Solano County Wildlife

You have probably noticed that wildlife doesn’t think much of property boundaries or fences. Depending on where in the County you live, you’re likely to see familiar native species including the burrowing owl, Swainson’s hawk, mule deer, raccoon, red-tailed and red-shouldered hawk, and skunks. Threatened and endangered species that make their homes in Solano County include the California red-legged frog, vernal pool fairy shrimp, the salt-marsh harvest mouse and California tiger salamander. These animals are important to the health of our watersheds, though we don’t yet fully understand how each animal affects the larger ecosystem. If we are to be good stewards, it is important to respect and appreciate these creatures and develop ways that we can coexist with them and their natural environment. Solano County is home to a lot of critters; if you create the right habitat (scrubby bushes to hide under, natural food sources) – or wrong habitat (smelly trash, junk heaps)- desirable and/or undesirable animal guests will come visiting.

For the health of domestic and wild animals...

•  Do not allow pets to roam in wildlands, where they may pick up diseased ticks and fleas, encounter rattlesnakes, and disturb or harm native wildlife.

• If you want to discourage wildlife from living near your house, eliminate nesting sites by filling holes, mending screens, and removing piles of wood, brush, and rocks after any wild animals have finished nesting. To check if a site is currently in use by wildlife, sprinkle flour near the entrance and for several days check for animal tracks.

• Don’t leave pet food outside. This can create a dependency on humans and cause conflicts between wildlife and people.

• Make sure garbage cans and compost bins are covered and secure. Control the source of temptation, rather than the animal itself.

• Be aware that dumping unwanted animals like goldfish, crayfish and minnows (from a recent fishing trip) into streams has serious consequences. These creatures compete with our native fish, aquatic insects and amphibians for food and space, and can have drastic impacts on their longevity and well-being.

• Avoid using pesticides, which are non-discriminate and may end up harming pets and animals/plants in the watershed. Solano RCD (707-678-1655) can help provide strategies for non-chemical means of deterring wildlife.

• If you find a baby bird that has fallen from its nest, carefully put it back. A mother bird will not reject a chick just because it has come in contact with humans. If you find an uninjured baby squirrel, place it in a shallow, towel-lined box at the base of the tree and leave it undisturbed for 4-6 hours so the mother may take it back to the nest. Do not give injured animals any food or water.

• Do not attempt to feed, trap, harm, or handle any wild animal!

For help with domestic animal problems, or to report dead animals, contact:
Solano County Animal Care Services at 707-784-1356.

To report vicious animals, strays, injured animals, or make a complaint:
In the incorporated areas (cities)
Vallejo - Call 707-645-7906
Benicia - Call 707-745-3412 (Police Department 24hrs.)
Dixon, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Suisun City, and Vacaville:
•  Monday-Friday 8am-5pm: Call Humane Animal Services 707-449-1700
•  After Hours & Weekends: Call your local Police Department

Unincorporated Areas of Solano County
Call Solano County Animal Care Services
•  8:30am to 6pm Monday through Friday: Call 707-784-1356
•  All other hours and County Holidays: Call Solano County Sheriff's Dispatch 707-421-7090

To report an animal bite in any area of Solano County:
Call Solano County Animal Care Services
•  8:30am to 6pm Monday through Friday: Call 707-784-1356
•  All other hours and County Holidays: Call Solano County Sheriff's Dispatch 707-421-7090
 
To report sick, injured, or orphaned wild animals, contact the following organizations:
•    The Suisun Wildlife Center: (707) 429-4295 (HAWK)/ http://www.suisunwildlife.org/
•    International Bird Rescue Research Center:  (707) 207-0380 / http://www.ibrrc.org/no_cal_center.html

Threatened and endangered species

It is illegal to harm any animal listed as threatened or endangered by the California Department of Fish and Game or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Harm” includes disturbing habitat in any way (i.e. cutting down a tree that provides food, shelter or nesting space) as well as more direct harm (i.e. hunting or fishing).

To report the sighting of a mountain lion or an endangered plant or animal species, contact the California Department of Fish and Game Bay Delta Region Headquarters at (707) 944-5500.

To attract wildlife to your yard...

•  Invite a diverse group of lizards, birds, and butterflies to your garden by selecting native plants that flower and bear fruit at different times of the year. Refer to the landscaping section for helpful contacts.

• If you choose to have a bird-seed feeder, remember to clean up loose seed to avoid attracting everything from rats to coyotes. Regular bird and hummingbird nectar-type feeders should be cleaned and changed regularly (at least once a week) to avoid fermentation and mold growth and the spread of diseases between speecies.

• Birds – from hawks to hummingbirds – can be seriously injured by windows. To make your windows more visible, avoid placing indoor plants near windows, hang a stained glass ornament, use window coverings, place a decal on the window, or hang wind chimes.

• Be aware that dead, dying and hollow trees can serve as valuable habitat for wildlife. Consider leaving standing dead and dying trees in your yard unless they pose a human safety or property hazard. Also, allow some leaf litter to accumulate on the ground.

• Bats eat mosquitoes, moths and beetles. A single brown bat can catch more than 600 mosquitoes in an hour! To attract bats to your yard, install a bat house on a pole or building 15 feet or higher in an area that receives 6 or more hours of sunlight daily.

• Butterflies, birds and other wildlife are vulnerable to many pesticides and other chemicals. Minimize chemical use by practicing organic gardening. If you do use chemicals, always follow label instructions on usage and disposal carefully.

• When lighting your home, be sensitive to possible negative impacts on adjacent lands. Outdoor night lighting greatly disturbs wildlife foraging and movement patterns. Remember that the animals and plants around you are dependent on natural light – electric lights disrupt their cycles and can shorten their lives.

• Install bird boxes to encourage nesting on your property.

• Create brush piles of yard waste to provide habitat and shelter.

• Work with Solano RCD to develop a conservation plan for wildlife habitat conservation (this service is free to District residents; call 707-678-1655 to see if your property qualifies).