Story: Keeping wildlife safe from your dogs

What you can do to help protect the wildlife from your dogs:

• Perform a yard inspection before you let your dogs outside. Think like a dog and explore your pup’s favorite places and hangouts. And, think like a critter; where would you hide that a dog snout might sniff you out? If you find a creature, try to herd it to safety, or delay bringing your pets outside until the coast is clear.
• Plan a few escape routes. If you find a youngster and need to guide it to safety, it helps to know ahead of time where you can direct it so your dogs can’t reach it: up a tree, behind the shed, under the fence to the neighbor’s yard (who hopefully doesn’t have a prey-driven pet.)
• Listen for Mama and Papa. Many birds leave the nest as fledglings, some barely able to fly. They’ll spend several days on the ground and in bushes, hopping around while Mom and Dad feed them. Both kids and parents make lots of noise calling to each other–and often the parents will squawk particularly loud when you’re near their babies. If you hear lots of squawking, there are probably babies nearby.
• Keep your dogs leashed in your yard in the spring and early summer, when birds are fledging and young chipmunks and squirrels are venturing from their nests.
• Teach (and reinforce) the command “Leave it!” (as in, “Don’t touch or even look at that thing you want to sniff, touch, pick up, or eat) and “Drop it!” (As in, “Put down that thing in your mouth that you really want to keep.”) These come in handy when your dog isn’t close enough for you to grab her collar, and she’s hot on the trail of a helpless sparrow fledgling. I’ve actually rescued a few babies after one of my dogs obeyed the “Drop it” command; the creatures survived being caught and spewed out of my dog’s mouth.
• Carry high-value treats with you during baby season. I like to keep hamburger or bits of cheese. The dogs are just a little more likely to respond to my screams of “Leave it!” or “Drop it!” when there’s meat involved. (“Chase the baby squirrel or…BEEF! Coming!”)
• Take your dogs for leashed walks, with high value treats, where you can practice the “Leave it!” command. Keep them active, busy and engaged so they are less likely to look for trouble.

What to do if you find a young or injured bird, mammal or other creature

• Keep a rescue kit handy; I keep mine in the front of my garage, where I can grab it quickly. It includes a box (I save shoeboxes for this purpose), a soft rag or cloth (for inside the box), and a pair of heavy gloves (in case you need to handle the creature).
• Find the number of the closest wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organization–before you need it. Store the number in your cell phone or keep it with your rescue kit. The National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association lists several ways to find rehabilitators on its website.
• Observe, don’t disturb. If you find an injured or orphaned animal, wait before you act, unless it’s in immediate danger. Mom may be nearby, waiting for you to leave. Is the bird able to move? Does the squirrel have its eyes open? Wait before you do anything. Unless the animal has to be moved (for safety reasons–yours, your pets, or the animal’s), leave it alone for awhile.
• Call your local rehabilitator with information; he or she can give you the best advice for your situation.
• Only handle a wild creature if you have to (to make it safe) and with some kind of barrier between you and the animal (like gloves, a blanket, a box).
• No, you can’t keep him. It is illegal in most cases to keep wild animals, even if you intend to release them. Licensed wildlife rehabilitators are trained to care for native creatures; it’s best to let them nurse orphaned or injured wildlife back to health–and hopefull release them back into the wild.
• Here are two great guides on what to do if you found a baby bird and what to do if you found a baby mammal, from the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association.
• If you aren’t able to reach an expert, and
• • …you find a nestling (a baby bird with no feathers), try and find its nest to return it to. If there’s no nest, try to make one (I once made one from a basket), and secure it in a tree. Watch from a distance to see if the parents come back. If not, call a wildlife rehabilitator.
  • …you find a fledgling (a baby bird with feathers, but might not be able to fly), leave it be, unless you need to move it to safety in a bush or tree. It’s normal for fledglings to spend a few days hopping around on the ground and in bushes–with Mom and Dad feeding her–until she can fly.
  • …you find an orphaned mammal, leave it be if it’s uninjured and safe. It’s parents may be watching. Keep an eye on it–from a distance–or come back later to check on it.
  • …you find an injured animal, or determine that the baby is truly orphaned, use your gloves to put the creature in a secure box. Never touch a wild animal with your bare hands. Keep it warm, quiet and safe until you can reach someone who can tell you what to do.