Photo courtesy Red Creek Wildlife Center |
It’s hard to resist “rescuing” a baby bird, bunny, or other young wildlife that ends up on your lawn, driveway, or porch at this time of year.
After all, you’ve created a Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary that invites wild animals to share your home space. So the least you can do when a baby seems helpless or abandoned is to scoop it up out of harm’s way.
The key word here is “seems.”
Most wild babies that end up being brought to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) offices or to WDFW-licensed wildlife rehabilitators are NOT helpless or abandoned. In fact, most “rescuers” unwittingly stole the young animal from its parents, some who may have even witnessed the well-intentioned abduction.
“Every Spring hundreds of baby birds, deer fawns, seal pups and other young wild animals are referred to our wildlife rehabilitators,” said WDFW wildlife biologist Patricia Thompson, who coordinates the state’s 70-some volunteer rehabilitators. “This can be extremely harmful to the young animal and costly to rehabilitators when they most need to concentrate limited resources on truly orphaned or injured wildlife.”
Thompson explains that young wild animals are often left alone for hours while their parents gather food. Young birds commonly leave the nest before they are fully-feathered and are fed on the ground by their parents for a day or two until they are able to fly. Doe deer leave their fawns alone to avoid drawing predators with their own body scent.
“These wild babies are being tended by their parents in ways that are best for their survival and for retaining their natural wild behaviors,” she said. “If they lose their wild behavior under human care, they usually can’t be truly rehabilitated for release back into the wild, and often must be euthanized.”
More often than not, Thompson says, just leaving a young animal alone affords it the best chance for survival.
Leaving wildlife alone includes confining cats, dogs and other pets that might injure it. One of the most common causes of injuries to wildlife that are legitimately in need of rehabilitator care is attacks by cats.
One of the few situations in which almost anyone can help wild babies is when very young, completely un-feathered birds have fallen out of the nest and are on the ground.
If you can find the nest and safely reach it, simply pick up the nestling with a gloved hand and put it back in the nest. Contrary to popular belief, the parent birds will not reject their young because it’s been handled by humans.
If you can’t find the nest, place the bird in a tree or shrub or on a shaded portion of a roof, out of the way of cats, dogs, and children. You can even make a “nest” for it with a small box filled with leaves, paper towels or soft cloth; place the nestling in the box and place the box in a tree or shrub or otherwise protected from rain or sun. Do not unnecessarily handle or move it from the general area where it was found.
If you watch from a distance, you’ll likely witness the parent birds tending to their lost-and-found young.
Wild animals of any age that show obvious signs of illness or injury such as bleeding, vomiting, panting, shivering, or ruffled feathers or fur, or that are just lethargic and make no effort to escape your approach, may indeed be in need of care.
“That’s why we developed the volunteer wildlife rehabilitation program,” Thompson said. “As a state agency with broad responsibilities and limited staff, we manage wildlife populations rather than individuals. But we recognize the valuable role that wildlife rehabilitators play in caring for individual sick, injured, and truly orphaned wildlife.”
Most Washington counties have wildlife rehabilitators, now conveniently listed with phone numbers and addresses for 24-7 access on the WDFW website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wildlife/rehabilitation/index.html.
Thompson encourages careful observation of a wild animal before calling a rehabilitator and before attempting to pick it up and stressing it further. If the wild animal seems truly at risk, consult with your closest rehabilitator about next steps.
“You may not be able to reach one of these volunteers immediately, or they may not be able to help you at all, especially during spring and summer when they are swamped,” she said. “If they can help, you will probably have to transport the animal to them. “
If you and your local rehabilitator decide it might be best to help the animal, find out from them how to safely contain and transport the animal. Always wear gloves when picking up a wild animal to place it in the container. Until the animal is transported to the rehabilitator, keep it in a quiet, dark place.
Another way to help wildlife, whether or not you find an injured animal in need of care, is to support your local volunteer wildlife rehabilitators.
Thompson explained these volunteers must learn wildlife rehabilitation techniques and standards and pass a comprehensive test and facility inspection before obtaining a state permit. The permit authorizes temporary possession of injured, diseased, oiled, or abandoned wildlife for the purpose of treatment and wild release. Each sick and injured animal taken in must be evaluated, diagnosed, and treated through a program of veterinary care, proper diet and medication, physical therapy, exercise, and pre-release conditioning.
Many of these volunteers are veterinarians themselves, and all must establish and maintain a good working relationship with a cooperating veterinarian, but none can charge for their services to wildlife.
“Our wildlife rehabilitators volunteer their services and facilities and pay expenses out of their own pockets,” Thompson said. “We offer grants for partial reimbursements, but most are reliant on donations to cover expenses. Typically their finances and time are limited and demand is great.”
Thompson also noted many wildlife rehabilitators are involved in educating both children and adults about responsible relationships with wildlife and the environment.
“Next time you are truly in need of a wildlife rehabilitator, remember that they are trained individuals performing a service basically out of the goodness of their heart and the love of wildlife,” she said.
Those interested in becoming a wildlife rehabilitator can check out the requirement details at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wildlife/rehabilitation/how_to_become.html and contact Thompson at 425-379-2302.
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