A list of rehabbers in Georgia

PLEASE NOTE: Urban Wildlife Control is a nuisance animal removal company. We DO NOT rehab baby animals. In some circumstances we may pick up an animal (for a fee) and get it to a state licensed rehabber.

Each year (especially in the Spring), many people contact Urban Wildlife Control about young animals, such as birds or mammals, they have found. People usually think the babies are orphaned and need help from humans.

Most of these babies are still under the watchful eye of their mothers and are taken from them by people only trying to help. Unlike human babies, wild babies are not constantly watched by their parents.

Please take into consideration that:

1. A young animal’s best chance for survival is to be raised by its natural mother. It is important to make every effort to try and return the young to their natural mother. ONLY after all efforts to reunite them have failed should the orphan be taken out of their environment. PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT to raise the baby animal yourself.
2. Birds (except Pigeons, Starlings, and Sparrows) and most mammals are protected by Georgia state and federal laws and it is illegal to have them in your possession without proper permits from the proper government agencies.
3. Proper care and nutrition are crucial to the survival of the baby animal and any deficiency will more than likely result in the death of the animal.
4. Wild animals can carry a number of diseases which are transmittable to humans and may also bite or claw you. Proper protection must be used when handling them.

In Georgia most wild animals give birth in the spring. Gray squirrels also give birth in the fall. Some animals, such as rabbits, give birth year round.

There are several different species of animals, in greater Atlanta, that you might find a baby that is alone, but not in danger. While it may appear abandoned, it usually is not. Here are some examples:

Fawns (baby deer) - Mother will hide her baby while she is foraging. The young are taught to lie very still in deep grass until she returns for them.

Squirrels - Young squirrels may fall out of the nest. Mom will pick them up with her teeth, much like a cat, and take them back to the nest, if given the opportunity.

Raccoons - Sometimes, the mom will hide each baby in a different area while she looks for food. This is to protect the family. If a predator comes along, it will only get one baby as opposed to the entire litter.

Rabbits - Mother feeds them twice a day, the babies are often left in a nesting site while she eats. Baby rabbits are on their own at about three weeks and at that age they are still very small, but are capable of surviving on their own.

Birds

Fledglings - People often see baby birds that are partially feathered sitting on the ground below a tree and automatically assume that they fell out of the nest and need help. At this stage in a birds development, they are considered fledglings.

It is normal for fledglings to jump or fall out of the nest. This is their "flight training" stage. The mother bird will then continue feeding the bird on the ground until the bird is able to fly (usually only takes a few days).

Unless injured, these birds should be left where they are. Efforts should be made to keep cats, dogs, and children away from the bird so the mother can continue to feed it.

Nestlings - Baby birds that are naked for the most part (featherless or feathers just starting to come in) are considered to be "nestlings". These birds stay in the nest and the parents come to feed them there.

These babies, when found, are usually on the ground directly below the nest. This occurs either because the baby fell out, or was pushed out by a sibling. One must realize that this last behavior is actually adaptive for some species. This way, only the strongest survive.

Cat or Dog Danger?
If a dog or cat is threatening the young animal, DO NOT assume the baby needs to be rescued. Rather, keep the pet restrained the short time the baby is there.

If the young animal has already been attacked or picked up by the family pet and is injured, find a veterinarian or licensed rehabber that will look at the animal immediately. Also, make sure your pet is current on it's rabies vaccine.

Please do not call us about helping with these animals unless you need a transporter only. Please note: We do charge for transportation service.

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