). We also looked at the requirements: food, water, cover, places to raise young, and sustainable gardening practices.

In the next few installments we’ll examine each requirement separately to see how easy they are to provide.

Let’s kick off with food. This can be natural (like acorns, seeds, nuts) or something that you provide (like bird seed, suet or corn).

If you’re feeding birds, natural sources of food include plants that provide berries (like blueberries), seeds (echinacea or Black-eyed Susan), nuts (pecan or hazelnut), or nectar (for hummingbirds). Notice that these can all feed people, too!

To provide food in a fast and efficient manner think about using bird feeders. It’s important to do your research and know what foods your favorite birds prefer, what type of feeder to use, and where to hang it for the best result. Keeping feeders filled and cleaned is important. And make sure to buy quality seed instead of a giant bag of mostly millet, which most of our birds don't eat!

If squirrels eat a lot of your seed, add a baffle to prevent them from shimmying up a pole to help themselves to the bird food.  Remember that squirrels can jump quite a long ways from any direction, so take that into account when hanging feeders.

Winter months and cold weather can be hard on our birds.  I like to provide suet for a high energy food for birds.  It's easy to make your own and a great project for kids.  

Who doesn't love seeing hummingbirds?  Put out feeders in more than one location (out of the line-of-sight) and keep them clean by a weekly scrubbing.  The nectar will ferment quickly in very hot weather, so you'll need to change it regularly.

If you’re trying to attract pollinators, focus on providing a variety of native plants of different colors and shapes.  Use native plants to get the biggest environmental bang for your buck.

So there you have it - a quick and easy way to provide food for critters in your yard.  And the best thing is that you get the joy of seeing nature up close!

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Creating a Wildlife Habitat: Part I

Every wildlife habitat requires the same things: food, water, cover, places to raise young, and sustainable practices.

A lot of ground has been lost, literally and figuratively, on the environmental front recently. Rather than throwing your hands up in despair how about asking what we as individuals can do. Small acts can make a difference.

We’re going to explore how to create wildlife habitats in several columns. Today we’ll look at the requirements for wildlife habitats and places to create habitats. 

Every wildlife habitat requires the same things: food, water, cover, places to raise young, and sustainable practices. These requirements can be naturally occurring, such as a pond or berry-bearing plant, or you can provide them in the form of a bird bath or feeder. Over the next few columns, we’ll look at how easy it is to provide each of the required elements.

The best, and easiest, place to start is your own home. Size isn’t an obstacle. You can create a habitat at an apartment with a balcony or patio, a farm with acreage, or anything in between.

You can also create a wildlife habitat at a daycare, nursery school, as well as elementary, middle and high schools, and on college campuses. Obtaining permission from the school and/or county authorities is a starting point. Creating a budget is next, along with establishing a committee to create and care for the habitat long-term. Matthews has many examples of wildlife habitats at schools. Ask if your school is a habitat and if they need your help!

Businesses can also be habitats and can get good PR for taking this step. We have veterinarians to investment companies certified! Places of worship are logical places to care for flora and fauna. This is an excellent project for children of all ages. We have several places of worship that are wildlife habitats, and there’s always room for more.

Finally, public areas such as parks make fabulous habitats and provide education for all who use them with the addition of signage. Squirrel Lake Park is a great example, with large educational signs and small signs with QR codes for plant identification. Check out the bird feeder system that was created and is maintained by Habitat and Wildlife Keepers (HAWK), a local chapter of North Carolina Wildlife Federation.

Matthews is the 64th Community Wildlife Habitat certified by National Wildlife Federation. HAWK (Habitat and Wildlife Keepers, a local chapter of NC Wildlife Federation) created Matthews Naturally, a community-wide program which certified the Town as a wildlife habitat, and is responsible for recertifying every year. You can be part of Matthews Naturally by certifying your home, a school, place of worship or business.

Building habitats for wildlife is one small thing that makes a big difference, especially if we work together.

The Many Faces of Buzzing Bugs

Photo by Debbie LeBlanc Foster

Bees, wasps, and hornets are amazing creatures!  They are hard workers, often pollinating our flowers and food crops.  We have more than 4,000 species in the US! Did you know that North Carolina is home to more than 500 species of native bees? That’s the good news.  The bad news is that many of our pollinators are at risk, with populations declining by more than 30%, according to Our State magazine.

