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| News & Press Releases | Wildlife | NCRAOA Monthly Newsletters | PETA Trial in NC |
The very first thing you can do is determine if the baby is actually abandoned or orphaned. Especially, in the Spring months, baby birds, squirrels, rabbits and other wildlife will be found in our yards and fields. Determining if the baby is actually in need of help is the first step in the “rescue” process. Did you know that if you touch a baby animal the parent will NOT abandon it? Did you know that a baby rabbit is capable of caring for itself by the time it is 3-4 weeks old, even though still seemingly very small when compared to an adult rabbit? Did you know that the parents of baby birds have not abandoned them when you find them hopping around on the ground and unable to fly very well? Did you know that finding a fawn alone usually means that the mother is hiding nearby? Did you know that trying to feed a cold baby can lead to its death? Did you know that wild babies cannot handle cow’s milk? Did you know you shouldn’t try to feed bread to baby birds? Did you know that you can return a baby bird (naked) to its nest and the parents will continue to care for it? Did you know if a bird’s nest is destroyed, you can build another one and the parents will still care for the babies? Did you know a mother squirrel will retrieve a lost baby if given the chance? Did you know if one bird parent is killed the other parent will finish raising the babies? Did you know you can fix a rabbit’s nest back (if it has been destroyed) and the mother will still care for the babies? Did you know that rabbits only feed their young once, maybe twice a day, before daylight or after dusk? Did you know that baby birds need to be fed every 20-30 minutes from dawn ‘til dusk? Did you know that you can put a couple of long blades of grass across the opening of a rabbit’s nest to determine if the mother is returning during the night? Humans feel the need to rescue things. Often our rescue leads to the death of the animal. Our good intentions and lack of knowledge can often lead to a disaster. If an animal, baby or adult, is injured it needs the care of a veterinarian or someone experienced with wildlife rehabilitation. If you have determined that an animal actually needs help keep it warm and quiet and transport it to a qualified person. Each species has special needs and needs to be cared for by people skilled in the individual needs. There are some species of animals that should not be handled because of the very real possibility of the transmission of rabies. Baby animals can carry rabies. Technically any warm blooded mammals can carry rabies. Those of serious concern include fox, raccoon, skunk, coyote, bat, beaver, badger, and bobcat. Smaller mammals (especially rodents) can carry rabies but because of their size are often do not survive an attack by a rabid animal. The larger rodents -- beaver, nutria, etc. -- are certainly large enough to survive a bite, so there is a certain risk factor there. ’Possums, technically marsupials, don’t appear to be at prime risk for rabies. When in doubt, don’t touch. Call you local Animal Control department for advice. The following are links to North Carolina rehabilitation groups as well as orphaned animal information. North Carolina Rehabilitators Wildlife Rehabilitators of North Carolina Wildlife Rehabilitation Information Directory Baby Wild Animals. If you care, leave it there. NC Zoo. When Helping Can Hurt. Attracting Birds: Challenges Wild Bird Care Center Rescuer Info Orphaned Baby Bunny FAQ Advice for Wild Rabbits Care for Infant Squirrels Raising an orphaned squirrel Advice for Wild Rabbits |