Stephanie with Puff, a baby beaver found whimpering on the shore of a lake after cruel people set the beaver family’s “lodge” on fire and shot the parents as they fled |
When a wild animal is in trouble, PETA’s wildlife specialist, Stephanie Boyles, is standing by, ready to help, even if it means climbing trees, wading through mud, or jumping into an icy river. Stephanie has rescued baby squirrels blown out of their nests during a hurricane, untangled sea gulls and ducks from discarded fishing line, and pulled an orphaned baby otter out of a flooded ditch. During the springtime, when wildlife babies are being born, Stephanie sometimes spends her entire day rescuing orphaned and injured animals and delivering them to veterinarians and wildlife rehabilitators. |
This fluffy baby owl was miraculously unharmed after he fell 40 feet out of his nest. Stephanie had to call aprofessional tree climber to carry him all the way back up to rejoin his siblings and parents. |
Rescue Do's & Don'ts
Ever stumble across baby wildlife but weren’t sure how to lend a hand?
Stephanie gives you the 411 on helping animals:
• Don’t step in when it’s best to step aside. In springtime, baby animals are everywhere, but if they aren’t hurt, they usually don’t need help. Mom’s probably gathering food nearby. Baby opossums, who live in mom’s pouch for seven to eight weeks, are an exception. If you find one alone, take him or her to a wildlife rehabilitator—pronto!
• Do program these numbers into your phone: the local SPCA or humane
society, local wildlife rehabilitators (numbers available from humane
societies), and local police or animal control.
• Don’t be afraid to return uninjured baby birds to their nests. It’s a myth that
their parents will reject them after being touched by humans—they won’t.
• Do put together a road-rescue kit. You’ll need: a cardboard box, a box of dog treats, a pull-tab can of kitty chow, a leash, a bandage for a muzzle (injured animals may try to bite out of fright), a collapsible cardboard cat carrier (for small animals), a towel or blanket, a brown paper bag—and a clothespin to keep it shut—for carrying injured birds, and a notepad to write emergency phone numbers on.
• Don’t get yourself turned into roadkill when rescuing animals on the
highway. Be careful—get your parents to block the lane with the car and
turn on the flashers. You won’t do the animal any good if you’re dead!
• Do keep Kitty safe indoors, where she won’t ruffle any feathers. Cats often
kill birds out of pure instinct, not hunger.
|
