Walden's Puddle - "Giving Wildlife a Second Chance"

Greetings! Welcome to the Walden's Puddle Wildlife Update!

2007 has proven to be just as busy as years past and there's no sign of
baby season slowing down! So we are busy, to say the least. As of today,
we have admitted nearly 700 animals and provided education programs to
well over 5,000 people! We are happy to report that the majority of our
first round of baby birds has already been released.

The biggest news of the season right now is baby season! It usually comes
in waves. Not all wild animals are born or hatched at the same time of
year. That being said, here are some things to remember for this season
of birth:

White-tailed deer are due! No, this doesn't mean a baby shower needs to
be held in celebration. What it does mean is that many of you reading
this could very likely encounter fawns that you might believe to be
orphaned. Most of the time there is ABSOLUTELY no reason to intervene.
Mother deer will stow their babies away (yes sometimes in your flowerbed)
for hours at time while they go off and graze. If you do come across an
uninjured fawn, leave it alone for at least 24 hours. PLEASE give mom a
chance to come back; she does know best after all. If the fawn has been
alone in the same location for over 24 hours, mom may not be coming back.
In this case, something may need to be done. If you see a fawn sitting
next to a dead parent on the side of the road, this is certainly a fawn
that requires assistance. If the fawn is obviously injured, take action
quickly! If a doe decides to use your yard as her nursery, please do not
spend excessive amounts of time looking at or touching the baby. Though
human scent alone on a young animal will not deter the parents from
returning, fawns tend to stress very easily and if the mother sees you
around continually, she may not return to the fawn. The worst possible
thing that you could do would be to attempt to raise Bambi on our own.
Not only is it illegal, but all wild animals, especially babies, require
very specific diets. When well-intentioned people take it upon themselves
to raise wild animals, they often do more harm than good unfortunately.
Whether it is providing the improper food or causing the animal to become
dependant on humans for food, illegally caring for a wild animal is never
a good idea. It is not allowable for White-tailed deer in Tennessee to be
placed in zoos or nature centers. If a deer is too friendly to people and
as a result cannot be released, they will be euthanized. With all of
this in mind, if you do find a fawn that you believe is in need of help,
please call Walden's Puddle or another wildlife rehabilitator in your
area!

Now, on to another prolific springtime breeder: the Eastern Cottontail
rabbit. Cottontails are often on their second litter of young at this
time of the season. Much like deer, cottontails only return to young to
feed and spend very little time with them. Follow the same protocol with
a nestling rabbit that you would with a fawn. If you are certain that mom
is dead or if Fido and/or Fluffy have presented you with an unwanted gift,
call your Walden's Puddle or your local wildlife rehabilitator. Never
assume that the young cannot be reunited with the mother. If you look
around your yard closely, you can probably find the nest. Cottontail
rabbits are weaned and on their own after about three weeks. You may see
what you think is an orphaned rabbit but if it is the size of a tennis
ball, it is old enough to be on its own. An ongoing problem we have
regarding young cottontails is well-intentioned people will often purchase
a milk replacement formula from the pet store and attempt to feed the
young rabbit before bringing it to our center. This often causes diarrhea
and can lead to death from dehydration. If you are going to give baby
mammals anything, please only give a rehydration solution. Mix a small
amount of warmed water with ONE of the following: Pedialyte, Gatorade or
apple juice. Mix these half and half. As far as temperature goes, think
human baby and make it a few degrees warmer. Young mammals cannot
tolerate fluids that are too cold. Most small mammals have a body temp
several degrees warmer than ours. Just like with human babies, test the
fluid's temperature by placing a few drops on your sensitive skin. And
remember, the above instructions are only to keep the animal hydrated
until you can get it to a licensed professional. Feeding a small animal
the wrong thing can seal its fate when you are attempting to help it!

Now, on to another spring and summertime breeder not nearly as successful
in numbers as the rabbit: turtles! They are on the move! Now is the time
of year that you may see turtles, as well as even snakes and frogs, on the
road. Please try to avoid them. If possible, take it one step further by
moving them out of the road if it is safe to do so. Remember that turtles
are very territorial and need to stay in the same location they were
found. Never relocate them; simply assist them across in the direction in
which they were traveling. Setting them well off the roadside will be
sufficient. Many turtles, including snappers, could be crossing roads to
lay eggs. With turtle populations declining, they certainly could use the
help! Often, they will simply appear to be a rock or log in the road. So
please keep a sharp eye out for these wonderful reptiles. And remember,
Walden's Puddle does rehabilitate all turtles, even snappers, all
non-venomous snakes and even frogs/toads. Reptiles and amphibians may not
be the cuddliest of creatures but they are in just as much need as other
wild animals and maybe more so. Word of caution: if you intend to assist
snapping turtles across the road, know that they have very long necks and
even if you pick them up from the middle of the shell, they can still
swing around and bite you. NEVER pick a turtle up by its tail! The tail
is an extension of the spine so imagine how much that would probably hurt
and how much damage it could inflict. The best way to move snapping
turtles is by nudging it with your foot (clearly NOT the best way if you
are wearing flip-flops!) or a large stick. Honking will usually suffice
for snakes, though a good bushy stick will also help in this situation as
well.

Now that you have been informed of what to expect from the wild, all of us
at Walden's Puddle wish you a safe and happy start to the summer season!
Happy Memorial weekend! And remember: never leave fishing line or hooks
behind, always rip open the side of your snack and chips bags so no
critters suffocate and always cut those 6-pack rings! Recycle what you
can and make sure the rest goes where it belongs: securely in the trash!

And please don't forget to take a moment to remember and honor those who
gave their all for our freedom this Memorial weekend.

Until next time.Be Wild!

http://www.waldenspuddle.org

Online shopping just got a little bit better. Walden's Puddle is now
registered with www.igive.com. A percentage of what you buy online can go
towards the Puddle fund if you designate us it your cause.