Protecting Wildlife from Your Garbage

Tip: Helping a Skunk Caught in Yoplait Container

Skunks sometimes get their heads caught in Yoplait containers and will die if someone does not go to their aid. I take a shoebox and cut into one of the short ends, about one inch down, one inch across and one inch back to the edge. This forms an opening for the skunk's head to stick out when I sneak up and put the shoebox over its body. It then cannot spray me. I step on the box to hold the skunk still and pull the container off the skunk, and then I run away as fast as I can. The skunk walks out from under the shoebox and is saved from the predicament it was in.

By Lucille

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Tip: Protecting Wildlife from Your Garbage

Animals such as raccoons, foxes, bears and even stray cats and dogs love to rummage around in garbage bins or at the rubbish dump looking for something to eat. These animals can receive the most horrific injuries from trying to lick inside old tin cans, getting their tongues cut by the serrated edge or even getting their snouts stuck inside the can.

The lids on cans (especially the rip-off kind) are also very dangerous to animals and they can get cut up something terrible by accidentally licking on the edge. The sharp lids from these cans can also cut holes in your garbage bag and even be a serious hazard to the garbage man who has to empty your bin and you could be liable for any injuries he may receive, so for everyone's sake, please, please, please always rinse your empty cans and the lid, put the lid inside the empty can and then squish the can flat at the top before you throw them away or recycle them. Stomp on them if you have to, to flatten them.

This is a small, but significant step in helping protect our precious wildlife, and the garbage man too.

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