Wild Animal Facts

THE PELICAN KEPT KNOCKING ON THE GLASS — THEN THEY SAW WHAT WAS TRAPPED IN ITS WING

A Brown Pelican showed up at a NOAA fisheries facility in Panama City, Florida, and kept tapping against the glass.

Again. And again.

When scientists finally opened the door, they discovered why the bird was there. A double-barbed treble fishing hook was deeply embedded in its right wing, with several feet of monofilament fishing line wrapped around its body. Cactus spines were also stuck in one of its feet.

The rescue team carefully restrained the pelican and began the delicate process of removing the fishing gear. Because a treble hook has multiple sharp points, pulling it out carelessly could cause even more tissue damage.

The scientists first cut the barb, removed the hook, and then carefully unwound the fishing line.

The entire procedure took about 10 minutes.

Then came the moment everyone was hoping for.

The pelican spread its wings...

AND FLEW AWAY. 🪽❤️

The story is a powerful reminder that discarded fishing line and hooks can remain dangerous long after an angler has left the water. Monofilament is thin and difficult to see, making it especially hazardous to birds, turtles, dolphins, and other coastal wildlife.

If fishing line or tackle is lost, dispose of it responsibly and use designated monofilament recycling containers when available. If a wild animal becomes entangled or hooked, avoid putting yourself or the animal at unnecessary risk and contact trained wildlife professionals for assistance.

We may never know whether this pelican understood that humans could help.

But someone heard the tapping.

Someone opened the door.

And this time, the bird made it back to the sky. 🪽🌊

HE DIDN’T ENTER OUR NEIGHBORHOOD — OUR NEIGHBORHOOD GREW INTO HIS HOME. 🐾🌙

When a mountain lion appears on a security camera near a fence, backyard, or suburban road, it can look like the animal has suddenly moved into human territory. But the bigger story is often about habitat fragmentation.

Mountain lions need enormous territories to survive. They follow ridges, canyons, streams, brush, and deer trails—not property lines. As roads, subdivisions, fences, and highways expand, the natural routes these animals have used for generations can become fragmented or blocked.

That doesn’t mean encounters should be taken lightly. Mountain lions are powerful wild predators, and people should give them plenty of space. Never approach or chase one, keep children close, bring pets indoors, and avoid leaving pet food outside. If you encounter a mountain lion, give it a clear escape route and follow local wildlife-agency guidance.

Sometimes, that nighttime glimpse isn’t a lion looking for a neighborhood.

It’s a wild animal trying to find a way through what remains of its habitat.

The fence, the houses, and the freeway may tell as much of the story as the lion does. 🏔️🐾

BEAVERS: PARTNERS FOR LIFE — AND A FAMILY THAT STAYS TOGETHER

Beavers are remarkable builders, but their family life is just as fascinating. ❤️

A bonded pair can work together to maintain their lodge and defend their territory while raising their young. Their kits often remain with the family for around two years, helping create a close-knit group around the same pond.

That means one lodge may be home to parents, newborn kits, and older siblings—all sharing the same territory and contributing to life around the pond.

From repairing their lodge to gathering food and maintaining their watery habitat, beaver families demonstrate an impressive level of cooperation and family bonding.

🌿 One pond. One lodge. One hardworking family.
Nature has its own incredible stories of partnership, teamwork, and family.

🦫💚 Beavers are more than builders—they’re devoted family animals.

THE MOUSE TRAP DIDN’T CATCH A MOUSE. IT CAUGHT HIS WINGS. 🐦

A male Northern Cardinal arrived at a Florida wildlife hospital in September with no broken bones and no obvious life-threatening injury. But he still couldn’t fly.

The reason was stuck to his feathers: glue.

He had landed on a glue trap, and the adhesive had coated the tips of his primary flight feathers and tail feathers. Several secondary feathers were damaged as well.

For a bird, that is far more serious than it looks.

Those feathers are essential to flight. Their precise shape, alignment, and stiffness allow a cardinal to lift off, steer through trees, escape predators, and survive in the wild.

Even after rescuers freed him from the trap, the damaged feathers could still leave him grounded.

Thankfully, the rehabilitation team treated him carefully. Instead of pulling him away from the adhesive, they gradually removed the glue, supported him, and monitored his recovery.

About a week later, the feathers were no longer sticky, and his damaged tail feathers had already begun to regrow.

Then came the most important test:

Could he fly?

The answer was yes. ❤️

He lifted into the air, made controlled turns, and showed no obvious difficulty. He passed his flight test and was on his way toward release.

But his story is also a warning.

Glue traps don't know the difference between a mouse and other wildlife. Birds, lizards, snakes, squirrels, and other animals can become trapped too. Wildlife caught on adhesive boards may suffer exhaustion, dehydration, fractures, feather damage, skin injuries, and prolonged stress.

⚠️ If you ever find a bird or wild animal stuck to a glue trap, DO NOT PULL IT FREE. Removing an animal by force can cause additional injuries. Keep the animal as calm as possible and contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for guidance.

A glue board may look harmless sitting on the floor.

But to an animal that touches it, “sticky” can quickly become “impossible to escape.”

Choose pest-control methods that reduce the risk to wildlife, pets, and other unintended animals.

🪽 Protect wildlife. Choose safer pest control. Keep exposed traps away from animals.

HALLOWEEN WEBS CAN BECOME A DEADLY TRAP FOR WILDLIFE 🐦

Those stretchy synthetic “cobwebs” may make a house look spooky, but to birds, bats, and other small wildlife, they can become dangerous entanglement hazards.

