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FOUR STEPS
YOU CAN DO
TO HELP INJURED OR
ORPHANED WILDLIFE
by Rose Marie Dorer
RoseMarie is no longer a
wildlife rehabilitator, but offers these tips to help you assess your
situation with wildlife.
First*: If you've already determined that the animal or bird
is actually injured or orphaned, you need to keep the animal or bird warm.
Put the animal or bird in a container large enough that it has room to turn
itself around, but not large enough to hurt itself further. Put soft bedding
in the container and set half of the container on a heating pad set to low. *If you're unsure whether the baby animal or bird
you've found is orphaned, please click here The Wildlife Rescue League to go to their website to review the information
offered and determine whether it is, or not.
Second: Do NOT allow anyone to play
with, handle, or watch the animal or bird. The animal or bird may be a
novelty to a child or even to some adults. However, to the animal or bird,
the person (big or small), or household pet watching is a predator.
This causes additional stress to an already compromised animal or bird and
may hasten, if not cause, it's demise.
Third: Do NOT offer food or water to
the bird or animal. Feeding the wrong diet, or feeding it food or water
incorrectly may do more harm than good. The animal is safest when you wait
for a trained professional such as a veterinarian or licensed wildlife
rehabilitator to assess its condition. Even if the animal or bird looks fine
externally, it may have internal injuries that you are not able to assess.
Fourth: After you've done the above, CONTACT a licensed wildlife rehabilitator as soon as
possible and get the animal to the rehabilitator so that its
immediate and/or urgent needs can be met as quickly as possible.
Rehabilitators-How to find one
and a little about their work:
If you are in Northern Virginia and have
found injured or orphaned wildlife, you may call The Wildlife Rescue League
at (703) 440-0800.
If you are in other parts of Virginia, you can find licensed wildlife
rehabilitators throughout the state on the Virginia Department of Game and
Inland Fisheries' website at: http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/licensed_rehabilitators.asp.
In most cases, it is up to you to deliver the animal or bird to the
rehabilitator. Most rehabilitators have their hands full caring for other
wildlife who are in various stages of development or recovery. For instance,
a newborn baby squirrel (neonate) requires more intense care than a weaned
juvenile squirrel awaiting release. Likewise, a newly hatched baby bird needs
more attention than one who is almost ready to fly. Your understanding of
this is appreciated by all wildlife rehabilitators.
Wildlife rehabilitators are all volunteers.
They are not paid by the state or anyone else. Wildlife rehabilitators use
their own homes and funds to obtain food and housing for wildlife in their
care. And being a wildlife rehabilitator is a 24 hour a day, 7 days a week,
full-time, commitment. And even though it is demanding and uncompensated, the
people who volunteer to be wildlife rehabilitators do it because they love
animals and are dedicated to helping protect and care for Virginia's wildlife
community.
Wildlife rehabilitators are licensed, trained professionals who are required
by law to attain at least 6 CE (continuing education) credits per
year. Most, however, earn many, many more credits than the minimum required
by attending conferences and seminars specifically geared toward wildlife
rehabilitation.
PLEASE NOTE: It is illegal in Virginia to keep wildlife as pets
or to try to rehabilitate them without a license. Visit the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries for additional information or to learn how to
become a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
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