05/10/2024
Very helpful information, thank you Snowdon!
Baby season is finally here in McCall! Here is a gentle reminder that if you stumble across what appears to be an orphaned baby, please give us a call first before intervening. Mom is always the best caretaker, so we always try and reunite or leave the babies alone when possible (if mom is close by). Keep your eyes on the ground for babies that might have fallen out of the nest, too. Here are some tips if you are unsure if a baby has been abandoned:
For baby birds and raptors: If they don’t have feathers or are still very fuzzy, this means that they are a nestling and cannot survive without mom. If you find a nestling on the ground, using a Tupperware container or a wicker basket with leaves/foliage as bedding can make for a wonderful temporary nest. Put a warm (not hot) water bottle or rice bag under a towel near babies. Hang the container or basket as close to the original nest as possible and monitor to see if mom comes back. If she doesn’t, then call your local rehabber.
For fawns: Mom often leaves her baby or babies in the grass alone while she forages, but she is always close by. However, if you find a fawn with a heavy tick load around its face, eyes, and ears, that might mean that mom hasn’t come back to clean the ticks off. You can also observe their body condition. If the fawn looks weak or has poor body condition, mom most likely has not come back. Mom will also move her babies every 12 hours or so, so if you notice a fawn has been in one place for over 24 hours, then call your local rehabber.
Squirrels: Sometimes squirrels will fall out of the nest. When this happens, carefully assess the baby for injuries or bruising. If you find anything, call your local rehabber. However, if the baby seems healthy and warm, you can do the same method as you would with baby birds.
Cottontails and hares: These guys are diurnal which means mom only comes back to feed her babies during dawn and dusk. If you are unsure if mom is coming back, place a camera or a tic-tac-toe pattern of twigs over the nest and if it has been disturbed, that means mom came back.
**Another helpful tip: NEVER attempt to move a nest to a different location.