Report an environmental breach or pollution to the state helpline at 1247 If you discover environmental pollution or a potential threat to the environment, assess the situation – can you eliminate it a manner that is safe for both yourself and the environment? For example, you can pick up an empty bottle or a discarded ice cream wrapping and take it to the nearest trash bin, but in case of more...

It is better for nature if you do not buy exotic goods for which it is not known whether any endangered animal or plant was used to produce them When travelling to an exotic country, it is worth taking the time to find out which products can cause trouble with local law enforcement agencies and which can create a hassle in customs. Among other things, you should look at the limits set by CITES...

Be sure to not let the unwanted passenger get away Fortunately, a large animal cannot fit in a suitcase, but some smaller animals, such as a scorpion, gecko, smaller reptile, cockroach, snail, or spider may accidentally hide in a bag and travel to Estonia. What should I do if I get back home from a trip and find an unwanted passenger in my bag? If you think the animal that accidentally ended up in...

If you meet a creature in nature or in your home garden who certainly does not belong to the Estonian fauna, call 1247 An alien species is an animal, plant, or fungus that a person has intentionally or accidentally brought to a new area. For example, over the centuries, the botanical gardens have left their mark on the local flora, because it has been easy for the seeds to spread across the walls...

It is easier to keep the ants away from houses and gardens than to get rid of an already established wood ant hill Ants that roam the garden can be a great scourge: their hills grow bigger every year, they sneak into buildings, and no plants will grow in a flower bed when the ants roam there. Wood ants definitely belong in the forest and, if possible, you should avoid letting them gain a foothold...

It is not necessary to call the Estonian Rescue Board when you see a snake in the garden. You should give the reptile a chance to leave – it will do so quickly It is not necessary to call the Estonian Rescue Board when you see a snake in the garden. You should give the reptile a chance to leave – it will do so quickly. In the future, however, it is worth taking some measures to prevent snakes from...

Bats usually end up in residential buildings from late spring to autumn Bats often live close to humans in cities and towns. It is common for them to spend the days in the attics, but some species like cramped conditions, so they squeeze themselves through openings a few centimetres wide, either under lining boards or into some wooden cracks. It may happen that a bat flies into a room and can no...

Wild animals that have moved to the city can also cope without human help In cities, many wild animals have found a habitat next to humans – due to the easy availability of food and the lack of natural enemies. Fortunately, bears do not check out trash cans in Estonia (like they do in Canada, for example), but food waste does attract foxes and other smaller animals. When you see hedgehogs and...

By making the windows more visible to the birds you can prevent birds flying into them Birds do not realise that it is impossible to fly through glass windows. In the worst case, flying against the glass at full speed can be fatal to the bird. To prevent this from happening, it would be wise to mark large windows and glass surfaces for birds. More than a few of us have probably found a stunned or...

If you do not feed the birds, nothing bad will happen to them Should you feed birds during winter and if yes, how to do it properly? What should you feed the birds? First of all, keep in mind that if you do not feed the birds, nothing bad will happen to them. The birds that winter here have adapted to the Estonian climate and are able to cope on their own in the winter, while additional feeding...