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Please Help Us to Protect Wildlife Babies!
By Nan Powers

One day last spring, a Placerville couple began to burn one of the large brush piles that they had accumulated over the fall and winter. Minutes later, a baby brush rabbit ran from the pile. After several frantic efforts, they were able to catch him. His fur and whiskers were badly singed, his eyes were closed tight against the stinging smoke, and he was gasping for air. Alarmed and compassionate, the couple immediately contacted a Sierra Wildlife Rescue rehabber, who was able to give the baby medical attention and save his life.

The lone baby was lucky, probably the only survivor in a litter of six or seven, the rest of whom perished in the burning brush. With spring just around the corner, foothill residents are beginning to think about tidying up their houses and property. Throughout the spring, summer, and early fall, Sierra Wildlife Rescue receives large numbers of orphaned or injured baby birds, rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, opossums, fawns, and other animals who are the unintentional victims of property clean-up.

With the shortage of natural habitat caused by increasing development, nesting wild animals often take advantage of new types of "habitat" created by humans – planted trees, lawns, shrubbery, brush piles, woodpiles, roofs, basements, crawl spaces, porches and attics.

Sierra Wildlife would like to ask property owners to become more aware of your wildlife neighbors as you begin tree-trimming, brush clearing, shrub pruning, lawn mowing, and garden and deck tidying. Birds nest on tree branches, in tree hollows, in tall bushes, in brush piles, on high decks and porches, and under the eaves and archways of houses. Waterfowl often lay their eggs under bushes and shrubs around lawns. Tree squirrels build nests high up in conifers, oaks, and other trees; some species nest in tree hollows.

Jackrabbits keep their babies in shallow depressions in fields (where they may be run down by mowing or plowing vehicles), while brush rabbits and cottontails prefer dense brush (including your brush piles!); bunnies also nest in tall grass in open meadows, or on overgrown lawns. Fawns are left for long hours by their mothers in depressions near trees, or in tall grass, while raccoons and skunks prefer hollow tree trunks, or den under logs, rocky outcroppings or, sometimes, buildings.

You can clean up property in a way that will get the job done, but avoid harming nesting wildlife. Check small portions of brush piles at a time for nests, and move each portion to another site before burning. Before you rev up the lawn mower or tractor, be sure to look carefully under shrubbery where you plan to mow, and over the rest of the area, for nesting sites or dens. Ensure that you or your workmen carefully check for bird or squirrel nests on branches and in hollows before you trim trees.

It is not only harmful, but illegal, to remove birds' nests or eggs. If you find bird or squirrel nests in trees, or other wild critters nesting under your roof, in your attic, or under your house, please just wait a couple of months before trimming branches or repairing any openings. Try to be sure, before you do, that all the animals and their babies have vacated the nest or den. You can also call Sierra Wildlife for more advice on animal nesting seasons and how to avoid harming wild babies.

These simple efforts can save compassionate home-owners a lot of heartache and help to preserve the precious heritage of varied and abundant wildlife cherished by all of us who live in the foothills.

If you do find an orphaned or injured wild animal, please call us, 530-621-4661, and you will be directed to an appropriate rehabber for the species. For more info on volunteering with SWR, classes, or events, please call Barbara Barker, at 530-621-2650. (Nan Powers is Public Relations Chair for Sierra Wildlife Rescue, editor of SWR's bi-annual newsletter, the Paw Print, and a wildlife rehabber for squirrels, fox kits and coyote pups)

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The Calaveras Enterprise announces TWO Home Shows!

The Calaveras Enterprise is proud to announce its 10th year hosting the Calaveras Home Show. To celebrate the occasion and to give attendees twice the enjoyment, the Enterprise doubles the excitement with two shows – a spring home show April 26 and 27 and a fall home, garden and recreation show Sept. 27 and 28 both at Frogtown in Angels Camp.

"After extensive research, the decision to hold two shows was overwhelming," said Patti Hennessee, event coordinator. "Not only will vendors have the opportunity to feature their products and services in spring, they now have the opportunity to showcase their wares during a normally quiet time of year in the fall."

The Calaveras Spring Home Show features everything having to do with home improvement and construction. For the benefit of attendees and participants, vendors will be conveniently located indoors. During the warmer fall show, vendors will fill not only the halls at Frogtown, but also the outdoor venues. "In fall we can feature more gardening and recreation, as nurseries ready for the best planting time of the year and winter recreation businesses are just getting into gear for their busy season," adds Hennessee.

Both shows will also benefit the community. Portions of the proceeds from the spring show will benefit the Bret Harte High School Athletic Complex, while the fall show will help Calaveras Habitat for Humanity.

To reserve a booth or for more information, contact Hennessee at (209) 754-3861 or patti@calaverasenterprise.com. Frogtown, Patti 209-754-3861.

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2nd Annual Amadoropoly

A FUNdraising event supporting 35 local charities February 22, will be held from 5-8pm at the Sutter Creek Auditorium. $25 donation gets you $100 Amadoropoly Bucks, drink and raffle tickets. Buy a house, hotel or pay rent to your favorite charity. Enjoy free refreshments at Free Parking.

Amador Community Foundation is hosting the 2nd annual AMADOROPOLY FUN-draiser. Players and participants will engage in raucous, good-natured real estate wheeling and dealing, including jail time and other antics played out on a life-size game board that fills the Sutter Creek Auditorium. Last year’s first-time event benefited 28 local charities raising more than $11,000. This year’s event has grown to 35 groups.

The local version of the familiar game has two goals: To raise money for local charities and create awareness of the many volunteer groups serving a wide variety of Amador County needs.

"We have supported many of these groups, and this event seems like a good way to pull everyone together and build overall community support for their projects in addition to making some money," explained Stan Lukowicz, president of the Foundation.

Shannon Lowery, Executive Director of The Amador Community Foundation, developed the local take-off of the popular board game. "Last year, the charities that dressed the part of their property, had a great time and made the most money," she said. "I didn’t know what to expect but I had a great time and look forward to playing again next year," one player laughed.

Amador Community Foundation meets local needs through the charitable contributions of local donors. For more in-formation and tickets, contact Amador Community Foundation at (209) 223-2148, or write: Community Foundation P.O. Box 1154, Jackson CA 95642. For more information, call Shannon Lowery, Executive Director at 223-2148. E-mail acf@amadorcommunityfoundation.orgAmador

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If you are interested in Organic growing then enquire about WWOOF (Willing Workers On Organic Farms). They offer you free accommodation in exchange for some work. Each farmer is different, but if you are a willing worker you can have some really fun times. Some farmers give you gourmet meals and drive you round to see all the local sights and functions when they have spare time. Combining that with subsidized transport will really help you to grow your retirement savings. Visit online: http://www.wwoof.org

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Sutter Creek, CA 95685
(209) 267-9886
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