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Wildlife/Questions
| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| Wild Mice | 2/6/2012 | Steven V. Matthews |
| Q: What foods do wild mice enjoy eating? I have 3 wild mice that like to eat bird seeds outside I was ... A: Mice will eat most anything. You need to be careful though since they could end up in your house in ... | ||
| What to do with Deer with 3 broken Legs | 1/30/2012 | Steven V. Matthews |
| Q: I stopped to wait with a deer on the side of the road this morning. She had 3 broken legs and was ... A: The best that can happen is that the police arrive quickly and dispose of the deer. Unfortunately, ... | ||
| Elephant Fear | 10/31/2011 | Steven V. Matthews |
| Q: is there any truth to the old saw about elephants being afraid of mice? If they are, why? If not, ... A: During the time I worked with elephants I saw mice stealing their food right out from under them and ... | ||
| Mallards and broken legs | 10/26/2011 | Steven V. Matthews |
| Q: I live in Florida in a neighborhood with many manmade ponds. Every fall through winter we get quite ... A: This is the first I heard of this phenomenon. Are the legs dangling, crooked maybe from being broke ... | ||
| pigeon rescue | 10/18/2011 | Steven V. Matthews |
| Q: I live in the WNY area . The "wild" pigeons in this area, all seem to travel in flocks. Except for " ... A: Too bad George isn't a female I could send you our male pigeon (I assume george is male). George ... | ||
| injured pet duck. "lost a leg" | 9/21/2011 | Steven V. Matthews |
| Q: a dog has attacked one of my pet ducks and its leg has been torn off at the joint where the feathers ... A: Unfortunately the duck was at a disadvantage somehow since it was attacked by a dog. Now, it's ... | ||
| suet feeders for woodpeckers | 9/7/2011 | Steven V. Matthews |
| Q: Greetings! I have 3 suet cages for block suet, and love seeing all the birds visit. I have a known ... A: Starlings are a real problem but most states allow removal by at least hunting since they are listed ... | ||
| fawn with broken front leg | 9/5/2011 | Steven V. Matthews |
| Q: we have several deer and fawns this year and have one fawn that has a broken front leg at the main ... A: It is unfortunate that this has happened to the fawn but even if it could be caught, treated, and ... | ||
| Young Rabbit Found | 8/21/2011 | Steven V. Matthews |
| Q: There is a very young wild rabbit living in the pipe of our driveway. He is over 3/4 white with a ... A: A mostly white rabbit in the US in a subdivision is probably a lost pet. It would be best kept as ... | ||
| Fledgling female American Goldfinch | 7/15/2011 | Steven V. Matthews |
| Q: Found one & it was getting dark - and we have barn cats so i took her in, feed her some wet dog food ... A: It was nice of you to try and care for the bird at night but no matter when you put it back there is ... | ||
| wild rabbits | 7/10/2011 | Steven V. Matthews |
| Q: we live in a community in so.california. we are inundated with rabbits in the spring and now that ... A: Even in the east where its very much cooler year round rabbits mostly only come out at night. They ... | ||
| Question on droppings - just general question | 6/28/2011 | Steven V. Matthews |
| Q: There is so much misinformation online from various exterminators or others that deal with rodents - ... A: There is a certain way to set a mousetrap. Mice run along sides of rooms and in corners. Traps need ... | ||
| I found a fledgling being targeted by three cats | 6/21/2011 | Steven V. Matthews |
| Q: I found a fledgling being targeted by three cats. I took the bird and I know I should have left it ... A: If you can't find a rehabber it would be fine to raise it until it can fly. You can feed it canned ... | ||
| Fawn - hind lower legs swelling | 6/19/2011 | Steven V. Matthews |
| Q: 3 weeks ago I was giving a fawn. Who's mother was hit by a car. In pulling the remains from the road ... A: Even though you may perceive swelling it sounds like she walks, runs, etc. just fine. Only a ... | ||
| Wildlife Burrow | 6/18/2011 | Steven V. Matthews |
| Q: I live in Paulden, Arizona and today I found two very large burrows around the prairie dog's in my ... A: Black-footed ferrets fit the bill except I thought they were all captured from the wild and used in ... | ||
| Mallard duck in my geranium pot on my dock | 6/17/2011 | Steven V. Matthews |
| Q: Geranium came to us last summer and laid eight and successfully hatched all of them in our flower ... A: It could be any one of those predators and more although muskrats are vegetarians (mostly). Without ... | ||
| robbin nesting egg laying | 5/4/2011 | Silver |
| Q: a robbin made a nest in my garage; we closed the door; the robbin returned much later and layed egg ... A: It is not impossible but if the egg gets cold or there is not a proper nest the parents recognize ... | ||
| robin nest | 4/23/2011 | Silver |
| Q: the robin built a nest in the corner of a pillar on our porch ,but i haven't seen them back ,do they ... A: Yes, sometimes a predator will chase the birds away or of they feel a threat or if there is too much ... | ||
| Mallard Nest Predation...will she abandon nest? | 4/20/2011 | Silver |
| Q: For the past two years we've had a pair of mallards nest under the mini pine tree next to our porch. ... A: I am on the run but wanted to make a quick answer I will be more complete in a follow up tomorrow.. ... | ||
| found robins egg | 4/18/2011 | Silver |
| Q: I found a Robins egg on the ground the egg was warm my mom and I put it under a heat lamp and rotate ... A: It is possible to hatch such an egg but very tough to do without the right equipment to keep the ... | ||
| Mallard duck family | 4/12/2011 | Silver |
