Wildlife

Do not touch the animal if…

The mother is near by, many mothers leave their young alone as to not draw attention to them. Some species only visit their young to feed and clean them, then stay away for hours. (rabbits and deer)

If the animal appears healthy and is not in danger, watch from a distance preferably from a window in the house to see if the mother is near by. Keep all pets inside and do not let children near the animal.

The adult is dead and the baby is too young to survive on its own.

The infant is weak, thin, and cold or appears sick.

The animal is injured or you see blood.

The animal or bird is in obvious danger from a predator. (cat or dog)

Do not attempt to rescue the animal if there is a danger to you. Call a Wildlife Rehabilitator.

Do not feed or give milk or water to an animal or bird. Giving an injured animal or bird food or fluid can kill it. Let the rehabilitator access the animal and administer the proper fluids.

If possible place the animal in a cardboard box of the similar size to the animal, so he can not thrash around. Place paper towels or a t-shirt in the bottom. Do not use terry cloth, they may get their claws tangled and break a leg. Cover the box and keep in a dark, warm and quiet place. Wash your hands thoroughly. Do Not Let Children Handle the Animal.

Handle these animals with caution. They can bite through leather gloves. Call a wildlife rehabilitator.

If a healthy baby falls from a tree - Put the baby in a shallow box at the bottom of a tree and the mother will come and retrieve it. If the baby cries it is calling his mother. If the mother does not retrieve the baby in about 2 hours, rescue the baby.

Cat or Dog attack – Always rescue.

These animals are very dangerous and can carry rabies. Do not attempt to capture an injured raccoon. Keep pets and children away and call a rehabilitator.

Orphaned baby – Wear gloves to capture the baby and place in a cardboard box. Call a rehabilitator.

Injured adult or juvenile – Do not approach or attempt to capture. These animals can carry rabies. Call a rehabilitator.

Orphaned baby – Call a rehabilitator.

Injured adult – Leave the animal alone and call a rehabilitator, O.P.P. or the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Fawns - Most fawns are unnecessarily rescued. The mother leaves her baby unattended for many hours while she grazes. The baby will not move from the spot that the mother has left it, and will often times even allow themselves to be picked up. The mother will come back around late afternoon or dusk. Put pets away and leave the area.

When you find a nest of baby rabbits it is best to leave them alone. The mother only feed the babies at dusk and dawn, so as not to bring predators to the nest.

If the nest is disturbed cover the babies with the remains of the nest and place two sticks crossed over the nest. The mother will come to feed the babies and disturb the sticks, they will be safe. If the nest is not disturbed call a rehabilitator.

Never touch a bat they carry rabies. If you find a bat on the ground cover it with a bucket and call a rehabilitator.

If you have a bat in the house, cover the bat with a margarine container, slide the lid under the container and release outside. In the winter if you find a bat in your house call a rehabilitator.

A baby animal’s best chance for survival is to be raised by its mother. It is important to make every effort to return infants to its mother. Only after every attempt has been made to reunite it with its mother has failed should you call a rehabilitator. It is illegal for you to raise the animal or bird.

Proper care and nutrition are crucial to the survival of the baby and any deficiency will more then likely cost the animal its life.

Baby animals easily imprint onto whoever is feeding them, rehabilitators are trained to prevent this. An animal that has imprinted on a human can not be released so therefore must be euthanized.

Written By: Carol McCahon, Wildlife Rehabilitator

Fur and Feather Wildlife Centre

7 Swan Street,

Port Dover, Ontario

N0A 1N6

1-519-583-1756

I Debra have add this to my website in hope's to help people

In what to do when they are in the wild And may see some of what is posted and wirtin by Carol.