Did you know?

• Not all babies are raised in a nest.  Many species raise their young on the ground.  Don’t be a bird-napper! Young animals are often picked up by someone who mistakenly thinks they are orphaned, injured, or abandoned, when they are simply exploring, having left the nest on schedule and are still being cared for by their parents. Though to an untrained observer they may look too young to be on their own, usually the best thing you can do is to leave them alone!
  
  
• Determine if there is a wildlife emergency. From a safe distance, quietly observe if the animal is injured. Is it unable to walk, fly, climb? Is it bleeding? If yes, call Project Wildlife at 619-225-9202.
  
  
• Many times babies are left alone for long periods of time while the parents feed. The best way to determine if a baby really is orphaned is to observe for several hours. Wild parents can always raise their babies better than we can, but if the parent is dead or has not returned for several hours, contact Project Wildlife for guidance.
  
  
• If baby birds fall out of a nest and if they are uninjured, they can be put back in the nest if it is safe to do so. The parents will not reject a baby bird just because someone has touched it. If the entire nest falls, it can be put back nearby so the parents can find it.

return to Wildlife Facts