WILDLIFE TIPS!

Every year Animal Aid receives dozens of calls for assistance with injured, abandoned, and/or baby wildlife.  Animal Aid is NOT licensed by the state of Michigan to rehab wildlife and in the majority of cases can only assist in the transfer of these animals to appropriate facilities.  But often due to lack of trained wildlife volunteers we can only refer folks to other organizations or caregivers.  Please understand if our volunteers cannot come and pick up or relocate wildlife for you.  We can offer the following guidelines and list of wildlife caregivers/organizatons that we are familair with!!
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There are several wonderful wildlife resources in our community.  Rainbow's End Wildlife Rehab Center at 468-6730, Sarrett Nature Center at 927-4832, Love Creek Nature Center 471-2617, and Fernwood Nature Center at 695-6491.  Here is a list of some of the licensed rehabbers in the area and their speciality:
• Rainbow's End Wildlife Rehab Center 468-6730  (all wildlife)
• Barbie Carrell (mammals and has other contact people) - (269) 641-5049
• Faye Handley (mammal babies) - (269) 683-0352
• Larry Kauffman (songbirds, no waterfowl) - (574) 654-3652
• Diane Kuhl (waterfowl, shorebirds, turkeys, pheasants, herons) -(574) 654-8714
• Nolan & Sons Farms (deer) - (269) 641-7953
• Carol Riewe (raptors) - (574) 288-5549
• Cindy Sellers (mammals, no raccoons) - (574) 291-7331
• Donna Sorenson (squirrels, raccoons, opossums, groundhogs, no bunnies) -(269) 663-8341
• Nancy or Jennifer (mammals, but call for others) - (269) 362-7297

BELOW ARE SOME TIPS AND INFORMATION ON WILDLIFE ISSUES:

Is the baby really an orphan?

In most cases, wild animal babies should be left alone. The following is what we recommend to do in specific situations.

BABY BIRDS

FLEDGLINGS: People often see baby birds that have only some feathers sitting on the ground below a tree and automatically assume that they fell out of the nest and need to be helped. At this stage in a birds development, they are considered "fledglings". Fledglings NORMALLY will jump or fall out of the nest. This is their "flight training" stage and is necessary for them to learn to fly and become independent. The mother bird will then continue feeding the bird on the ground until the bird is able to fly (usually only takes a few days). Unless injured, these birds should be left where they are. Efforts should be made to keep cats, dogs, and curious children away from the bird so the mother can continue to feed it. 

Cat or Dog Danger?
If a dog or cat is threatening the baby animal, do not instantly bring the baby in. Rather, keep the pet restrained the short time the baby is there. However, if the animal has already been attacked or picked up by the family pet and is injured, this would be the appropriate time to rescue the animal and contact a wildlife facility or rehabber.

NESTLINGS Baby birds that are naked for the most part are considered to be "nestlings". These birds stay in the nest and the parents come to the next to feed them.  These babies, when found, are usually on the ground directly below the nest. This occurs either because the baby fell out, blew out (common after wind storms), or was "pushed" out by a sibling. One must realize that this last behavior is actually adaptive for some species. This way, only the strongest of the brood survive and go on to raise young themselves.  In nature it is often survival of the fittest, something compassionate humans have a difficult time accepting.

What to do if you find a nestling that is out of the nest:

The best thing to do is to try to place the bird back in its nest. If the nest cannot be reached for some reason, the following works very well. (This is also the procedure to use if you find the whole nest on the ground.) Make a "makeshift" nest out of a clean Cool-Whip like container or margarine dish. Make holes in the bottom of it to allow for water drainage. Line the bowl with paper towels. Then tack the makeshift nest back up in the tree as close to the original nest as possible. Finally, place the baby bird(s) into this and leave. The parents will usually come back in a short time and will feed the babies in it just like it was the original nest. (Often, you will see the mother going back and forth between each "nest", feeding both sets of babies.)

The only time it is recommended that you take baby birds to a rehabber is if you KNOW that the mother is dead or if the babies are injured in any way. The natural parents do a much better job at raising their young than we could ever do. A baby bird that is featherless must be fed every 15-20 minutes from about sunrise to 10 pm! This obviously requires a large time committment on the part of the foster parent.

What if I already touched the birds, the mother won't come back, will she?

People often believe this to be true and therefore think they need to keep the babies. This is simply NOT TRUE and is just an old wives tale. Birds in general have a very poor sense of smell (vultures are one exception) and will not mind the fact that you have handled them however they will get upset and be bothered if you continue to linger or be close to where the babies are at.

 If you do find a REAL orphan or injured baby bird, please do the following:

Get it to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator AS SOON AS POSSIBLE; the longer the delay, the less chance it has of surviving.  A list of local (southwestern Michigan) rehabbers is at the top of this page.

