at the “ wonderful feeling [ seeing ] that animal that ’ s been worked on just fly off or slither off into the bushes ... I don ’ t even know how to describe it in words .” While they try to give every animal a new life , those whose injuries are too severe are humanely euthanized .
The busiest time of the year is always May and June when people bring in orphaned babies . On any given day , there may be as many as 300 animals at the facility . They even host a “ baby shower ” in early May asking for supply donations of needed items such paper towels , toilet paper and laundry detergent .
However , in the spring , people will bring in fledglings that have left the nest but don ’ t know how to fly yet , assuming that they need help . Monsma reassured us that this is a normal stage of bird development that lasts
a week or two and their parents are still taking care of them , so they usually do not need help . Other folks will bring in baby rabbits because they don ’ t see the parents , but “ rabbits get fed at dawn and dusk and rest of day mom is nowhere to be seen ,” he says . “ It ’ s normal ... sometimes people think they have to rescue animals that are not at all in need of rescue and other times it is obvious like [ that ] turtle that ’ s been hit by a car and bleeding ... by all means , bring that in .”
So what should people do if they think an animal may be in distress ? “ The most important thing is call first because every situation is a little different and we can ask a lot of questions and try to determine ‘ Does that animal need to be rescued ?’ and ‘ If so , what is the best course for it ?’ Maybe bring it here . Maybe somewhere else .”
Photography by iStock . com / Jlende
SCWC . org
48