Rivers Bend Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation

02/12/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/TfzFQVMh6GvQUDiM/?

THE REAL REASON WILDLIFE REHABBERS ASK YOU NOT TO FEED THAT BABY…

It’s not because we want to hog all the fun for ourselves, I promise. It’s because wild orphans aren’t typically healthy enough to digest food, when they are found.

Many are hypothermic. The body can’t even handle water when its temperature is too low. All energy is going to crucial body functions in that state. If the body has to divert energy to digesting, it will likely be fatal.

Many are very dehydrated. Animals can’t digest properly when they are dehydrated. The body pulls water into the intestines to aid with digestion. If there isn’t any water to pull from, this could cause a domino affect of problems.

All wild baby animals require a specific diet and that diet generally isn’t available in local stores. Feeding the wrong milk could cause an upset stomach or worse.

All baby animals need specific amounts of formula calculated by their body weight. The percentage differs depending on the species.

Not every animal can drink from a bottle. The correct instrument must be used to prevent aspiration and over feeding.

Bring me a thin, dehydrated, hypothermic animal and I can probably save it. Feed that same animal before you bring it to me…there’s likely nothing I can do to bring it back.

So please, don’t feed any wild orphans that you have found this baby season. Keeping them warm is a huge help until you find a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

Picture: Baby otter, Emmet.

09/30/2023

Dr. Bob Schaper and staff were always so willing to help our intakes when needed. This is a devastating blow to the rescues and rehabbers that were fortunate enough to have known their level of compassion and care.

09/07/2023

We received a call a while ago
from someone who was kayaking in the sound when they came across a little bird bobbing around in the water and struggling to stay afloat. They said they thought it was a gull chick. We had not seen a baby Seagull in person before…we have rehabbed plenty of juvenile and adults but never a gull chick. We were pretty sure that this was a case of mistaken identity but it really didn’t matter because whatever the baby was it needed help.
Well …we were wrong 😃
Meet Jonathan Livingston SEAGULL!
They do exist!

05/24/2023

..

09/28/2022

I have an exciting update on the little Cockatiel that has been staying with us. Today she was going to go and stay with Allison and crew at Pandemónium Rainforest Project. When we arrived someone recognised her immediately from a CT Humane society post! The owner was contacted and will be happily picking her up from PRP! I will update this post when we are absolutely sure that this is Indeed the same bird!
If it is then this little one traveled from Waterbury before deciding to land on a local gentleman’s shoulder. That is amazing to me!

09/27/2022

This little guy landed on a local (Ivoryton) residents shoulder last night, right before dusk looking for help. If this is your little buddy let us know.

08/29/2021

Thank you so much Rose Morals for this AMAZING donation!!!

08/20/2021

Introducing Roderick and Theo the latest babies to join us. After a rough start they are back together and doing well. Their finders did a wonderful job of keeping them warm and safe while searching for help.

08/02/2021

Kimberly Lambert-Hannett

This is a post from friends of Whalebone creek…

Illegal Turtle Traps…In Old Lyme CT

From FB Friend ….

Kayaking Friends,
On Sunday, a group of us went paddling in Lieutenant River. We encountered a surprising number of plastic water bottles. On our way back we tried picking them up and they were turtle traps.
These were illegal traps, not numbered and per regulations, turtles should be able to surface and breathe.
We called DEEP and they sent out two people in kayaks to try and catch these jerks but the were unsuccessful.
We put in at the launch just off 95 and went right, and then left, under the train trestle towards the salt pond.
If you see these, please notify DEEP.

https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Hunting/Snapping-Turtle-Regulations?fbclid=IwAR2X9BT8S2IVOMsaK3LectVkyG6KVmgZdqb3_7HAd7SeZ0DIrXOXM62IiMk

Regulations on the taking of snapping turtles in Connecticut.

07/27/2021

This is a cute little guy from last month who we triaged before he headed to a fawn specialist.

07/04/2021

PLEASE, do not keep wild animals as pets. We received a call today concerning this beautiful Great horned owl. He had been raised as a pet and then with no warning, no training, no skills, he was released into the wild. He lasted 2 days and has been severely, possibly fatally wounded. When you take an orphaned wild baby or fledgling from the wild and raise them in your home you are doing them such a disservice. This was a sad day for me. PLEASE, do not keep wild animals as pets.
Kimberly Lambert-Hannett

03/17/2021

Many orphans can be left a few hours to see if mom comes back...NOT OPOSSUMS! If you see a baby like this one in a yard or anywhere, get it quickly in a little box or pet carrier with a blanket and keep warm and call a wild life rescue. Momma opossum can have up to 13 babies. As they grow, they don't all fit in the pouch so they ride on her back. If something startles her and she runs, one can fall off. Momma doesn't know she lost one so please never ever leave one thinking mom will come back...

03/05/2021

We love when caring people take the time to stop and check and “Pouch pick”. But this may help and will increase our chances as rehabbers to save these beneficial babies.

https://www.facebook.com/1760625040828054/posts/2842331712657376/

🚫🚫Educational Post🚫🚫

When you happen upon a deceased female opossum with babies in the pouch who are still alive, please DO NOT cut the t***s off to remove the babies. This can pose a serious choking hazard at the age where they are reattaching as they become mobile

Instead, bring us mom and babies if you are afraid or if she is too bad off in certain stages of death ( bloody, maggots, etc). We will gladly remove the babies and give mom back to nature.

Or you can gentle pull babies off teet. They are very firmly latched on and you may have to push against mom for leverage as you slowly and carefully wiggle and pull off.

Gather all babies and try to keep them as warm as possible and call your local nearest rehabber. Moms milk becomes toxic so the sooner babies are removed, the chances improve for healthy start in rehab.

ahnow.org is a great way as well as your states DNR, Fish and Game, Conservation or Wildlife and Fisheries who all maintain a list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators

02/28/2021

https://www.facebook.com/936955566355206/posts/1444231508960940/?d=n

02/11/2021

That time of year is almost here....these guys were brought in because someone was kind enough to stop and check on their mother who had been hit by a car. Sadly she was already gone but her babies were not. After some gentle pouch picking all of her babies were rescued. *PSA* I love that this has become a thing and that people not only stop to pouch pick but to also move the deceased animal out of the roadway. Please if you decide to do this, be safe and make sure that you do not put yourself in danger. Maybe put a little box in your trunk with disposable gloves and some hot hand warmers and something for them to cuddle. Babies cannot self regulate their body temperature and need an outside heat source for warmth. Not hot just warm. Also as much as you may want to offer babies food & water please do not. There are many reasons why you should not do this and most lead to a very bad outcome for the babies. The best thing to do is to gather the babies if you are able to do so safely, put them in a warm, quite, dark spot and contact a rehabber. If you don’t know of any rehabbers in the area a great resource is the App. Animal Help Now. Thank you fellow Pouch pickers!

02/09/2021

12/03/2020

Ingham came here with a dog bite injury. He was treated and released and happily foraging in the wild again ❤️

12/01/2020

Hangin on a sunny afternoon