TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) \u2013 As the drought continues, many ponds or lakes are drying up, and wildlife experts say more human interactions could be likely. <\/p>\n
Hannah Altonji is the director of rehabilitation at the St. Francis Wildlife Association. She said the drought is forcing animals to leave their dry habitats and find other places to get food and water. <\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe these animals are going into your backyard, looking into your goldfish pond,\u201d Altonji said. \u201cBut, all these animals are just desperate for their next meal and their next sip of water during this drought.\u201d <\/p>\n
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She also said it\u2019s important not to approach animals as they\u2019re navigating new habitats. <\/p>\n
\u201cGiving them space and not approaching too close is a great way to keep animals calm,\u201d Altonji said. \u201cA lot of these animals are sitting in the shade just trying to get through the heat of the day, and it can be stressful.\u201d<\/p>\n
The director said it\u2019s also important to keep an eye out while you\u2019re driving, as people could see more turtles and geese in the roadways as the drought continues. <\/p>\n
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