BABY BUNNIES or NEST OF BUNNIES
BUNNY NEST WITH DOG
SMALL BUNNIES ON THE MOVE
A NEST OF BABIES FELL DOWN
A BIRD IN MY YARD CAN’T FLY
BIRDS MADE A NEST IN/ON/BY MY _____ CAN I MOVE IT?
BIRD ATTACKING ME WHEN I LEAVE MY HOUSE- NEST NEARBY
BIRD KEEPS HITTING THE GLASS
BIRD HIT THE WINDOW AND IS STUNNED
BIRD CAUGHT IN STICKY TRAP, STRING, MESH…
ADULT BIRD ACTING STRANGE
A NEST OF SQUIRRELS FELL DOWN
This happens frequently with arboreal squirrels. To prepare for this, a mom squirrel has made multiple nests before having her babies. Wait a few hours, stay away from the babies (maybe try to keep feral cats and dogs away), and wait for mom to come back and reclaim them. This may take awhile as she has to relocate the nest and make it fit for living, then come back to pick up her babies one by one to move them into the next nest.
If mom does not come back after a few hours to reclaim her babies, give us a call for further instruction. IF IT IS COLD, WAITING TIMES SHOULD BE SHORTENED
SQUIRRELS ARE MISSING HAIR
Squirrels missing hair can be a by-product of breeding (especially if hair loss around shoulders), but may more likely be caused from mange. This condition is caused from a mite that burrows under their skin, causing irritation and scratching. Some animals will become completely bald. Mange does not kill, but exposure to the cold and infection form open sores from scratching can. Animals can be treated, but must be caught to be medicated. Mange can be contagious, but pets and humans would need direct contact to the animal. Feeding squirrels can cause the disease to spread as they all gather in one spot. Nests may be infected also, causing a recurrence even after treatment.
SQUIRREL FELL DOWN A CHIMNEY
The squirrel will climb up a lowered rope. If you decided to retrieve the squirrel from the fireplace side, have someone hold a tent of cloth around the fireplace to prevent the squirrel from entering the room. If it is during the day, you can also block off the room, remove all breakables, darken the room and open a window to the outside. You should place a board or rope for the squirrel to climb up to escape out the window. All entries to the room should be closed. Cap the chimney after the rescue.
SQUIRRELS ARE IN MY ATTIC
Trim tree branches which act as bridges to the attic, as well as to seal all holes around the house.
Hang a bright light, play loud music, or place ammonia-soaked rags (but not near young) where the squirrels are living. If there are young squirrels, practice tolerance until the young are old enough to leave their nest with their mother. If that is not possible, allow the mother squirrel plenty of time to remove her young before you seal the hole.
A BABY SQUIRREL KEEPS FOLLOWING ME, WHAT DO I DO?
When a baby squirrel is following you around, it is most likely an orphan. Mom squirrels would have taught her babies to shy away from people (unless they are being fed constantly by a person which causes its own problems, especially if that person goes on vacation and that squirrel is now relying on you for food). In this situation, contain the squirrel and call the center to set up an appointment time to bring it out. It needs to be raised with other squirrels.
SQUIRREL KEEPS GETTING INTO MY BIRDFEEDER
There are multiple things on the market that will prevent squirrels from getting into your bird feeder; birds have an underdeveloped sense of taste. If you put red pepper flakes into your bird seed it will deter squirrels. Pepper spray around areas you do not want them (do not spray the animals or yourself!). Springs around the pole, PVC around the pole to make it wider. Apple Cider vinegar sprayed around areas you do not want them (it will kill plants, beware). Squirrel repelling plants: daffodils, hyacinths, allium, lily of the valley, peppermint and geranium (does not work all the time).
Alternative food stations for squirrels that are easier for them to get to than the bird feeders. They like corn, sunflower seeds, fruit and other grain seeds. There are many clever feeders and squirrel repellent techniques. Check out some bird feeding books like Outwitting Squirrels by Bill Adler.
INJURED RACCOONS:
Nature’s Nursery can not rehabilitate racoons, however If the animal is in poor condition Nature’s Nursery can humanely euthanize it. Unfortunately we do not have the proper facilities or funding to adequately care for hurt, sick or orphaned raccoons; especially in the volume we would be receiving them.
A list of other wildlife rehabilitators, that may be able to help, can be found HERE.
NUISANCE RACCOONS
What should I do to get a raccoon out of my attic?
