Hurricane Harvey - Wildlife In Crisis, The Rescue - How You Can Help (Part Three)

Hurricane Harvey – Wildlife In Crisis, The Rescue – How You Can Help (Part Three)

Hurricane Harvey – Wildlife In Crisis

Wildlife, in natural disasters such as Hurricane Harvey are left vulnerable unless they can find safe shelter. They become battered, tossed and many drown unless they can find higher ground. Specialized rescue groups have stepped forward to help a vast variety of wildlife.

Texas Wildlife Fact Sheet – Including amphibians, birds, fish, Invertebrates, mammals and reptiles

Huffpost: Here’s How Harvey Is Affecting Wild Animals – The Houston SPCA Wildlife Center of Texas has been “bombarded” with requests to help injured or waterlogged wildlife, and has taken in 225 animals since Friday, executive director Sharon Schmalz told HuffPost. She expects that number to grow in the coming days, as the waters recede and more people are able to get around.

WILDLIFE

9 of the Sweetest Animal Rescues From Hurricane Harvey – “While the National Guard has been deployed to rescue humans from the increasingly dangerous situation in Texas, these brave people have also made sure that no animal—whether a pet or a wild animal—gets left behind either.” (Animal rescues featured includes dogs, cats, squirrels, birds, pigs, bats, and cattle)

**Video: A Hawk is seeking refuge in my taxi from Hurricane Harvey – (Aug. 25, 2017) “Hurricane Harvey is approaching and a Coppers hawk seeks refuge in my car and does not want to leave. .”**

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6MjdV_8E6Q

ALLIGATOR FARM IN JEOPARDY

350 alligators could escape flooded Gator Farm near Houston – “Gary Saurage, owner of the 15-acre Gator Country in Beaumont, Texas, told TV station KFDM that while his preserve uses “certified, high fences,” they may not stop his hundreds of rescued alligators from sliding over fence tops if the water continues to rise.”

BATS IN JEOPARDY

Bats are extremely important to the ecosystem. Due to their size they are extremely vulnerable. They serve a valuable service of pest control by their diet of insects and mosquitoes.

Hurricane Harvey’s putting bats at risk—but help is on the way – “There are many groups on the front lines saving livestock and wildlife. Some are located within Texas while some rescuers pitched in to help from outside Texas.”

FIRE ANTS IN JEOPARDY

I do not think too many would have the thought of rescue in mind when it comes to fire ants. They are venomous. Their sting it is very painful. The skin swells and become irritated. The venom is extremely dangerous to those who are allergic,

Fire Ants Are Yet Another Hazard in Houston’s Flooded Streets – But certainly among the creepiest images to emerge were the rust-colored mounds formed by colonies of fire ants, the nightmarish spawn of the deadly storm that first made landfall last week and soaked South Texas with record-setting rains.

POSSUM/OPOSSUM IN JEOPARDY

Video: Possum cowers in terror from flood waters as Hurricane Harvey

REPTILES IN JEOPARDY

A scary part of flooding is reptiles seeking higher grounds. Texas reptiles include alligators, lizards, snakes and turtles. Many snake breeds are highly dangerous and poisonous. It is best to give them distance until experts can remove them.

South Texas Poison Center – Texas is home to the following venomous snakes: the Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Rattlesnake, Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, Timber Rattlesnake,Mojave Rattlesnake, Blacktail Rattlesnake, Western Rattlesnake, Massasauga, Pygmy Rattlesnake, and Harlequin Coral Snake.

Pets and wildlife navigate Texas flooding – “The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office had warned last week that reptiles, like humans, are seeking higher ground when it floods. “Expect them to be displaced,” the office tweeted. “Leave alone until water recedes.”

RESCUE GROUPS

Those who would like to help, but are unable to be there can still help fund rescue efforts. Always check the credibility of any organization before sending money or donations. During a crisis there is never a shortage of scam artists so make sure your heart is reaching out reliable charities.

Charity Navigator is an essential resource in vetting charities for efficient use of your funds and accountability.