— from Shona Aitken for Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center —
If you find an injured wild animal, or a young wild creature that seems to be separated from its parents, what should you do?
We certainly don’t suggest rushing to the rescue without first being sure that the animal really needs
help, but delaying too long before contacting us can seriously reduce an animal’s chances of survival.
One example is songbird nestlings. This is the time of year when we receive calls about young swallows, robins or other young songbirds that have fallen to the ground when their nest is damaged, or they have been caught by cats when they are learning to fly.
Often people call us as soon as they find a bird and we can bring it in for care quickly. But recently there have been several cases when people have picked up the birds, then waited many hours before calling. Songbirds are delicate little creatures that need to eat special nutritious food every ~ 30 minutes throughout the day, and they may also have injuries, so that delay can have a huge impact on our ability to save them.
With all kinds of different wild creatures out there, we realize it can be difficult to work out when to wait and monitor the situation for a little while, and when to act immediately. If you are not sure, you are welcome to give us a call. We are happy to discuss the situation with you and give advice on the best course of action. Wolf Hollow 360-378-5000.
For further information about what to do if you find an injured or orphaned wild creature, visit our website. You Can HELP US HELP THEM!
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