Courtesy of Southwest Conservation Center
We’ve said it again and again: It’s baby season! But what exactly does that mean?
Some desert animals, like the coyote, breed only once a year and give birth in the spring and early summer. Even for those animals that can reproduce year-round, like javelina and bobcats, many babies are born in time for their parents to take advantage of the abundant plants and prey available in the spring and early summer months.
May and June begin our busiest season – baby season – which means we’re caring for lots of neonatal young, intensive care patients, and bottle babies. This is the time of year when Southwest Wildlife sees its highest intake of animals. Why?
One reason is that young animals start to move around the area and people begin to see them, often thinking their mothers have abandoned them. Others wild ones arrive because people fear them and call wildlife removal services to remove them from their property. Many of these so-called “orphans” are created because people don’t know enough about our wildlife. While their intentions are good, removing young from the wild is often not the best choice.
Wild animals aren’t able to take their young with them when it’s time to hunt. They leave their babies, sometimes for long periods, to feed themselves, and in
Baby Foxes Courtesy of Southwest Wildlife
an effort to divert attention away from the babies’ location. A potential predator, seeing a mother coming and going repeatedly, will be more likely to find a den of young. As an example, did you know that rabbits nurse their young only twice a day, at dawn and dusk? So, while the mother may be caring for the babies on a regular basis, you may never see her come and go. Careful observation over an extended period of time is the only way to know whether the wild babies you’ve found are actually abandoned or orphans.
If there’s any question, please call a wildlife rehabilitator to get advice before “saving” the babies. So many people are concerned with the welfare of our native wildlife, and that’s a good thing, but we can best help them, generally, by leaving them alone.
Baby Coyotes Courtesy of Southwest Wildlife
Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which is run by a handful of staff and many dedicated volunteers. We are funded solely through private donations, fundraising and grants. Visit our website at www.southwestwildlife.org to schedule a tour and learn more about our native wildlife.
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