The Golden Belt Humane Society is staying busy this summer with wildlife that has wandered into Great Bend. Their animal control department has been called to deal with a number of species including raccoons, possum, bull snakes and bats.
Maria Carr, an animal control officer, said it’s usually better to contact the Humane Society than approach wildlife yourself.
“We have a fox that is kind of hanging out, and we’re working on getting it trapped and relocated,” Carr commented. “It’s a little rough looking, but I was informed that there were people who were trying to approach the fox.”
That particular fox has been seen around the Great Bend Cemetery. Carr says she and her colleagues want to catch the animal so it won’t spread diseases to domestic pets. Once it is picked up, it will be examined and relocated away from town.
Carr also gets calls about skunks. She says a call this week turned out to be very interesting. It is probably a surprise to most people, but Carr says skunks can get along quite well with other species including prairie dogs. Carr said a recent episode involving a mother skunk proved that.
"So I was watching and she went into one hole” Carr noted. “That’s when I noticed she came out with a baby in her mouth, and she took it to another hole. And the prairie dogs followed her and then like stood guard over the hole. Then she would go back and get another baby and the prairie dogs would stand guard at the hole while she was taking a baby. Then they’d follow back and forth. When I was there, she moved about five babies.”
Carr says she did not disturb the skunks or the prairie dogs.
Appearing on 1590 KVGB’s Out & About Show on Wednesday, Carr said it is a good idea to feed your pets indoors because pet food can attract wildlife to your neighborhood. You’re encouraged to call the Humane Society if wild animals become a problem.