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FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
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| QUESTIONS ABOUT WFF
1. Do you have volunteer positions? Absolutely! Refer to our 'Volunteer' page for potential volunteer positions available, and call Wild Forever to sign up, or just to get more information.
2. Do you have paid employees? Presently Wild Forever is a volunteer only organization. However, in the future we may consider contracting for services with individuals or companies.
3. Do you take interns? Yes. In 2005 we were fortunate to work with several interns from Pima Medical Institute. We welcome interns for the telephone response team, data base management, educational presentations to the public, grant writing, and assisting in our receiving center.
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is bird flu (avian influenza) in north america?
In a recent article found on the Colorado Division of Wildlife's web page it states:
"Avian Influenza (HPAI H5N1) has NOT been detected anywhere in North America, including Colorado. At present, the likelihood of HPAI H5N1 occurring in wild birds in Colorado is very low". Please click here to read the entire article, which contains links to other web sites providing information on avian influenza. |
BABY BIRD QUESTIONS
** Also refer to our "I Found a Baby Bird...Now What?" page for additional information
1. I found a baby bird out of its nest. What should I do?
The best care baby birds can receive is from their true parents.
Therefore, if at all possible, the best solution is to return the baby to the nest it came from. If the nest has been destroyed, creating a new nest, in a location close to the original site, may also work. Little berry baskets, lined with natural material (grasses, twigs, pine needles, etc) can be secured to tree branches with wire.
Replace the baby in the nest and watch from a distance, to see if the parents return. If they are not back within 30 minutes the baby should be brought to a rehabilitator. In the Colorado Springs area
call Wild Forever for instructions. Baby birds with no feathers cannot go for long periods without warmth or food.
2. If I touch a bird will its parents’ reject it?
Birds do not have that strong a sense of smell. Handling a baby bird will not cause the parents to reject it. However, the sooner you can replace a baby in the nest and walk away the better the chances are that the parents will return.
3. I found a bird. What should I feed it?
The diets of birds differ, depending on the type of bird it is. Some eat seeds and some eat bugs and insects. Never feed a bird bread or milk. It is not part of their natural diet. A bird needs to go to a licensed rehabilitator, who knows, and has, the proper diet for all types of birds.
In a pinch, some of the following can be used: canned dog or cat food, or dry kibble, soaked in water. Little pieces can be fed using tweezers. Baby birds will automatically open their mouths and gape. Older birds will not.
They need to go to a rehabber! In the Colorado Springs area call Wild Forever for instructions. Never try to get liquid into a bird’s mouth as they can easily drown. Baby birds do not need water (it’s in the formula we feed them). Older birds can be offered a dish of water.
4. Where should I keep the bird I found?
Birds like to be kept in dark, quiet, places. It makes them feel secure and they won’t fear predators. Put the bird on a towel, in a small box, with a lid, and put in a quiet place, until it can be taken to a rehabilitator. Keep all pets and children away from the bird as these will most likely scare the bird, which is already frightened. Do not put little birds into big containers, as the extra space makes them feel less secure.
Again, get the bird to a rehabber as quickly as possible. In the Colorado Springs area call Wild Forever for instructions.
5. I see a little bird hopping on the ground. What should I do?
The fledgling stage of a bird is the most vulnerable. It has left the nest, and can flutter and fly short distances, but does not have the flying strength of its parents. Their short tails can often identify these birds. Oftentimes, the parents are nearby watching, and help “teach” the fledglings how to search for and obtain food. Humans with good intentions should not interrupt this cycle.
To take a bird out of its natural environment and transfer it to a cage and expect humans to take the place of its natural parents is not the best thing to do.
People are generally concerned that their pets (or their neighbors) will cause damage to the bird and they want to “save it”. The best solution is to try to keep the pets (or
children) indoors for a while. These birds learn fast and will soon be able to fly farther.
To take them to a rehabilitator does not guarantee them a long life. It is better for them to be left alone. If a fledgling is found somewhere and there is no sign of other birds contact a rehabilitator for advice
before touching the bird.
In the Colorado Springs area
call Wild Forever for instructions. Depending on the situation it may be decided that the bird should be brought in but this should be the exception to the rule.
Birds develop much faster if they are left in their natural environment.
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| DEER and PRONGHORN QUESTIONS
** Also refer to our "I Found a Baby Mammal...Now What?" page for additional information
1.
When are deer and pronghorn born?
Whitetail deer are born at the end of May and first part of June. Mule Deer are born anytime from the end of May and all through June, July and into August. Pronghorn fawns are born starting the end of May and first of June.
2.
Do baby deer really lose their spots?
Yes.
The white spots that are present on the baby fawn at birth are part of the coat of hair that is the baby hair.
About the end of July, the baby hair starts to fall out and is replaced with the new and thicker adult deer hair.
For a while it looks like the spots are just fading away.
3.
There is a fawn under my back deck and the mother is not around and it has been at least a couple of hours since she was here.
What should I do?
Right now, don't do a thing. Everything sounds just fine. Mother deer, the doe, leaves her young for quite some time to go and graze.
The infant is to stay put and quiet.
Don't bother it or let your dogs or children out to bother it.
Wait and just look every now and then without letting the doe see you. The doe will not come back if she notices activity around the area of her fawn.
4.
Do deer or pronghorn have more than one baby at a time?
Sometimes.
It depends on the age and health of the doe.
Twins are quite common and triplets are seen now and again.
5.
My husband and I need to put up a fence around our property.
What kind of fencing is most friendly to wildlife?
The fencing to avoid is barbed wire, any iron fencing with points on top or bars so close that they could get stuck in between them.
