Guide to Wildlife
Written by Brittany Davis for
Please, stop by the Center and
pick up a copy for you and your family!
Please note that it is illegal in
Debunking Wildlife
Legends
(1) Birds will abandon the nest/young if you touch the babies. NOT TRUE!
Songbirds have no
discernable sense of smell. If you are able to place a fallen baby bird back
into its nest, please do so. DO NOT hover about the area. Your presence is why
parents stay away.
(2) Mammals will abandon their young if you touch them. NOT TRUE!
If you return the
young to the nest and then leave the nest alone, mom will still care for them.
DO NOT hover about the area.
(3) A fawn lying quietly by itself is abandoned. NOT TRUE!
Mom places her fawn
in a quiet spot in the predawn hours and then leaves to feed for the day. The
fawn lies quietly to not draw attention to itself. If
it is lying there uninjured and there are no flies, LEAVE IT ALONE.
(4) A deer with spots is a baby. NOT ALWAYS TRUE!
While it is true that
babies do have spots, they will keep them until they grow in their winter coat
5 months later. A fawn born in May will still show spots in September when it
is 4 months old and about 45 lbs.
(5) If you do not see a mother rabbit, she has abandoned the nest.
NOT
TRUE!
Mom only visits her
nest twice a day, once in the early dawn hours and again in later evening when
things are quiet.
(6) Cow’s milk is ok for non-cow babies.
NOT
TRUE!
Cow’s milk is ONLY
good for calves. In all other species it can cause severe diarrhea. The only
milk that is truly best for each species is the milk from their mother. We have
formulas that we can use, but mom’s milk is best.
(7) A turtle in the road needs care. NOT ALWAYS
TRUE!
Turtles are very
territorial and sometimes roads just happen to fall in their territories. If
you see a turtle in the road and you want to help, simply place it on the side
of the road in the direction it was going. If you see the turtle was hit by a
car then it needs help.
(8) Any raccoon or fox you see in the daytime is rabid. NOT ALWAYS TRUE!
Mother raccoons and
both fox parents are very commonly out during the day to gather food for their
very demanding babies. You only need to worry if the animal is acting out of
the ordinary, such as approaching people, acting drunk,
or acting savage. If you see such activity, please report it to the proper
authorities.
(9) Ducks and Geese can live off breadcrumbs. NOT TRUE!
While ducks and geese
do like to eat bread crumbs and the like, it is not nutritionally sound for
them.
(10) Baby birds can eat worms. NOT ALWAYS TRUE!
While most songbirds
do feed their young insects, they also ingest berries, seeds, and grains for a
well-rounded meal. Remember, parent birds regurgitate food for their young
until their digestive tracts can handle solid food.
So, you’ve found an adult
bird…
Determine if it
needs to be rescued:
o
If you are able to approach and pick up an adult
bird, there is something wrong.
Always bring it to
a rehabilitator if:
o
A cat caught it.
o
It hit a window and is not walking/flying
after an hour.
o
It was hit by a car and is not walking/flying
after an hour.
o
It was attacked by another animal.
If you have to bring it to a rehabilitator:
o
Place in an appropriate sized box with lid or
kennel lined with newspaper or paper towels.
o
DO NOT put any food or water in the box. Injured
animals are not interested in eating or drinking. Keep warm.
If it is a hawk, owl, or heron:
o
Call for advice. These birds are extremely
dangerous as adults. Hawks and owls have very sharp talons and very hard grips.
Herons have long pointy beaks and they will aim for your eyes.
If it is a goose:
o
Try to contain the wings. These are very strong
birds and can very easily hurt a person caught off guard. They can also bite and
scratch with their feet during handling.
* * * * * *
So, you’ve found a baby bird…
Determine if it needs to be rescued:
o
Check feathering:
· If
naked/downy, try to put the baby back in its nest. Songbirds have no
discernable sense of smell; the parents will accept it.
· If
it is feathered and hopping around, leave it alone and watch from inside your
house to see if the parents are feeding it.
Always bring it to a rehabilitator if:
o
It is sitting in the open asleep.
o
It has visible injuries (head tilt, broken
appendages, etc)
o
It was caught by a cat.
o
It was hit by a car or fell hard against your
roof/driveway/ sidewalk.
o
If the nest is too high or you do not know where
the nest is.
o
If there are no parents taking care of the baby.
Leave it alone if:
o
It takes you more than 5 minutes to catch it.
o
Parents are caring for it. Young birds learn to
fly from the ground.
If you have to bring it to a rehabilitator:
o
Place in an appropriate sized box with lid lined
with a paper towel. DO NOT put any food or water in the box. Chances are it
will only make a mess and get cold and wet. Keep warm.
o
DO NOT try to feed it anything. Unskilled hands
can force food/water into the lungs.
