ecoLIVING London

Beginning in the muddy new-growth promise of March, Salthaven Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Centre in Mount Brydges, Ontario receives so many calls about sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife that its staff of more than 90 volunteers working three shifts a day, seven days a week simply cannot respond to the sheer volume of requests for assistance. However, your assistance can help to prevent Salthaven’s limited resources from becoming too-quickly exhausted.

Before we arrive at this most critical season for our animal neighbours, Brian Salt, the director of Salthaven, would like to lay down the ground rules for making an informed decision about whether or not you ought to attempt to rescue a baby animal or bird that appears to be in distress.

First and foremost, remember that “Mum” is the word: no person can raise a baby bird or animal the way that its own mother can. If you find a baby animal or bird that is in good health, every possible effort should be made to reunite the baby with its mother. Human attempts to raise a baby bird or animal often culminate in undesirable results such as poor growth and development or the animal’s death. Moreover, it is important to consider the health risks that may be posed to both the animal and its human rescuer. “It’s not always what you can see that can hurt you,” warns Brian Salt. Undetectable diseases and parasites could result in serious health complications for humans as well as animals.

Before you decide that a baby bird or animal requires rescuing here are some important items to consider (they just might help prevent you from turning a rescue into an abduction this spring):

· Does the baby appear to be injured? Indicative signs might be the favouring or unusual placement of a leg or wing, visible wounds or the presence of blood, or, in the case of an injured bird, drooping or uneven wings.

· Is the baby cold to the touch? (You can gently touch animal babies and their mother will still take them back.) If the baby is cold to the touch it is not thermoregulating its own body temperature and requires intervention. Always make sure to wash your hands after contact with any form of wildlife.

· Has the baby been caught by a dog or cat? If the baby has been in a dog’s or cat’s mouth, even a pin-prick puncture will pose a serious threat to its life and will require attention—this is likewise the case for adult animals.

· Is the baby bird a nestling? Nestling birds have very few feathers and do not leave their nest before they have feathers covering their body. If the baby bird is uninjured and you can find its nest, unobtrusively reintroduce it to the nest.

· Is the baby bird a fledgling? It is normal for baby birds to leave the nest 4 or 5 days before they can fly and the parents will continue to feed them. If it is in harm’s way you can move it beneath a bush. Its mother will find her baby through its vocalizations. If you watch from a distance where mom will not see you, you may see mom feed the baby approximately every 30 to 40 minutes.

· Are there flies on the baby? The presence of flies usually indicates that there is a wound somewhere and the baby needs help.

· If you come across a duckling or gosling that has been separated from its mother and you know where the mother is, place the baby in close proximity to where she can see or hear it. Move away to watch from a distance.

· Relocating baby animals is never a good idea at any time of the year and almost always results in the death of the babies even if mom is captured and relocated with them. If the babies do not die from exposure they are usually killed either by predators or by others of their own species who feel driven to protect their territory.

· White-tailed deer fawns have built-in camouflage and do not emit a scent; therefore, they are not easily detected by predators. Mom will usually leave them in a suitable spot for periods of 6-12 hours before returning to feed them. Mom will then move them to another location to await the next feeding. If you find a fawn leave it alone for at least 12 hours before determining if it needs help. A fawn with a cool damp nose is being taken care of by its mother.

· Salthaven receives numerous calls for baby Cottontail Rabbits each spring and summer. A bunny, though small perhaps, is ready to be on its own and does not require your help if: its eyes are open; its ears are up; it has chosen to emerge from the nest on its own; and if it has not been in contact with a dog or cat. If it is in harm’s way move it to a safe location.

If you have taken the items on the above list into careful consideration and nevertheless determine that the animal or bird requires your assistance, then place it in a well-ventilated, covered box that has been lined with a soft material. Place the box in a quiet, dark, warm spot away from humans, pets, and loud noises and call Salthaven Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Centre (519-264-2440). Do not attempt to feed or give water to the bird or animal, no matter how hungry or thirsty it might appear. Feeding a weakened baby bird or animal an incorrect diet can seriously compromise its condition and chances for recovery.

Salthaven is a registered charitable organization that collaborates with local wildlife agencies to help sick, injured, or orphaned animals and birds. Salthaven also offers educational presentations to the public to help more people understand the wildlife with which we must share our environment and how we can lessen our intrusion into their lives. Salthaven is a strictly non-profit, volunteer-based organization funded solely from donations.

Photo Credit: Brian Salt, Baby Robins Mouths