Are you a guardian angel or a wildlife worry-wart? (illustration by Ken Cursoe)

Nothing triggers the "mother nature" in us like a baby animal in distress. But how do you know when to step in and when to take a hike? Take this quiz to find out.

1. You’re out walking the dog when you find a nest of baby bunnies. There is no sign of mom. You should:
a. leave the babies alone. Mom will show up eventually.
b. put a box over the babies to protect them overnight, then remove the box in the morning and keep an eye out for mama bunny.
c. take them to the animal shelter.

2. You see a baby bird hopping along the ground. She tries to fly but can only flutter a few feet. You notice that her tail feathers are very short. You should:
a. leave the bird alone. Her parents are probably nearby and feeding her.
b. put the bird in a box and feed her worms.
c. take the bird to the animal shelter.

3. A teensy opossum shows up alone on the back porch one night. You should:
a. leave the baby alone. Mama's probably checking out the neighbor's garbage.
b. put the baby in a box and put the box in a tree for the mother to find.
c. put a box over the baby and call the animal shelter or a wildlife rehabilitator for advice.

4. You hear strange noises coming from the chimney and realize a family of raccoons has mistaken your chimney for a hollow tree. You should:
a. close the damper and wait for the babies to get old enough to leave.
b. light a fire. The smoke will frighten the raccoons away.
c. call a "pest" control company.

Answers
1. a. A mother rabbit will visit her nest only for a few minutes each day. If she senses danger, she may stay away for as long as 36 hours. She probably does this because her scent will attract predators. Lay a few blades of grass in a pattern on top of the nest. Look the next day. If the blades have been disturbed, you know mom's around.

2. a. Most baby birds leave the nest before they can fly. These fledglings stay on the ground for several days while they are testing their wings and growing tail feathers. Their parents feed them regularly. Feeding worms to a baby bird can be harmful. Many birds eat mostly seeds, not worms, and force-feeding them worms could be fatal. Birds who are very tiny may have fallen out of their nests. If you can't find the nest, put the baby in a box nailed to a tree. If the parents are looking for their baby, they will care for him or her right in your "homemade" nest. (Contrary to popular belief, parent birds will not reject their baby because of being handled by humans.) If the parents push the baby bird out of the box or ignore him or her, the baby is probably sick, and it is time to call a wildlife rehabilitator (call PETA for names of rehabilitators in your area).

3. c. Opossums are marsupials, like kangaroos, and carry their babies in a pouch. A baby opossum out alone is probably an orphan. Don't touch the opossum—they have very sharp teeth! Put a box punched with air holes over the baby and take him or her to a wildlife rehabilitator or shelter.

4. a. Don't try to "smoke out" raccoons—babies can fall into the fire and be burned. Calling an exterminator isn't a great idea either—exterminators usually kill them. The best thing to do is leave wildlife tenants alone. When the babies get old enough (in a few weeks), everyone will move out. Then it's time to cap your chimney and seal up all the possible entrances—but only after you’re sure all the babies are gone.

How'd You Score?
Give yourself one point for each correct answer.

0-1 As guardian angels go, it looks like you're still a "fledgling." To help earn your wings, check out PETA's "Living in Harmony" factsheet.

2-3 You're getting there, grasshopper. When in doubt, call your local shelter. Most shelters have names and numbers of wildlife rehabilitators, who are usually the best people to turn to for help. Keep their names and phone numbers by your phone in case of an emergency.

4 Don't come between this "mama bear" and her "cubs"—she knows what she's doing!
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