This time of year we have received many calls from people who have found bunnies, squirrel babies as well as nestling and fledgling birds in their backyards and are wondering what to do with them.
Most wildlife babies are better left alone! Although some people mistaken their sighting for being in distress they are often just following natures course and have less of a chance of survival in human hands.
The following are some tips & info for the most common species seen:
Cottontail Bunnies:
Bunnies are born without scent and live in a nest separate from their mother. Most people find a nest of babies and think they are abandoned because they don't see mom around. Bunnies are feed 1-2 x daily when mom comes by the nest in the early morning or at dusk. She needs no more then 5 min to feed the babies and then moves on so she attracts little attention from predators. Bunnies are weaned around 3-4 weeks of age and begin to move away from the nest and eat on their own. This usually is the time when the white spot of hair on their head begins to disappear. At about 5 weeks of age they begin to separate from the rest of their litter and they are on their own.
If you have found a nest of bunnies in your yard and they look content and are warm leave them alone and try to keep your pets away until the bunnies have moved on. If they appear cold and are crying contact a wildlife rehabilitator.
Baby Squirrels:
We receive many calls from people who have found baby squirrels on the ground at the bottom of trees. Squirrels take quite a bit longer to develop in the nest ( eyes don't open until 36 days after birth) and have been known to be blown, pushed or fall out of the nest before then.
If you have found baby that has fallen from the nest the Mom will come to to retrieve them when she feels its safe to do so. In the meantime you can put them at the base of the tree in a box with a fleece blanket to keep them warm and keep your pets away from the area. If she hasn't returned for the babies after 24 hours contact a wildlife rehabilitator.
Baby Birds:
Nestlings are very young and can be distinguished but their lack of feathers or feathers that are just coming through. Sometimes after wind storms these babies may be blown out of nests or the stronger siblings in the nest may have pushed one out. If you can reach the nest you can place the baby back in it ( it is an old wives tale that mom will reject the babies if they have been touched by human hands). If the nest is too high to reach you can make a makeshift nest using a margarine container with small holes in the bottom for drainage lined with paper towels. Tack this new nest in the tree as close to the original nest as possible. The mother will hear the nestling and will go to the new nest to feed it.
Fledglings are young birds that have their new feathers in and are usually seen when learning to fly. They are often seen hopping and fluttering on the ground and appear injured but are really just learning how to fly. Don't be alarmed..mom is usually close by and will come to the ground to feed the baby until they get the hang of flying ( usually a couple of days). Again keep your pets clear of the area until they have left.
Wildlife Baby Info :
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/guideto.htm
If you have a wildlife baby that you think has been abandoned you should contact a wildlife rehabilitator. Raising wildlife without the proper license is illegal and can result in a large fine. These people are trained to raise and release wildlife properly.
International Wildlife Rehabilitators:
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contactI.htm
If you are in Ontario check out these sites:
http://www.earthrangers.ca
http://www.torontowildlifecentre.com/index.html
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/mnr/csb/news/2005/jun15fs_05.html
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