|
When should I intervene to rescue wildlife?
This is a question many people ask themselves, particularly in the light of a
good deal of recent publicity implying that wildlife which appears to be in trouble, in particular wild babies or juveniles
should be ‘left alone’.
Well, they shouldn’t. Or, at least, they very frequently shouldn’t. The advice
to leave alone, if followed to the letter, will result in countless unnecessary deaths.
These are the basic guidelines to follow
if you see baby birds or mammals which you think may need rescuing:
Esme, an orphaned fox cub 
|
Fox cubs: Bright, healthy cubs spotted playing in a field/wood/garden are almost certainly fine and the parents
are looking after them. If you find a fox cub with it’s eyes still closed,
it could well need rescuing as it should still be in the earth at this stage – however,
remove yourself from the scene and watch from a distance for a while to see if an adult fox comes and removes the cub
before you rescue it, as foxes move their young to an alternative earth if they feel in danger, and you may have interrupted
this procedure. If you see a fox cub all alone in the middle of a field, or in
a garden where it has not been seen before, and if it is dull eyed, depressed looking, constantly calling in a high pitched
whine, limping or marked with blood, if it is coughing or sneezing or has runny eyes, it needs rescuing.
|
Baby birds: Nestlings that have fallen out of the nest must either be returned to the
nest (make sure it is the right nest or the baby will be rejected) or be rescued. Fledglings
(just of the nest) that are in the care of their parents should be left alone. All
birds caught by cats will need an antibiotic to avoid the high danger of septicaemia and should be rescued. All injured birds should be rescued.
NB: Although juvenile,
semi-feathered owls which fall out of the nest can often claw their way back, very young ones will not be able to and will
be taken by predators if left unrescued.
|
Baby robin
|
|
Leveret
|
Leverets: Mothers leave their tiny infants alone for long periods between feeds. This is to minimise the danger of predators’ attention being drawn to the young. If you see a leveret (baby hare) all alone, if it is crouching in the long
grass, looking clear-eyed and breathing normally, leave the animal completely alone and leave the area at once. If however
it is lying flat, looking dull eyed, breathing with difficulty, and/or if it is in an exposed place, or beside the road, or
has any blood on it, it needs rescuing.
|
Baby deer: Mothers leave their tiny infants alone for long periods between feeds. This is to minimise the danger of predators’ attention being drawn to the young. If you see a baby deer all alone, if it is curled up in the long grass, looking clear-eyed
and breathing normally, leave the animal completely alone and leave the area at once. If however it is lying flat, looking
dull eyed, breathing with difficulty, and/or if it is in an exposed place, or beside the road, or has any blood on it, it
needs rescuing.
|
Baby deer
|
|
Badger cubs
|
Badger
cubs: Bright, healthy cubs spotted playing in a field/wood near to a
sett are almost certainly fine and the mother is looking after them. If you find
a baby badger with it’s eyes still closed, it is certainly in trouble as it should still be underground at this stage. If you find a badger cub that is far from a sett, calling, and with any of the features
listed above as in fox cubs, it needs rescuing.
|
Baby rabbits:
Babies with their eyes closed found out of the nursery burrow must be
rescued. Little rabbits that do not run away when approached need rescuing. Any
baby rabbit mauled by a cat or dog must be rescued.
|
Baby rabbits
|
|
Baby hedgehogs
|
Baby hedgehogs: If a nest is disturbed, the mother hedgehog will often (but not always) desert her young. Very young babies are further
endangered because the mother may even attack and kill her young if her nest is disturbed.
If you have accidentally slightly disturbed a nest, watch from a distance to see what the mother does, and be ready
to intervene. Hedgehog babies with eyes still closed and out of the nest must
be recued. Babies out during the day need to be rescued.
|
This
list is not of course definitive, and the best thing
to do is to ring for advice if you have any doubt about the right course of action.
IF IN DOUBT, RING LITTLE FOXES FOR ADVICE – 01844 279469
|
