With Spring and most mating seasons out of the way, you may notice lots of young animals running around. Sometimes, they may even appear to need help. Rosemary Conroay explains that doing nothing is often the best solution.
Something Wild: What to Do with Wildlife?
Air date: 7/2/04
Welcome to this week’s edition of Something Wild. I’m Rosemary Conroy for the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests.
Did you know that many birds and smaller mammals are on their second round of offspring? And most larger mammals already have the equivalent of teen-agers?
In other words, this is the time of year when people tend to encounter young animals. And whether it’s an inexperienced chipmunk running out in front of your car, or a baby bird fallen from the nest, this season keeps the people who care for injured or abandoned wildlife quite busy.
Although many of us nature lovers harbor fantasies of raising a wild animal ourselves, it is simply not a good idea. A baby bird, for example, must be fed every half-hour between dawn and dusk until it fledges.
And if that doesn’t discourage you, here’s something that should: it’s illegal to keep a wild animal without a permit.
So what should you do if you come upon an abandoned young thing? First, be absolutely sure that it has lost its parent. Most mammals leave their young unattended quite a bit. A white-tailed deer, for example, will stash her fawn in a field or forest edge, and only visit it every eight to ten hours to nurse.
Most orphaned animals will become quite vocal if they aren’t being fed. If they are quiet or hiding, leave them be.
If you find a baby bird on the ground, try to put it back in its nest, if possible. If not, try to get it up in a tree anyway. Its parents may continue to feed the chick, but probably not if it’s on the ground.
If you need more help, contact the state Fish & Game department for the name of a wildlife rehabilitator near you. Those dedicated folks are, by far, your best bet for saving the life of a young animal or bird.
Something Wild is a joint production of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, NHPR, and the Audubon Society of New Hampshire.
For Something Wild, I’m Rosemary Conroy.
