— from Shona Aitken for Wolf Hollow —
This is a wonderful time of year when all kinds of young wild creatures are making their appearances.
Fledgling robins are fluttering in the bushes in your yard and raccoon and otter kits are starting to follow their Moms around. When they’re in their nests or dens, these youngsters are usually well hidden, but when they start to move about, they are suddenly more visible…. and more vulnerable. This is why we receive so many wild youngsters for care at Wolf Hollow in early summer.
When they are learning to fly, songbird fledglings often end up fluttering to the ground where they are easy prey for cats, or are scooped up by well-meaning people, who think they have fallen from their nest and need to be rescued. (If they haven’t been caught by a cat, and have most of their feathers, we suggest moving them up into a bush where they can perch, and their parents can continue to feed them).
Raccoon and otter kits can’t move as quickly as their parents, so they are easily injured by dogs. Mom is also more vulnerable at this stage because, when she is concentrating on shepherding her kids around, she is moving more slowly and is more likely to be caught by a dog or hit by a car. Then there is a whole litter of youngsters that won’t survive without our help.
It’s a challenging time for wild creatures, but you can help keep these wild youngsters safe by spreading the word to friends and neighbors that now is an especially good time to keep pets under control and to drive very carefully.
If you want to learn more about what you should do if you find a young wild creature, visit our web site or call 360-378-5000.
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About 5 years ago I walked into our garden protected by a high impenetrable fence. I turned the corner to hear a high-pitched shriek, and found a fawn in fetal position but no longer wet in a corner against our house. I called Wolf Hollow and was advised to pick this little creature up gently, and place it in a safe (from eagles) location and that within an hour or so Mom would pick up her little baby. AND WOLF HOLLOW WAS RIGHT!! An hour later the fawn was gone and I am just happy to have a photo of me holding that little creature. I will never know how that baby who couldn’t even stand appeared in our garden. I am just happy that we have such skilled and knowledgeable responders at Wolf Hollow. THANK YOU.