Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation in Kendalia — the rescue group most Canyon Lake residents call when they’re unsure of what to do with an injured or orphaned animal — warns that fireworks don’t sound like a celebration to animals.
They sound like danger.
“The Fourth of July is a dangerous night for native wildlife, especially those already struggling to survive in habitats fragmented by roads and buildings,” the Kendalia-based rescue said on social media today.
This time of year, wildlife are raising their young. One loud night can cause lasting harm.
Birds flee into the night sky in panic, disoriented and unable to see where they’re going. Many collide with trees, power lines and buildings.
In their panic, mammals bolt from dens and nests, running into fences, roadways, or other threats.
Infant wildlife can become orphaned, too young to survive without all the adults who were frightened away.
Fireworks debris pollutes habitats and waterways, putting animals at risk of entanglement, poisoning and ingestion.
Stress alone can be fatal. For animals already injured, sick, or raising young, the shock of explosions and the chaos that follow can take a toll on their bodies from which they may not recover.
A quieter night means a safer one for all animals.
For more information, visit wildlife-rescue.org.
