Issue 17 | April 14, 2023
Animal Services Needs Fosters for Kitten Season

It's that time of year in which hundreds, if not thousands of kittens, are born to homeless cats.

On April 5, Animal Services held a "Purrfect Kitten Shower," in which seven Sumter County residents signed up to assist with fostering kittens. But more are still needed.

Cats are seasonal breeders, and every spring and summer there is a sharp increase in the number of underage kittens found and brought into shelters. Kitten season can be incredibly difficult on shelter staff as kittens under four weeks of age require around the clock care. Adding to the strain is that kittens who have been orphaned only have a 60 to 85 percent chance of survival.

"Training provided to fosters is to help increase the chance of survival for kittens in our care," said Dr. Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, Sumter County Animal Services. "Kittens reared outside of the shelter are less likely to be exposed to pathogens that can make them sick."

Fitzpatrick said staff showed attendees the proper way to hold, feed, and stimulate kittens to urinate and defecate. They showed examples of housing set up, explained about the vet visits needed, and talked about how to appropriately socialize kittens. The driving goal of fostering kittens is to help them heal, grow up, and then find their forever homes – which may be with a friend, coworker, or a visitor to the shelter after their spay or neuter. 

Kimberlee Hill of Sumter County Animal Services is seen training volunteers at the Kitten Shower.
Receive Spraying Alerts
For Mosquito Preparation

With the recent summer-like weather in Florida, mosquitos are on the prowl. Due to the increase in mosquito activity, mosquito spraying has become necessary. Sumter County residents can be informed about mosquito spraying in their area by signing up for the AlertSumer notification system.

You can sign up for alerts at the bottom of this report. Once you do sign up, you will receive notification by cell phone or e-mail as to when and where mosquito spraying will occur so you won’t be caught outside when the trucks go by your neighborhood.

Spraying (adulticiding/night spraying) operations occur nightly in different zones of the county, which is determined by adult surveillance, adult mosquito light trap counts, landing rates and/or citizen complaints. The Mosquito Control Division annually receives numerous requests for control of aquatic midges (blind mosquitoes). While aquatic midges are a nuisance, they do not bite, take blood or carry/transmit disease. Therefore, the focus mainly is on mosquitoes that can carry and transmit disease to humans.

Mosquito Control wants to remind residents to remain vigilant around their homes and to avoid contact with mosquitoes if possible. 
As Fire Danger Increases, Caution
Becomes Necessary to Prevent Fires
With most of Florida currently in various degrees of drought and Sumter County under a moderate risk for wildfires, it’s important that residents practice caution to prevent a fire from erupting.

While permitted by law, burning yard waste is one of the leading causes of wildfires in Florida, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Yard waste is considered any vegetative debris such as brush, leaves, tree limbs and palm fronds collected from basic yard maintenance.

Burning household garbage, however, is illegal. This includes paper products, treated lumber, plastics, tires, pesticides, paint and aerosol containers.

 “The condition of vegetation, temperature, humidity and wind all play a role in the dangers of wildfire spread,” said Fire Chief Rob Hanson, Sumter County Fire & EMS. “Awareness of these conditions, combined with some discretion about surroundings, are useful considerations when being responsible about outdoor burning.”  
  
Burning yard waste does not require a burn authorization, but you must follow the burning requirements:
  • Any yard waste must fit in an 8-foot diameter pile or noncombustible container.
  • The fire must be ignited after 9 a.m. and must be extinguished one hour before sunset.
  • The fire must be 25 feet from your home, woods, brush or other combustible structures, and 1,000 feet from any occupied structure that is not your home.
  • The fire must be 50 feet from a paved public road.
  • The fire must be 150 feet from other occupied buildings.
  • Never burn on windy days.
  • Refrain from burning yard waste during dry weather.
  • Avoid burning during periods of high fire danger.
  • Check local restrictions (homeowners’ association, city, county) to ensure there are no restrictions on burning in your area.
  • Consider the weather and conditions: Refrain from burning immediately following a storm and seek alternative removal methods.