Got this from Lia Pignatelli at Animal Kingdom U.S.A in Brewster. Since spring has sprung, bringing with it infant wildlife all around us, she asked that I post this so people who think they may be doing a good deed think first before they scoop up what they believe to be an abandoned babe.

So read on, and thanks Lia…

There are so many reasons why wildlife rehabilitators will receive young wildlife. Some are simply unnecessary- people overreacting to a natural event like a robin for instance, who has just fledged (usually at 2 weeks of age) and is hopping around the ground exploring the world, while his parents are close by, finding earthworms and insects to bring to him while his wings and feet strengthen. This is a necessary and COMPLETELY NORMAL course of events. Anyone seeing a fledgling at this stage should simply leave them alone!!! As long as the parents are around, that baby does not need to be “kidnapped” and brought to anyone!
I stress this because believe me, this happens a lot!!

The second most common problem we deal with are feral and domestic CATS. No matter how “domesticated” a cat may seem, they all have wild instincts to “hunt” that is not necessarily to say that they kill and eat their prey, rather, they just “play” with it.
Now, If I can stress only one thing w/ this blog, it would be this; Please keep your cats INSIDE especially doing the spring and summer months, when baby birds are being hatched. Cats have a bacteria in their saliva called Pasturella which is HIGHLY toxic to birds. Even a slight scratch can cause a slow and very painful, debilitating, and inevitable death to any bird! It is avoidable and preventable w/ ownership conscientiousness. So when should a baby bird be “rescued”?
If a cat catch has happened, the bird at stake should be rescued immediately and brought to a rehabber or Veterinarian hospital that treats birds IMMEDIATELY. This bird will need specific antibiotics A.S.A.P. Whether it is a baby or adult. Other examples of a bird in need of rescue would be a baby whose parents are both known to be dead, or a nest full of babies that has been destroyed by natural disaster or human intervention. Should a rescuer need to transport a baby bird, they should know the following;

• Have a small box lined with a towel ready to place the bird in.
• If it is a nestling, it needs supplemental heat-babies cannot regulate their body temperature. A heating pad on medium, or a Zip-lock bag filled w/ hot water will work.
• DO NOT FEED THE BABY ANYTHING WITHOUT CONSULTING AN EXPERIENCED REHABILITATOR FIRST. Baby birds are almost always fed insects by their parents, so items like bread and milk are absolutely not appropriate for birds, they are not mammals after all. Water should NEVER be given to babies, as it will most likely aspirate them. They receive all the fluids they need from the insects they are fed.
• Please do not attempt to care for these avian creatures yourself! Wildlife rehabilitators have gone through rigorous training to ensure that they are capable of doing what is necessary and in the best interest for the animal. If you are not sure, then DON’T DO IT! Contact a wildlife rehabber or Animal Hospital that treats birds as soon as possible!
• If the parents are known to be dead, or the bird obviously has suffered a fracture of the wing or leg, or is otherwise unable to fly or walk, then rescuing IS necessary.
• Assistance can be provided by the following establishments:

  Somers Animal Hospital
  Brewster Animal Hospital
  Croton Animal Hospital
  Cortlandt Animal Hospital
  Fine Animal Hospital
  Animal Kingdom U.S.A.