| Q: A lovely female mallard duck has been taking care of her 11 ducklings in my backyard. After 2 days, ... A: First off I am sorry to hear about your loss. I really love ducks especially Mallards. I apologize ... | ||
| pet duck | 3/14/2011 | Silver |
| Q: We have a pet peking duck who is almost a year old. Last night he jumped up and flapped his wings as ... A: As much as I would love to speculate about what may have happened to you poor duck I must suggest ... | ||
| Wild Turkeys | 3/6/2011 | Steven V. Matthews |
| Q: We fed a flock of wild turkeys all winter and with the break in the weather we are wondering if it's ... A: It's best not to feed wildlife since they all will get used to being artificially fed and spend less ... | ||
| Skunk den under house? | 2/21/2011 | Steven V. Matthews |
| Q: When working under my deck I noticed a cavity under my slab foundation. I took a look. I also took ... A: To try to answer all these questions I'll have to be short: 1. Yes 2. A good den won't stay ... | ||
| mallards and canadian geese | 2/15/2011 | Steven V. Matthews |
| Q: I have two large ponds in rural Upstate New York. I would like to order mallard duckings and/or ... A: If this is not a joke question then I'd be happy to answer: 1) It is probably difficult to find ... | ||
| squirrels | 2/15/2011 | Steven V. Matthews |
| Q: my husband and i love all wildlife and try to keep birdfeeders full for all. we have had 3 squirrels ... A: Feeding wildlife has its advantages and disadvantages no matter what you feed them since they are ... | ||
| brought a sparrow fledging home | 1/25/2011 | Silver |
| Q: Good day! Because of sheer ignorance, I brought a fledging home. He was on the ground in the rain ... A: It may not be your fault if he is ill. He could have been hurt when he fell or if the dog in ... | ||
| wounded drake wood duck | 1/11/2011 | Silver |
| Q: My dad found a drake woodduck with a wing that has been shot by a shotgun and we were wanting to ... A: He sure is a handsome fellow and very lucky to have landed in your pond! BUT... If a duck that is ... | ||
| Question about my invention for my school science fair. | 11/1/2010 | Steven V. Matthews |
| Q: I am working on a prjoect for my school science fair and want to know if a robot to help ... A: I don't think a traditional type robot that you see on tv is even available yet but I believe they ... | ||
| Domestic Birds x Wild Life | 10/1/2010 | Ben Pollak |
| Q: I am the owner of 15 birds (Lovebirds, parakeets and cockatiels). I have them inside a huge gazebo ... A: I'm sorry you're moving from a house to an apartment, and will not have a large as you go to that ... | ||
| nocturnal bird or animal | 9/23/2010 | Silver |
| Q: What type of bird or animal makes a very sad, and sorrowful wailing sound at night? A: That would depend I guess in where you lived to be sure....and to be certain what type of ... | ||
| red tail hawk | 9/17/2010 | Steven V. Matthews |
| Q: Live in a small town in NW Ohio. Have noticed a red tail hawk in late afternoon/early evening ... A: Red tail hawks typically hunt for rodents, rabbits and snakes. They are not particularly graceful ... | ||
| Weaning a mourning dove | 9/15/2010 | Silver |
| Q: We have raised a mourning dove from about 2 days old or so. It has now been with us for 30 days, and ... A: First..don't worry! You have done GREAT so far and from what I can tell from your note their is ... | ||
| Skunk encounter | 8/25/2010 | Silver |
| Q: This morning my had a awful smell in the air and could tell a skunk was near. About 45 mins later my ... A: I am very sorry that our dogs had this unfortunate experience. The smell is bad but the bite ... | ||
| Another question on deer repellent | 8/13/2010 | Steven V. Matthews |
| Q: I have decided to use some bars of soap hung up in my trees to deter deer. It is a hassle replacing ... A: I sell Plantskydd deer repellent and have for ten years and I don't think anything else comes close. ... | ||
| mallard | 7/31/2010 | Steven V. Matthews |
| Q: I have a mother & her 2 remaining ducklings in my backyard. We have a pool, & about 6 ponding basins ... A: I can't really understand the situation (are they constantly in the pool?, where do they go at ... | ||
| painted turtles in northern WI | 7/28/2010 | Steven V. Matthews |
| Q: My husband and I have been feeding the painted turtles (white bread) off our dock in northern WI for ... A: I couldn't tell you what would make the one turtle attack the others. Maybe it's not a painted. I ... | ||
| Tufted duckling | 7/26/2010 | Steven V. Matthews |
| Q: I rescued 2 tiny ducklings a fortnight ago. They were being chased down my street by a cat and there ... A: You can try raising it with a puppet that looks like a tufted duck. There are toy outfits that make ... | ||
| Caring for a baby singing robin | 7/11/2010 | Steven V. Matthews |
| Q: I have found a baby robin in my garden, must of fallen out of the nest... I have made a place for ... A: It was great that you made a place for it outside where the parent can still feed it but you should ... | ||
| Redwing blackbird nesting in hydrangea | 7/2/2010 | Steven V. Matthews |
| Q: For the past 2 days the bird attacks us when we walk past bush next to our front door so we think ... A: All redwings I have seen nest near water or swamps. But in ten days they might have hatched and ... | ||
Steven V. Matthews
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Can answer most questions on wildlife, exotics, birds, reptiles, mammals and also pest species in the U.S. Won't answer questions concerning animal health. Please ask your veterinarian any animal health questions.
Experience
Past zoo management positions and current Animal Research Tech. with over twenty five years of animal care experience.
Education/Credentials
BS - Wildlife and Parks Management, Rutgers University, NJ
Awards and Honors
Animal Care Excellence Award - FDA, 2008
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