Spring has finally sprung!! The leaves have popped and soon there will be babies of every variety out and about all over town. The mothers of these creatures are very well adapted to avoiding us and caring for their young. We should do the same. For the most part, they do not need our assistance and should be left alone. Occasionally some assistance may be needed and given, but this should be the exception rather than the rule.
There are a number of resources available if you are unsure of how to help or even IF something is in need of help. The Wildlife Rehabilitators Association of Massachusetts can be found at http://www.wraminc.org/ . There is a flow chart on what to do if you find a bird or mammal which may help you determine if the animal should be left alone or if you might need to intervene. You can also contact a wildlife rehabilitator if necessary. These trained volunteers are able, when necessary, to raise wildlife and return it to the wild. Wild animals are not to be kept as pets and even the most loving and caring novice can do much more harm than good. IF an animal needs to be removed from the wild, it should only be cared for by a properly trained wildlife rehabilitator.
If you come across a nest that has fallen from a tree or shrub, do not remove it from the area. It needs to stay as close as possible to where it originated; usually straight above where you find it on the ground. That way the mother bird can find it when she returns. If the nest cannot be placed back in the original spot, there are few things that can be used; an empty hanging planter is the perfect size for most nests to be placed in and then to be hung from a tree limb or eave. An empty water jug (gallon size) with a hole cut in the side can also be used, use the handle and a string or coat hanger to hang it back up.
Occasionally a young bird will be ousted from the nest, accidentally, but it also happens intentionally. Depending on the size and age of the bird it may or may not need assistance. Obviously if the bird has no feathers and its eyes are closed it needs help; if it is fully feathered and hopping around, it should not need help. Fledglings are pushed from the nest and watched from above by mom. This is part of how they learn to survive and grow. So if you come across a young bird, please don’t immediately run up to rescue it, stand back and observe the situation first; the mother could be gone for hours at a time gathering food. Often times you will see a murder of crows (yes that is what a group of crows is called) in the trees squawking at a fledgling on the ground, think of them as a cheering group, not as if they are asking you to step in and assist.
If you find an injured animal a call to the Animal Rescue League of Boston is a great place to start. They have a fleet of animal ambulances which provide rescue services to wildlife as well as stray animals. Their dispatch is trained to answer questions and provide various numbers for wildlife rehabilitators and others trained to help. They can be reached at http://www.arlboston.org/ or 617-426-9170. They can provide services to swans entangled in fishing line, raccoons trapped in dumpsters or even skunks trapped in a lobster trap!
If you have birds, squirrels or raccoons nesting in your eaves or under your porch, they should be left alone until the young are old enough to leave the area on their own. The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty has an interactive portion of their website to help you identify and deal with wildlife issues. It can be found at http://www.mspca.org/intruderexcluder/ . Please remember the wildlife was here first, we are building on all vacant space and causing the animals to have to find new dens and food sources. Be tolerant and humane in your dealings with them.
There are a number of resources available if you are unsure of how to help or even IF something is in need of help. The Wildlife Rehabilitators Association of Massachusetts can be found at http://www.wraminc.org/ . There is a flow chart on what to do if you find a bird or mammal which may help you determine if the animal should be left alone or if you might need to intervene. You can also contact a wildlife rehabilitator if necessary. These trained volunteers are able, when necessary, to raise wildlife and return it to the wild. Wild animals are not to be kept as pets and even the most loving and caring novice can do much more harm than good. IF an animal needs to be removed from the wild, it should only be cared for by a properly trained wildlife rehabilitator.
If you come across a nest that has fallen from a tree or shrub, do not remove it from the area. It needs to stay as close as possible to where it originated; usually straight above where you find it on the ground. That way the mother bird can find it when she returns. If the nest cannot be placed back in the original spot, there are few things that can be used; an empty hanging planter is the perfect size for most nests to be placed in and then to be hung from a tree limb or eave. An empty water jug (gallon size) with a hole cut in the side can also be used, use the handle and a string or coat hanger to hang it back up.
Occasionally a young bird will be ousted from the nest, accidentally, but it also happens intentionally. Depending on the size and age of the bird it may or may not need assistance. Obviously if the bird has no feathers and its eyes are closed it needs help; if it is fully feathered and hopping around, it should not need help. Fledglings are pushed from the nest and watched from above by mom. This is part of how they learn to survive and grow. So if you come across a young bird, please don’t immediately run up to rescue it, stand back and observe the situation first; the mother could be gone for hours at a time gathering food. Often times you will see a murder of crows (yes that is what a group of crows is called) in the trees squawking at a fledgling on the ground, think of them as a cheering group, not as if they are asking you to step in and assist.
If you find an injured animal a call to the Animal Rescue League of Boston is a great place to start. They have a fleet of animal ambulances which provide rescue services to wildlife as well as stray animals. Their dispatch is trained to answer questions and provide various numbers for wildlife rehabilitators and others trained to help. They can be reached at http://www.arlboston.org/ or 617-426-9170. They can provide services to swans entangled in fishing line, raccoons trapped in dumpsters or even skunks trapped in a lobster trap!
If you have birds, squirrels or raccoons nesting in your eaves or under your porch, they should be left alone until the young are old enough to leave the area on their own. The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty has an interactive portion of their website to help you identify and deal with wildlife issues. It can be found at http://www.mspca.org/intruderexcluder/ . Please remember the wildlife was here first, we are building on all vacant space and causing the animals to have to find new dens and food sources. Be tolerant and humane in your dealings with them.
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