As the warm weather approaches, you're likely to encounter wildlife on the move. All Species Kinship (A.S.K.), Calhoun County's 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal protection organization offers the general public, businesses, lake front associations and others, a donation-based assessment and mobilization service for potentially injured or orphaned wildlife throughout Southern Michigan. Too often rehabilitators get calls about animals that have been "kidnapped" by well-meaning people who are uninformed about the natural behavior of certain species. By calling A.S.K.'s toll-free hotline you can insure that your wildlife concern is a legitimate one which warrants human intervention.
A.S.K. makes on-site assessments and when an animal has been deemed either injured or orphaned, it is rescued and taken to a species-specific rehabilitator. Wildlife rehabilitators are licensed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to possess wildlife that is orphaned, injured, sick, or in any kind of need. It is illegal to possess wildlife in Michigan without a permit from the DNR. A.S.K. rescues occur on ice, water and land using humane capture techniques by trained A.S.K. representatives. Rehabilitated animals are released back into their native habitats for a second chance at life. This article is intended to help you help wild babies remain where they should so that we can focus our efforts and limited resources towards those who are truly in need. Unless an animal is in obvious distress or danger, it should remain where it is until getting further guidance. Wild animals that are removed due to emergencies should not be fed anything, and should be kept isolated from companion pets. Remember, wildlife will NOT abandon their young even if human contact has been made!
Following are some common wildlife concerns and their remedies:
Raccoons: If a female has entered your attic or chimney she probably has babies there. If you trap and remove her you will hear hungry babies crying two days later. We can't take them because we won't have room for the ones who are sitting on their dead Mom on the roadway. Let her finish raising her babies. When they leave in the summer block up the attic access using hardware cloth or put a chimney cap on. Or you can put a light bulb and a loud radio in the attic or chimney to make it uncomfortable for her so she will take them somewhere else. A licensed trapper can assist you in doing this, and can block the access hole to the attic or install a chimney cap after Mom moves the babies. If you trap Mom and release her about a mile away she may return for her babies. It would be better if you released her on your property and allowed her to move her babies. If baby raccoons are crying and approach you, they need help. If you are walking in the woods and see babies without Mom you probably scared Mom off, and she will soon return. Raccoons will forage during the day when nursing; they should be left alone unless there is some obvious problem. Note: We don't have raccoon strain rabies in Michigan.
Squirrels: They can be blown out of their nest and usually aren't far from their tree. Their mother will move them to a backup nest if given the opportunity. Nail a box on the tree or nearby tree about five feet high. They will need a heat source because a baby animal's nest is very warm. Pour uncooked rice into a sock, tie the sock off, and heat it in your microwave for a minute and a half. It will hold heat for an hour or two. Put that in the box and cover it with a cloth, not a towel. Place the babies on top of that, and then cover them with cloth. Leave the area. Check the heat source occasionally. Call if you do this in the morning and they are still there in the late afternoon.
Fawns: Mom feeds them two or three times a day, then leaves. Fawns don't have any scent, but Mom doesn't want her scent to draw a predator to them, so she stays at a distance. A dog, coyote, or person can walk right by a fawn in the woods and not know it's there unless it moves. If a fawn is following you crying continuously, or is lying on its side, it is in trouble and needs intervention.
Rabbits: Mom can have six litters a year and often uses the same nest. She feeds the babies at dawn and dusk, then leaves. The babies don't have a scent. They are in the nest only three weeks so when they leave they may be no bigger than a golf ball. If you discover a rabbit nest in your yard and you have pets, put a laundry basket or a milk crate upside down over the nest after daylight. Weigh it down with a rock. Remove the cover before dark and replace it after dawn daily. We can't take in baby rabbits because you have a dog, cat, hawk, lawnmower or car in the area. We have those dangers at our homes also. Rabbits are difficult to raise, even in the hands of someone experienced. They have a better chance of surviving in your yard with their own mother. If you are unsure if Mom is coming to feed them, place string in a tic-tac-toe pattern over the nest before dark. If it has been disturbed even a little, she has been there.
Opossums: When the babies are old enough to leave the pouch, they ride on Mom. They also fall off and Mom doesn't know it so she does not come back and collect her babies. They are capable of feeding themselves, but are easy prey for other animals. If you see a ‘possum under 6” long, not including the tail, it should go to a wildlife rehabilitator. At that size they don't usually bite but do have sharp teeth. If a mother opossum has been hit by a car the babies will be in her pouch. Gently pull the babies away from the long nipple and call A.S.K.
Birds: Baby birds fall out or blow out of nests. If you can find the nest, return the baby. If you can't find the nest, remember the baby didn't fall far from it. Make a nest from a plastic basket from cherry tomatoes. Fill the nest with dry bedding such as dead leaves or straw. Or you can use dryer lint. Do not use pine or cedar shavings. It is imperative to put enough dry bedding in the new nest to keep the baby very snug. Nail the nest to a tree near where you found the baby. It must have leafy cover from sun and predators. Wiring the basket to a nearby bush is better. The parents can take care of two nests at a time. Observe at a distance. When a bird leaves the nest, it flutters to the ground. If you put it back in the tree it will flutter to the ground again. The parents will feed them and protect them as best as they can. This is the time to keep your cat in the house. Birds also make nests in propane fill caps, which workers remove nest and all. Stuff a rag into the cap to prevent this. If you see a baby bird with no parental assistance you can call A.S.K. for an on-site assessment.
Canada Geese: Feathers on the wings that splay outward giving the appearance of a “broken wing” are typically the result of a nutritional deficiency called “angel wing”. This handicap is not correctable and results with the bird being unable to take full flight. Luckily this is often a preventable condition: do not feed birds, or any wild animal, bread. Chicken scratch, cracked corn and even dry dog/cat food are better substitutes if you are inclined to feed waterfowl. A.S.K. can confirm this condition via on-site assessment.
Injuries: An injured animal needs to be contained so that it doesn't wander off where the rescuer can't find it, where it can get hit by a car, etc. Tip a garbage can on its side near the animal, and put the animal in the can with a shovel or broom. Slowly stand the can on its side. An injured or sick animal can't get out of it. Put the lid on unless it's a very warm day and place it in the shade. Call a wildlife rehabilitator. If there are flies or insects on any wild baby it needs help immediately. Do not attempt to capture an injured animal unless you are 100% confident of doing it successfully and safely. Failed capture attempts only cause more stress and potential injury to the animal in need and make capture more complicated. Injured animals are still dangerous.
Portions of this article: Michigan Wildlife Rehabilitators Association
