Spring is
Wild Baby Season

Spring is wild baby season and it is not unusual fro people to stumble upon a wild baby or babies. It is a myth that if you touch a wild animal baby that the mother will abandon them, in fact, a mother will not abandon their babies for any reason. The instinct in wildlife to care for their offspring is extremely strong.

·        If you come upon a baby deer, rabbit, or coyote do not move them. It is normal for the mothers of these babies to leave them in one place while they go away for the day to hunt or eat. They will always come back to them. Squirrels who have fallen from the nest will sometimes suffer from hypothermia if it is cold. Place them on a heating pad on low and cover the pad with an old towel or shirt. If the mother does not come back by nightfall, contact the wildlife authorities.

·        Raccoons rarely leave their young for very long, so if you see baby raccoons wandering around, it is possible their mother has met with an accident and may not be able to get back to them. Do not try to “adopt” them yourself. Contact Animal Control and they will get the proper authorities to care for them.

·        Birds that fall out of the nest can be replaced. If the nest has been destroyed, fashion a makeshift nest out of a basket and leaves, sticks, etc. and place it in a tree as close to the old nest as possible.

If there is any doubt about whether an animal has been abandoned contact an expert. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources lists licensed wildlife rehabilitators on its website. www.ohiodnr.com.