REHABQUESTIONS

Princess Doves Wildlife Rehabilitations
and Animal Rescue

ARE WE REALLY HELPING?

To help young wildlife at this time of year keep pets, particularly cats, indoors or leashed at all times. A University of Wisconsin
study conservatively estimated that rural Wisconsin cats kills 7.8 MILLION birds a year and birds only comprised 20% of the total
number of animals the cats killed. Also, remind children not to approach or handle wildlife and teach them the simple philosophy:
"If you care, leave them there!"

If You Care . . .
You'll Leave Them There!
Young Wildlife Belong in the Wild

The Problem
Every year, many people upset the lives of young wildlife when they only mean to help. They take fledgling songbirds, young
rabbits or other animals from the wild in a mistaken attempt to save them. This brochure is intended to help you decide when
help is needed and when to leave well enough alone.

Why It Happens
The arrival of spring and summer also means the arrival of newborn and just-hatched wildlife. These young soon venture into
the world on shaky legs or fragile wings. While most are learning survival from one or both parents, some normally receive little
or no parental care. Often, wild animal parents stay away from their young when people are near. For all of these young
animals, the perils of survival are a natural part of life in the wild. Some will not survive. However, young wildlife that learn well
and are the most fit usually live the longest.

Those early unsteady steps and flights are part of normal development, helping young animals learn to take care of themselves.
Some quickly develop that ability, almost from birth. For example, snowshoe hare, turtles and snakes are ready to venture into
the world within hours of birth or hatching. Other animals need more parental care. For example, cottontail rabbits are born with
no fur and closed eyes, unable to leave their nest on the ground surface for several weeks and continue to nurse from the
mother for another week or more. Most young songbirds likewise spend about two weeks in the nest and then follow their
parents about for days, begging for food and learning to fly well.

So, it's not unusual to see a young robin crouched on the lawn or a young rabbit in the flower garden, both apparently
motherless. Or, to find a fawn lying by itself. Often, we step in to help. This is when problems arise; when we assume that young
wildlife we find alone are abandoned, helpless and need saving. In nearly all cases, this is a mistake.

The Result
These well-meant acts of kindness tend to have the opposite result. Most people quickly find that they do not really know how to
care for young wildlife, and many of the animals that are "rescued" soon die despite their best efforts.

Even if they do survive in our care, these young wild animals have missed the natural experiences that teach them to fend for
themselves. When these wild animals are released back into the wild it is difficult for them to function as they should (for
example, their ability to find natural foods is impaired) and they have a reduced ability to survive. Further, they may be thrust as
unwelcome intruders into the home range of another member of their species.

Also, the care given to young wildlife often, unavoidably, results in some attachment to humans. On release to the wild, those
animals generally have little fear of people. Some return to places where people live, only to be attacked by domestic animals or
to be hit by cars. Some become nuisances getting into stored food, trash cans or dwellings. People have also been injured by
once-tamed wildlife.

What To Do
All of these problems can be avoided by following one simple rule when coming upon young wildlife: LEAVE THEM ALONE! It
may be difficult to do, but this is the real act of kindness and in nearly all cases that is the best thing to do.

DO NOT consider young wildlife as possible pets. This is illegal and is bad for the animal. Furthermore wild animals do not make
good pets; they are not well suited for life in captivity and they may carry diseases that can be given to people. Resist the
temptation to take them out of the wild.

However, when you encounter a young wild animal that is obviously injured or orphaned, you may wish to call a Wildlife
Rehabilitator for advice and help. Wildlife Rehabilitators, volunteers licensed by DEC, are the only people legally allowed to
receive and treat distressed wildlife. They have the experience, expertise and facilities to successfully treat wild animals. The
goal of the rehabilitator is to release a healthy animal back into the wild, where it belongs.

TAKEN FROM THE NYSDEC WEBSITE AT:http://www.dec.state.ny.us/index.html

RVS OR RABIES VECTOR
SPECIES- PDWR DOES NOT
TAKE IN ANY RVS ANIMALS.
THIS INCLUDES RACCOON,
SKUNKS AND BATS. WE WILL
BE SEEKING PERMITS FOR
SUCH SPECIES AT A LATER
DATE

PDWR does not charge for
any rehabilitation services.
Donations are always
welcome. We don't remove
unwanted pests. We only
rehabilitate distressed wildlife.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO
ADOPT ONE OF THE MANY
RESCUED BIRDS OR ONE OF
THE MANY OTHER ANIMALS
THAT WE CARE FOR.
REMEMBER A LITTLE GOES
ALONG WAY WITH A CAGED
BIRD. DONATIONS OF ONLY
$5 WILL CARE FOR A SINGLE
BIRD FOR ABOUT ONE
MONTH. THE SAME
DONATIONS WOULD FEED
LARGER ANIMALS PROBABLY
2 WEEKS. JUST CLICK THE
DONATE BUTTON NEXT TO
THIS BOX