As the landscape in Newtown and surrounding towns continues to change, wild animals are being impacted and trying to adapt to their new environment as best they can. This can mean a variety of wildlife are venturing into areas they never have before — backyards, hiking trails, and busy roads — when searching for refuge or nourishment.

Residents are having close encounters so frequently that it is not uncommon for people to share photos of a bear investigating their bird feeder or a bobcat traveling across an unfenced yard. Many, too, are calling agencies to report wild animals injured on the side of the road or accidentally poisoned.

Springtime also means many animals are more visible as they are out and about gathering food for their growing families.

In a perfect world, animals would know the boundaries of what land is preserved for them and what is human-inhabited, but the reality is these creatures are just doing their best to survive.

In this miniseries, The Newtown Bee will be consulting animal experts to explain how to support these animals safely from afar and what to do if you encounter them face-to-face.

Local Birds of Prey

Mary-Beth Kaeser is the owner and founder of Horizon Wings, a nonprofit wildlife rehabilitation center that specializes in caring for and releasing birds of prey. Horizon Wings is located in Ashford, and offers educational programs, including partnering with the Catherine Violet Hubbard Foundation for events in Newtown.

A bird of prey is described as “a carnivorous bird (such as a hawk, eagle, vulture, or owl) that feeds wholly or chiefly on meat taken by hunting or on carrion,” and is synonymous with the term “raptor,” according to Merriam-Webster.

Kaeser says there are a variety of raptors native to Connecticut, such as the red-tailed hawk, red-shouldered hawk, Cooper’s hawk, sharp-shinned hawk, and broad–winged hawk. There are also the northern harrier and goshawk.

As for owls, the most common types found locally are the great horned owl, barred owl, and eastern screech owl. Connecticut is home to northern saw-whet owls and barn owls, too.

“Barn owls are few and far between in the state and are on the endangered list,” Kaeser explained. “There are others, such as the long-eared and short-eared owls, as well as the snowy owls that migrate through or are winter visitors.”

In addition, she said, “We have peregrine falcons and American kestrels — kestrels are the smallest falcons in North America. Bald eagles have made an amazing comeback; there were 72 active territories with 47 successful nests that fledged out 88 chicks last year! Golden eagles do not nest in Connecticut but can be found in the winter and migrating through our state.”

Just last month, in March, The Newtown Bee ran a photo in the Top of the Mountain column of a bald eagle Martin West spotted in a tree near Cold Spring Road in Newtown.

With so many kinds of birds of prey in Connecticut, it is not uncommon to look up to the sky and see one with its wings outstretched, soaring or sitting perched on a tree branch surveying the area.

Understanding Boundaries

Birds of prey, like all birds, should be enjoyed from afar.

“Invest in a good set of binoculars,” Kaeser said. “Respect them, especially during nesting season, [because] if you get too close, you may scare them off their nests and eggs. In the winter, birds roost in the sun to stay warm and conserve energy; flushing them off their nest causes them to use up energy reserves.”

Part of respecting birds of prey is to also understand that they are wild animals. While Kaeser says most will not pose a threat to a dog or cat, some may.

“A large hawk (red-tailed) or perhaps a great horned owl may try for a smaller dog or cat,” she said. “It is always up to us to be a responsible pet owner. Keep your pets on leash and don’t let your cats outdoors unless on leash. Especially at night!”

According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, red-tailed hawks eat mostly mammals and can prey on animals of more than five pounds. As for great horned owls, they have the most diverse diet of all North American raptors and can take down birds and mammals larger than themselves. While these owls usually hunt at night, they do sometimes hunt in broad daylight.

For those who wish to support birds of prey in their yards and provide refuge, there are a variety of ways to help.

“People can build owl and kestrel boxes. It is important they are placed correctly and monitored to ensure no invasive species nest in the boxes,” Kaeser said. She recommends people visit owlpages.com or nectkestrels.com for tips.

