Our Miami animal park cares deeply about wildlife. The safety and well-being of the animals we care for and study is the reason that we do what we do. It might seem like one person can’t make much of a difference when it comes to helping wildlife, but we are here to tell you that that is not true! One person can do a lot if they focus their efforts to help the wildlife in their local community, neighborhood, and even backyard.
Here are four ways that you can help the wildlife in your area.
Keep Your Pets Indoors or on a Leash
Dogs and cats make great pets. They are affectionate, fun, and provide many people with companions. However, when we let our pets run free outside, they can cause damage to the local environment through no fault of their own. After all, their instincts to hunt are pretty strong.
Dog and cat owners who let their pets roam free outdoors are putting the entire ecosystem of their neighborhood at risk. Cats are especially destructive. According to some estimates, domesticated cats kill between 1.4 billion and 3.7 billion birds in the United States every year. When comparing this data with the estimated animal deaths in Australia’s current wildfires (1 billion), we begin to see just how big a problem cats are for the bird population.
While dogs do not kill as many wild animals as cats, letting them off the leash can still negatively impact the ecosystem.
Plant a Wildlife-Friendly Garden
Gardens provide sustenance and shelter to insects and other small creatures. While that may not seem like a big win for wildlife preservation, consider this: when you help one part of the ecosystem, you help the whole ecosystem. Each insect that you attract is a potential meal for another creature, which is a potential meal for another creature, and so on.
The best part is that you don’t even need to have a yard to do this. All you need is a window flower box and some seeds to help! If you really want to make a difference, do a little research to find some plant species that are native to your area.
Know What You’re Feeding to Birds
Feeding wild birds is perfectly fine…if you know how to do it right. You have to make sure that you are giving them food that is good for them. First, research which bird species live in your area. Then, find out which bird feed mixes offer them the best nutritional value.
Get Involved Locally
At Monkey Jungle, we understand better than most that banding together with other likeminded individuals who want to help protect nature can lead to better results. Our Miami animal park is partnered with the DuMond Conservancy, a not-for-profit science and education affiliate. If you want to get involved locally, check out our programs here.
Visit Monkey Jungle, Your Miami Animal Park, to Learn More about Wildlife!
Ready to start learning about wildlife so you can do your part? Come visit us!