09/04/2026
🦌🐾 It's National Wildlife Day!
Wisconsin is home to some incredible wildlife—and our pets often share the same outdoor spaces with them! From deer and turkeys to raccoons, squirrels, rabbits, and plenty more, unexpected encounters can happen right in our own backyards.
🌲 Help keep pets and wildlife safer:
🐾 Keep pets under appropriate control outdoors. Depending on the situation, that may mean a leash, fenced area, reliable recall, or trained handling for working and hunting dogs.
🗑️ Secure things that attract unwanted visitors. Garbage, outdoor pet food, and other food sources can encourage wildlife to hang around homes and yards.
🦌 Prevent unplanned wildlife encounters. Even well-trained pets can be bitten, scratched, or otherwise injured during an unexpected interaction with a wild animal.
🐱 Consider supervised outdoor time for cats. Keeping cats indoors or providing controlled outdoor access can help protect both your cat and local wildlife.
💉 Keep preventive care current. Rabies vaccination and appropriate parasite prevention are especially important for pets spending time outdoors.
🐾 Fun Fact: Your own backyard may be wildlife habitat! Many wild species live surprisingly close to us—even if we don't always see them.
💙 Tip: Hunting and working dogs may have more opportunities for wildlife exposure. After time in the field, give your dog a good once-over for ticks, cuts, punctures, swelling, sore feet, or other injuries. If your pet is bitten, scratched, or has a concerning encounter with wildlife, contact your veterinarian for guidance.
💬 What's the most interesting wild animal you've spotted around your home or while out with your pets? 🦌🦃🦝🐿️
📚 Sources: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) & American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA