FAWNS, RABBITS, SQUIRRELS
WHY IS THERE A BABY DEER (FAWN) LYING IN THE BACK OF MY YARD?
The doe will place her newly born baby someplace she thinks is safe for the day while she goes to find food. She will be back about 7 or 8 in the evening to feed it. The fawn is okay unless you see some danger for it or unless it is up and wandering arounds and calling (sounds like a baby goat bleating.) The fawn will call for its mother when it is hungry but if the bleating goes on for a long time there may be a problem. That's the time to call your local wildlife center for advice. NEVER leave a fawn if it is cold and lifeless or there are flies circling around an open wound.
A BABY SQUIRREL IS LYING AT THE BASE OF MY TREE. WILL THE MOTHER COME AND GET IT?
Many times baby squirrels will be found at the base of a tree that houses a squirrel's nest. Sometimes they just fall through a poorly built nest and usually the mother will retrieve and return them to the nest. If they haven't been injured during the fall the other main threat is that of a predator. If you know there's a nest in the tree and the baby is warm and uninjured, place it in a box. Secure the box to the tree, off the ground, and watch for the mother squirrel. She will usually realize the baby is missing within hours. A baby with fur can become hypothermic (low body temperature) pretty quickly. If this is the case, call a rehabber for advice BEFORE you rescue it. If the baby is cold, wet, or injured, bring it in the house and call a rehabber ASAP.
WHY DID THAT MOTHER RABBIT MAKE HER NEST IN THE MIDDLE OF MY YARD?
Because they are smart! Believe it or not, this allows bunnies to have a careful view of their surroundings when they come to feed their babies, so that they can escape at the slightest sign of danger. They only feed the babies twice a day, once before sunrise and once after sunset. It takes them 5-10 minutes for each feeding. That's the only time you will se them at their nests. She will not draw too much attention to her nest with frequent visits. Bunnies have no scent so that pets usually do not discover the nest. IF your dog or cat (or children) have found a nest of bunnies, since the mother is only at the nest overnight, put a laundry basket weighted down with a heavy object over the nest during the day to keep the pet away from the bunnies. Uncover the nest overnight and keep your pet indoors. The bunnies are out to their nest by three weeks old so this won't take that long to help them survive. Bunnies that have their eyes open will probably be gone from the nest within a week or so. NEVER move the nest in the hopes that the mother will find them somewhere else because she won't. If the bunnies are cold and listless, or if there are obvious wounds or flies around them, call a rehabber.
