When the earth awakens from her winter slumber, the birds and the bees begin buzzing, and a bounty of baby animals is soon to arrive – which means human encounters with wild babies are sure to increase.
Here are some commonly occurring wild baby animal problems and solutions:
Baby Bird Falls From Nest
First, simply try to place the baby bird back into its nest. Don’t believe the Old Wives’ Tale that you can’t touch a baby animal or Mom will reject it. This was told to keep children from getting diseases or bitten. You can absolutely pick up a baby bird and carefully place it back into its home. If you can’t reach the nest, you can construct a makeshift nest out of a small basket (old strawberry containers from the grocer work great) or a box with paper towels, cotton balls, a pillow case, or other non-threaded material (so their sharp toenails don’t get stuck). Then, put the newly constructed nest near the original nest, so the parents can see and hear the little one. If the parents do not return that day to feed it, the baby bird may need human intervention and a local wildlife rehabilitator should be called for further guidance.
Baby Squirrel Falls From Tree
Baby squirrels are tough little souls. Occasionally, if Mom gets into trouble and the babies haven’t eaten, the young squirrels will venture out of the nest with their eyes still closed searching for Mom and food. They have the will, but their motor skills are not very good, so they end up tumbling from their tree. The first rule of any situation like this is to get that baby squirrel warmed up. Put the baby squirrel in your shirt or place them in a box with a hot water bottle (like a Ziplock baggie of warm water, but make sure the bag is tightly closed) and then call a rehabilitator for advice.
Baby Bunnies in The Backyard
Baby bunnies are fragile and can’t tolerate much stress. If your pet dog or cat comes across a nest of baby bunnies in the backyard, there are a few options. Mom usually comes home to the babies late at night and leaves when the sun rises. You can check this by placing two sticks like a cross over the nest at night; if the sticks have been moved, the Mom has been back. If this is the case, a laundry basket or a milk carton can be placed over the nest, with something heavy to keep it in place, so pets can’t get in during the day. At night, the obstruction can be removed to allow Mom entry. If this doesn’t work, we suggest walking your dog on a leash for a couple weeks until the baby bunnies are all safely out of the nest.
Orphaned Fawn Found
When people encounter a fawn curled up by itself in the grass, their first thought is that the young deer has been abandoned or that the Mom has died. But a mother doe actually “parks” her little one(s) in the grass or a thicket where they can hide while she feeds. The doe returns to collect and feed her fawns 8-10 hours later, sometimes returning after the sun has set. This leads to the unintentional “kidnapping” of many fawns each year by well-intentioned folks who misunderstand the situation. When should you worry? If a baby deer is crying out and wandering aimlessly, if you see the presence of flies around them (this means Mom hasn’t been cleaning them), or if they seem injured. Otherwise, leave the fawn alone. You can check the next day to see if the fawn is in the same place. If the fawn is still there or you see any of the warning signs mentioned above, please call a wildlife rehabilitator for advice.
In many cases, it is not only potentially harmful to the health of both you and the animal involved, but it is against the law to handle or possess wildlife. Luckily, there is a network of specially trained and certified wildlife rehabilitators, who have spent years studying how to properly handle wildlife emergencies.
The biggest threat to native wildlife is human beings, including those who believe they are helping, but may be doing more harm than good by removing the wild baby from its natural home and feeding it an improper diet. If you’ve found a wild baby animal, please follow the advice above, keep the baby warm and quiet, and contact a trained professional.
The Susquehannock Wildlife Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based out of Harford County, Maryland with a mission of promoting conservation, education, and rescue/rehabilitation of local wildlife.
For more information about this or other local wildlife issues, contact the Susquehannock Wildlife Society at 443-333-WILD (-9453).