Keep the baby bird WARM and in a quiet, dark place until you can bring it in (a small cardboard box works well).  Pad it with paper towels and line the bottom with towels also.  Baby birds are messy creatures!

DO NOT give the baby bird any liquids (they get all they need from their food and very often will inhale any liquid)

BABY MAMMALS

These animals are usually found when the nest has been destroyed or disturbed in some way. 

BABY RABBITS

Rabbits make their "nests" in small depressions in the grass including in residential yards and fields. The nests are lined with fur from the mother and loosely covered with grass. They are frequently disturbed by people when they are mowing their grass or raking. In addition, dogs and cats find these nests and often kill or injure the babies.

If a nest is found or distured, please do the following:
Replace the baby rabbits back in their nest and leave them there unless they are injured or if you KNOW that the mother has been killed. Many people just assume the mother is dead because they "have been watching the nest all day and have not seen the mom come back at all". This is normal. Female rabbits only come to feed their young early in the morning and at dusk. This decreases the chance of alerting predators to the nest's location. If you are not sure if the mother is coming back to feed them, try placing a string over the nest. If the string has not moved by the following morning, she has not been back. If the babies are cool and appear very hungry, bring them to a wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible. In the meantime, keep them in a warm, dark box with some towels,  in a quiet location.

It is crucial with rabbit babies to bring them in only as a last resort. Baby rabbits have a high death rate when hand raised, due in great part to the stress of handling by humans. People are NOT doing the babies any favors by attempting to raise them themselves. It usually only ends in sadness and frustration. They need special diets, care, and antibiotics if they are to have any chance at survival.

Also, when baby rabbits are about 5 inches long, they are totally on their own and away from their mother. These rabbits do not need to be brought in unless they are injured. (If you have to chase the rabbit to catch it, IT DOES NOT NEED TO BE RESCUED!!)

BABY SQUIRRELS

These are often found after a nest has blown down from a storm or when a tree is being cut down. They are best placed into a box set at the base of the tree. The mother will usually come retrieve them when people are not around. Keep dogs, cats, and children away from the box.. It may be necessary to keep them overnight and try again the next day. It is best to call your local wildlife rehabilitator for instructions and advice as to if the baby needs to be brought in. If you are requested to bring in the baby, make sure you keep it in a warm and quiet area (usually in a box with towelling) until you can get it in.

BABY DEER

Is the fawn really hurt or abandoned?

If a fawn is seen lying upright, eyes wide open, but flattened to the ground, do not touch it. This is a fawn's camouflage position. It blends with its surroundings. When it is picked up it will hold its legs tight against its body with its head forward. Its legs are not broken. Sometimes the fawn allows its body to become limp and dangle in your hands. Put it down, walk away and leave it alone. This fawn is too small to follow the doe for the long distance she must travel to find enough food to make milk for her baby. The milk is very rich and will sustain the fawn for the many hours it spends alone. The doe will return only when there are no humans nearby. Do not sit and wait for her to return. If you have removed the fawn from its resting spot take it back at once and walk away. The doe will be searching for her fawn, she will accept it and care for it much better than any human can. Humans cannot teach the fawn the skills it will need to survive in the wild. Humans do not have the correct food to properly nourish a wild animal.
LEAVE IT ALONE. Allow it to retain its wildness and natural fear of humans. This is the greatest gift we can give it. Wild animals do not make good pets. They are genetically programmed to be wild. As they mature they become dangerous and can inflict serious injuries on humans.

If a fawn is obviously ill, lying on its side, kicking, crying – pick it up and place it in a quiet place. A light cloth placed over the animal's head will sometimes calm it. Keep it away from pets and all human activity. Do NOT Pet the fawn, talk to it,  or hold it, this does not comfort it. This is a wild animal. Human voices, odor and touch only add to its stress and can cause additional harm besides the illness or injury. When a fawn seems calm it may be in shock. If the weather is cold, a blanket may be placed over its body to keep it from becoming chilled. In hot weather a cool location, out of drafts, is all that is needed. DO NOT FEED THE FAWN ANYTHING other than water. Baby formula, cow's milk, feed store mixes, pet store domestic animal formulas, soy products – will cause scouring, dehydration and death. CALL A WILDLIFE Rehabber or Facility immediately for help.

If an uninjured fawn is seen on the road or beside the road, DO NOT PUT IT IN YOUR CAR. Place it off the road about 20 feet and leave the area. The fawn would not be there if the doe were not nearby. You will not see her. She will return for the fawn as soon as the human disturbance is gone. A doe WILL accept it even though it has been touched by humans, but she cannot retrieve her fawn if you linger in the area.