b'Arizona Ask the VetREAL COUNTRY RESCUING WILDLIFEthe magazineMike BarnaPublisher THE ARIZONA GAME AND FISH ArizonaRealCountryMagazine@gmail.com DEPARTMENT WILDLIFE CENTERis often the first stop for many of the states sick, injured, or abandoned wildlife. Many need costly, round-the-Erika Smith Royal clock care, which can cost thousands per animal to nourish them back to good health.Thanks to AGFD Editor for the following information.erika963realcountry@gmail.com It can be difficult to know if a wild animal, young or old, is truly injured and in need of help. Signs of an Misty Voitovski injured wild animal include:Protruding bones or bleeding. if necessary.If your pet finds a baby rabbit, try to Creative Director Flies, maggots, or other parasites on the body. return it to its nest if it is not injured. Babies should Inability to move away from threats like movingnever be put back into a nest that has been flooded cars, pets, or people. with water, has bugs/ants visibly crawling in and out, Contributing Writers Lethargy, lack of fear when threatened oror if a baby has been killed and there is blood in the Lee AndersonJustin Legler uncoordinated movement. nest. Use common sense. Baby bunnies that have Inability to fly or stand upright. fleas are compromised and should be immediately Dakota LivesayEmilio Martineztaken to a wildlife rehabber.If the nest cannot be Removing a wild animal from its habitat andfound or the baby rabbit is visibly injured also takeRandy MillerBetsy Nunn rearing it in captivity should only occur if absolutelyit to a rehabilitator.Jim & Bobbi Jeen Olsonnecessary, as in cases where the animal is injured or attempts to encourage parental care have failed.Older baby bunnies who are found outside of the Alan RockmanBob RoloffAlthough it may seem more humane to rescue annest may not be orphaned or in need of assistance. animal, wildlife reared in captivity or babies raisedThis is most often the case. Baby cottontails are born John SamsillMichele Wilson without the benefit of learning from their parentswithout fur but develop a full coat in a week. Their have a greatly reduced chance of survival when andeyes open in 10 days, and in three to four weeks they if they are released back into the wild. Before youare weaned. At this age, they may explore the world 801 W. Wickenburg Way assume an animal is in trouble, wait and watch:outside of the nest but return there to sleep. They are young animals are often left alone for hours at a timenot ignored by the mother but stay with the family Wickenburg, AZ 85390 while their parents gather food. group until four or five weeks of age. To determine whether a bunny of this age needs assistance, first (602) 254-6644 Sick animals will often be very lethargic and maysee if the bunny feels cold to the touch. Also look for sneeze, drool, pant, shiver, or sit ruffled. Injuredbleeding, convulsing, fly larvae, broken limbs; if any, ArizonaRealCountry.com animals may limp, drag limbs, or have obviousget to an emergency vet immediately. If he is just out wounds. If an animal is shivering, obviously injured,and about, leave him be. He is discovering his world, or if its parents have been killed, then call a wildlifewaiting for mom to return at night when we humans rehabilitator. It is always better to call a rehabber toare asleep.Dont assume because he is letting you remove or assess a wild animal than to do it yourself.pick him up, he needs help.They are prey animals, If youve already picked up a young animal, pleasetaught to freeze when a predator (or human) put it back exactly where you found it, or under/in aapproaches.Leave him be!Follow Arizona Realshrub nearby where its mother can find it. BirdsCountry for news, events,If the sick or injured animal is a large game animal,Birds often fall out of nests. Young birds oftensuch as a deer, javelina, mountain lion, or bear, or isspend a few days on or near the ground while they giveaways and more! a potential danger to handlers, such as a coyote orare learning to fly but are still being fed by their large bird, call the closest Arizona Game and Fishparents. Place a fallen bird in a tree or shrub or on Department office or radio dispatch at 623-236-7201. a shaded portion of a roof, out of the way of cats, Arizona Real Country is owned anddogs, and children. If you can safely reach the nest, Baby Rabbits you can put it back. Its a myth that bird parents will published by Barna BroadcastingBaby rabbits usually are found under things suchreject their young if they smell like people. If a baby LLC. No person, organization or partyas old boards or bushes, or in debris piles. Motherbird shows obvious signs of illness or injury, call a can copy or reproduce the contentrabbits only feedwildlife rehabilitator.on our website and/or magazine ortheir babies a few any part of this publication withouttimes a day, usuallyFledglings (baby birds without fully developed a written consent from the editorsat dawn and dusk. flight feathers) are often seen fluttering from branch panel and the author of the content, asIf you come acrossto branch, or from the ground to low branches.a nest of wildLeaving the nest to practice flying is a natural part of applicable. The publisher, authors andbunnies, and thea baby birds development. Placing a fully-feathered contributors reserve their rights withmother is nowherebaby back into its nest typically does not work, and regards to copyright of their work. to be seen, pleasethe young bird will usually leave again. Fledglings DO NOT disturbshould be left alone and moved only if they are at them. Carefullyrisk of immediate injury or death. If moved, the re-cover the nest,continued on page 7ArizonaRealCountry.com October 2021 5'