Monsoon Season and Urban Wildlife

The monsoon season in Bangalore has taken quite a turn. From the scorching heat in April to flooding rains in May, the weather has changed significantly. Animals initially looked for water, and now have to save themselves from its fury. Stray animals are often friendly and take shelter in building compounds, under vehicles, and sometimes they are lovingly invited inside their caretaker's/feeder's homes. But what about the urban wildlife? How can we ensure their and by extension, our safety? Urban wildlife includes birds, snakes, and mammals like bats and macaques. These animals do not interact with humans. Forcing human interaction with these species can cause them anxiety which sometimes leads to death. This makes it all the more difficult for us to help them during the monsoon season. Let's explore some options for providing comfort to our rich urban wildlife.

Birds seek shelter on trees during rains. Some birds like pigeons and sparrows live under building sheds. But big birds like kites, and nocturnal ones like owls, are used to living in trees. Recent rains have shown us that trees are also unsafe due to the sheer volume and intensity of pouring water. Many trees across the city were uprooted and bid us goodbye. Due to this, many birds lost their homes. Luckily, when it comes to birds, their wings protect them from drenching and suffering in the heavy rains. The water slides off from their wings when they fly. Adult birds are thus able to fly to safety even if they lose their home. However, when it comes to fledglings and little birds, they might not be able to save themselves.

Here's what you can do if you find fledglings relocated or drenched:

• If the nest is visible, take the fledglings along with their nest
• You can feed them sugar honey water if they seem hungry. Use a dropper and feed them drop by drop only when they open their beaks. Do not try to force feed as it can lead to choking.
• If they are cold/drenched, you can lay down a heating pad and wrap them with a towel
• The mother will usually return within 48 hours. Please be patient as the mother could be stuck somewhere due the rains
• If the mother does not return within two days, reach out to a rescue centre for rescue
• Do not try to interact with the birds - offer an absent presence so as to not cause anxiety

In the case of fully grown small birds:

• You can keep them warm and feed them. The food depends on whether the bird is herbivore or carnivore. Reach out to a vet/rescue centre for identification.
• Once you know what to feed the bird, you can make sure they are eating properly. You can keep the food within their reach and they will eat when they are hungry. Do not try to force feed as it can lead to choking. They will fly away in a couple of days after gaining energy.
• Do not keep water in their box and ensure there are enough holes for ventilation.
• If you find the bird unresponsive or injured, reach out to a rescue centre working for urban wildlife in your city, and hand over the bird to them for proper treatment and rehabilitation.

Snakes become more visible during the monsoon season for two reasons. The first is that the monsoon season is the hatching season for snakes. New born baby snakes are welcomed to the world. As they learn to forage for food, they might enter human settings due to the lack of natural habitats. The best thing to do is leave these baby snakes alone. If however, you find them inactive for hours or injured, reach out to the nearest urban wildlife centre for rescue.

The second reason we see more snakes during the monsoon season is because they look for cover in garbage and pipes after rat holes are flooded. Some snakes also nest in trees until the rain stops. Snakes prefer cemented spaces as they dry up sooner.

A few tips to prevent having snakes inside your home:

• Keep the garbage bins clean
• Close the commode lid when not in use
• Keep verandah/porch/balcony lights on during the night, especially when you leave your home
• Regularly clean and disinfect your pipelines, especially under the sink
• Cover all holes/spaces where the snake can enter from, like under the door, and the cracks of windows
• Catch the rats humanely (use the bait cage) and release them near trees so snakes have enough rats to hunt
• Do not use rat traps (the ones which have glue) in your house or around your surroundings. Snakes can get stuck too which can harm them. The unmoving snake can cause you to panic.
• If you see a snake in your garden, or on trees, let them be. They will go when the soil dries up a little.

In some cases, due to the rain, the mother might not return to take care of her eggs. If you find abandoned eggs, you can hand them over to our wildlife rescue and conservation centre for its hatching. These snakes are released to the wild after proper rehabilitation.

Today, the urban wildlife is more prone to nature's fury as we have encroached on their natural habitats, thus leaving them with little to no options for seeking natural shelters. It then becomes our responsibility to keep a check on them and help the urban wildlife whenever it is needed. After all, it is the animals and birds which keep our ecosystem running, and we are forever indebted to them for it.

Authored by Praanjali Shukla, Volunteer at PfA Bangalore