So, you think you've found an orphaned baby animal? Chances are, you have not!
First, assess the situation regardless of species of animal or bird....look around, do you see other animals that could have caused injury to baby or mom? Is the baby resting comfortably and simply alone? Does it have any visible injury? Is it covered in fire ants, etc.? Take a moment to think logically and clearly. Keep in mind that in the wild, most mother animals only stay with their offspring for short periods out of each day!
Please Note: If you MUST handle wildlife, please wear gloves to protect your hands from bites and scratches. NEVER try to handle adult wildlife!! Raccoons, foxes and large birds can bite through even welding gloves! However; when handling babies any thick gloves will do. Only handle the animal as much as needed to get it into a safe area such as a box with airholes in the lid. Provide a t-shirt or towel for the animal to snuggle in and if possible, place a heating pad on low underneath HALF of the box. If no heating pad is available, wrap a warmed water bottle in a towel and place in the box with the animal. Keep the box in a dark, quiet area until you can contact a licensed rehabber.
Fawns - fawns are covered in spots which help camoflauge them from predators and they do not have a scent so they are virtually undetectable to prey. Mom stays close by while she forages for food and also so that HER scent won't draw prey to where she has hidden her fawn. Most times we humans think the baby has been abandoned and that is almost never the case. If a lone fawn appears healthy and unharmed, is not bleating for it's mother and is not found wandering alone, you can rest assured that mom is close by waiting for you to leave her baby alone!
If you're still worried about the fawn, go back in a couple of hours. Chances are, mom has moved the fawn to another location. However; if that is not the case and the fawn is still in the same area, is bleating for it's mom and looking for food you can them assume it has been orphaned. You should call a licensed rehabber to report the animal and place the animal in a crate or box with a blanket and keep in a dark, quiet location until arrangements are made to transport to the rehabber. If you find a fawn wandering alone, you can assume that it is an orphan as fawns will not leave the spot their mom places them in unless she does not come back to feed.
Bunny - Assess the situation in which the bunny is found before determining the animal is orphaned. If your cat brings you a bunny in it's mouth, please call a rehabber. Cat saliva carries bacteria that is very harmful to wildlife. If you have outdoor cats, please place a bell on their collar to make catching animals harder for them to do. A huge percentage of animals in rehab are due to pet cats!
Believe it or not, when a bunny is still very tiny, about 3 - 4 inches in length it is already on it's own! While they appear to be very tiny, by this time mom is already pregnant with her next litter so she is kicking them out of the nest. A good indicator is the ears. If their ears are upright, the bunny is on it's own. If the ears are still flat against the head, the bunny will need the help of a rehabilitator.
If you are concerned about baby bunnies, but do not know for sure that they are orphaned, you can make a tic-tac-toe pattern over their nest with tiny twigs or string. If mom returns at night to retrieve her babies, she will disturb the string or twigs. If they have not been disturbed by the next morning, you can assume the babies are orphaned. Again, you must call a licensed rehabber.
Raccoon - Baby raccoons are ADORABLE, they are also carriers of rabies. Rabies is passed through the saliva of an infected animal either through a bite or a scratch or through contact with open skin. If you find baby raccoons, as always assess the situation. Leave them alone unless there is immediate danger to the babies. If you determine that they are indeed orphaned or in need of rescue place a box or laundry basket over the animals and place something on top so that they cannot get out from under it and call a licensed rehabber. Do NOT attempt to handle the animals if possible. If you must handle them please wear gloves and do not come into contact with their mouths. LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE ANIMALS!!! If during the quarantine period it is determined that the animals are infected with the rabies virus, anyone having been bitten, scratched, kissed, had their fingers nursed on, etc. will be required to undergo a series of rabies vaccinations!!!!
Foxes - Please see Raccoons! The same applies except that even itty, bitty fox babies can be especially vicious. When they are hungry or have gone without food for an extended period of time such as in the case of orphaned animals, they become frenzied. When the size of a small household kitten they have very sharp teeth and are NOT afraid to use them!
Birds - If you find a nest with hatchlings or eggs, the best thing you can do is to try and put the nest back up in the tree as high as you can. Chances are, mom will come back to it. If you are unable to put the nest back into the tree, place the nest into a hanging basket, a milk jug that has been cut in half, etc. and hang it from the highest point possible. Check back in a couple of hours to see if mom has returned. If you determine that mom is not coming back (she won't while you are anywhere in the vicinity!) you can assume that she's not coming back. You must call a licensed rehabber. SC songbirds and any raptors are state and federally protected animals. You MUST turn them over to a licensed rehabber.
Did you notice that I've not told you anything about what to feed these baby animals?
That is because feeding any baby animal which is probably in shock is an almost absolute death sentence for the animal! You should never offer food or water under any circumstances without speaking to a licensed rehabber.
Never, ever, EVER (Did I mention EVER?) feed any wildlife cows milk!!!
Do not make up cockamamey formulas that granddad might have used fifty years ago, do not feed baby formulas, etc.and if you do ANY of the above, please tell us that when we pick up the animals!!! Cows milk wreaks havoc on our wildlife and can cause a horribly painful death for them.
Do not keep the babies for days and call us in the middle of the night (when you realize you are in way over your head) and tell us you just found it....Please be responsible and turn any found animals over to those who are trained in their care. Failure to do so is not only unlawful, but does so much more harm than good for the animal in the end.
Everyone has good intentions where babies are concerned, but the most caring thing you can do is to turn them over to those who have the ability to care for them properly! Depending on the species, not turning them over to a licensed rehabber in a timely manner can result in hefty fines and/or time spent in jail!
** It is both unlawful and biologically irresponsible to remove wildlife from their habitats to raise as pets! ** These animals belong in the wild and as rehabbers, we do our very best to provide adequate care but we are a poor substitute for their moms! A very high percentage of animals die when removed from the wild. Rehabbing is not an easy job to do and when people make mistakes, the animals suffer for it.
[C] Foothills Animal Rescue
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This is an article posted on my group's website. I thought it might be helpful.
-Mairose
