Orphaned Baby Animals

Do’s and don’ts of baby wildlife rescue

Just some general rules before taking wildlife…

DO NOT:

• Disturb nests- if a human is constantly hanging around, the parent will not return
• Take fawns- it is instinctive for a fawn to keep still and a parent is probably close by watching you
• Touch or handle raccoons, foxes or skunks…these are Rabies Vector Species and can possibly spread disease
• Assume young birds on the ground are orphaned right away… when birds are learning to fly, they spend a few days on the ground practicing their flight.  A parent is usually nearby watching over the youngster and comes down periodically to feed.

Before rescuing, make sure the animal NEEDS your help

DO:

• Keep an eye on the young/nest – if the parent does not return within a couple of hours to 24 hours (depending on species), assume it is orphaned
• Watch for natural predators and move it to a safe place if in danger (ex. Roaming neighborhood cats, traffic, etc)
• Place baby birds back into the original nest – if the nest is unreachable or knocked down, make a fake nest and place it in a nearby tree
• Place an X of sticks across a disturbed rabbit nest – if a parent returns, the X will be removed from its position within 24 hours…if the X is not disturbed, assume the young are orphaned

If an animal DOES need rescued…

DO NOT:

• Allow children or pets to play with the animal – animals carry disease and also stress very easily, causing death in many species
• Give water – birds, in particular, will drown if water is poured into their mouths
• Feed any food– not all birds eat worms!  DO NOT feed bread!  DO NOT feed milk!

DO:

• Carefully place the animal in a box or paper bag (wear gloves!) and place it in a dark, quiet place away from children and pets
• Keep the animal warm
• Call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible

                              Click here to learn more about Wildlife Rehabilitation