Paws 'N Claws Newsletter, May 2017

ATW Newsletter, May 2017

Paws 'N Claws
News from All Things Wild Rehabilitation, Inc.

What You Missed!

Baby season is in full swing! You can help by donating needed supplies listed on our Amazon Wishlist or by donating to ATW through PayPal. You do not need a PayPal account to donate

March 2-3: ATW raised over $8,000 through Amplify Austin! The funds raised will help pay for formula, supplies, medicine, and vet bills for the wild babies this year. You will find a list of our donors later in the newsletter.

March 18: Dr. Pamela Owen taught us all about the American badger at the Lunch & Learn.

April 8: Dr. Jimmy Smith shared his knowledge of animal cognition at the Lunch & Learn.

April 21: Shannon and Michael taught students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade at Rowe Lane Elementary in Pflugerville about squirrels, opossums, and raccoons.

April 26: Elisabeth taught second graders at Bee Cave Elementary School about what wildlife rehabilitators do everyday. The students donated old towels and blankets, cat food, and a heating pad.

When animal lovers see a baby animal in distress, they immediately want to do something to help, but sometimes doing nothing is the best thing you can do. Here are some tips to help you help the wild babies, and the rehabilitators, this season.

Important for all animals:

Fawns: It is common to see fawns lying curled up by themselves without an adult deer nearby. Mother deer leave their babies for periods of time so they can forage for food, coming back periodically to nurse. Every year, several fawns are "fawn-napped" and brought unnecessarily to our rehabilitators. Please leave the fawns alone unless you are certain they are orphaned or in distress.

Baby Opossums: It is common for a mother opossum to be killed and still have babies either in her pouch or clinging to her fur. If the babies are still attached to the mother's nipples, firmly hold the baby in one hand and the area of attachment with the other hand and slowly pull with firm but gentle tension until released. Place all the babies in a container with a towel or t-shirt with a heated rice sock. If you are not comfortable removing the babies from the mother's nipples, bring the dead mother to a rehabilitator who will detach the babies.

Baby Squirrels and Raccoons: If you notice a baby squirrel or a baby raccoon has fallen out of her nest, try to place the baby back into the nest. Mother squirrels and raccoons will come get their babies. Call our hotline for instructions on how to reunite the babies with their moms.

Baby Cottontails: Cottontails build their nests in small holes in the ground, usually in fields. Mother cottontails only visit the nest twice during the night to nurse. She will not return if predators, which includes humans, are present. If you find a cottontail nest in your backyard and you have outdoor pets, the best thing to do is to cover it during the day and then uncover it at night so the mother can visit. You can cover it with a flower pot or a laundry basket with a rock on top.

Baby Skunks: Once baby skunks are six to seven weeks old, they begin exploring outside their den. Their mother is usually close by. The babies might also come out of their den if their mother has been killed. Baby skunks cannot spray until they are three to four months old and cannot aim the spray until they are one year old.

Birds without feathers: Hatchlings or nestlings sometimes fall out of their nest. The best thing to do is to put them back into their nest. If you can't, it is important to keep them warm until they can be turned over to e rehabilitator.

Birds with feathers: Fledglings learn to fly by leaving the nest and hopping around on the ground. This time is necessary for them to learn to fly and to find food. Their parents are nearby, watching and bringing food. It can be dangerous, but fledglings do not need to be rescued. If you have pets, please keep them away from the fledglings.

If you find a baby wild animal not listed here, please visit our website at allthingswildrehab.org for more information.

For the second time this season, All Things Wild will be holding Capture & Transport Training. If you drive a car and want to help the wild animals, becoming a capture and transport volunteer could be the right fit for you!

Whether it's a tiny baby sparrow or a snarling adult raccoon, we will teach you how to secure an animal for transport to a rehabilitator. The training will be taught by Karen Orth, who has over 20 years of experience in wildlife rehabilitation.

All Things Wild would like to establish a roster of trained capture and transport volunteers that we can call on to help with injured and orphaned wild animals. If you are interested in providing this needed and valuable service, please plan to attend. The training will be held on Saturday, June 10 at 11 a.m. at Reale's Italian Cafe. If you have any questions or to RSVP, please email us at allthingswildrehab@gmail.com.

(Mileage driven while performing volunteer duties for All Things Wild Rehabilitation, Inc. is tax-deductible as a charitable contribution at the rate of 14 cents per mile. See IRS Publication 526 for more information on charitable contributions.)