Utopia Wildlife Rehabilitators

Pick up the phone before you pick up the wildlife!

Spring is here and with it comes lots of animal and bird babies, and with them come a lot of phone calls. Many of our callers are alarmed about 'abandoned' young animals ,and just want to help.  Remember: animal parents leave their babies for long periods of time to find food or in an effort not to draw attention to their offspring.  Many babies, like bunnies and fawns, have no scent and this makes it difficult for predators to find them. Their instinct is to stay still for most of the day until their mother returns.  No matter how well-meaning, people who get involved trying to "rescue" these youngsters only hurt them in the long run. When in doubt, do nothing. Keep pets and children away. If you have found a baby bird look for the nest location and listen and look carefully for adults which may appear agitated and be calling from the trees nearby. Always attempt to get baby birds back into the nest or in a basket suspended in the tree as close to the nest as possible. Animal moms are good moms and wont abandon their babies just because someone has touched them.