What To Do Wednesday Archives

What To Do Wednesday: Issue #7

April 16, 2014/in What To Do Wednesday, Blog

What to do about dangerous, wildlife “unfriendly” fencing.

Jeremy Roberts, Conservation Media

Spring is the time of year that people typically associate with “home improvement,” whether it be cleaning out their house, sprucing up their yards, or working on various other construction projects. This also makes it a good time of year to assess your property, and identify potential hazards and risks for wildlife. Fences are just one such hazard, but they can be a significant one if not maintained or properly built in the first place. This week, we’re taking a look at wildlife friendly fencing, and how and why you should build your fence with animals big and small in mind.

What To Do Wednesday: Issue #6

April 9, 2014/in What To Do Wednesday, Blog

What to do if your neighbor is feeding wildlife.

A cougar family that was relocated after preying on human-fed deer in an urban area (Photo: Jackson Hole News & Guide / courtesy photo)

They say everyone likes a little drama. While we at The Cougar Fund typically prefer to get straight to “the facts,” we have decided to delve deeper into one of the more controversial issues when it comes to wildlife. Feeding wildlife – such as putting out salt licks for ungulates or grains to attract small mammals (bird feeders aren’t a problem, so long as you hang them properly and at the right time of year) – is one such issue, and a perfect topic to discuss in our What To Do Wednesday series.

What To Do Wednesday: Issue #5

April 2, 2014/in What To Do Wednesday, Blog

What to do to keep bears out of your yard.

Photo Credit: jessleephotos.com / Defenders of Wildlife

By this point, most people will be well aware that bears are out and about again. As we highlighted in an earlier post, living with bears (and all carnivores) requires that we make a number of changes to our lifestyle and behavior in order to safely coexist. It was recently brought to our attention, however, that there is an often overlooked bear-human safety issue: lawns & gardens. Things like bird feeders, carrying bear spray when recreating, and proper trash and food storage get a lot of attention (rightly so), but it may not be particularly obvious that something as subtle as your lawn can be a major bear attractant. Hence, we believe it is worth discussing how to keep bears out of your yard.

What To Do Wednesday: Issue #4

March 26, 2014/in What To Do Wednesday, Blog

What to do to keep you and your pets safe from traps on public lands.

Here in Jackson Hole, and in many other places throughout the West, the thaw has begun! By now, many of us are itching to get outside and use our feet as our primary mode of transportation (as opposed to skis, snowshoes, and other over-snow tools). Hiking brings with it a whole slew of safety considerations (bears, sudden changes in weather, dehydration, exposure, etc), but this week we’ve decided to take a look at traps on public lands, and how you can keep yourself and your pets safe while recreating.

Sydney, the yellow lab on the right, was caught in a trap.

Trapping is an issue that hits close to home for The Cougar Fund. Sydney, the yellow lab pictured above, was caught in a small animal trap near Moran, Wyoming. She lost eight teeth (all her canines), and had an injury to her foot. There are countless other stories like this (and many that end a lot worse), and it raises the importance of better understanding trapping and how to stay safe while recreating.

What To Do Wednesday: Issue #3

March 12, 2014/in Blog, What To Do Wednesday

What to do if you see a cougar near your home.

Too close for comfort. (Photo: Billings Gazette / Courtesy Photo)

Following the recent news that a cougar was killed by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks for getting too comfortable around a Helena home, it seems appropriate to discuss the nuances of safely coexisting with these felids. Because cougars are wild animals, their behavior can be unpredictable – but not as unpredictable as you might think. As a result, learning a little bit about these cats can go a long way in helping you understand when they are or aren’t a threat, and how you can prevent conflict. So, if you see a cougar near your home, consider these points:

What To Do Wednesday: Issue #2

March 5, 2014/in Blog, What To Do Wednesday

What to do when bears start emerging from hibernation.

Photo Credit: Tom Mangelsen

Incredibly, March is already here and we’re slowly but surely crawling towards spring. Spring brings many welcome changes: the thaw, wildflowers, longer days, and warmer temperatures. It also brings a few challenges for residents and recreational users throughout the west, none more significant than the emergence of bears from hibernation. When bears exit their dens is highly variable and dependent primarily on environmental conditions. In the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, for example, grizzly bears can emerge anytime from the first week of February to the last week of May, with males typically leaving earlier then females (Haroldson et al., 2002). Thus, we can reasonably expect for bears to be active very soon, if not already!

Of course, living and playing in bear country comes with a number of responsibilities. However, a few simple lifestyle changes can go a great way in helping people and bears stay safe. Here are a few reminders and tips to help you prepare for life (again) with Ursus arctos horribilis and Ursus americanus:

What To Do Wednesday: Issue #1

February 26, 2014/in What To Do Wednesday, Blog

What to do if you encounter a cougar while skiing or snowshoeing in the backcountry.

It’s February, and the snow is flying in the western mountains. For many of us, that means putting on skis or snowshoes and exploring the backcountry. Many of us head outdoors to find wildlife, but what should you do if the animal you spot while enjoying pristine powder is a cougar?