Leave Wild Babies Alone

Although wild animal babies may sometimes be found alone and appear to be abandoned, they are seldom truly orphaned. Their parents are usually nearby. Cottontail rabbits for instance, have nests resembling a shallow scrape in the ground. Some are in unlikely places such as the middle of a backyard, on a playground or in a garden. It is common for people to find a Cottontail nest and assume that the young bunnies are orphaned. However, the mother rabbit avoids unwanted attention by staying away from the nest during the day and only returns to the nest after dark to feed her young.

Learn more about baby birds by clicking here.

Naked babies, or babies of any species that still have their eyes closed, should not be out of their nest. If this is the case, these little wild animals will need human intervention if they are to survive. You are encouraged to call (414) 431-6204 for advice about animals thought to be orphaned.