What to do if you find a baby bird
What to do if you find a baby mammal
Baby Bunnies — Baby bunnies are commonly found in the spring and summer and assumed to be orphaned. Actually, bunnies are rarely orphaned, and mom is usually hiding close by. If you find baby bunnies, please read the House Rabbit Society’s Information page to find out what is the best thing to do for them. More often than not this means leaving them where they are and keeping pets away.
There is nothing more adorable than a baby animal. They are so helpless and trusting of humans. It is hard to dissociate that orphaned animals are in fact wild and will grow up to be very self-reliant with the appropriate care.
It is highly discouraged that an untrained person attempt to hand raise an orphaned wild animal without a wildlife rehabilitation license. Not only is it a bad idea, but also it is illegal. These guidelines for feeding orphans are NOT designed to raise an orphan to adulthood, but rather to sustain an orphan for a few days before it can be transferred to a trained rehabilitator. An orphaned wild animal should ALWAYS be taken to a wildlife rehabilitation center where it can be hand-raised by a trained professional, socialized with members of the same species and ultimately released back into the wild.
It is always best to contact a knowledgeable professional prior to handling wildlife in order to make sure the animal truly needs care. Handling should only be done with leather gloves to prevent scratches.
If you would like more information please feel free to call the New England Wildlife Teaching Hospital at 781-682-4878 ext 113.
Other Rehabilitators — The MassWildlife webpage has an extensive list of wildlife rehabilitators located around the state. Additionally, here is a list of local animal control officers.
**IMPORTANT ** — Periodically throughout the year we reach our capacity for wild animals. We have a very small paid staff and operate mainly on a volunteer basis. When we feel we cannot safely care for more animals our only options are to recommend that wildlife be brought to other rehabilitators or to humanely euthanize them. We have finite resources and no other options. Be aware that there is no guarantee that we can accept wildlife on any given day. If we have room and resources we will gladly accept it. If we cannot accept it, please help us find someone who can care for the animal.
Yesterday I came home and found a baby squirrel on my bottom step. Clearly, one of my cats had brought it home as a trophy as there was a small spot of blood by one of his shoulders. He was gasping so I scooped him up and held him close to me while I grabbed a kitten bottle and a box of kitten milk. He drank first from a syringe, but was able to take the bottle a bit. I have cats, some mice and a fish..I do not want a squirrel. I also don’t think that it’s proper to have a wild animal in my house. Is there a Squirrel rescue in North Eastern Massachusetts or Southern New Hampshire that would ensure this little guy will thrive? BTW the kitten milk seemed too thick for him so I watered it down a bit, but I am completely winging it at this point. Help.
Hi Karen,
Its sounds like you are doing the right thing so far. There are rehabilitators in your areas – please see the link above under “Other Rehabbers”. This will help you find individuals that may be able to take it from you and are close by. At this point, the kitten milk replacer is okay for a few days until you can get it to a trained rehabber. But its won’t sustain it adequately long term. If you can’t find a rehabber close to you, please stay in touch as we may be able to take it if we have room. Hope this helps.
I too have come upon some baby rabbits, well my dog did. And thankfully so, I was going to cut the grass. The nest is in the open as I have read that’s where they make a nest. I try not to disturb the nest but tried to make it so I could tell if the mother was returning to the nest, I think the dogs spooked her away for good. I haven’t been able to tell either way. They weathered the storm, but would hate for them to die after making it through that. Any thoughts on the situation besides leaving and waiting to see if the mother returns? I found them last Thursday and they seem to still have plenty of energy, they try hopping out of the nest when I have investigated their activity, no squeaking as if in distress. There are four of them. Thanks with any info.
Hi Jeff,
Did you see the article posted above about baby rabbits? I know its tough to do, but the best thing you can do for a rabbit’s nest is leave it be and keep dogs and cats away from it. Baby rabbits do very poorly in a hospital setting because they are very, very fearful and refuse to eat. We always recommend that they be left in the wild.
I have a rabbits nest in my side yard. The mother rabbit has not been back to nurse the babies for a few days now. I have read the information on a couple of sites that says to get in touch with someone if I truly feel they have been abandoned. Where should I go, and to whom shall I turn, would hate to see these little ones die. Thank you for your help
Hi Deidre,
There is a link on this page to a list of rehabillitators that are located in your area. You can also bring them to us if you like. We are only open to take wildlife from 10AM-2PM on Tuesday through Friday when our wildlife veterinarian is here.
I would be very cautious about disturbing this nest, though. It can be very difficult to tell if mom is still coming to nurse the babies as she only comes in the early morning and late at night. Their eyesight and hearing are far better than ours too, so odds are if you can see the nest she can see you and will be unlikely to return to the area if she feels unsafe. Baby bunnies are extremely hard to hand raise in captivity, so we try to keep them in the nest as much as possible.
The rain/storm had some very high wind speed today and as a result two baby robins fell out of their nest onto the ground. They were in the middle of the road so we moved them to under their tree. The parents do not appear to be coming back to feed them. What should be done?
Hi Courtney,
If you are sure that the parents are no longer caring for them, you should bring them to a licensed rehabilitator to raise them. You are welcome to bring them to us, or another rehabber that may be closer to you. There is a link to a list of rehabbers on this page.
mother turkey and 6 nestlings in yard, cat attacked mom, chicks scrambled. mom ok, but left 2 of the chicks behind. 6 hours later mom had not returned. put 1 in a protected, outdoor space, but brought it in last nite (12 hours later). it is under the lamp (doing ok, fed it earth worms this morning). the other was found this morning very cold(24 hours after mom left). took it in the house also. this one not doing as well, but hopeful. we are looking for mom, but this is the first time we saw a turkey in our yard, im sure she doesnt live there. we are happy to and able to care for them and monitor them for a while, but are there any hopes of returning to wild? what can i do at this time?
Hi Ginny,
It sounds like you did everything just right but mom must have been too scared to come back. At this point, I think it is wise to bring it to a rehabilitator, either us or someone who might be closer to you. There is a link to rehabilitators around the state on this page.
yesterday i found a baby bird, unknows species,i take that back, it has blue wing tips and some of the skin on its underside is blue. animal rescue and i placed bird in a tree where i found it on the ground but could not find nest anywhere so it is in a solid container wedged between 2 tree branches. it survived the night and when i checked on it this morning it was very hungry, head tilted back with the beak open. i went to cvs and got a very this medicine dropper and soaked the bread in water(very wet and mushy) and the bird then opened up and i very gently fed the bird. i watched as the bird swallowed it down and have been systmatically feeding it when it chirps and extends and opens its mouth. the bird seems very active and viable. what can i do??????
what can i feed it?? I am afraid with the threat of thunderstorms that the plastic container won’t drain fast enough for the rain water to drain out and the bird will drown. next steps?????PLEASE
If mom hasn’t come back by now its probably truly orphaned. You should bring it in to us or another rehabilitator to raise as soon as you can. Keep feeding it in the meantime and keep it warm and dry.