MARY JO NAGY | Pets Some wildlife babies don't need aid

It's spring, and with spring comes signs of new life -- especially baby wildlife.
You will see more wildlife than ever before because we are building housing developments, strip malls and industrial parks in habitats where these animals live. Wildlife has nowhere to move except our back yards.
About this time every year, Angels for Animals begins getting numerous calls about injured or abandoned baby birds, raccoons and rabbits.
Although Angels for Animals services only dogs and cats and does not operate a veterinary clinic, there are agencies in this area, such as Animal Charity, that are qualified to handle and rehabilitate wildlife. In an emergency, call your local veterinarian.
Does it need you? First, you must determine if an animal is really in need.
Is the animal hurt or sick? Is it bleeding? Does it have a broken wing or limb? Did a dog or a cat attack it? If yes, then get the animal to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
If not, you must determine if the baby is abandoned. Wildlife parents are devoted to the care of their young and rarely abandon them. A parent can't be in two places at one time, and they often leave throughout the day to feed.
The following descriptions should help you decide whether you are helping or interfering with wildlife.
Birds: Nestling (naked with only a few feathers): If a nestling falls from a tree, try placing it back in the nest. Human scent on baby birds will not discourage parent birds from caring for their young. If the nest is out of reach, try making a temporary nest out of a plastic container. Hang it in the tree as close to the other nest as possible. The parents should retrieve their young. Fledgling (feathered or downy tufts): Birds learn to fly over several days and should be left alone to practice hopping from limb to limb. Most parents are in a nearby tree watching their young.
Squirrels: A baby squirrel on the ground probably needs help. If it has closed eyes and can't climb, place it in a box at the base of the tree and stay out of sight. The mother should return in a couple of hours. If she doesn't, do not leave the baby out overnight. Seek assistance from a rehabilitator.
Rabbits: If a rabbit is more than 4 inches long and has fur, open eyes and erect ears, it is not orphaned. If you find a furless one, try to put it back in its nest. Cover the rabbit with grass and put two sticks on top to form an X. Female rabbits only feed at dawn and dusk. If she returns, the marker will be removed. If she has not returned, the baby will have a sunken abdomen. Only handle it as a last resort, since rabbits succumb to stress easily.
Fawns: Young deer are often left alone while the mother feeds. Leave the animal alone so the mother feels safe to return.
Opossums: Babies are carried in the mother's pouch. When they get bigger, they cling to her back. Occasionally, they fall off. If they are less than 7 inches long (not counting the tail), they need help. If they are longer, they are independent.
Raccoons: Females care for young who are born between February and June. They feed mostly at night. The young scavenge with the mom at 2 months of age and set off on their own in the fall.
Turtles: They often cross roads in the spring to lay eggs in appropriate spots. If you see one in the middle of the road, move it to the other side for its safety.
Get advice: A wildlife rehabilitator can explain how you can help injured animals keep safe, quiet and warm until you can get appropriate help. Remember an injured or abandoned animal doesn't know you are trying to help it.
When handling animals, wear heavy gloves or use a towel to reduce bites and scratches. Avoid handling an animal too much to reduce stress.
Humans are always the young wild animal's last hope for survival, not its best hope.
A young animal should only be removed from the wild after all avenues have been explored to unite it with an adult animal.
Prevent injured and abandoned animals by exercising caution when driving, and never throw litter from your car, which attracts wildlife to roadsides.
Keep your pets under control and educate yourself about respecting wild animals and their habitats.
XMary Jo Nagy is a volunteer with Angels for Animals.