Nature Articles - Springing Into Wildlife Calls               

Springing Into Wildlife Calls
By: Joyce Lovins, Naturalist Coordinator

Spring is coming and with it comes many wildlife concerns as birds and animals are raising their young. The Park District Naturalists take many calls from well meaning people who feel like they are helping a baby animal that has been abandoned. Here are a few of the most common wildlife questions and how to handle the situation.

Baby Rabbits: Rabbit nest are a shallow and fur-lined depressions in the grass. Mother rabbits only feed their young two times a day, once at dawn and once at dusk. So when people think the young are abandoned, it is because Mama is very secretive and unlikely to be seen. Placing a piece of colored yarn lightly over the nest and observe if it has been moved after the normal feeding times. Rabbits also succumb to stress easily and should only be handled as a last resort. If the young ones are fully furred, have open eyes and erect ears, they are already independent and on their own.

Fawns: Young deer are often mistaken for being abandoned. The mother will “park” her fawn for long periods of time in tall grass while she is feeding nearby. Newborn fawns virtually have no scent and will lay still for hours without moving until the mother comes back to retrieve them. Do not disturb a young fawn. Keep watch for a day or two – you’ll probably see the mother return to nurse.

Birds/Fledglings: These little guys are learning how to fly. They are feathered with downy tufts. Once they have left the nest, the process of flying may take several days. They should be left alone. They find protection in the low branches of shrubs. The parent birds are not far away. They watch over their young and provide protection by dive- bombing predators.

Baby Birds/Nestlings: A nestling may fall, be pushed or blown out of the nest by a storm. If at all possible, place the nestling back into the original nest. Contrary to popular myth, the scent of a human will not keep the mother bird from returning to the nest and caring for their young. If the nest is out of reach, a makeshift nest can be made of a butter bowl or a small basket filled with grass or soft toweling. Several holes must be punched in the bottom to allow for drainage should it rain. Attach your new nest to a piece of twine or wire and secure it to the highest branch you can where the original nest may have been. The parent birds should find their baby. If you do notice that the parents haven’t returned by dark, the nestling could be in trouble.

When dealing with wildlife, it is generally best to let nature to take its course. If you're not certain how to handle a wildlife situation, call the Winton Woods Naturalist at 521-7275 ext. 240. Our staff can provide further advise and if need be, provide you with the contact information for a local wildlife rehabilitator.