Hearing unusual sounds outside your window? How to keep yourself and local wildlife safe.

Laura S. Diaz
·4 min read

Have you heard sounds like the rustling of leaves or cracking of branches outside your windows lately?

It’s probably not a mythical Fresno Nightcrawler, but wild animals can certainly be making noise outside your home at night.

Several species of birds, small mammals, bugs and reptiles make Fresno – city and county – their home year-round. Though the winter months could have seen a decline in wildlife presence, with spring around the corner, here are some details and resources to safely co-exist with regional creatures.

Who lives in Fresno?

A bunch of people and wild critters inhabit California’s fifth-largest city.

Hawks, eagles, owls, geese and more types of birds fly in and out of the city limits daily. During the winter, some of them have nested in the Valley, avoiding the colder temperatures from the Sierra nearby.

Besides airborne creatures, the Fresno Wildlife Rehabilitation Service also keeps an eye out for deer and small mammals. The Central California SPCA (CCSPCA) provides advice on how to keep pets and wildlife – raccoons, foxes, coyotes, snakes, skunks and more – safe.

“Be aware, but not afraid of them,” the CCSPCA states. “They are not here to hurt you; they are just trying to survive in a place that we created for them by moving into their habitats and homes.”

How long will wild animals be in Fresno?

Forever, unless they go extinct (which would be terrible for the environment and ecosystems around us).

Fresno city and county are not only surrounded by rural fields where these wild animals might find some refuge but also are located very near to a major waterway in the state: the San Joaquin River and its tributaries past its origin point in the Eastern Sierra.

The CCSPCA reminds residents that no agency or organization can eradicate these animals.

“Nor should they,” the organization states. “By doing your part to make your home less attractive to them, they will more than likely move on to greener pastures.”

How do I keep wild animals away from my home?

It’s hard, possibly nearly impossible, to keep wild critters away from your home given Fresno’s geographic location. However, there are things you can do to reduce the possibility of an encounter with wildlife and keep everyone safe and sound.

If you have pets and/or enjoy eating outside, make sure there isn’t any food left outdoors so it doesn’t attract wild animals or encourage them to stay if they’ve entered your terrace, balcony, front- or backyard.

If you keep trash cans outdoors, make sure the lids are on securely and the bins cannot be knocked down by an animal. The CCSPSA advises to secure them onto a fence.

If a wild animal is in the middle of a raid – like a hawk hunting and eating a squirrel – do not attempt to pick up or corner the animal, the CCSPCA states.

“Use bright lights or loud noises to frighten the visitor(s) away,” the organization advises.

What to do if there is a hawk in your backyard?

Don’t panic.

Be it a hawk, eagle, owl, or geese, keep your distance. Odds are the bird will fly away.

Again, if it’s a bird of prey in hunting or feeding mode, remember to not corner it or try to pick it up.

If there is a young bird on the ground that still has some of its down feathers – the fluffy ones – the Fresno Wildlife Rehabilitation Service (FWRS) says its mother will normally feed the chick even when they are on the ground.

“If the bird looks uninjured and is hard to catch, it might be learning to fly,” the FWRS states. “Most birds will spend at least a day or two on the ground as they learn to fly.”

Yet, if you have a dog or cat, or there is coyote activity in your area, the FWRS says the best thing to do is contact them for assistance regarding the chick.

If it’s an adult bird on the ground, and it doesn’t leave the site where you found it within an hour or so, the FWRS says it probably is injured or ill. Then, immediately contact the FWRS for assistance.

Where can I find more information about wildlife in Fresno?

Whether you are interested in learning more details about the wildlife that surrounds us, or have a wildlife encounter to report, these are some Fresno-based organizations that can help:

What do you want to know about life in Fresno? Do you have more questions about wildlife in Fresno or a story you’d like to share? Please share your top-of-mind questions with our journalism via email at news@fresnobee.com.