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Over the years, many people
have brought me orphaned or injured wildlife.
Sometimes they want me to
care for it, but many times they want me to show them how to care for
it. I have learned many things about raising and caring for wild
animals, but I always recommend the local wild animal rescue group
take over the care of the animal to give it the best chance of
survival and re-release into the wild. In some cases, state or
federal law mandates a licensed facility.
The most panicked phone
calls come from someone who has just mowed over a bunny nest in their
yard. A mother rabbit is called a doe, and they often burrow a nest
in plain sight, not uncommonly in the middle of the yard. A baby
bunny is called a kit, and a nest of them are called kittens.
Always the concern is that
the mother rabbit is nowhere in sight. Mother rabbits generally only
feed the babies once during the night or for a few minutes in the
early morning. That would be the only time you will see the mother,
so don’t assume the mother has abandoned her nest. If you’re not
sure, you can place some leaves or string over the nest to see if the
mother has returned overnight.
If the mother has not
returned in 24 hours, and when you feel the babies they are cold, you
may need to bring them to the rescue group. Mother rabbits will not
abandon a nest if you minimally handle the babies. Rabbits have a
good sense of smell and are used to humans in their environment.
Young wild bunnies
generally leave the nest when they are about five inches long. If
your children (or cat) have brought one like this home and it is
uninjured, its mother is likely nearby and it can probably live on its
own. You may need to keep your cats and children safely away, so the
bunny doesn’t lose its natural fears.
At a little over six inches
the baby holds its ears erect and doesn’t need to be rescued, even
though it looks fragile and small.
Another frequent encounter
with wildlife is an orphaned baby bird. Songbirds are frequently
found out of their nest. My building manager brought me two little
featherless baby birds she found on the ground outside my office just
last week.
 Featherless
baby birds found on the ground can be placed back into the nest, if
you can find it. That is probably their best chance at making it. If
you cannot find the nest, keep them warm until you can bring them to
the wildlife rescue group.
A baby bird
with feathers on the ground is called a fledgling, and is usually
being fed by its mother. It takes time and practice to learn to fly.
Some species of birds spend hours every day on the ground, and
fledglings may take many days to learn to fly. If the fledgling is in
danger of traffic or animals, you can move it to a shrub. If you have
a hard time catching it to move it, this bird does not need your help
at all!
With an injured animal,
place a towel over it to catch it. Keep it in a warm area until you
can bring it to the wildlife rehabilitators.
As for the two little birds
found outside my office, they were put safely back in their own nest.
I hope they stay around my office so I can enjoy their song when they
grow up. |
