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Wildlife
Here
are some resources when considering caring for wildlife.
Remember,
it is illegal to keep wildlife as pets in Michigan.
Finding
Wildlife
Leave
it alone if at all possible
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Determine
if the animal or bird is injured or orphaned.
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If
it is injured, keep it quiet and warm and seek professional help
as soon as possible.
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If
it is orphaned, leave it in place through the day - very few
animals are truly orphans.
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When
handling wildlife, use towels or heavy gloves.
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For
birds, throw a towel over them and grasp the wings at the
shoulders to prevent injury and hold the head from behind.
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With
mammals, there is a greater danger of getting bitten, so try to
coax them into a box.
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Then
take the animal to a veterinarian for examination and medical
care.
Feeding
and Care
You
must have a permit to keep wildlife under any circumstances
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First
identify the animal - this is important, because different
species requires different types of food. Any good
identification book will help, also try google images or
wikipedia.
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Have
food and fresh water always available (birds also need water for
bathing and preening).
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Determine
the approximate age by looking at the presence of fur and
whether or not the eyes and ears are open. Determining the
age will tell you whether or not you will have to hand feed the
animal.
Feeding
Birds
For
birds with out feathers or that have baby spots
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Feed
cat chow mixed with water and baby food egg yolks using tweezers
or forceps.
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Feed
every two to three hours, or when they gape for food (every
fifteen minutes with the tiny ones).
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Continue
throughout the daylight hours only.
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Be
careful not to injure their mouth.
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Keep
the food in the refrigerator to prevent spoiling and have a jar
lid of water available.
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As
the birds get feathers, consult your nature center for specific
diets for the species.
Feeding
Rabbits
Formula:
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1
part powdered formula (Unilact, Esbilac)
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3
parts warm water
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2
parts heavy cream
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Feed
with an eye dropper, syringe or nursing bottle
Schedule:
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If
the eyes are closed, feed every two to three hours
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If
the eyes are open, feed every six to seven hours
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Remember
that rabbits frighten easily and they are harder to handle.
Natural
Diet:
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Dandelion
greens, Queen Anne's Lace, wild carrot tops, clover, apples.
Feeding
Squirrels
Formula:
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1
part powdered formula (Unilact, Esbilac)
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3
parts warm water
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If
the babies suck too fast, add a small amount of baby cereal to
thicken the milk so the formula won't come out their nose.
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Feed
with an eye dropper, syringe or nursing bottle
Schedule:
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Feed
newborns 2 cc's of formula every two to four hours with one
night feeding
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If
the eyes are closed and the babies have fur, feed 6 cc's of
formula every four hours with no night feeding.
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If
the eyes are open, feed 9-12 cc's every four to five hours with
no night feeding.
Natural
Diet:
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Acorns,
beechnuts, hickory nuts, walnuts, corn, soybeans, buds of Elm,
Maple and Oak, newly sprouted leaves, insect larvae and insects,
berries, fruit pits, grain, tree bark, mushrooms and soil.
Environment
Handle
as little as possible
Birds:
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Make
a clean nest using paper towels or Kleenex. Don't use
anything that the birds could get tangled in (towels, cotton
balls) and clean the nest at least twice daily. Do not use
the original nest and do not make the nest too big.
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Keep
the birds warm, since they can not maintain their body heat for
the first few weeks. Use a heating pad set on low under
five towels or use a light held at least eighteen inches away.
Turn off the light during the night, but continue to give heat
through the heating pad.
Mammals:
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Make
a dark nesting box with flannel or fleece to hide in.
Avoid using anything that can tangle the babies.
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Use
a deep box, because some animals can jump very high and can
startle easily.
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Clean
the box twice daily.
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Use
a heating pad under the box, as there is danger of chewing if
the pad is placed in the box.
Releasing
Wildlife
Consult
with your nature center on the best way
Birds:
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Do
not just let the birds go.
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When
the birds can fly well, release and feed on top of a high, safe
place, like a shed. Cats and other predators can find
these babies easily, so you must protect them.
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Feed
the same food at that location every two hours (don't be late,
they will be waiting for you) for two weeks during the daylight,
then space it out to three hours. By this time, they
should be eating on their own.
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If
you are not available for a feeding, you must find someone to do
it for you.
Mammals:
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When
completely independent of formula, put in an outdoor pen.
Use small gauge wire mesh, because they can crawl through very
small openings.
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Try
putting them out just during the day and then later at night
when it isn't too chilly.
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Have
a nesting box within this cage to shelter them from the weather.
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Make
sure that food and water are always available.
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After
one to two weeks, release in a location where there are plenty
of grazing areas plus wooded areas for shelter and away from
dogs, cats and humans.
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Don't
keep rabbits over five weeks - they don't do well in captivity.
The white spot on their head is a good indicator of release age.
When the spot is gone, they should be on their own.
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Check
the weather forecast before releasing and make sure that you
have a good stretch of good weather before letting them go.
Precautions
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Skunks
are a major carriers of rabies, so do not handle them. All
animals are susceptible to this disease, so keep your pets away
and make sure they are up to date on their vaccinations.
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Maintain
good hygiene, for both your health and the animals health.
Do not wash an orphaned animal's food dishes with your own, to
avoid possible salmonella contaminations.
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Be
sure you are up to date on your tetanus shot.
Permits
Required
There
are federal, state and sometimes county regulations governing the
possession of certain species. Contact your local conservation
officer with the DNR.
Wild
Animal Rehabilitation Permit
Special
Use Permit for Rehabilitation
No
one may keep a wild animal as a pet!
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