If you need to care for a baby animal temporarily & you are unable to reach us, here are a few suggestions to help you.
First of all, you need to make sure the animal or bird you have found truly is an orphan. Many animals are mistaken for orphans, and as a result are separated from their parents needlessly. It is not unusual for deer & hares to leave their babies hidden in the grass, bushes or even near a building for long periods of time. The reason being babies have less of a scent than their mothers & are better protected from predators while hidden. If you find a baby hare or fawn that doesn't appear injured, leave it alone and ensure that any pets are kept away from the animal.
Never feed a baby mammal milk as they require special formulas that you will not have on hand. The wrong milk will upset their stomachs.
Baby Ravens
May 18, 2005
If you find a baby bird, there are several things to consider. There are two types of baby birds-altricial and precocial. Babies that are altricial are born featherless and completely dependent on their parents. Songbirds (i.e. Robins, Crows, Bluebirds, etc.) and raptors (i.e. Hawks, Owls, Falcons, etc.) are altricial babies. Babies that are precocial are more independent at birth, being born with heavy down and are soon mobile and require less direct parental care. Precocial birds include waterfowl (Mallards, Canada Geese, Goldeneyes, etc.), Shorebirds (Kildeer, Coots, etc.), and Gamebirds (Partridges, Grouse, etc.).
If the bird is without it's feathers (this doesn't apply to birds that have lost their feathers due to a cat or dog attack) and you are able to locate it's nest, you can return it to the nest (it is a MYTH that babies handled by humans will be rejected by their parents). If you are unable to locate the nest, the baby will need warmth and eventually food.
Prepare a cardboard box for the bird, by poking airholes into it and lining it with a towel. Carefully pick the bird up and place it into the box (you can gently place a plastic bottle/container with warm water into the box to keep the baby warm) close the lid and keep it in a quiet location. Do not feed the baby or give it any fluids! You can take the baby to one of the 24 hour vet clinics (click on the link for a list of vet clinics) or leave a message on our answering machine (946-2361) and we can arrange to have someone come and pick it up in the morning.
If the baby bird has feathers, it is most likely a fledgling and the parents aren't far away. It is very important that you keep pets away from the animal. If ,after observing the baby for a few hours, you haven't seen any parents or if you know the mother is dead or if the baby appears dehydrated or starving, you can follow the instructions above.
Tel: (403) 946-2361 Fax: (403) 946-5689 Box 68, Madden, AB T0M 1L0
