Dealing with animals in the wild.

At HSVB&IRC, the calls come in daily. The caller may have found a baby bird helpless on the ground, a gopher tortoise grazing next to heavy traffic, armadillos tearing up the yard, or an injured owl or hawk. Always, HSVB&IRC employees are glad to assist with wildlife concerns.

People are typically unprepared to address the needs of animals found in the wild. Often, when we think we are helping a wild animal, we could be dooming it instead. It is important that we learn appropriate responses for dealing with wild animals. After all, it is the humane thing to do.

Understanding is the key to coexisting with our wild neighbors. Remember: Wild animals inhabited our environment long before we did. They have managed to adapt to our presence despite the lack of green space and wildlife corridors. It is up to us to learn humane solutions as our community grows and their habitat shrinks.

Here are some of the frequently asked questions we encounter about wildlife...

What is considered a wildlife emergency?

What should I do if I encounter an injured animal?

I found a baby wild animal. What do I do next?

Usually, the quick, simple answer is: Put it back! Leave it alone!

Dealing with Very Young babies.

Very young babies are sometimes dislodged from their nest by strong winds or a storm or have become disoriented. Hairless or featherless babies with eyes closed should be placed back into their nest. If you cannot locate the nest, follow these procedures: Put baby birds in a wicker basket with some dry leaves and hang it in a nearby bush or tree. Non-flying animals can be placed in a basket or shallow box on the ground in a sheltered spot. In most cases, this solution will keep the youngsters safe until the parents return. Remember, the container used should allow adequate drainage in the event of rain.

Once you've taken these steps, leave immediately! The parents will not approach their youngster with you nearby.

Be a Mythbuster.

The old tale about a mother animal not accepting her baby back after it has been touched by a human is simply not true. Most birds have no sense of smell and other animals are almost always happy to see their babies are safe. Once a young animal can move around, it begins to explore its surroundings. (This clumsy time for young birds is called the “brancher” stage.) Young animals frequently fall from the branches or wander away from their homes. The parents will continue caring for their young regardless. So, the best procedure is to leave young animals alone. If neighborhood cats are a threat, please call Animal Control. (There is a leash law in Indian River County which prohibits cats from roaming at large.)

Growing up is a process.

While youth is indeed a vulnerable time in an animal's life, it is also an important stage in their development. For example, baby birds do not need to learn to fly. Instead, they must develop the necessary physical maturity and strength to fly. The exercise they get from hopping and fluttering from place to place allows them to build the necessary muscles and strength to fly. Babies need to learn what food looks, smells, and tastes like in the wild. Once Mom stops feeding them, this knowledge is critical. Babies also need to learn how to avoid predators and take shelter from the elements. These lessons are very important to their future survival and the survival of their offspring in the future.

Considering raising a wild animal?

Don't! Trying to raise a baby bird or other animal yourself may seem like a great idea, but it is much more complicated than you may think. Each species requires a different diet and feeding regimen to ensure proper development. In the wild, animals adapt to their diets and peculiar schedules. They learn to coexist with other types of animals. You can never successfully duplicate these conditions in your own environment.

In addition, babies can become "imprinted" on humans all too easily. This only creates a confused animal that will be unable to recognize its own species and defend itself when released back into the wild.

If these reasons aren't sufficient, consider one more fact: Florida has strict laws dealing with non-licensed people who harbor wild animals (even if their intentions are good). Fines can be as much as $15,000 for offenders.

A better alternative...

Call the Humane Society or a Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator. If you find a baby animal and are truly unable to reunite it with its parents, please call us. If requested, bring the animal to a facility near you. Once there, it will receive the proper diet and be raised with others of its own kind so it can successfully be released back into the wild. Points to remember... If asked to transport an injured animal, a darkened cardboard box is the best method. Do NOT attempt to feed or water the animal. Home concoctions (such as sugar water, bread & milk, and peanut butter) are inappropriate and potentially harmful. Giving the wrong diet is worse than giving no diet at all.

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