American Heritage Wildlife Foundation

08/03/2026

07/29/2026

some information shared about Idaho Fish and Game. (IDFG)
THE NATIVE WILD ANIMALS NEED YOU - yes you - to STAND UP FOR THEM! IDFG Commissioners have a mandate to KILL ALL DEER, BAT, FOX, SKUNK and other species needing care.

{excerpt shared from a former professional wildlife rehabiltator who likewise had termination of permits}

I’ve recently read several posts confused about IDFG regulations.
As of March 2025 IDFG commissioners, set new regulations; ALL rehab facilities in the state of Idaho are not longer permitted to rehab skunk, fox, raccoon, bats or deer. Rehab facilities are instructed to euthanize these animals upon arrival.
This regulation also applies to Washington State. If WSU veterinary teaching hospital receives any of the above animals from Idaho, they will immediately be euthanized.
As a result the veterinarians at WSU have been harshly criticized.
Understand, this is not a WSU policy. In fact, one of the vets went to bat for Idaho’s wildlife, last March. She outlined the detrimental effects to both the human and wildlife populations as a result of these restrictions.
She was ignored.

Blaming vets for this policy is unfair. I have worked with WSU for 21 years, vets DO NOT enjoy euthanizing newborn baby skunks, fox, deer etc. because Idaho state mandates it. It causes them great sorrow and emotional pain.
WSU will also euthanize all bats and fawn brought to them from Washington. A Washington State law. (it is illegal to bring wild animals over state line regardless of proximity)
When an IDFG Officer responds to a call involving the mentioned animals they have no other recourse, but to euthanize it.
It appear they don’t care but this takes an emotional toll on the officers as well.

This regulation DOES NOT come down from individual officers or specific regions, this is statewide policy enforced by the IDFG Commission and Bureau Chiefs.

If you disagree with these policies I suggest you write the IDFG Commissioner or Governor Brad Little in Boise!

Things will not change in this state or country until people mobilize and demand their voices be heard.
It will take a long time and a lot hard work to protect Idaho’s animals is worth it. They need us to stand up for them!

If you need clarification on these policies please read the IDFG website

IDFG and sadly too many other states have set precedence determining which animals are "good" and forbade other species from being given equal opportunity to recover from trauma which is 95 % of the time human caused. Wild animals enduring suffering is not "nature".

"In the end, we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught." - B.Dioum

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07/29/2026

Native wildlife needs the help of caring humans!
The insect kingdom is the basis for a healthy functioning habitat. Help the BEES. Allow flowers to bloom and then allow the plants to make seed heads for the BIRDS . Place shallow bowls of water out especially during these hot summer days.
a yard consisting only of a mowed lawn is nothing more than a green colored parking lot. There must be diversity to allow all life to thrive!

06/11/2026

july festivities are right around the corner... make a stand and be a voice for those without one!

06/11/2026

The American Heritage Wildlife Foundation has tips and pointers about our native neighbors... it is a 3 part post.