It is sad but:
o
Cats are a part of the world. Do not rescue the
baby just because there might be a cat in the area. Even if they avoid the cat,
they still have to deal with dogs, hawks, owls, foxes, snakes, cars, and
people. Unless a cat is actually about to pounce, leave it alone.
* * * * * *
So, you’ve found a baby deer…
Determine if it needs to be rescued:
o
If it is lying quietly and unbothered by flies, it
is fine. Moms leave their babies in one spot while they graze for the day.
o
If you see flies and the baby is not moving to get
them off, something is wrong and it may need care.
o
Deer keep their spots until they get their winter
coat. The fawn can be 4 months old, 45 lb and still have spots.
Always bring it to a rehabilitator if:
o
It has been injured, hit by car, or attacked by a
dog and there are numerous flies and mom is nowhere to be found.
o
If you know for a fact that mom was killed (fawn
was standing beside a dead adult next to the road).
Leave it alone if:
o
It is lying quietly and there are no flies. They
will not run from you; mom tells them to stay put until she returns.
If you have to bring it to a rehabilitator:
o
Place in a size appropriate kennel lined with a
towel. Keep warm.
o
NOTE: Deer fawn can only be rehabilitated by a
licensed deer rehabilitator. SCWC does not hold this license. For further
advice, please call George Timko at the Department of
Natural Resources (DNR) at 301-948-8243.
* * * * * *
So, you found a juvenile/adult deer…
BE EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS
WHEN APROACHING AN INJURED DEER OVER 15 LB.
Deer at this size are very flighty and can severely injure and even kill an
adult person. Usually deer of this size have been hit by a car and 90% of the
time euthanasia is the best course. Please do not attempt to put the deer in
your car. Please call either George Timko at DNR at
301-948-8243 or the non-emergency Police at 301-279-8000.
* * * * * *
So, you’ve found an opossum…
Determine if it
needs to be rescued:
o
If it is a baby by itself, you see no evidence of
mom and it fits on the palm of your hand, it may need help.
o
If the babies are by mom but mom is injured, both
mom and babies may need help.
Always bring it to
a rehabilitator if:
o
It was hit by a car.
o
Mom is injured.
o
Mom is dead. Babies will continue to nurse and
could get very sick. Check her pouch.
o
It was caught by a cat, dog, or another animal.
o
Mom is no where to be found.
Leave it alone if:
o
It is about 10” or greater in length, excluding
tail.
o
Mom is coming back for it.
If you have to
bring it to a rehabilitator:
o
Place in an appropriate sized box with lid lined
with a paper towel. DO NOT put any food or water in the box. Keep warm.
o
DO NOT try to feed it anything.
* * * * * *
So, you’ve found a baby rabbit…
Determine if it needs to be rescued:
o
If you come across a rabbit nest in your
yard/garden and you want to make sure the mom is still visiting the nest (which
she only does twice a day, once during the dawn hours and again in the dusk
hours), place 2 lightweight twigs in an X across the nest. Check back in 24
hours; if they are disturbed, mom is visiting the nest; if not, the babies need
help.
o
Baby rabbits are only in the nest for 4-5 weeks and
then are weaned. When they are weaned, they are about the size of a fluffy
tennis ball and are starting to venture out on their own.
Always bring it to a rehabilitator if:
o
Mom has abandoned the nest (check using above
method).
o
You or your dog has destroyed/dug up the nest and
you are unable to reconstruct the nest.
o
It was caught by a cat.
o
You are renovating your yard and you cannot wait a
month for the babies to be on their way.
o
You have hit any of them with your mower (you only
need to bring in the injured babies).
Leave it alone if:
o
Mom comes to the nest. She takes FAR better care
of them than us.
o
They are tennis ball sized and are eating grass.
They are weaned.
If you have to bring it to a rehabilitator:
o
Place in an appropriate sized box with lid lined
with a small towel. DO NOT put any food or water in the box. Chances are it
will only make a mess and get cold and wet. You do not need to bring in any of
the nest; we are only going to throw it out. Keep warm.
o
DO NOT try to feed it anything. Rabbits will
mostly refuse anyone who is not mom.
o
DO NOT handle them more than absolutely necessary.
Rabbits are afraid of everything larger than them. They seem calm because they
are dying of fear.
It is sad but:
o
Baby rabbits are extremely fragile. We have a 50%
release rate. This is considered exceptional, especially when you consider they
only have a 30% survival rate in the wild.
* * * * * *
So, you’ve found a Rabies Vector Species...