Let’s look at a few of these buzzing bugs with interesting names,  and how you can make a pollinator-friendly habitat in your yard.

Ever seen a Bald-faced Hornet? How about a Blue-winged Wasp?  A Cow Killer? All of these can be found in NC.

Image via Creative Commons photographer Piccolo Namek

The Bald-faced Hornet builds a bulbous nest that hangs  from a tree or shrub. Stay away from this one! These are aggressive hornets that can sting repeatedly.  Hire a professional to deal with a nest.

Image via Wikimedia Creative Commons

The Blue-winged Wasp is aptly named, with dark metallic blue wings that glint in the sunlight. It is a natural predator of the Japanese beetle, and its larva feed on the beetle grubs. What’s not to love about that!

Image via Wikimedia Creative Commons

Last we’ve got the Cow Killer, AKA the Red Velvet Ant.  These are not ants at all, but members of the wasp family.  The females are wingless and pack a powerful punch with their sting, reputedly enough to kill a cow!

Image via Wikimedia Creative Commons

Want to make your yard pollinator-friendly?  There are lots of ways!

• First, cut the chemicals.  Everything that lives in your yard,  from insects to birds, will thank you for it.

• Next, plant pollinator plants, like zinnias, echinacea, bee balm, coreopsis and goldenrod.  Wasps, hornets, and bees benefit, and you get to enjoy a color yard.

• Finally, be a little messy.  Don’t be so fast to deadhead and clean up plant litter around your yard.  These areas can provide over-wintering places.

These buzzing pollinators provide valuable services to us humans.  Embrace them in your yard!

Photo by Debbie LeBlanc Foster

SNAKESSSSSSSSS!

Just the word elicits a visceral response in lots of people! It’s a timely topic right now since it’s baby season for copperheads, sometime in late summer to fall.

Photo by Virginia Herpetological Society

Let’s look at how to identify copperheads, how they give birth, how to protect yourself from a bite, and address some myths surround the most common venomous snake in our area.

Copperheads are usually two to three feet in length, although they can be longer.  They have a stocky body that tapers rapidly near the tail  The first thing you want to look for is what’s often described as the “Hershey kiss” pattern.  Coloring can vary a bit, from brown, reddish-brown, to beige.  If you happened to have binoculars or were entirely too close, you could see a vertical pupil, as well as the triangular-shaped head.  The venom glands are stored just behind the eyes, creating the wedge shape.

Photo by Jay Bell, Reptiles 101

Copperheads give live birth to between one and 14 young. Juvenile copperheads have bright yellowish/green tails for about year, making this another identifying trait. They may use these colored tails to attract prey!

So how do you protect yourself from a bite? Arm yourself with knowledge! Copperheads are pit vipers with a heat-sensing receptor, which allows them to locate their prey. They are primarily nocturnal during the warmer months. Walking around at night in your yard barefoot isn’t a good idea. The snake is simply striking at a heat source. Wear shoes and watch where you step!

Don’t make a habitat for copperheads in your yard, especially near your house! Brush, rock, and wood piles are attractive to these snakes. The high water from Flo could also displace them from their regular hangouts.

Finally, people are more likely to be bitten when they are messing with the snake, especially trying to capture or kill them. Just give the snake a wide berth. If you would like any snake relocated, contact Carolina Waterfowl Rescue. People trained in how to safely handle snakes will pick it up and relocate it.

Let’s look at some of the myths surrounding copperheads. First, they are not by nature aggressive snakes. They don’t chase people down. They weigh less than three-quarters of a pound, so it doesn’t make sense for them to come after a human, or waste their venom load when a predator might come along.

Photo by Jay Bell, Reptiles 101

There are very few human deaths from copperhead bites. Bites are very painful and require medical treatment. Animals, particularly small ones, are at a greater risk.

Another frequently-heard myth is that baby copperheads have more venom, or more deadly venom, than adults Not true. What is true is that an adult might lunge, dry-bite or deliver a small amount of venom. Young snakes haven’t learned to do that yet, so they might inject the full venom load. It takes a while for them to build up the venom, which puts them at increased risk from predators.

I hope this article answers some of your questions, and fears, about copperheads. All animals have a purpose in the eco-system, so please don’t needlessly kill them.