The Colorado Division of Wildlife recommends, "for wildlife, the less fence the better. If fencing is necessary, then it should allow for relatively free movement of wildlife. Solid rail fences provide highly visible boundaries that are easy for wildlife to overcome".
Check out the article on the Colorado Division of Wildlife's 'Coexisting With Wildlife (links)' web page called 'Fencing with Wildlife in Mind' for more information.
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| FOX QUESTIONS
1.
This red fox is curled up in my yard under the branches of the spruce tree. What's the matter with it?
Most likely the fox is just resting in an area he or she know is safe.
To check, just walk outside approaching the fox with your eyes diverted while watching it. See how close you can get to the fox. If you can get within about 10 ft. from the fox and it does not move, something might be wrong and we might be able to get it.
Most likely, it will run when you wake it up and get just a little too close. Especially during baby season, both parents in the fox family need to take a rest once in a while. The kits are very hungry all the time, which requires both parents to hunt continuously.
They get exhausted at times!
2.
There is a crazy screaming cry at night around our house that sounds like it might be a mountain lion. Someone said it was a fox.
Is that possible?
Yes, it most likely is a red fox. Fox communicate to each other across distance with these vocalizations that sound like wild screams. They hunt alone but keep in touch with others through this sounding off.
3.
There is a fox with some babies under our old shed in the back.
Will the mother fox attack my children?
Foxes will bark and act nervous if people get too close to the den when young are around. Just don't let the children get too close to the shed while the babies are being raised, about 10 weeks. We have not heard of any fox attacking a child before. The barking is just their way of trying to get you to stay away from their kits.
They are trying to be good parents by protecting their young just the way people do.
4.
There is a fox in our neighborhood that gets around on 3 legs.
Can you get it?
Probably not. Many times when cars hit foxes they unfortunately receive a broken leg.
If they are mobile, it is difficult to get them.
The fox would either have to be live-trapped, and it is hard to trap a fox because it is so wary, or it would have to be tranquilized, which is not an option because the tranquilizer guns are too powerful for darting a fox. Even if one method of getting the fox would work, the broken bone could only be set if the fracture is new. Unfortunately, it seems best to watch the fox and monitor it's condition.
Hopefully, it can still hunt and dig. The injured leg will just have to heal as best as possible unless the fox becomes so "down" that we could actually net it.
Put fresh water out each day so the fox does not have to travel so far for that necessity.
5.
A fox keeps getting into our chicken coop and taking the eggs, and once killed one of our chickens. What can we do?
Please, for the sake of your chickens, re-enforce your chicken coop! Also refer to the next question for humane methods of fox eviction.
6. I have a fox in my yard, or in a den on my property, or living under my house or other structure, or in my chicken coop, or teasing my dog(s) that I want to evict, or stop the behavior. What can I do?
Please refer to
Urban Wildlife Rescue's web page on humane eviction of fox.
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| SKUNK QUESTIONS
1. How does one get rid of skunk odor?
The MYTHBUSTERS" (Discovery Channel) team determined that the most effective way is to wash in a mixture of Hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and a bit of liquid dish soap (Episode 16). Those of you familiar with the show will know that the team would not have reached this conclusion without actually obtaining a skunk and getting themselves sprayed.
2. I have a skunk in my yard, or under a porch or other structure, or in a window well or dumpster, or coming through my per door that I want to evict, or stop the behavior. What can I do?
Please refer to Urban Wildlife Rescue's web page on humane eviction of skunks.
2. How do I remove skunk odor from a room, clothes, human skin, or pets?
Please refer to Urban Wildlife Rescue's web page on humane eviction of skunks.
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| SQUIRREL QUESTIONS
** Also refer to our "I Found a Baby Mammal...Now What?" page for additional information
1. I found a squirrel nest with babies in my attic/garage/shed. What can I do?
Make the site unattractive to Mother Squirrel by using several of these tips: Leave lights on; Place a portable radio nearby set to a rock station, turning the volume on high; Knot up some rags or old socks, sprinkle them generously with ammonia and place them around the area. Without damaging the nest, gently move it 3-5" with a broom, so the mother knows it's been disturbed. Squirrels usually have an alternative nest site to which they can move their babies. Be patient; it may take several days for mom to get the message! Once you're sure all the babies are gone, close off the opening that the squirrel has been using, with 1/4" hardware cloth or wood.
2. A squirrel nest fell down in my yard (after high winds, tree trimmers, etc.). What can I do?
Chances are good that it's empty and you can just leave it alone. The squirrel that was using it will relocate or build a new one. If there are babies involved and they seem uninjured, leave them where they are, keep people and pets away and wait. The mother squirrel will retrieve and relocate them. Be patient; if she has to build a new nest, it may take her several hours.
3. I found a truly orphaned or injured baby squirrel, have contacted Wild Forever and am waiting for the transporter to take it to a rehabilitator. It's probably hungry or thirsty. What can I give it?
Nothing, please! Baby squirrels can aspirate very easily and develop pneumonia, lessening their chances of survival. Just keep the baby snug and warm in a quiet place away from people and pets until the transporter arrives.
4. How can I stop squirrels from eating my trees?
While squirrels live in trees and regularly eat bark, buds and new leaves, they rarely do major damage to a tree. If they have been dropping small twigs in the yard, it's because it might be baby season and they're trying to build a nest. When the nest is complete, this will stop. If you're afraid that the bark might be stripped from around the circumference of the tree trunk, wrap the tree with wire mesh to protect that area.
5. I have a squirrel in my attic, or chimney, or exhaust fan, or in the bird feeder, or chewing on lawn equipment that I want to evict, or stop the behavior. What can I do?
Please refer to Urban Wildlife Rescue's web page on humane eviction of squirrels.
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