Tips for handling wildlife babies
Spring is breeding time for many DuPage County animal species. The staff and volunteers at Willowbrook Wildlife Center, the DuPage Forest Preserve District’s native-wildlife rehabilitation and education center in Glen Ellyn, can attest that for some orphaned and injured newborn wildlife, human intervention can mean the difference between life and death. But for most wildlife babies, remember that “If you care, leave them there.”
Unlike human children, the majority of young wildlife are routinely left alone for a few hours and even an entire day.
“Fearing that the babies have been abandoned, many well-meaning people bring the young animals to Willowbrook Wildlife Center,” said Sandy Fejt, education site manager at the center.
However, she says, the parents usually are away only to forage for food and will return to care for and feed their young.
“The best place for a wild animal to grow up is in the wild,” she says.
Before handling or approaching any wild animal that may be injured or abandoned, call Willowbrook Wildlife Center at (630) 942-6200 or email willowbrook@dupageforest.org for advice on the best course of action for the animal’s situation. Speak to a staff member from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, or hear recorded general information after hours.
Willowbrook Wildlife Center offers the following tips on what to do for some of the most commonly encountered DuPage County wildlife babies.
Eastern Cottontails
Where you’ll see them: Nests are shallow depressions in the ground covered with grass and are frequently found in open areas like lawns and schoolyards.
What to know: Bunnies stay in nests 3 to 4 weeks. Moms stay away during the day so predators are not alerted to the location of the young and return at night to feed them.
What to do: If a nest is disturbed, simply re-cover the babies with grass. The parents will return to care for babies even if they have been handled by humans. Make sure to keep dogs and other pets away, and help children observe without harming the animals.
Songbird nestlings too young to fly
Where you’ll see them: Backyards and other areas with trees.
What to know: Nestlings are very young birds that have no feathers and thus cannot fly. Should these young fall from their nests, parent birds are unable to move them back to safety. In this case, some human intervention is helpful.
What to do: Contrary to popular belief, birds cannot smell human scents on their offspring. Simply place the baby bird gently back in its nest, and mom and dad likely will return and care for it. If necessary, a makeshift nest can be made and placed close to the original nest site.
Songbird fledglings learning to fly
Where you’ll see them: Backyards and other areas with trees.
What to know: Fledglings, which are young birds that have most of their feathers, may tumble to the ground as they are learning to fly. At this age, a young bird’s parents are still providing food and care. Parents may even use squawks and swooping attacks to defend their “grounded” young.
What to do: If a fledgling out of a nest looks healthy but is unable to fly, leave it alone. The only time to intervene with a fledgling bird is if it is under attack by a neighborhood dog or cat.
Squirrels
Where you’ll see them: Backyards and other areas with trees.
What to know: During windy weather or storms, baby squirrels may fall from their leafy nests, which are often high in trees. In most cases, the mother squirrel will retrieve them on her own.
What to do: If you find a baby squirrel and the parents are nowhere in sight, place the baby in a small box at the base of the tree where the nest is located. Observe the nest from a distance for at least 24 hours. If it appears that no parent has approached within that time frame, it may be appropriate to take the squirrel to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator such as Willowbrook Wildlife Center. Do not attempt to care for it on your own. An infant squirrel requires a special diet and careful handling in order to avoid human habituation that would ruin its chance of survival in the wild.
Willowbrook Wildlife Center provides public nature programs and wildlife information for DuPage County residents to help them live in closer harmony with native northeastern Illinois wildlife and to better understand the natural world. The center’s permanent-resident animals, nature trail and butterfly garden welcome casual visitors and school groups.
Owned and operated by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, the center has been serving wildlife since 1956, shortly after its 50 acres were donated to the forest preserve district. It is located at 525 S. Park Blvd. in Glen Ellyn and is open to the public daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For information about the forest preserve district, call (630) 933-7200 or visit dupageforest.org.