What We Wish the Public Knew
Please trim trees and greenery in the winter months, and not in the spring when babies are being born! Baby birds, squirrels, and other animals that live in trees are separated from their mamas every year when limbs are dropped. Trim trees in October, November, December, and January to minimize disruption to these sweet babies!
Please don't release balloons! Even bio-degradable balloons can appear to be food to mammals, birds, fish, and all types of wildlife. Ribbons are a huge danger as well, and can easily get tangled around feet, talons, wings, and necks.
Leave the fledglings (teenage birds) where they are! For more information on how to identify and help fledglings, see this excellent article from the Audubon Society: massaudubon.org/nature-wildlife/birds/baby-birds-out-of-the-nest.
Leave the fawns alone! Mama deer leave their babies alone for the majority of the day. If you see a fawn alone, it is very likely that it is healthy and its mama is nearby! For more on how to help fawns, see this excellent article from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife: https://cdfgnews.wordpress.com/2021/04/12/if-you-care-leave-them-there-cdfw-urges-public-to-leave-deer-fawns-alone/
If you do find an orphaned wildlife baby, PLEASE don't give it anything to eat or drink unless instructed to do so by a BWR volunteer. Not even water! Why is this? The danger of asphyxiation (breathing liquid into the lungs) is real! Asphyxiation can lead to pneumonia, which is deadly for wildlife. Wildlife rehab volunteers have the proper equipment and training needed to feed babies safely. The most immediate danger by far to wildlife is not dehydration or starvation, but exposure. Keep the baby warm (but not too hot!), and please, no food or liquid unless instructed to do so.
Please don't release balloons! Even bio-degradable balloons can appear to be food to mammals, birds, fish, and all types of wildlife. Ribbons are a huge danger as well, and can easily get tangled around feet, talons, wings, and necks.
Leave the fledglings (teenage birds) where they are! For more information on how to identify and help fledglings, see this excellent article from the Audubon Society: massaudubon.org/nature-wildlife/birds/baby-birds-out-of-the-nest.
Leave the fawns alone! Mama deer leave their babies alone for the majority of the day. If you see a fawn alone, it is very likely that it is healthy and its mama is nearby! For more on how to help fawns, see this excellent article from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife: https://cdfgnews.wordpress.com/2021/04/12/if-you-care-leave-them-there-cdfw-urges-public-to-leave-deer-fawns-alone/
If you do find an orphaned wildlife baby, PLEASE don't give it anything to eat or drink unless instructed to do so by a BWR volunteer. Not even water! Why is this? The danger of asphyxiation (breathing liquid into the lungs) is real! Asphyxiation can lead to pneumonia, which is deadly for wildlife. Wildlife rehab volunteers have the proper equipment and training needed to feed babies safely. The most immediate danger by far to wildlife is not dehydration or starvation, but exposure. Keep the baby warm (but not too hot!), and please, no food or liquid unless instructed to do so.
Bidwell Wildlife Rehabilitation serves Butte, Colusa & Glenn counties in Northern CA. Here is a list of all licensed rehab facilities in California.