During fall migration, birds may pass through unfamiliar yards searching for food and shelter. A single strand can catch a wing, leg, or toe, and struggling to escape can make the fibers tighten even more. Wildlife rehabilitators have reported treating birds—including hummingbirds, songbirds, and owls—caught in artificial Halloween webbing.

🎃 A safer way to decorate: Choose carved pumpkins, paper or wooden decorations, securely installed lights without loose loops, and other decorations that wildlife can easily see and cannot become wrapped in.

Halloween should be spooky for us—not dangerous for the animals sharing our neighborhoods. ❤️🦉

THE DUCK ISN’T RESTING — IT MAY BE LOSING THE ABILITY TO HOLD ITS HEAD UP

A duck sitting unusually low in the water, struggling to fly, showing weak legs or drooping wings, and repeatedly unable to keep its head upright may be showing signs of avian botulism, a serious neurological disease affecting waterbirds.

Known as “limberneck,” the condition occurs when botulinum toxin interferes with communication between nerves and muscles. As paralysis progresses, a bird may lose the strength needed to hold its head above the water, potentially leading to drowning.

The disease can become especially dangerous in wetlands because of the carcass–maggot cycle. Dead birds can attract flies, whose maggots may accumulate botulinum toxin and then be eaten by other birds, allowing the outbreak to spread.

At Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge in California, an active 2026 outbreak has resulted in thousands of reported bird deaths, with refuge staff working to remove carcasses and reduce the cycle of transmission.

⚠️ If you encounter a sick or dead waterbird:
• Keep pets away.
• Avoid handling wildlife with bare hands.
• Do not assume the bird is simply resting.
• Contact local wildlife authorities, refuge staff, or a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

Not every weak or paralyzed bird has botulism—other diseases, toxins, and injuries can cause similar symptoms. Professional assessment is needed for confirmation.

Sometimes the most serious wildlife emergencies don't look dramatic. A bird may still have intact feathers and wings while losing the muscle strength needed simply to keep its head above water.

THE HOOF REMEMBERS: THE MYSTERY BEHIND A DEER’S CRACKED HOOF

A cracked or strangely grooved hoof on a white-tailed deer may look like a simple injury—but sometimes, the story started weeks earlier.

Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) is a viral disease transmitted by tiny biting midges. In severe cases, the virus damages blood vessels, disrupts circulation, and can cause high fever, weakness, swelling, bleeding, and other serious symptoms.

Some deer survive the infection. When circulation and normal hoof growth are disrupted during illness, the hoof can later develop horizontal grooves, cracks, abnormal growth, deformation, or even sections that begin to slough away.

As the hoof continues growing, that defect moves downward—almost like a biological timestamp recording a past health crisis.

That means a deer seen weeks later may appear mostly recovered while its hoof still carries visible evidence of what happened.

⚠️ Signs of active EHD may include:
• Unusual weakness or stumbling
• Swelling around the head or neck
• Excessive salivation
• Bloody discharge
• Spending unusual amounts of time in or near water
• Acting unusually unafraid of people

EHD does not normally spread directly from deer to deer. It is transmitted by biting midges, and transmission generally decreases after hard freezes kill the insects.

If you encounter a sick or freshly dead deer, contact your local wildlife agency so the report can help officials monitor disease activity.

And remember: not every cracked hoof is caused by EHD. Trauma and other hoof conditions can produce similar abnormalities, so the cause cannot be determined from the hoof alone.

Sometimes wildlife disease doesn't leave a scar on the skin.

It leaves a line in the hoof. 🦌

The Tiny Bird Facing the Gulf

That little ruby-throated hummingbird at your feeder may be doing far more than simply feeding. As autumn migration begins, it can spend days building precious fat reserves for the journey south—including, for some birds, an extraordinary flight across the Gulf of Mexico. 🌊

A bird weighing only a few grams can prepare for hours of nonstop flight over open water, with nowhere to land and no flowers along the way. That extra weight isn’t wasted—it’s fuel for survival.

So if you see hummingbirds visiting your feeder again and again in late September or early October, you may be witnessing one of nature’s most remarkable preparations. Keep your feeder clean and supplied during migration season—it can provide an important food source for birds still passing through.

Tiny body. Massive journey. Incredible instinct. ❤️🐦

The Buck Left More Than Footprints Behind 🦌⚠️

A deer scrape may look like nothing more than disturbed soil—but it can be much more than that. During the fall breeding season, bucks repeatedly visit scrapes, urinate in them, rub and lick nearby branches, and leave behind scent and biological material.

For deer infected with Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), those behaviors may create opportunities for infectious prions to enter the environment. The disturbing part? A deer can appear healthy while shedding infectious material, and CWD prions can persist in contaminated environments for years.

Researchers are studying deer scrapes as potential sites of indirect CWD transmission, highlighting how a simple patch of dirt can become part of a much larger disease network.

The deer may leave. The invisible risk may remain.

THE HARE TURNS WHITE BEFORE THE SNOW ARRIVES ❄️

Nature’s timing isn’t always synchronized with the weather.

As autumn days get shorter, snowshoe hares begin changing their brown summer coats into white winter fur—even when the ground is still completely snow-free. Their bodies are responding to changes in daylight, not waiting for the first snowfall.

That creates a dangerous camouflage mismatch: a white hare standing against brown forest floor can become much easier for predators to spot. Researchers have found that this mismatch can significantly reduce survival during periods when snow cover and coat color no longer line up.

The hare isn’t making a mistake. It’s following an ancient biological clock. The challenge is that seasonal snow conditions are changing faster than that clock can adapt.

Two calendars. One hare. And a changing climate. 🌎🐇