Recent drought and construction in the area has forced wildlife out of their usual habitats and sent them into survival mode.

Residential properties have seen an increased number of wildlife, because they are searching for food and water during the hot weather, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife Technical Guidance Biologist Micah Poteet.

Poteet said residents are not necessarily seeing an increased population of wildlife, but rather residents are seeing animals during the day that typically would be nocturnal animals. He said the wildlife is being forced to move around during the day because they need more time to find food causing them to be more visible.

Animals such as raccoons, skunks or foxes are generally seen at night, but residents are seeing their faces more during daylight hours. Poteet said this is because they are in survival mode and looking for food.

“They are simply out trying to meet their needs,” he said.

For browsing animals such as deer, Poteet said residents with watered shrubs and lawns are appealing. Plants that are growing are the most nutritious to the herbivores. So, deer and other plant eating animals are likely to travel to watered lawns or areas with access to free standing water.

In addition to the drought, Poteet says construction is causing wildlife to lose their natural habitats, which may be another factor in residents seeing more wildlife in the area.

“Anytime you reduce a habitat, the animals are still in the area,” he said.

Friends of Texas Wildlife Vice President of Administration Cheryl Meyer said the organization has rescued triple the number of wildlife animals from last year. She added that the majority of the cases are dehydration.

“They (wildlife) are desperately trying to find food and water,” she said.

The current drought conditions have been devastating to the wildlife in the area, according to Meyer. She added that the effects of this drought will be felt for at least another year.

The non-profit organization is a group of trained and permitted volunteers who care for injured, displaced and orphaned wildlife in Montgomery and North Harris Counties.

Poteet said residents should not be overly concerned about increased wildlife in the area, but residents who have outside pets should not leave food and water out near family pets or the home. He said water should be distanced from the home, if residents are leaving the water out for wildlife.

Keeping a distance is a good idea. Poteet said this is because wildlife can spread disease, such as rabies to humans or pets.

Meyer said normally the organization tells residents not to feed wildlife, but this year they are encouraging residents to leave water containers around the far edges of their property to help dehydrated wildlife. She also encouraged distance.

Residents who see a wild animal in distress may call the Texas Friends of Wildlife at 281-259-0039. For more information about wildlife, visit friendsoftexaswildlife.org.

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