Around mid-April, we get into baby season in Maryland. As a naturalist, I receive countless questions on what to do with sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife. Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources has some information pages on what to do and who to call. Please save this post.

First and foremost, Disney has taught us that young birds flutter their wings a few times and are able to fly gracefully through the air. This is NOT the case. Baby birds are awkward! They are going to fall out of nests, hop around, and whine a lot. This is normal. Baby birds that are fully feathered and have short tail feathers are likely fledglings. This stage takes several days, so it is best to keep pets away at this time. These birds need time on the ground to build up their flight muscles and independence, like teenagers. If you find a young bird that lacks most of its feathers and is clearly not able to hop around or is visibly injured, then it may be time to step in. The best thing to do is relocate the nest and place the youngster back in it. If you can’t do that, then the next best step is to call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator to find out the next steps. There is a list for Maryland here: https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/pages/plants_wildlife/rehabilitators.aspx

Lots of mammals like foxes, coyotes, and raccoons are also giving birth. It’s normal for the adults and young to be out and about during the day. This is not a sign of illness. It is also normal for young to be left unsupervised. (Wild animals have different parenting styles and like to “free range” their kids). If the young appear to be sickly, are visibly injured, or the adults are known to be dead, then it is time to call a rehabilitator. Sick animals will often be lethargic and may sneeze, act disoriented (walk in circles), be emaciated, drool, pant, shiver, or sit with ruffled feathers. Remember: a sick animal is a vulnerable one, and they often are going to be more aggressive so be sure to assess the situation and ensure everyone is safe before assisting.

Deer will be dropping fawns now (May). Fawns can be left alone for 9 hours or more at a time. This is normal. The fawn’s main defenses are not having a strong scent and camouflage. Mom doesn’t always leave them in the best spots (like playgrounds), but if the fawn is not visibly injured or walking around and crying, then it is best to leave it. We have very few licensed deer rehabbers, so well meaning fawn-nappers often unknowingly provide a euthanasia sentence for the fawns.

Other things to remember:

• Only handle an adult animal AFTER consulting a wildlife professional and surveying the situation/assessing safety. Consider your safety, the safety of other people around you, and the safety of the animal. For some tips, check out Phoenix Wildlife Sanctuary’s Help! I found a… page for tips on what to do for mammals (furry), birds (feathered), and reptiles/amphibians (neither).
• Always wear thick gloves and other protective materials when handling wildlife. Treat every wild mammal like it has rabies because they all have the ability to catch and carry rabies, even opossums. Post-exposure shots are EXPENSIVE.
• Place the animal in a safe and secure container. Many songbirds can be placed in a paper bag while larger animals may need a cardboard box lined with something soft like a towel.
• Keep the container in a warm, quiet place away from pets and children until transport.
• Handle the animal as little as possible to reduce stress and transport as soon as possible. It’s tempting to take selfies, to stroke the animal, etc. Please refrain from this and get them to help without stressing them out.
• Do not feed the animal without consulting a professional first. Dehydrated animals can die if fed, and it is easy to accidentally asphyxiate the animal by accident. We often see more harm being done by well meaning folks improperly feeding wildlife. (Think about it- if you are sick or have a concussion, would you want to eat random food from a stranger?!)
• If taking an animal to a rehabilitator, then be sure to write down exactly where you picked the animal up to hopefully have it released back in the same spot.
• During transport, try to keep as quiet as possible to minimize stress.

Information on what to do with sick or injured wildlife can be found here:
https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages/plants_wildlife/sickorinjured.aspx

More detailed information on young wildlife can be found here: https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages/plants_wildlife/ThinkTwice.aspx

Please, always contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator if you have questions. It is illegal to rehabilitate a wild animal without a license. If you are outside of MD, please try Animal Help Now: https://ahnow.org/#/ As a note: almost all rehabilitator facilities are staffed by volunteers and things can get busy. Leave a message and be patient for a call back.

During business hours Mon-Fri, you can call the MD DNR Wildlife office for questions: 410-260-8540. The nuisance wildlife hotline is also open during business hours here: 1-877-463-6497. After hours or on weekends, if you have a wildlife emergency, then please contact Natural Resources Police 800-628-9944 or your county animal control (particularly if rabies is suspected).