What do I do if I have found a Baby...
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Opossum?
If the baby is six inches long or more from nose to rump, then it is
actually old enough to be on its own and should be left alone. Just keep
pets indoors until the opossum moves on. However, if the baby is smaller
than six inches and there is no mother in sight, or the mother has been
killed, then the baby opossum should be taken to your nearest wildlife
rehabilitator. In the meantime, put the opossum in a dark, quiet box lined
with a t-shirt and place the box half over a heating pad. Do not try to
feed it anything.
Dead mother opossums may still have babies in their pouches. Please do not
attempt to remove baby opossums from a deceased mother’s pouch, as
they may still be physically attached to her. Place the mother and her
babies in a box together and bring them all to the Wildlife Clinic.
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Raccoon, Skunk, Groundhog, Bat or Fox?
Cute and little as they may be, these babies are all potential carriers of
rabies. DO NOT touch or pick them up with your bare hands under ANY
circumstances. If the baby animal is alone or appears to be orphaned,
appearances may be deceiving. The baby may actually be well taken care of.
Keep pets and people indoors and observe the baby animal. If the mother
does not return after 3 hours or by dusk, contact your nearest wildlife
rehabilitator. If it is necessary to handle a baby raccoon, skunk,
groundhog, bat or fox, avoid any direct contact with the animal by using
gloves and a large towel.
The Wildlife Clinic at the Schuylkill Center is not able to admit any
Rabies Vector species (raccoons, skunks, groundhogs, bats, foxes,
coyotes). Please do not bring these animals to the Clinic. You can call or
email us for information on another nearby clinic that can help.
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Deer?
Mother deer leave their fawns alone for most of the day, returning only a
few times to feed them. Baby deer instinctively lay very still and quiet
wherever mom has placed them. You may find fawns under your car, in an
open garage, laying beside your house, etc. Their location may seem
unusual to us, but mom found it appealing and decided this is where her
baby should stay. If the baby is laying or standing quietly, it should be
left completely alone. Keep kids and pets out of the area until the fawn
has left. Never attempt to offer food or water to injured or orphaned
wildlife.
If the fawn is wandering around and crying continuously for MORE than
three hours, please call the Wildlife Clinic for assistance. Please do not
attempt to catch or handle the fawn without instruction. Inappropriate
contact can be fatal to deer.
A baby mammal should be taken to a wildlife rehabilitator for immediate
assistance if...
- It has been attacked by a dog or cat
- Its mother is known to be dead
- It has been injured
- It is covered with maggots, fleas or fly eggs
If the baby mammal is in need of care from a wildlife rehabilitator, do not
forget to keep it in a warm, dark, quiet place until further instructions are
given.
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