You’ve likely seen— and possibly even shared— those cute viral photos and videos of domestic cats raising wild animals. Stories of cats raising wild animals are always adorable and heartwarming, but the sad truth is that most of these stories are fake, and most attempts to recreate them end in tragedy. Take, for example, theContinue reading “Your Cat Can’t Raise Wild Animal Babies”
Category Archives: Wildlife Emergencies
“I found a dead bird. Should I save the babies?”
Even the very best rehabilitators can’t care for baby birds as well as the their natural parents, so we always make it a priority to keep baby animals with their families whenever possible. Unfortunately, some baby birds end up in rehabilitation because well-meaning people kidnap them. It’s not uncommon for someone to find a deadContinue reading ““I found a dead bird. Should I save the babies?””
Treating a Wild Animal With Mange Yourself? Not So Fast!
We get tons of messages from people asking us for advice on treating wild animals with mange. It’s wonderful that so many people care! Mange is extremely common in wildlife, particularly foxes and coyotes, and rates have skyrocketed in recent years due to human causes. When left untreated, mange causes infections, starvation, hypothermia, and eventuallyContinue reading “Treating a Wild Animal With Mange Yourself? Not So Fast!”
Fledglings Aren’t Orphans
Have you ever seen a human toddler in their first days on their feet? They stumble, waddle, and often fall… but it doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong or that they don’t have parents looking out for them. The awkward first days of toddling are just part of how humans learn and grow. That’s how itContinue reading “Fledglings Aren’t Orphans”
That Baby Rabbit is Terrified, Not Calm
People who find cottontail rabbit babies often describe them as calm, comfortable, friendly, and sweet. All too often, wildlife rehabilitators receive photos of baby rabbits snuggled in hands, pockets, and bras, with enthusiastic stories about how much they love to be held. These stories almost always end in tragedy, when the babies die of stress.Continue reading “That Baby Rabbit is Terrified, Not Calm”
Lawn Chemicals Kill Salamanders in Winter
You have a whole magical world living right under your feet! Please help protect it. Salamanders and other amphibians are facing a serious crisis as their populations plummet all over the world. You can take very simple steps to make sure your own salamander neighbors are safe. This time of year, most salamanders are inContinue reading “Lawn Chemicals Kill Salamanders in Winter”
Avoid Drunk Hummingbirds: Clean Your Feeders
If you’re near For Fox Sake, this is the perfect time of year to hang hummingbird feeders! Hummingbird feeders can give you an opportunity to enjoy these beautiful little jewels during their long annual migration. If you’re not careful, though, your feeders may do much more harm than good. Nectars— whether homemade or store-bought— fermentContinue reading “Avoid Drunk Hummingbirds: Clean Your Feeders”
Don’t Kidnap Fawns! Mom Will Return Soon
Babies like this are often kidnapped by well-meaning people who mistake them for orphans, but this baby doesn’t need help. Mother deer will often leave their babies alone for up to several hours a day, often hidden in underbrush, tall grass, or leaves. The fawn knows to lie down and be very still, to avoidContinue reading “Don’t Kidnap Fawns! Mom Will Return Soon”
Don’t Kidnap Animals to Teach Your Children
Far, far too often, wildlife rehabilitators get calls about baby animals that the finders have had for weeks. Often, it’s urgent— “Something’s wrong,” or, “It cant walk right,” or, “I think it may be dying.” These animals ultimately die due to improper care by people who thought that a Google search could enable them toContinue reading “Don’t Kidnap Animals to Teach Your Children”
Can I Move Wild Baby Bunnies?
Well-meaning people often move cottontail rabbit babies, assuming that their mother will be able to find them. The most commonly given reasons are that they needed to mow their lawn or needed to get the babies further away from dogs or cats. Unfortunately, this spells death for the young rabbits. Cottontail rabbit babies produce noContinue reading “Can I Move Wild Baby Bunnies?”
