Baby raccoon kits stay with their mother for the first year.
Baby woodchucks leave the burrow alone at 6 to 7 weeks.
Baby Squirrels leave the mother and nest 10 to 12 weeks from birth.
Each year, around this time, we receive a high volume of calls with questions regarding, what is believed to be, an orphaned wild baby mammal or bird. This mid month newsletter is dedicated to those little critters, both the wild birds and mammals that are born in our woodlands and yards… and sometimes mistaken for orphans. The baby mammals that you will typically see in our service area include deer, raccoon, woodchuck, skunk, opossum, fox and rabbits.
Here at Wildlife Busters we come across situations where people will pick up baby mammals, usually thinking their mothers have abandoned them, or are dead, but you can be assured she is around somewhere. Unless you have found the deceased mother nearby, it is often best to leave young mammals alone. The animal will have it’s best chance for survival if it’s left right where it’s found.
The majority of the baby mammals are still under the care of their parents and are mistakenly taken from them by individuals thinking they are going to help. Unlike human babies, wild animal babies are not constantly watched by their parents and and spend large amounts of time alone. A wild animal baby has it’s best chance for survival if it is raised by it’s natural parents in it’s natural habitat.
Three simple rules of thumb to follow are:
- If you have to chase it to catch it, it does not require your assistance.
- Don’t remove it from it’s parents.
- Wild animals do not abandon their babies. If you think you’ve found an orphaned animal, check later (like the next day) to see if the parents have come back, or have retrieved the animal.
And if you do come across a situation that requires you to contact a Wildlife Rehabilitator place the animal in a warm, dark, quiet area. Do not feed or provide water, until you have spoken to a professional and have been given instructions.
If you are in need of a Wildlife Rehabilitator in New York, Please visit www.nyswrc.org or call me (Jennifer Munger) at 917-282-9090 and I will get you in touch with a Rehabilitator that can assist.
And we would like to say thank you to all the wildlife rehabilitators. You greatly assist us in accomplishing our goal in providing humane, professional solutions to human/wildlife conflicts.
If you are experiencing a nuisance wildlife issue and require assistance with raccoon removal, squirrel removal, woodchuck removal, bat removal, bird removal or skunk removal, give Wildlife Busters a call toll free at 855-945-1212 and we will resolve your wildlife management issue professionally, efficiently and humanely. Please note that all of our wildlife exclusion services come with a 1 to 5 year warranty which can be extended upon expiration with one of our long-term prevention plans. Please give us a call or check out our website for more information.
To learn more about a variety of critters visit our wildlife resources page.
You can also research specific diseases transmitted by wildlife.
Wildlife Busters is on Facebook. Like our Page!
Community Wildlife Programs and Upcoming Events
Saturday June 4th, “Inspired by Nature Writing Workshop” 1 pm – 3:30pm. Saturday June 11th, “Mohonk Preserve Annual Benefit Auction” 5pm on. Saturday June 18, “21st Century Dragons and Damsels: Up Close and Personal” 9:30 am to 12 noon. Sunday June 26th, “Dog Days of Summer Family Hike” 1 pm – 3 pm. Tuesday June 28th, “Toddlers on the Trail What’s Blooming” 10 am – 12 noon.
Saturday June 4th. Fish of the Hudson begins 10 am. Saturday June 11th, Year of the Turtle begins 10 am. Saturday June 18th Toads begins 10 am. Saturday June 25th Adult Butterfly Walk begins 10 am. For more information please visit;
Sundays June 5th & 12th, “Meet our Resident Animals”, 11 am to 12 pm and 2 pm to 3pm. Saturday June 4th, “Nature Lovers and Artists” 10 am – 11:30 am. Saturday June 4th. “Yoga for Kids” from 11 am to 12 pm.
Beczak Environmental Education Center
Sunday June 5th, “Incredible Insects” 11 am 12 noon. Saturday June 18th and Sunday June 19th, “Bird Wonders” 11 am – 12 noon. Saturday June 11th,, Sunday June 12th and Saturday June 25th and Sunday June 26th, “Hudson River Family Seining”, 12 pm – 2 pm.
And for some Wildlife fun all year round visit:
www.palisadesparksconservancy.org The Bear Mountain Zoo located in the Bear Mountain State Park, NY
“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” Charles Darwin
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