Don’t Steal That Baby!!!

This is always a tough subject. It’s so hard to know if you are stealing a baby, or saving an orphan. Here are a couple of tips to help you decide if taking that baby is the right thing to do. 

 First and most important- if the baby is  a lone bobcat, fox kit, squirrel, opossum, or skunk, it is very likely an orphan, and will need immediate care to prevent pneumonia or other life threatening illnesses, not to mention starving to death, (which happens very quickly for little ones) or simply freezing to death. Even in temperatures up to 80 degrees, orphaned babies can quickly become chilled, as they can not yet regulate their own body temperature. If the baby somehow got wet, time is of the essence!

If it is a baby bird, there are different ways to handle it. If you can locate the nest, and return it to the nest if possible, that is the best thing. A bird raised by it’s parents has the absolute best chance for survival. The parents teach it where to find food, water, and shelter. While we can try to do that in a rehab facility, we are like a kindergarten teacher trying to teach a class a Harvard- we just aren’t the same. (I hope that isn’t offensive to kindergarten teachers- please don’t unfollow me!). 

If you can’t find the nest, but you see the parents, try to fashion a nest out of a cardboard box, for smaller birds, or maybe a laundry basket for bigger birds. Put some bedding on the bottom to catch poop, such as shavings, or shredded paper towels.  Mount the new nest in the highest spot you can get it, and make sure it is in the shade.  Direct sun will cook baby birds very quickly. Watch to see if the parents come back for it for at least an hour. If the parents come feed it, you are home free. If they don’t, you may have to consider taking the baby to a licensed wildlife facility. 

If there are no parents easily visible, go hide somewhere (ideally in the house) and watch the baby to see if the parents come care for it, for at least an hour.  If the babies have little or no feathers, skip this step, and find a facility to take the baby in.  For many birds, especially smaller birds like blue jays, sparrows, mockingbirds, robins, finches, and the like, it is a normal part of them fledging, to spend a few days on the ground. The parents fly after them, feeding them, and showing them where to hide, so they can learn all about where they live. Very soon, they will be flying. Leave these guys alone. 

If the parents don’t come within the hour, either you’re not hiding well enough, or the parents are gone, and the baby is truly orphaned. In that case, you will need to find a licensed facility to take the baby in. 

I do realize this is a lot of info, but you can always call us,  send us a picture, and we can help you make a more educated decision. 

Thanks for helping care for our wildlife!

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