Baby fawns are seen alone frequently. The mother will stay away to avoid leading predators to their young, but they return at dusk and dawn to care for them.
Dear Rogers, What should I do if I find an injured animal?
Sincerely, Caring for Critters
Dear Caring,
We often receive this phone call in springtime as animals are becoming more active and young animals end up injured or orphaned. At Rogers Center we cannot care for these animals and so we direct people to contact a wildlife rehabilitator who will be able to help.
Wildlife rehabilitation is the treatment of sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife with the goal of releasing them back into nature. Rehabilitators in New York are licensed through the state which is a long process. They must go through lots of training, complete an exam, go through an application process, and be interviewed with a regional manager. Certain animals required further training such as rabies vector species of birds protected by the migratory bird treaty act.
How do you find a rehabilitator? You can use the Licensed New York State Wildlife Rehabilitators database online at https://www.dec.ny.gov/cfmx/extapps/sls_searches/index.cfm?p=live_rehab . Not all rehabilitators are the same, most specialize in what animals they accept. The database will ask for the county in which you are located and the type of animal. You may need to search in neighboring counties to find a rehabilitator that is right for your situation. You must bring any wildlife to a New York rehabilitator, even if you live close to another state. Special permits are required to move wildlife across state borders.
Your local wildlife rehabilitator will be able to better advise you on next steps. Many times, the animal may seem to be in distress but is actually fine. Such as a fawn without their mother in sight, a young raccoon out during the day, or a fledgling bird who has not mastered flying quite yet. If this animal does need help, the rehabber will be able to tell you proper safe handling techniques to keep you and the patient safe. Wild animals require unique handling and may have diseases that can be transferred to people.
Many rehabilitators volunteer their time and the expenses come from their own pockets. Please be patient with them during this busy season, you may need to call more than once to talk get a person on the line. They appreciate your concerns for the animal in question, but others also need help!
Sincerely,
Friends of Rogers