Wildlife Rescue Guidelines

A young animal that seems to have been abandoned by its mother, usually is not. Most often she is nearby. Many animals leave their young for long periods of time to find food, or to not draw attention to their babies to keep them safe from predators. Many well-meaning people "rescue" young animals they believe to be orphaned, when in fact they are not. Taking an orphan into care is difficult and time consuming. Almost always the animal has a better chance of survival in the wild. Here are some guidelines to help you decide if an animal is in need of assistance.

Some situations which you should intervene:

Injured Wildlife Your help is needed if an animal

If you decide to intervene, remember that wildlife will NOT be grateful for your help. You are a predator to them & however they react is instinctual for their survival. Whether it is to "shut down" its senses & act calm even though it's petrified, or whether it is to lash out at you with every ounce of strength it may have left. Wear heavy leather gloves. Call your nearest wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible. Rehab is very case specific & even the best guidelines may not work in all situations.

What should I do?

Rabbits:
a) There is a rabbit nest in our yard. Now what? While it is not possible to always relocate the nest, you can mow around it & keep pets away. The young are only in the nest for 12-15 days, so this shouldn't be too inconvenient.
b) There is no sign of the mother. The mother is probably still around. Rabbits usually nurse their young at night to help keep predators away. Their milk is so rich they only need to nurse once or twice a night. If the babies' eyes are closed, place blades of grass or very light twigs in a X pattern over the nest. If it is disturbed, you'll know Mom has returned. Baby rabbits are on their own when they are about the size of an adult human fist.
c) If the nest cannot be found & the rabbit is not the size of an adult human fist, call your nearest wildlife rehabilitator.
d) If the rabbit is injured, call your nearest wildlife rehabilitator

Songbirds:
Where was it found? On the street, under a window, brought in by pet? Are the parents in the area? Can you see the nest? Does the bird open its mouth expecting food? Is weather a factor? Is it partially feathered? Does it have tail feathers? The answers to these questions will determine the best course of action. If the bird is unfeathered or lacking tail feathers:
a) if you can find the nest, put the bird back and watch from a distance for 1-2 hours for the parents to return. If they do not, call your nearest wildlife rehabilitator.

MYTH: “If a baby bird is found outside of the nest and put it back in, the mother will not resume their care”.  In fact, the opposite is true… Birds have a poorly developed sense of smell. Handling by humans to put the baby back in its nest will not discourage the parents from resuming their care.  Humans hanging around too close to the nest to watch the birds after a rescue will cause problems however.

Make your observations from a distance.
b) if the nest has been destroyed (i.g., blown out of the tree), but the parents are still around, an artificial nest may be possible. Call your nearest wildlife rehabilitator.
c) if the bird is obviously injured, cold, has maggots, etc. call your nearest wildlife rehabilitator. If the bird is partially feathered including tail feathers: This is a brancher or a fledgling. A brancher is a bird old enough to venture out from the nest (like go out on a branch), but not ready to test his wings. A fledgling is a bird that is fledging, or testing his wings. Often times these birds are found on the ground. If there is a limb within reach, you may put the bird back into the tree, or one nearby. Don't be surprised if the bird winds up on the ground again. You can leave the bird on the ground and keep all pets away. Fledglings on ground shouldn't be fed. The parents use food as a tool for training. If the bird has been brought in by a pet, call your nearest wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible.

Fawns:
Healthy, uninjured fawns are often mistakenly picked up by well-meaning, uninformed people. If you find a fawn near your home or lying in a field, keep all dogs inside & observe. Be patient & observe from a distance until dusk or the next morning. Does leave their young for long periods. If a fawn is injured, call your nearest wildlife rehabilitator.

Raccoons
A very large percentage of raccoons carry diseases that can be spread to people & pets. If you encounter a raccoon, call your nearest wildlife rehabilitator.