Spring is just around the corner and you know what that means! Babies!
Oatland Island Wildlife Center is home to a few animals who came from the wild but could not be reunited with their parents, including our two bobcats: Bo and Odie who were born under a porch and came from a wildlife rehabilitation center.
We know that winter is long and we are all excited for spring, and so are the animals! A new year means new babies, so we thought we’d share with you some wildlife that DON’T need to be helped if you find them all alone. We know everyone wants to help wildlife, but sometimes, they don’t need our help and are just fine on their own!
Fledglings: Birds that fall out of their nests can cause problems for you, your pets, and the parents of the bird! But there is an easy way to see if a baby bird needs help, or if it’s just beginning to spread its wings into the big wide world out there!
Baby birds with no feathers can be put back in their nests if possible! If the nest is too high you can put them in a small box lined with newspaper and put them up as high as possible near the nest. Always wear gloves and wash your hands after handling a baby bird.
However, there are many times when you might see a baby bird on the ground that looks fluffy with feathers sticking out all over the place. They may look like they’re in an awkward phase of their lives BUT these babies don’t need our help! Fledglings, which are young birds that have recently left the nest and are learning to fly, typically do not need human intervention as their parents are still nearby caring for them and guiding their learning process; therefore, it's best to leave them alone. The parents will keep an eye on them and interfering could cause more harm than good.
The BEST thing you can do this time of year is to keep your cats inside! Even just keeping your cats from going out for a few weeks during the spring can allow fledgling babies a better chance at survival. Do it for the babies!
Baby Deer:
We all know and love Bambi and while baby deer with cute spots may look helpless, their parents know what they’re doing! If you find a baby deer alone, they are perfectly fine 9/10 times! Why? Herbivore parents often do something called tucking, where they hide their babies in tall grasses, low-lying areas, or against a tree or bush. These babies know to stay where they are and wait as their mom goes foraging for food. The mother can leave the babies for up to 24 hours without issue which seems like a long time, but baby wildlife are tougher than they look! If you stumble across baby wildlife never move or touch them and leave the area as quietly as possible so you don’t disturb the resting baby. Baby deer become able to survive on their own after just a few months so even if there isn’t a mother around and it looks small, most of the time they are okay! If you are worried or it has been longer than 24 hours, you can call your local wildlife rehabilitation organization and they can advise you on what to do!
Small Mammals like Bunnies and Squirrels:
Similar to deer, many small mammals build nests in shrubs, grasses, and small depressions in the ground where it would be harder for predators to see them. Unfortunately, this means it’s hard for us to see them too! Before you mow your lawn or begin watering your yard for the spring, please walk around your area and see if you spot any tiny fuzzy creatures who may wish for you to hold off for a few more weeks! Who wants to mow their lawn anyway?! These babies develop quickly so after 1-2 months they’ll be gone and on their own.
Baby Snakes and Alligators:
Great news for snake parents! Baby snakes are born able to care for themselves (this is called having Precocial Young and yes, we're jealous) and not only do not need your help, but they don’t need the help of their parents either!
Alligators are a different story, they are born able to help themselves to food and are mobile on land and in the water, but they get the added benefit of protection from their mothers who carry them around in their mouths, help them hatch, and protect them from predators. Best leave them alone if you don’t want to face the wrath of an angry mother with a lot of teeth!
Wild babies are super cute! We love watching them from a respectful distance and seeing their progress on wildlife cameras and through the eyes of park rangers and scientists. However, most of the time, these little guys and gals just don’t need our help. If you ever do come across a baby animal who is in distress or you think that they needs help, give your local wildlife rehabilitation clinic a call! You can use the link below to find local wildlife rehabilitators in your area! https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/fbceba9e7b6d4b8db7551cf1d0759df1/
When you visit Oatland Island Wildlife Center, be sure to look around and let staff know if you discover anything cute, we all love a baby!
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