WILDLIFE AND ALIEN SPECIES, HOW TO BEHAVE

Montepulciano and its surrounding area are home to a rich variety of wild fauna. It is common, driving on the roads that cross the countryside, to encounter wild animals of different species and sizes, such as wild boars, roe deer or foxes.

RULES OF CONDUCT FOR RESCUE WILD ANIMALS IN DIFFICULTY:

• never get too close to a wild animal, even if it is clearly in difficulty. Injured or sick wild animals can be potentially dangerous and aggressive.
• never give food to a wild animal if we do not know exactly what and how it eats.
• in the event of an accident, take safety measures, pay attention to traffic, especially at night, wear a reflective jacket or clothing, call the police or traffic police if necessary to regulate traffic, below you will find the right numbers to call for animal assistance
• in the presence of an ungulate that has been involved in an accident, do not get too close to it, do not shine your headlights on it, do not pet it. Wild animals are not accustomed to the care we usually give our pets and consider caressing them as an act of bullying or attack.
• in the presence of a wild animal, even a small one, always remember that we are dealing with a vector of parasites that can also be transmitted to humans (fleas, ticks, intestinal parasites), it is therefore advisable not to have too close contact, use gloves if possible. Used clothing must absolutely be washed in the washing machine before wearing it again.

The Tuscany Region has entrusted the SOS Animali Onlus Association with the activities of recovery, care, rehabilitation and reintroduction into nature of injured and/or struggling fauna or that constitute a danger or obstacle to road traffic throughout the provinces of Grosseto, Siena and Arezzo.
The activities are coordinated through an operational switchboard, already active 24 hours a day, at the following telephone number SOS Animali-Onlus 331 1285509.
As regards, instead, the activities of recovery of chicks and cubs of wild fauna in difficulty, they are managed in an associated form between the 10 Municipalities of the Valdichiana Senese (including Montepulciano) for the period 2024-2027.
The service is active throughout the territory of the Union of Municipalities of the Valdichiana Senese for every day of the year even during the night hours at the telephone numbers: 349 5752539 – 348 1458133 – 340 2530058.

In addition to local wild fauna, it is important to pay attention to alien species, that is, those introduced by man, voluntarily or by chance, outside their natural habitat. Before you set off on a trip, remember that you too can be a carrier, knowingly or not, of these species. Get informed and travel responsibly to protect the balance of the local ecosystem.