Each year the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) receives numerous calls from citizens who, with the best of intentions, have “rescued” a young wild animal and are seeking tips on how to properly care for it. These people are in fact endangering the lives of these baby rabbits, deer, birds and ducks by interfering with their natural adaptation and learning of basic survival skills.
Spring is a time when many native species are busy raising their young and it can be very enjoyable to watch – but do so from a distance! It is also the time of year that people are most apt to think they have come across an abandoned animal. Young wildlife may seem to be abandoned and helpless when in all likelihood their mothers are actually close by. Many species, such as the Eastern cottontail rabbit, return to their nests under the cover of darkness to feed and care for their young. White-tailed deer commonly hide their fawns in deep grass, coming back hours later to care for them. The baby bird that has fallen to the ground is probably just learning to fly under its mother’s close supervision.
Young animals are very cute and it’s often hard to resist the urge to help them, but remember, by interfering with them, more harm than good is done. Their chances of survival are much better if left in their natural surroundings to be raised by their mothers.
Please DO NOT give any food or water to the baby UNLESS directed by a Wildlife Rehabilitator.
(Only adults should rescue baby mammals. Before rescuing adult mammals,
seek guidance from a wildlife rehabilitator.)
1. Prepare a container. Place a soft cloth on the bottom of a cardboard box or cat/dog
carrier with a lid. If it doesn’t have air holes, make some. For smaller animals, you can
use a paper sack with air holes punched in.
2. Protect yourself. Wear gloves, if possible. Some animals may bite or scratch to protect
themselves, even if sick; wild animals commonly have parasites (fleas, lice, ticks) and
carry diseases.
3. Cover the animal with a light sheet or towel.
4. Gently pick up the animal and put it in the prepared container.
5. Warm the animal if it’s cold out or if the animal is chilled. Put one end of the
container on a heating pad set on low. Or fill a zip-top plastic bag, plastic soft drink
container with a screw lid, or a rubber glove with hot water; wrap warm container with
cloth, and put it next to the animal. Make sure the container doesn’t leak, or the animal
will get wet and chilled.
6. Tape the box shut or roll the top of the paper bag closed.
7. Note exactly where you found the animal. This will be very important for release.
8. Keep the animal in a warm, dark, quiet place.
Don’t give it food or water.
Leave it alone; don’t handle or bother it.
Keep children and pets away.
9. Contact a wildlife rehabilitator, state wildlife agency, or wildlife veterinarian
as soon as possible.
Don’t keep the animal at your home longer than necessary.
Keep the animal in a container; don’t let it loose in your house or car.
10. Wash your hands after contact with the animal.
Wash anything the animal was in contact with — towel, jacket, blanket, pet carrier —
to prevent the spread of diseases and/or parasites to you or your pets.
11.
Get the animal to a wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible.
It’s against the law in most states to keep
wild animals if you don’t have permits,
even if you plan to release them.
From Healers of the Wild: People Who Care
for Injured and Orphaned Wildlife
By Shannon K. Jacobs
©Shannon K. JacobsGratefully used with Permission.
Thank you Shannon!!
Please get it the help it needs to survive.
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Please remember, I am one of the Wild Ones!!