06/06/2026
Some great info from Dedham ACO! Please read!
Over just the last couple of days, we've received numerous calls related to specific species of wildlife, and with each call, after carefully listening (and self-observing when warranted), we've shared paralleling responses with each of these callers.
With the weekend upon us, while we're off shift-and in anticipation of additional calls throughout the next few weeks, we thought we'd share some of these call responses, in hope of helping both our residents and followers to understand present time wildlife normalcy as well as to reduce any empathetic worrying and to provide some beneficial guidance.
The common denominator response in all of these recent calls, (with the exception of any extraordinary circumstances), is to "please leave it alone right where you found it."
June is peak season for some very normal wildlife behaviors and observations:
🦃Turkeys!
Behavior: lying down and/or rolling in dirt. They are nesting.
🐢Snapping turtles!
Behavior: crossing roads and nesting in yards and other properties. They are heading to nesting sites and actively nesting.
🐦⬛Fledglings (young birds)!
Behavior: 'fluffy’ looking, on the ground, seemingly injured, hopping, fluttering, trying to fly. They are building muscle, learning flight and still have parents caring for them.
🦌Fawns!
Behavior: observed alone, lying on the ground, often curled up in grass or brush. Their mothers leave them behind to hide them from predators while she is foraging and mom knows exactly where she left her baby. Frightening a fawn by getting too close can cause it to move away from where it was left and creates significant stress and panic for its mother. It can also lead to orphaning or perilousness for the fawn.
🦊Fox and coyote pups!
Behavior: more visible, day or night, running, playing, being vocal and leaving smaller animal 'prizes' behind. They are learning, socializing and practicing hunting skills in preparation of independence.
🦝Raccoons!
Behavior: emerging from dens, climbing, chittering and more visible even during the daytime. They are growing, exploring and also developing skills of independence.
Again, this sampling of wildlife activity is normal, if what you observe falls within these behavior guidelines, then leaving the animals alone is the best way to keep them safe in their environment and to avoid human-wildlife conflicts.
Of course, if you should observe an animal acting sick, appearing injured or behaving unusually aggressive, please let us know.
[Photo of a litter of raccoons on a roof courtesy of resident, Carolyn]
