Wildlife Rehabilitation


Photo Courtesy of the Animal Pictures Archive

If you have found an orphaned wild animal:

Are you sure the creature is an orphan? According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, hundreds of young wild animals are mistaken as orphans, each year, and turned over to rehabilitators for rearing. This happens most frequently to baby birds and to fawns. Texas rehabilitator Ann Connell has found that some forty percent of the fawns referred to her were not orphans or injured, but "kidnapped" from their mothers.

Before you take steps to "rescue" an orphaned bird or mammal, read the information printed below. When in doubt, call a wildlife rehabilitator or your veterinarian for advice.

Blown Down Nests

Bad weather can sometimes cause birds' nests to fall out of a tree. If you find a nest which has been blown down, but which has not been seriously damaged, place the nest (with the baby birds, eggs, or baby squirrels) back in the tree. If the nest has been damaged, place it in a small basket, such as a strawberry basket, and place it in the tree. If necessary, use twine to secure it.

Grounded Baby Birds

If the baby bird is exceptionally young (has very little down), search for the nest and place the baby bird in it. If you are unable to locate the nest, contact a wildlife rehabilitator for instructions.

If the baby bird already has feathers and does not appear to be injured, leave it alone and keep an eye on it from a discreet distance. It is not unusual for baby birds to "fledge" their nests before they have learned to fly. Watch for a parent attending the bird or foraging closeby. If the baby bird is in the street, place it under a nearby bush. If possible, lock up any lose dogs and cats for several hours. Do not handle the bird unnecessarily or remove it from the immediate area.

If, after several hours, no parent bird has tended the baby bird, contact a wildlife rehabiliator for advice.

If a wildlife rehabilitator advises you to provide shelter to the baby bird, keep it in a warm, dark, quiet spot. A shoe box lined with a folded towel works well. Be cautious giving the baby bird water; it can get fluid in its lungs. Research the bird's proper diet before you attempt to feed it. Never give any bird or wild animal cow's milk as it can make the animal sick. Some baby birds, such as song birds, cannot digest bread.

Orphaned Squirrels

Baby squirrels sometimes fall out of a nest that has been damaged in a storm or by an aggressive male squirrel. The squirrel may not be an orphan at all, but may have just fallen from its nest. If one squirrel has fallen from a damaged nest, others may have fallen out as well. Search the immediate area. Look under bushes and fallen leaves where other babies may have taken cover. Vicki Nickle. who maintains an excellent website called The Squirrel's Nest recommends that you warm the baby squirrel in your hands or by holding it close to your body and then place it at the base of the tree. Lock up any lose dogs and cats and keep watch, from a distance, for one to two hours. Given time, the mother will return and retrieve her baby. The scent of humans will not stop the mother from taking back her baby. If the weather is cold, line a box with some towels and a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel. Place the baby in the box and the box at the base of the tree.

If the mother squirrel has not returned for her young within two hours, you probably do have an orphan on your hands. Contact a local wildlife reahibilitator for assistance. Our local baby squirrel rehabilitator is Elaine Kyle. You can reach Ms. Kyle at 281-592-8204 or e-mail her at pepk@earthlink.net . If the rehabilitator advises you to bring in the squirrel, place it in a cat carrier or a shoe box (with air holes poked through the top), lined with a folded towel.

Orphaned Fawns

It is not unusual for people to encounter young fawns whose mothers have left them "bedded down" while out foraging. If the fawn is not crying, is not being bitten by fire ants, its eyes are not swollen, and it has no visible wounds, leave it in peace. Any handling will only cause stress to the fawn. If the fawn is clearly sick or has been injured, contact a local wildlife rehabilitator and a local animal emergency clinic.

Human Scent on Baby Animals

It is not true that birds or mammals will reject their young once they have been handled by humans. Nonetheless, the handling of wild babies should be avoided or kept to a minimum. Handling by humans can be stressful to the animal. Also, the human scent can sometimes attract predators seeking food.

If you have found an injured wild animal:

"Kamikaze" Birds

It is not unusual for birds to fly head first into a window. Sometimes the blow will kill the bird, but other times it will only stun it. If, after hitting the window, a bird is alive but does not try to run away when you approach it and allows you to lift it gently in your cupped hands, it is probably in shock. If it is a warm day and the bird is in a yard where there are not any dogs, cats, or other predators, leave it alone. If the bird is in an area where it is vulnerable to predators, bring it indoors and place it in a cat carrier or cage in a warm, dark, quiet spot. Watch or check the bird frequently. Within a brief time, it should begin to move about and appear more alert. Once the bird shows signs of recovery, take it outdoors and release it.

If you have large plate glass windows and birds are frequently knocking themselves out, consider purchase a hawk silhouette to place on your window. This will discourage birds from flying directly towards your windows.

Approach with Caution

The Meyerland Animal Clinic advises you to "use extreme caution if you encounter injured or orphaned wildlife. Nocturnal animals seen during the day are likely to be sick or injured. Young foundlings may be being watched by a protective parent."

If you find an injured wild animal, contact a wildlife rehabilitator.

Contact a Wildlife Rehabilitator

Most Texas wildlife is protected by state and/or federal laws. If you have found an injured or orphaned wild animal, you should turn it over to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Below is contact information for local wildlife rehabilitators and organizations.

Wildlife Management - Special Property Valuation

Did you know that if you own acreage in Montgomery County and its primary use is agricultural, you can reduce your property taxes by setting up a wildlife management plan?

In compliance with the Texas Property Tax Code - Section 23.51, the Montgomery Central Appraisal District has set up a Special Valuation for owners of agricultural property who set up a wildlife management plan. To qualify, the land must have previously qualified for agricultural appraisal and the owner must "use the land to propagate a sustaining breeding, migrating, or wintering population of indigenous wild animals."

For detailed information on the special valuation of land used for wildlife management, visit the Montgomery Central Appraisal District's web pages on Special Valuation.

Related Links

Mammals of Texas

Squirrel Wildlife Rehabilitation

Texas Ornothological Society

What to Do If You Find an Orphaned Opossum

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to the Homeless Pet Placement League for providing much of the contact information for local wildlife rehabiliators.


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