I, like many other licensed wildlife rehabilitators, work out of my own
home and volunteer my time and just about every spare cent I can
gather towards animal rescue efforts and public wildlife education.
No local or state funding is available for animal caging, veterinary
care, medicine and food. That's why most rehabilitators gratefully
accept donations towards the care of animals they receive from the public.
Some folks find the idea of wildlife rehabilitation ridiculous or claim it's "messing with nature". These folks neglect to see that most wildlife related calls that require our human intervention ARE the direct result of unnatural conditions such as careless behavior of people, toxins, poisons, automobiles, guns, traps, lawn mowers, to name just a few.
Often we are confronted with animals that have suffered traumatic wounds and horrific injuries.
Some animals come in poisoned, shot, injured by cars and left for dead by humans. The stories and cases are endless and heartbreaking.
We, as wildlife rehabilitators, are dedicated warriors on the front lines between suburban development and natural habitat and are grateful for every bit of support we can get.
Below you will find valuable information on how to find a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and emergency care instructions for orphaned or injured urban wildlife:
Many baby birds are found by people and taken in to be cared for. People believe the baby bird is rejected by its parents, lost, or can not get back into the nest.
The fatality rate of baby birds that are taken in by kind-hearted individuals is unfortunately very very high.
Many people ask if a baby bird will be rejected if a person handles the baby and the bird parents smell the human. This is just an "old wives'" tale. Baby birds are NOT rejected by their parents if a person handles them. In fact, most birds have a very poor sense of smell or are incapable of smelling at all.
DO NOT TRY TO RAISE INFANT OPOSSUMS IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING! THEY WILL DIE!!! IT IS ALSO ILLEGAL IN MANY STATES! FIND A WILDLIFE REHABILITATOR HERE!
Most opossum babies end up orphaned, because their mother was hit by a car (their only real defense is to play dead...) or killed by dogs.
So PLEASE, if you care and you happen to hit an opossum with your car - accidents happen - take a minute and make sure that there are no babies on the animal, because they usually survive a lot within momma's pouch. After all, they are America's only Marsupials.
Baby squirrels sometimes fall out of a nest that has been damaged in a storm or by an aggressive male squirrel.
The squirrel may not be an orphan at all, but may have just fallen from its nest. If one squirrel has fallen from a damaged nest, others may have fallen out as well.
It is recommended that you warm the baby squirrel in your hands or by holding it close to your body and then place it at the base of the tree. Given time, the mother will return and retrieve her baby.
Most baby cottontails end up in human care for all the wrong reasons even though the heart of the rescuer was surely in the right spot and their intentions honorable and motives kind.
If you come across a nest of bunnies in the wild and the mother is nowhere in sight, please DO NOT disturb them!
By removing them from the nest you are greatly reducing their chances of survival.
If you find orphaned babies please do not try to feed them. Keep them warm and get them to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator as quickly as
possible. Fed incorrectly these little ones can aspirate [inhale formula into
their lungs] and die.
Even as they get a little older we still must be careful
to match their mother's milk and their diet as it would be in the wild. Their
systems are delicate at this age and they do not have the ability to digest
many of our foods.
If you do find what you believe to be an orphaned kit, please, don't just
snatch it up. We first need to make sure that it is indeed an orphan. Many
babies play while mother is sleeping in a tree. Mother is nocturnal, but
babies are not.
Found an orphaned animal?
Find out how to determine if it needs your help or not!
Wild animals of all shapes and sizes are born during the spring and summer months. In your own backyard, you may come across baby birds, rabbits, squirrels, opossums, and other young wildlife as they make they make their way into the world.
For many people, the pleasure of seeing these young creatures is mixed with a sense of protectiveness—of wanting to help them survive. But spotting a baby animal by himself doesn't necessarily mean he's an orphan. Many wildlife parents leave their young alone during the day, sometimes for long periods. The parent is usually nearby and quite conscious of her young. Also, keep in mind that despite their small size, many young animals are actually independent enough to fend for themselves.
How can you tell if an animal needs your help or should be left alone? Here are some general signs to look for:
A wild animal presented to you by a cat or dog
Bleeding
An apparent or obvious broken limb
A featherless or nearly featherless bird (nestling) on the ground
Shivering
Evidence of a dead parent nearby
If a wild animal exhibits any of the above signs, you should immediately call one of the following local resources for assistance. You will find listings for most of these in your telephone directory.
Remember, many animals who appear to be orphaned are not. Unless one or more of the signs mentioned above is present, do not attempt to rescue animals in any of the following circumstances:
A bird who is fully feathered on his body with evidence of tail feathers, hopping on the ground, but unable to fly. This is a fledgling (adolescent bird), and his parents are probably nearby.
A rabbit who is four inches long with open eyes and erect ears. She is independent from her mother and able to fend for herself.
An opossum who is nine to ten inches or longer, not including the tail. He is independent.
A squirrel who is nearly full sized, has a full and fluffy tail, and is able to run, jump, and climb. She is independent.