In
DO NOT APPROACH UNTIL YOU HAVE
ASSESED THE SITUATION AND HAVE CALLED A REHABBER OR ANIMAL CONTROL.
Determine if it needs to be rescued:
o
Determine the age. We are only allowed to rehab
healthy young of the year by Maryland State Law.
§ Raccoons:
resemble a mini adult at 12 weeks, so this size and smaller is acceptable.
§ Foxes
(both red and grey): resemble mini adults at 10 weeks, so this size and smaller
is acceptable.
§ Skunks:
resemble mini adults and are weaned at 2 months, so this size and smaller is
acceptable
§ Bats:
are accepted at any age, according to law.
o
Raccoons nest in trees. Watch the young on the
ground (from your house) to see if mom comes to get them. If they are still on
the ground after a couple of hours, they may need help.
o
Baby bats stay in the roost but are occasionally
carried by mom. A baby on the ground will need assistance. Mom will not come
back.
Always bring it to a rehabilitator if:
o
You know mom is dead.
o
It was hit by a car or attacked by another animal.
o
It was caught by a cat.
o
There was exposure to people (was handled or bit
someone).
Leave it alone if:
o
Mom is nearby.
o
Its activity looks suspicious. Rabies will make
animals act very differently, ranging from complacent/calm to raving/foaming.
Stay in your house and alert the proper authorities.
If you have to bring it to a rehabilitator:
o
Handle with latex gloves and/or a towel and place
in an appropriate sized box with lid or kennel lined with a towel.
o
Raccoons also carry a roundworm which can be passed
on to people and other animals. It can be extremely painful and could be fatal.
Please throw away any towel, box, and gloves used with raccoons.
o
It has flies, ants, or other bugs on it.
* * * * * *
So,
you’ve found an adult squirrel…
Determine if it
needs to be rescued:
o
Adult squirrels are very strong, aggressive, and
are unapproachable when healthy. Most injuries come from animal attacks and
from being hit by cars.
Always bring it to a rehabilitator if:
o
A car hit it and is unable to move/walk.
o
It was attacked by a cat, dog, or other animal.
Leave it alone if:
o
It is able to move away and up a tree. If you find
that you are chasing it all over, chances are it will be fine.
If you have to
bring it to a rehabilitator:
o
Wrap it up in a towel and place in an appropriate
sized box with secure lid. Be careful! A squirrel bite can do a lot of damage,
as can their claws.
* * * * * *
So, you’ve found a baby squirrel…
Determine if it needs to be rescued:
o
Baby squirrels mostly fall from their nests that
are high up in trees. Unless you actually see mom collecting the baby, it will
probably need to be brought in.
Always bring it to a rehabilitator if:
o
It was caught by a cat.
o
It was bitten by a dog.
o
You know the mom is dead.
o
It has been following people around.
o
It was hit by a car.
o
It was attacked by another animal.
Leave it alone if:
o
Mom is tending to it.
If you have to bring it to a rehabilitator:
o
Place in an appropriate sized lidded box lined
with a small towel. DO NOT put any food or water in the box. Keep warm.
o
DO NOT try to feed it anything. Baby squirrels
aspirate very easily. If you have to feed it, use Pedialyte
to keep it hydrated. This does not provide nourishment! It is meant for very
temporary use. If its eyes are closed, it will need to be stimulated to
urinate.
* * * * * *
So, you’ve found a turtle…
Determine if it needs to be rescued:
o
Most of the turtles we get do not need to be here.
If you see a turtle crossing the road and you want to help, simply place them
on the side of the road in the direction they were going. Turtles are very territorial.
Always bring it to a rehabilitator if:
o
A car hit it and there are serious cracks in the
shell and/or the appendages/head are injured.
o
An animal attacked it and there are serious cracks
in the shell and/or the appendages/head are injured.
o
If you see mucous bubbling out of its nose.
o
If it has swollen eyes or ears.
Leave it alone if:
o
There are only a few scales missing from its shell
and there is no blood present. This is not serious and they will grow back.
o
They are hatching in an appropriate area. Turtles
are independent from birth. If they are in your yard and you want them moved,
call for advice.
If you have to bring it to a rehabilitator:
o
Place in an appropriate sized box, with lid, lined
with paper towel.
* * * * * *
Important Phone Numbers
AT&R Humane
Trapping 301-681-3965
DC Animal Control 202-576-6664
DC & VA Wildlife
Rescue League 703-440-0800
DNR Nuisance Hotline 877-463-6497
Frederick Co Humane
Society 301-694-2558
Howard Co Humane
Society 410-313-2780
Montgomery Co Animal
Control 240-773-5937
Montgomery Co Humane
Society 240-773-5900