27/10/2017
Birds of prey and owls are obligate carnivores. This means they can only eat meat. Obligate carnivores lack the gut flora and the digestive enzymes required for the digestion of plant matter, so giving them anything plant-derived will make them sick. Birds of prey and owls are also lactose-intolerant, so they can't be fed any kind of dairy food. When young raptorial birds come into care, they must be fed meat - and not just any meat, but meat with the correct balance of minerals, vitamins and trace elements which will allow them to grow their bones in correctly. Too much or too little calcium or phosphorus can lead to a weak skeleton, which will result in an invalid bird who has to spend its entire life in care at best, death at worst. Other nutrients like iron, magnesium, sodium, potassium, folate, antioxidants and the right kind of probiotic must also be given.
This is why it is so important that young animals be reared by people who have had the right training to feed them correctly. In nature, bird parents know what to feed their young, and it's amazing to observe them feeding in different foods at different stages of development. Sadly, humans don't have those instincts for species other than our own, so we have to rely on learning from scientists and veterinarians in order to get it right.
At this time of year, there are a lot of baby animals being handed in across Australia. If you find one, the best way you can help it is to return it to its parents, but if it isn't possible to do that safely, then the next best thing is to get the youngster to a wildlife rehabilitator who specialises in that particular species.
In Western Australia, you can download the Wildcare Helpline app for iOS or Android, or call the Helpline on 08 9474 9055.
