Column: Do you know why squirrels can climb down a tree head-first?
An orphaned baby squirrel is rehabilitated at Pasadena Humane’s Sandra J. Goodspeed Wildlife Center. If you’d like to learn more about local wildlife, join Pasadena Humane for Wildlife Day, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 6 at Pasadena Humane. Adults and kids of all ages are welcome. For a full schedule, list of vendors, and to RSVP for this free event, visit pasadenahumane.org/wildlifeday
I’m excited for the return of the 2nd annual Wildlife Day at Pasadena Humane next weekend. More than 400 people of all ages attended this fun and educational event last year.
We’ll have presentations by local wildlife experts. Kids activities will include face painting, crafts, and interactive science demonstrations.
A vendor marketplace will feature artwork, native plants, and other wildlife related merchandise. And, a variety of ambassador animals will be in attendance.
One of the things I’m looking forward to is making a seed bomb. They’re used to help reseed natural areas.
Seed bombs are small clay balls that contain wildflower seeds and soil. The clay protects the seeds from birds and insects, while the soil provides nutrients and organic matter for the seeds to grow. Native plants are crucial for wildlife survival, providing food, shelter, and places to nest.
Respectful coexistence with wildlife is core to our mission and vision at Pasadena Humane. We believe that education is critical to achieving this goal.
In the spirit of learning, I’d like to share five fun things you may not know about our wild neighbors
Fact 1: A skunk’s stripe serves a purpose
Skunks are known for their striking black and white markings. This unique coloration is actually a form of warning, known as an aposematic signal, that lets other animals know that skunks possess a potent defense mechanism. Interestingly, skunks’ white stripes are less prominent in areas where they face fewer predators.
Fact 2: Black bears aren’t always black
Despite their name, black bears come in more colors than any other mammal in North America. In our area, black bears are more commonly brown or cinnamon colored.
Black bears are the only remaining bear species in California. Grizzly bears may be our official state animal, but they became extinct in California in the 1920s due to rapidly developing human settlement and over hunting.
Fact 3: Wild and domestic rabbits are distant cousins
They may look similar, but wild rabbits and pet rabbits are, in fact, different species. Although they share a distant common ancestor, they have evolved to have different diets, temperaments, lifestyles and physical characteristics.
For example, a wild rabbit’s ears always stand up straight, while pet bunnies may have floppy ears. Domestic rabbits cannot survive in the wild. Never abandon a pet bunny outdoors.
Fact 4: Birds will accept their young after human touch
The best thing you can do if you find a healthy baby bird on the ground is to reunite it with its mother. Try to find the nest and return the baby.
If you cannot locate the nest, make a new one using a shallow box with holes in the bottom for draining and a heated rice-filled sock for warmth. Place the makeshift nest high up in a nearby tree or bush and wait for the parents to return.
If the parents haven’t reappeared after four hours, text our wildlife helpline for assistance at 626-344-1129.
Fact 5: Squirrels have specialized anatomy for climbing down trees head-first
Squirrels are able to rotate their rear ankles 180 degrees. With their feet turned backwards, they can dig their back claws into the bark of trees while going down head-first.
Cats aren’t equipped to perform this trick. That’s one reason cats can climb up trees but then have trouble getting back down.
If you’d like to learn more about local wildlife, I hope you’ll join us for Wildlife Day, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Sunday, October 6, at Pasadena Humane. Adults and kids of all ages are welcome.
For a full schedule, list of vendors, and to RSVP for this free event, visit pasadenahumane.org/wildlifeday
Dia DuVernet is president and CEO of Pasadena Humane.
This blog post originally appeared as a column in the Pasadena Star-News on September 27, 2024.
