If the animal you've found is a marine mammal (such as a seal,
dolphin, or whale) or a marine turtle (a turtle with flippers),
then please go to the pages dedicated to these kinds of
animals—you'll find the links at the bottom of this page. If
you've found another kind of baby animal, the best thing to do
is to call a wildlife rehabilitator or wildlife center.
Below are some of the things that you should and shouldn't
do while you're trying to reach an expert. Please remember that
even baby animals can hurt you, so protect yourself and use
great caution when approaching any wild animal, even a
baby.
Sometimes people find a perfectly healthy baby animal that
they think needs assistance when in fact a parent is close by
and the baby is fine.
Is the Animal a Baby?
Birds. Baby birds generally are not completely
feathered and may be wobbly on the ground. If you find a bird
on the ground who is completely feathered but has a short tail,
he is probably a fledgling. Fledgling birds are cared for by
their parents until they learn to fly, which can take a week or
more.
Mammals. Baby mammals are smaller than adults and
have shorter hair, especially on their tails. (Think of a puppy
versus an adult dog—the puppy has a short coat and short tail
hairs until he's several months old.) Most wild mammals don't
leave their mothers until they're nearly adult sized, and most
are born in the spring and independent by fall. Some
mammals—squirrels for instance—routinely have two litters a
year—one in the late winter or early spring and one in the
summer or early fall.
Reptiles. It is hard to tell the age of most
reptiles. Their growth rate depends largely on the abundance of
food available to them as they grow. A very small turtle can be
several years old, while a relatively large snake may be only a
year old. In any case, reptiles are independent from the time
they are hatched or born. In other words, they don't need their
parents to take care of them.
Injured or Sick?
If the baby has any one of the following signs, he or she is
probably sick or injured and in need of assistance:
- bleeding or wounded
- seen in a cat's or dog's mouth, or if there is a
likelihood that the animal was picked up by a cat or dog
- wet and/or shivering
- hit by a car, lawnmower, boat, or other vehicle
- limping
- a drooping wing (But if both wings appear to be
"drooping" by the same amount, it could be normal—it depends
on the species.)
Some young animals (especially song birds) appear injured
when they're not. If the animal has none of the above signs, he
may be healthy.
Orphaned?
The Cape Wildlife Center often receives phone calls about
orphan animals that aren't really orphaned at all. Sometimes
people call after seeing a baby bird without any parents
sitting on their front lawn. Although fully feathered, the bird
has very short tail feathers. He is hopping around, but he
can't fly. This is a classic description of a fledgling bird
who has left the nest but hasn't yet learned to fly. He is not
orphaned and doesn't need human assistance.
A person may call us to report that she's found a nest of
baby rabbits in the grass. People often assume that a baby
mammal without a mother present is an orphan. This isn't
necessarily the case. See our information on "Is That Baby
Animal an Orphan?" to learn more about determining if the
animal you've found is truly orphaned.
Cats and Fledgling Birds
Fledgling birds are at risk of attack from many
predators—it's a part of the cycle of nature. Unfortunately the
predators who injure most of the fledgling birds brought to the
Cape Wildlife Center are housecats. Cats should be kept indoors
to minimize the risk to wildlife and for their own safety.
If you see a fledgling at imminent risk from a cat, place
the bird on a tree branch, then ask the cat's caretaker to keep
the cat indoors. The threat of local cats is not an adequate
reason to bring a fledgling to a rehabilitator, however.
Healthy baby birds are always best off being raised by their
own parents.
Baby Birds
If you find a young songbird on the ground and he is not
fully feathered, is unable to stand, or seems weak, then you've
probably found a baby bird who has fallen from his nest. Look
for a nest near where you found the baby—check nearby trees,
bushes, porch rafters, etc. It is best if you can return the
bird to his nest.
If a songbird's nest has fallen from its original location,
put it back together as best you can. Place the whole nest into
a margarine container with holes cut into the bottom, or into a
soda bottle with holes cut in the bottom for drainage and a
hole cut in the side to allow the parent birds to enter. The
container or soda bottle should be similar in diameter to the
original nest. Place the makeshift nest as close to the
original nest's site as possible and replace the baby birds in
the nest. Watch the nest either from inside a car parked a good
distance from the nest or from inside a house. Observe the
situation closely for an hour; if the parents haven't come back
to feed the babies by then, call a wildlife rehabilitator or
wildlife center.
Ducks, geese, and swans don't raise their babies in a nest.
A baby duck, goose, or swan that is found alone with no family
nearby should be considered orphaned. Trying to put him with a
family other than his own is inadvisable, so if there's no
single family nearby call your local rehabilitator or wildlife
center about the situation.
What to Do until Help Arrives
Any wild animal can be dangerous, so take safety
precautions, even with small babies. If it is necessary to take
the baby to a wildlife rehabilitator, here is what to do.
Prepare a cardboard box big enough to hold the baby. A shoe
box works well for most song birds and small baby mammals, but
animals such as raccoons might need a larger box. Line the box
with an old t-shirt and poke holes in the sides before you put
the animal in the box.
Wear gardening gloves if you are handling a small bird and
leather gloves if you are handling a larger bird or a mammal.
For most animals, it is best to use a towel to cover the animal
and then gently scoop her into the box and close the lid
securely. But if the animal is a baby mammal larger than a
small rodent (squirrel or chipmunk), it is best not handle her
at all. Instead, use the box itself to scoop her up.
Place the box in a warm, quiet, dark place until the
rehabilitator arrives or until you are able to take the animal
to the wildlife rehabilitator. Don't let children or pets near
the box. If the baby is small enough to be wobbly, put a
heating pad—set on low—under half of the box. This will allow
the baby to go to the heat or away from it.
Do not give the animal any food or water. Doing so is
dangerous because the wrong diet or even water can make the
baby very ill. It is far more important to keep the baby warm
and safe than to feed him immediately. If the rehabilitator is
unable to arrive soon, he or she will instruct you on what else
to do, if anything.
