Spring is here! Many of you will be out gardening and enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. Our pets will be out and about exploring the new fresh smells of spring too!
Gardening, mowing, tree pruning can have adverse effects on our wildlife. This is breeding season – and birds, squirrels and rabbits are nesting in our trees, bushes and gardens.
When, our paths cross with those of our wild neighbors and baby animals become separated from their parents, reuniting baby wildlife with their natural parents will increase the survival potential of the young.
You can make a difference!
If you prune your trees and bushes, pay attention to nesting birds with eggs and young. Avoid those areas if possible. The baby birds will hatch and be out of the nest in several weeks.
If you uproot a squirrel nest in a tree, the Mom will often have a secondary nest nearby; give her time to remove her young to a safer location before sending the tree through the wood chipper.
If you find a baby bird that has feathers and downy fluff…it may be a fledgling. Fledglings often leap from the nest before they are ready to take flight, and therefore they spend quality time learning to fly from the ground up.
If the fledgling is in danger on the ground (from cats for example) wash your hands with dirt, gently place the baby into a planter basket with holes for draining. Add grassy dirt and a small shallow bowl of water…and place it out of the sun. Keep everyone away, including pets and people and watch from a distance to confirm that the parents are nearby and caring for their young explorer.
If the baby bird is younger than a fledgling, and if the nest is safely within your reach, you can wash your hands with dirt and place the nestling back into the nest. Be sure to watch for the parents return…baby birds eat often and will become cold if left unattended for an extended period of time.
If you happen upon a rabbit nest…usually a very shallow den in the grass or under leaves and dirt…gently replace the nesting material, make an “x” with string or hay and leave the area. Check the nest area early the next morning. If the “x” has been disturbed and the nest is still covered, Mom has been there to feed her young. Keep everyone away from the area until the bunnies are out and about which is usually within three to four weeks.
Sometimes human intervention is necessary.
Our pets (dogs and cats) can be especially hazardous to baby wildlife and contributors to the orphan population …or worse yet, to injuries and fatalities.
Cats often cause significant harm to wildlife. Cats have very bad bacteria in their mouths and under their claws. An animal may appear normal after a chance encounter with your cat; however, the slightest puncture will most likely result in death to that animal. A puncture may not be visible to the naked eye…even the eye of a trained rehabilitator, but if your cat had the animal in its mouth and/or claws…seek assistance from a wildlife rehabilitator…and please place a bell collar (or even two) on your cat!
When rescuing is required, there are certain things you should know.
o Safety is the first priority…for you, your pets and for wildlife.
o Keep handling to a minimum and avoid direct contact with the baby animals whenever possible. Do not handle raccoons, foxes, skunks, bats, because these are considered rabies vector species (RVS). Consult a Wildlife Rehabilitator for assistance with all wildlife in distress.
o Place animals in a box with fleece, a tee shirt or sweatshirt, in a warm quiet place – be sure the animal can breathe in the enclosure. The animal is traumatized and needs to feel as secure as possible.
o Baby animals need to be kept warm. A warmed bag of rice may be wrapped in fleece and placed next to the fleece the animal is cuddled in, to keep the animal warm. The heat source cannot be hot, nor can it be placed against the animal’s fur or skin, because this can burn the animal and cause additional harm.
o Never feed the animal. Feeding an injured, traumatized, cold animal can cause additional harm and sometimes death to that animal. A Wildlife Rehabilitator can confirm whether the animal is old enough to have a shallow bowl of water in the box.
o Contact a certified Wildlife Rehabilitator as soon as possible.
Accidents do happen…and help is available!
When in doubt, reach out to a Wildlife Rehabilitator. Each state has protocols in place. Visit your local DEEP to learn more. CT has certified specialists who are trained to trouble shoot and when necessary, can step in to rescue an animal in distress. The animal will be nurtured back to health or to maturity and released back into the wild, when it is safe to do so. To find a certified CT Wildlife Rehabilitator near you, click here.
