Helpful Information

 

“There may be days when I can’t help an animal in need, but the day will never come that I won’t try.”
― Paul Oxton

So, you found an animal and are wondering what to do? Great!

You found us, so that is a start.  Together, we will decide what to do.

Call us and we will see what the next best step will be.

The Humane Society of The United States is another great resource.

CLICK HERE FOR THE HSUS

In the meantime, here are some helpful tips along the way: 

 

Spring is baby animal season! It’s also a great time to remember the importance of keeping wildlife wild.

During the warmer months of spring and summer, the frequency of human-wildlife encounters increases, especially those involving young wild animals. While most of these encounters are harmless, there are times when well-intentioned people interfere in wildlife situations because they incorrectly assume a young animal is orphaned.

Mother animals often leave their young for hours at a time while they look for food, and some animals keep their distance from their young except at meal time to avoid transferring scent that could attract predators.

If you come across a baby wild animal and you don’t see the mother nearby, chances are that mom and baby are doing exactly what they should to stay healthy and safe. Before handling or bringing a baby wild animal to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, check the DNR’s website for tips to tell if a wild animal truly needs help.

To keep all wildlife wild and healthy, it is also important to be aware of the effects wildlife feeding can have on both humans and animals. Feeding can cause harm to wildlife such as waterfowl, deer or raccoons.

Here are just a few reasons to refrain from feeding wildlife:

  • Human food can lead to diseases in wildlife. Most human food does not meet nutritional needs of wildlife and can cause serious health problems.
  • Animals have specialized diets. Because human food is nutrient deficient for wildlife, animals may become malnourished or die when fed human food.
  • Human food can cause damage to animals. Animals do not distinguish packaging from food, and the packaging may be consumed resulting in abrasions, sickness and even death.
  • Animals that lose their fear of humans can become a nuisance.

Nuts for Wildlife!

Want to help us feed our wild patients? Many of the wild ones at the Wildlife Center, including squirrels, raccoons, and chipmunks depend on acorns and other “hard mast” as an important fall and winter food.

While we will use some nuts soon after they are donated, we’d prefer to have supporters clean and prepare nuts for us so that we can store the food for a longer period of time and continue to use these resources throughout the winter. Below, you’ll find steps on how to prepare a variety of nuts.

Acorns: We will take cleaned, bagged, quality acorns. To prepare:

  1. Collect acorns and separate from twigs, leaves, and other debris.
  2. Spread the nuts on a flat surface and allow them to fully air dry in sun for a few days.
  3. When fully dry, place acorns in a one-gallon Ziploc-type baggie and freeze.
  4. Deliver them to CVWR or keep frozen until you can deliver them to CVWR.

NOTE: Acorn quality quickly deteriorates, molds and rots if collected and left in buckets/bags where they get wet or hot.

Black Walnuts:

  1. Collect black walnuts.
  2. Spread the nuts on a flat surface and allow them to fully dry in sun for a few days.
  3. Deliver to CVWR.

NOTE: Black Walnuts do not need to be frozen prior to delivery.

Hickories: We’ll take clean hickory nuts.

  1. Collect hickories and separate from twigs, leaves, and other debris.
  2. Deliver to CVWR

NOTE: Hickory quality quickly deteriorates, molds and rots if collected and left in buckets/bags where they get wet or hot. Hickories do not need to be frozen prior to delivery.

Thanks for your help!