Just a quick note-the sound of a bell doesn't necessarily mean danger to
birds and it generally is not a very effective protection!
Ashley DeLaup | Wildlife Ecologist
Parks and Recreation | City and County of Denver
303 455 0785 Phone | 303 455 4432 Fax
ashley.delaup@denvergov.org <mailto:ashley.delaup@denvergov.org> | Dial
3-1-1 for City Services
<https://denver.311colorado.com/psp/311PROD/CUSTOMER/CUST/h/?tab=PAPP_GU
EST> I am in the office tuesdays, wednesdays and thursdays and will
return emails on these days.
________________________________
From: nature-net@yahoogroups.com [mailto:nature-net@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Betty Naughton
Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2011 7:42 AM
To: naturenet naturenet
Subject: [nature-net] FW: Give Young Wildlife The Space It Needs
Following are baby wildlife reminders from DOW.
The short version is:
DO keep your cat inside or if not possible then put a bell on cat's
collar
DO put baby birds back in the nest
DO NOT pick up or feed other baby animals. If they are motherless for
less than 12 hours, mom will probably return. If more that 12 hours,
report to DOW.
Detailed info below:
Betty N
GIVE YOUNG WILDLIFE THE SPACE IT NEEDS
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - Spring has arrived in Colorado and it won't be
long before newly born wildlife take their first awkward steps,
sometimes near watchful people. The Colorado Division of Wildlife is
reminding the public that the well-intentioned impulse to save what
appears to be an orphaned or abandoned animal can often lead to
unintended consequences, including the death of the animal.
For many people, a common reaction when they see young wildlife that
appears to be abandoned is to treat it as they would a human baby and
attempt its rescue. Giving human characteristics to animals is known as
anthropomorphism. The concept is often seen in popular children's books
and movies. Division officials warn that projecting human behavior onto
young wildlife often does more harm than good.
"A human baby that has been abandoned is a crisis that needs immediate
attention, but this is not the case with baby animals," said Watchable
Wildlife and Volunteer Coordinator Trina Romero. "In fact, the instinct
that leads a female animal to leave its offspring alone for long periods
of time is a natural method of protection. The last thing it needs is
human intervention."
Deer are a common example. A fawn that stumbles about weakly while
learning to walk will attract predators, so evolution has provided
effective methods of protection. Newborn fawns are naturally well
camouflaged, don't emit odors that attract predators and can lie very
still for a long time. As a result, they are actually safer if their
mothers leave them on their own. Even a curious person watching the fawn
from a distance could alert predators to the animal's presence and
prevent its mother from returning.
But in the rare case that the young animal's mother has been hurt or
killed there are some steps you can take to protect its orphaned
offspring. If the mother of a young animal does not return for more than
twelve hours, or it is obvious that it has been hurt or killed, it's
best to report its location to the Division of Wildlife.
"People who pick up animals risk injuring the animal or making it too
comfortable with humans to be returned to the wild," added Romero. "By
leaving the animal alone and reporting its location to the Division of
Wildlife, our trained personnel or volunteers can respond and make the
determination about what is best for the animal."
Many orphaned animals are taken to licensed wildlife rehabilitators who
work hard to make sure the animal can be reintroduced to the wild.
However, even rehabilitation has risks, with only a minority of
rehabilitated animals being able to return to a full life in the wild.
In some cases, it may be better for young animals to fend for themselves
in their natural habitat.
"Every case is different, so it's best to let trained wildlife staff and
volunteers respond and make a determination," Romero said. "Once a human
intervenes, the choices for the animal's future become more limited."
People are cautioned to avoid "rescuing" the animal themselves or trying
to keep it as a pet, which in most cases is illegal. Even the best
efforts to rehabilitate an injured or orphaned animal by an unqualified
person can instead lead to negative consequences, such as poor
nutrition, stress and behavioral problems. Young animals will often
"imprint" on caregivers early in life, normally their mothers. Even if a
person successfully nurses a baby animal, the young animal may learn to
become comfortable around humans, which makes it necessary for the
animal to remain in captivity. Associating with humans will also prevent
the young animal from learning the skills it needs to survive on its
own. A wild animal held in captivity by an unqualified caretaker can
also present a public safety risk as it can bite or attack its caretaker
or others.
Because dogs will explore off -trail areas and search for smells and
movement, people often encounter baby animals while walking their dogs.
If they are allowed to run loose, dogs can present a serious danger to
all wildlife. Domesticated dogs quickly revert to their predatory
instincts and will often chase and severely injure or kill young
wildlife and their parents. By statute in Colorado, law enforcement
officers are authorized to immediately euthanize any dog observed
harassing wildlife, and dog owners can receive a hefty fine. Division
officials strongly recommend that people keep their dogs on a leash. It
will keep the dog safe, and prevents injuries or death of wildlife.
Another common sight in spring is young birds that have accidently
fallen out of their nests due to high winds, or while learning to fly.
Most of us have heard the "old-wives' tale" about how a mother bird will
abandon its young if it has been touched by a human, however the myth
has no scientific basis and every effort to return the fledgling to its
nest is a worthy endeavor if it can be done safely.
If you find a young bird on the ground and it is unable to fly on its
own, don't attempt to nourish it. Instead, immediately try to return it
to its nest. A bird's natural diet is difficult to duplicate and an
attempt to feed it or give it water can cause it harm.
If you cannot safely reach the original nest, just placing it in a safe
location near the nest will yield good results. The parents will hear
its cries and will continue feeding the young bird. Put it in a small
basket or box filled with paper towels or even dryer lint. Using grass
to make a nest is not recommended because the moisture content in the
grass can lower the body temperature of the bird.
Cats, being natural predators, are another serious threat to young birds
and other small animals. Although hunting and killing is natural
behavior for a cat, a responsible owner will limit a cat's ability to
destroy wild creatures.
"If your cat is used to being outdoors and there is little chance of it
becoming an indoor pet, just place a small bell on its collar. This may
be an effective method of keeping baby birds and other small animals
safe," advised Romero.
The Division reminds everyone that evolution has given all animals
effective instincts when it comes to rearing their young and it's best
to just let nature take its course. If you see a young animal that
appears orphaned, keep your distance, don't feed and don't help. In most
cases, not doing anything is the most responsible way humans can show
their love for wild creatures.
For more information on living with wildlife and laws concerning exotic
pets, please see:
http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/LivingWithWildlife/DontDomes
ticate.htm
http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/LivingWithWildlife/Pets/Exot
icPets.htm
http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/LivingWithWildlife/Pets/Exot
icPets2.htm
For more information about Division of Wildlife go to:
http://wildlife.state.co.us.
To opt out of future emails please visit
http://wildlife.state.co.us/apps/DOWInsider/remove.aspx?userid=26214&ema
il=bntracker@hotmail.com.
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Boulder County Nature Association/Boulder County Audubon
Society's Nature Network
http://www.bcna.org & http://www.boulderaudubon.org
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