“Old trees, if not posing a danger, can be left standing to provide homes for owls that prefer nesting in cavities, as well as other wild creatures. Check [the] trees before cutting for any nesting wildlife and, if at all possible, avoid cutting trees in the spring during nesting season,” she said.

One of the biggest ways to help birds of prey, as well as other animals, is to avoid using rodenticides.

“Rodenticides are extremely harmful to our raptors,” Kaeser said. “One poisoned mouse can easily kill an owl or hawk. Sticky traps need to be avoided, also, as they, like rodenticides, affect more than just the target animal.”

While it is illegal by state and federal law to hunt birds of prey, those who choose to hunt other animals or fish can inadvertently harm or kill them using lead ammunition or fishing tackle.

“Lead is extremely toxic. One piece of lead no larger than a grain of rice can kill a bird as large as a bald eagle. This is a big problem for our eagles that may scavenge on deer carcasses when bodies of water freeze over. It also affects other scavengers, such as vultures and mammals that ingest it while feeding on carcasses,” Kaeser said.

Aiding The Orphaned Or Injured

Baby season for these birds is typically from the end of March through July.

It is important to understand that a baby bird visible on the ground is not necessarily in distress or in a situation where it needs help from a human.

Kaeser explained, “If a bird is fully feathered, they are considered a fledgling. Most times the parents are nearby monitoring the situation. Many young birds live on the ground or in low branches and bushes until they are skilled at flying.

“If the birds are not feathered, intervention is needed. If they are obviously injured (you can see a wound, or blood, drooping wing), they require intervention. If they have flies or fly eggs on them, or look down/depressed, they need intervention.”

A misconception is that if a person touches a baby bird the mother will reject it, but Kaeser assures that is not the case and the mothers will still want their baby back.

If a bird of prey is injured or orphaned, Kaeser recommends calling a wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible.

“If the bird can be contained safely, then do so…,” she said. “If you cannot contain the bird for any reason, try to keep an eye on it until help arrives. If unsure, call a rehabber first for advice.”

She advises that people not feed or give water to any injured or baby animal when they are unsure what to do.

“If the animal is contained it should be kept in a quiet, dark area away from children and pets until help arrives. The sooner you reach out for help, the better chance of survival for that animal. Always reach out to a licensed rehabber for advice and support,” Kaeser said.

Horizon Wings accepts injured and orphaned birds of prey, as well as crows and ravens.

Kaeser says that the most common reasons birds are brought to them is after they are struck by a motor vehicle.

“Other causes include rodenticide, window strikes, and owls stuck in chimneys, especially around this time of year when they are seeking a place to nest,” she said.

If there is a time-sensitive situation — Horizon Wings is about an hour-and-a-half away from Newtown — Kaeser recommends reaching out to the DEEP emergency dispatch at 860-424-3333 or finding the list of authorized rehabilitators at portal.ct.gov/deep/wildlife/rehabilitator/dealing-with-distressed-wildlife.

The list will include the town in which the person or organization is located, what types of animals they accept, and contact information.

At the time of this article, the list includes a dozen options in Connecticut. Groups listed are Wildlife in Crisis in Weston, 203-544-9913; Roaring Brook Nature Center in Canton, 860-693-0263; and Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center in Stonington, 860-980-3731. Individuals listed are located in Deep River, Guilford, Haddam, Killingworth, Ledyard, Mansfield, Marlborough, Salem, and Weston.

“Remember, this is a volunteer position. Many rehabbers work full-time jobs and have their own human families to care for also, be patient,” Kaeser said.

To reach Horizon Wings, call 860-429-2181 or 860-481-0525. A representative can also be reached by messaging the group on Facebook at facebook.com/horizonwingsraptorrehabilitation.

Horizon Wings is located at 9 Sand Hill Road in Ashford, but people must speak to a rehabilitator before dropping any animal off at the center.

To learn more about the specific birds of prey native to Connecticut, Mary-Beth Kaeser recommends visiting birds.cornell.edu/home/. For more information about Horizon Wings, visit horizonwings.org.