06/11/2026

Look at the ground. How many did you crush because they were black, hairy, or moved too fast? In February, "spring cleaning" your garden is often a massacre. You lift a log, till the soil, and kill out of ignorance. But this "Dirty Dozen" is the only reason your garden isn't overrun by pests in July. Here is why you need to lower your shovel for each of them:
🛡️ THE S.W.A.T. TEAM (The Hunters)
1. The Seven-Spotted Lady Beetle (Coccinella septempunctata)
The Resume: The icon. A single larva eats up to 5,000 aphids in its life.
Right Now (Feb): They are in Diapause (dormancy) tucked inside dead leaves or rock crevices. If you rake your leaves to the curb now, you are throwing away this summer's pest control.
2. The Fiery Searcher (Calosoma scrutator)
The Resume: A metallic green tank. Known as the "Caterpillar Hunter," this large beetle patrols at night to rip apart cutworms, armyworms, and tent caterpillars.
The Action: If you see a large, iridescent beetle sprinting across the mulch, let it pass. It is hunting the things that eat your tomatoes.
3. The Violet Ground Beetle (Carabus violaceus / Carabidae spp.)
The Resume: The dark cousin. Less flashy, but a nightmare for slugs. They don't eat plants; they eat the things that eat your plants.
Ecological Fact: Studies show a healthy population of Ground Beetles can reduce slug damage by over 60%.
4. The Devil’s Coach Horse (Ocypus olens / Rove Beetles)
The Resume: The "Scorpion." It is all black and raises its tail when threatened.
The Reality: It’s a bluff! It has no stinger. It is a voracious predator of maggots, mites, and soil pests. It looks terrifying, but it is effectively a garden bodyguard.
5. Firefly Larvae (Lampyridae)
The Resume: Before they fly and glow for love, they live in the soil for 1–2 years as "Glow-worms." They are brutal predators that inject digestive enzymes into snails and slugs.
Habitat: They need undisturbed soil and tall grass. Pesticides wipe them out before they ever get their wings.
♻️ THE SANITATION DEPT (The Recyclers)
6. Green June Beetle Grub (Cotinis nitida)
The Fatal Error: You find a huge, white grub in your compost pile. You kill it, thinking it’s a root-eating Japanese Beetle.
The Truth: Look closer. If it crawls on its back (legs up), it is a Green June Beetle. They eat only decaying organic matter. They are free compost accelerators. They don't eat living roots.
7. The Giant Stag Beetle (Lucanus elaphus)
The Resume: The Giant (up to 2 inches). The males have massive "antlers" (mandibles) that look dangerous but are weak.
The Urgency: Their larvae spend years inside rotting logs, turning tough wood into rich soil. If you remove every old stump, you starve them.
8. The Bess Beetle (Odontotaenius disjunctus)
The Resume: Shiny, black, and "patent leather." They live in family groups inside rotting wood and actually "talk" to each other (stridulation).
The Job: They process dead wood more efficiently than fungi. They are the primary decomposers of oak and hickory forests.
9. The Darkling Beetle (Tenebrionidae)
The Resume: You might know their larvae as "Mealworms." In the wild, they are the janitors of the forest floor, cleaning up dry animal and plant waste.
⚖️ THE MISUNDERSTOOD (The Regulators)
10. The May Beetle / June Bug (Phyllophaga spp.)
The Resume: We hate them because they bang into porch lights and their grubs eat roots.
The Ecological Angle: They are the "Steak" of the American ecosystem. They are the fundamental food source for Eastern Screech Owls, Raccoons, Skunks, and Bats. Without this calorie bomb, the predator chain collapses.
11. The Soldier Beetle (Chauliognathus)
The Resume: They look like lightning bugs without the light. You see them on Goldenrod.
Why Keep Them: They are double agents. The adults are pollinators; the larvae are predators in the soil that eat grasshopper eggs.
12. The Wheel Bug (Arilus cristatus)
The Resume: A prehistoric-looking assassin bug with a "cog" on its back.
The Warning: They have a painful bite if handled. BUT, they are one of the few predators capable of killing the invasive Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. Respect them from a distance.
THE VERDICT
This list is clear: Out of 12 "creepy crawlies," 11 are working directly for you, and the 12th is feeding the owls. Right now, in February, they are sleeping under your flower pots, in your leaf piles, and under that old log. Do not wake them up. Put the rake away. Leave the leaves until it stays above 50°F (10°C). Let them wake up on their own time to patrol your yard.
Scientific References & Evidence
Predator Efficiency: Symondson, W. O. C., et al. (2002). Carabid beetles as predators of slugs. (Details the biocontrol value of Ground Beetles).
Diapause: Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. "Leave the Leaves." (Explains the overwintering habits of Lady Beetles and Fireflies).
Grub ID: North Carolina State Extension. "Green June Beetle." (Distinguishes between pest grubs and composting grubs).
Firefly Biology: Lewis, S. (2016). Silent Sparks: The Wondrous World of Fireflies. (Details the carnivorous larval stage).
document information and visual created by guardians of nature

06/11/2026

Did you know over 90 percent of injuries and orphans are created by humans! Professional wildlife rehabilitation centers across the nation need your help and your awareness. Please learn about your native neighbors and cohabitate in peace. We all share the same habitat.

Voices of the Wild Earth
March 28 at 12:00 PM
·
THE HUMAN-MADE ORPHAN CRISIS OF MARCH
A row of tiny, masked faces frantically grips a handmade wooden feeding rack, nursing from bottles. They are safe, but they shouldn’t be here.
We often think trapping a "nuisance" raccoon in the spring quickly solves a pest problem. In reality, it usually creates a hidden tragedy.
Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are North America’s ultimate adaptable mesopredators. They act as vital urban sanitation workers, controlling rodent populations and dispersing seeds across fractured habitats. Right now in March, females are desperate for warm, dry nurseries, frequently turning to our uncapped chimneys and attics to give birth.
When property owners hire exterminators to trap and remove a mother raccoon this month, they almost always leave a hidden litter of blind, deaf kits behind to slowly starve. This entirely preventable crisis triggers a massive "orphan tsunami," flooding wildlife rescues. Volunteers work around the clock—often building ingenious DIY feeding stations out of repurposed wood and plastic—just to keep the local food web intact.
If a wild family moves into your structure this spring, be patient. Use humane harassment (bright lights and talk radio) to annoy the mother so she packs up and moves her babies safely on her own.
A quiet attic should never cost an entire family their live

06/11/2026

04/08/2026

Demand Idaho Fish and Game allow wildlife rehabilitation. At present there are no licensed professionals allowed to help. At present the best way to help the local wildlife is to become educated and aware! Do not cause the problem where a professional rehabilitator is needed. Over 90 percent of all patients admitted are due to human cause.... If a wild animal is found injured - be kind and end the suffering. Local veterinary clinics are not equipt to provide aid but they can humanely euthanize. Find out how to obtain a permit by contacting Idaho Fish and Game Commissioners as well as the US Fish and Wildlife Service Migratory Bird Division for our Region.

Before you are faced with finding baby wildlife this season, be sure to have your local wildlife rehabilitator's number in your phone so it is handy.
They can give you advise/tips on how to reunite the infants with their mothers, or tell you when it is necessary to bring them in for care.
Our number is 910-326-6432. We are open at 9 am.
We have an after hours text number posted at the bottom of our website.
Possomwoodacres.org