WILDLIFE

WILD BABIES by Dr. Suzanne Middaugh

Spring is finally here with all of the beauty it brings... flowers, green grass, warm weather and baby animals. Most of us enjoy watching Spring unfold in all its splendor, including the new furry, feathered and scaled creatures in our back yards. So why wouldn't we help them if they are in need? The baby bird or squirrel who fell out of the nest, the baby bunnies who almost fell victim to the lawn mower... where is their mother anyway? Wildlife does need our help sometimes, especially when we are the cause of their troubles. However, many times, nature is nature's best remedy. We can do more harm than good even with the best of intentions.

So what do you do when you find that little creature who fell out of your tree? Mother birds have a great maternal instinct and will look for their babies even after you have touched them. If you find a baby bird on the ground and can locate its nest, warm it your hands and replace it in the nest. If you cannot reach the nest, you can construct a makeshift one out of an old butter dish.

I once found a young robin in my yard; there was a storm the night before that had brought him out of his nest. The nest was out of my reach, so I placed some dried grass and leaves in an old butter container, poked holes in the bottom for drainage and hung him back in the same tree as high as I could put him. All the while, mother robin watched closely from a fence nearby, giving me her two cents worth about the situation. Mother and baby were reunited. If your attempt to reunite mother and baby fails, your local wildlife rehabilition group or the wildlife service should be able to help you.

Mother squirrels will also locate their young and return them to the nest. You can help keep baby warm in a shoe box with a towel and hot water bottle until the mother retrieves him. If the baby is still there 6 hours later or so, then you may need help from the local wildlife organization.

What about baby bunnies whose mother never seems to be around? Mother rabbits only return to the nest twice daily, dusk and dawn. So it is possible that you may never see the mother at the nest. If the bunnies are 3-5 inches long, their eyes are open and ears are standing, they are old enough to be on their own. To check if a mother rabbit is returning to her young, lay a string or an "X" made out of tape across the nest. Check it in 24 hours, if the string is disturbed, the mother has returned.

These are just a few examples of common wild baby encounters. The list could go on about others, like frogs, snakes, deer, raccoons, opossums. Wild animals, especially young, are best left in the wild... this is where they were born to be. There are ways you can help such as contacting wildlife groups if an injured animal is found or by reuniting mother and baby. It is a great feeling! As we all have heard so many times... mothers know best!