In most cases, when a raccoon has set up house in your attic, shed, chimney etc. it is a female who is looking for a place to have her babies. Many people rush to call a live trapper. This should really be your last resort. Live trappers in Ohio are required to either euthanize raccoons they have trapped, or they must release directly back on site. Quite often you can take care of the problem yourself, saving money and making it easier on the animal. Raccoons are looking for a warm, quiet, dark place to have their babies. If you can change the environment of your attic, she will likely move her babies to another location (hopefully a dead tree with a hollow in it if you are lucky enough to have one around!).
Use methods in the raccoon’s sleeping area during the day since raccoons are nocturnal to entice them to move out of a structure:
Play loud music or a radio station talk show
Shine bright light
Place Ammonia- soaked rags in room (do not place near young)
Place a fan blowing directly at the nesting spot
All these things will help her to decide that your attic isn’t the right place for her! Give this some time. It may take up to a week for her to find another location and get all the babies moved. Once you are certain she is gone, repair the area where she got in so that the next wild animal to come along won’t take advantage. Feel free to call Nature’s Nursery if you’d like to talk to somebody about your situation.
Once the raccoon has left, seal all entry holes immediately. You can also create one way doors and place them in the entry holes prior to when the raccoon leaves. These doors will then prevent the raccoon’s re-entry until the holes can be sealed. Do not use one way doors if there are young animals present.
If a raccoon with young is being evicted, be sure all young are removed prior to sealing an entry. Also allow the mother to move her young on her own rather than live-trapping and removing them from the home territory to ensure the young raccoons survive.
If all else fails, you can live-trap the raccoon. See the section on live-trapping for advice. We recommend to not remove the raccoon from its territory after it is trapped. Take a look at the raccoon’s belly (without touching the raccoon) while it is in the trap to be sure it is not a nursing mother. If it is, you should either tolerate her until her young are weaned or, if that is not possible, to be sure to release all young and the mother together.
If the raccoon is in someone’s yard, garage or barn in the daylight, it may be sick. Although distemper is epidemic in Central Ohio and rabies is rare, the symptoms are identical. Symptoms would include gummy eyes, inability to walk well, and neurologic symptoms. Do not handle the raccoon. Sick animals should be handled only by NN rabies vaccinated staff or volunteers or Division of Wildlife.
When-ever possible, turn on lights (use clamp lights if the area doesn’t have regular lighting), play a radio during the day (when they are generally trying to sleep), and use a fan to blow directly where she is nesting.
Due to the dangers of rabies and raccoon roundworm, as well as the obvious danger of being bitten or scratched, do not ever directly touch a raccoon, no matter how young or helpless the raccoon is. Adult raccoons should not be rescued by you. Either a NN vaccinated staff or volunteer should be called to assist, or if no NN volunteer is available, then the local Wildlife Officer or local animal control should be called. NN will take the sick/injured raccoon. If no one else is available to pick it up, another agency wishes to bring it to us. We do not rehabilitate raccoons so it will be humanely euthanized or it should be dealt with by a Division of Wildlife Officer
Since 2009, the State of Ohio does not permit the rehabilitation of white-tailed deer for multiple reasons.
Nature’s Nursery does not accept deer – adults or fawns
THERE’S A FAWN IN MY YARD:
Leave it alone and enjoy its temporary presence if it is quietly curled up somewhere in your yard! It is perfectly fine. Mother deer leave their young hidden in the grass for several hours at a time while they browse. Their mothers will leave them unattended for 8 or more hours at a time, while she forages for food. This way she doesn’t attract predators to her babies.
If the fawn is bleating or crying, following humans or showing other signs of distress (has been in the same spot for over 12 hours, looks weak, ears curled or the grass under it is yellow and flies are buzzing around it) it is most likely orphaned. In this situation, you can try to find a herd of deer in the same county with a lactating mother and attempt to have her foster the orphaned fawn (which is not a common occurrence as it is with Canada Geese.) If fostering is unsuccessful, then the fawn must be euthanized (see Ohio Administrative Code section 1501: 31-25-03). If a fawn must be euthanized you can call your local wildlife officer.
If you are in Michigan contact a MI Rehabilitator like Outback Wildlife (734) 777-1613. They do rehabilitate deer
DEER HIT BY A CAR:
DEER IN WRONG PLACE
IN A HOUSE:
IN AN ATTIC:
TURTLES
SNAKES
AMPHIBIANS
INJURED OPOSSUMS
DEAD OPOSSUM WITH BABIES
NUISANCE OPOSSUMS
GOOSE/DUCK NEAR WATER WITH INJURED WING
GOOSE/DUCK WITH INJURED LEG
A DUCK NEST
DUCKLINGS FELL IN SEWER
INJURED BIRDS OF PREY
HAWK/EAGLE JUST HOPPING AND NOT FLYING
If you still have questions or need to make an appointment to bring in an animal, please call:
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