Baby Wildlife – When To Help

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AECFV has seen approximately 70 wildlife cases in the last month!  In many of those cases the animal should not have been removed from their environment.

We understand the strong desire to help abandoned or injured wildlife, but sometimes helping does more harm than good.  The assumption that baby wildlife isn’t in a ‘safe spot’ is NOT a reason to rescue it and send it to a wildlife rehabilitation centre or bring it to our hospital.

Wildlife centres must be reserved for the sick, injured or truly orphaned. Imagine if everyone rescued every fledgling bird, wayward raccoon, and unattended bunny? Wildlife centres would be overrun in a matter of days. Trust that Mother Nature has a plan. Please don’t forget that almost all wildlife centers are non-profit organizations and funds are extremely limited.

Our hospital is not a licensed wildlife facility nor is our hospital environment an ideal restful place for baby wildlife, but we will always accept injured wildlife. Where an animal has not sustained a traumatic injury, but you are confident it has been abandoned, you could place it in a blanketed box and keep it in a warm dark place until you can get it to the appropriate wildlife shelter.

This interview with Elizabeth Wildlife Center is a great watch!    Elizabeth Wildlife Center Interview

Please refer to our Stray and Wildlife webpage for further information on the various organizations that help injured or abandoned wildlife in our communities.

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