Spring's shower of babies

Spring has arrived and with it an abundance of new wildlife additions to the world. Feathered fledglings scutter about in the bushes seemingly abandoned by their parents. Newlyarrived fawns are hidden away in tall grasses or left in quiet yards. Young opossums drop off their mother’s crowded back and sneeze for her attention, while a tiny hummingbird out for their first flight meets a window instead of open air.

When we see these babies alone out in the wild, it’s human nature to want to go and help them, but actually only one of the above scenarios requires human intervention, that tiny injured hummingbird. The others are likely common behaviors for young animals learning how to survive. Determining which animals need help and how to go about giving it to them is the focus of Bidwell Wildlife Rehabilitation. This entirely volunteer-run organization was founded 50 years ago by Sandy Doolittle, who recognized the need for this program that continues to serve Butte, Colusa, and Glenn counties.

Springtime is their busiest time of year, and they’re flooded with online submission forms for animals in need. Melanie Welchel, volunteer and board member says, “We definitely could use some more volunteers. Baby season is busy; we get over a thousand for the year. It starts in February, and depending on the species, the last one may not be released back into the wild until the fall.” There is no ‘center’ per se as the organization is based out of the volunteer’s homes. They are dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating orphaned and injured wildlife, and in the unfortunate event that the animal cannot be released, they are delivered to an appropriate sanctuary such as Turtle Bay in Redding. They work with fawns, skunks, foxes, jackrabbits, cottontails, opossums, racoons, raptors, and songbirds. The larger animals and those with longer, more involved rehabilitation requirements, such as otters and beavers, are taken by organizations better equipped to handle their care and release such as Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care.

If you see an animal you think may need some help, what should you do? First, watch and see. Young fledglings seem like they need help, but more often than not, their parents are keeping an eye on them from up above. They’ll watch as they learn to walk, hop, and take short flights around the yard periodically stopping in to check on them. Deer will ‘hide’ their fawn in grasses or quiet places while they head out to keep them hidden from predators until the fawn is old enough to escape with their mother if needed. Opossums may fall off their mother’s back but will call out in alarm for their return. If the parents never return, or the animal is injured, or you’re still not sure, access the website at www. bidwellwildliferehab.org and fill out the appropriate form. That information is checked throughout the day and passed on to one of the volunteers. They will then get in contact with you about the next appropriate steps to take and, if needed, a volunteer will come to pick up the animal and begin caring for it.

April 29th is Bidwell Wildlife Rehabilitation’s second annual “Baby Shower” fundraiser at The Barn. Because they are entirely volunteer-staffed and primarily donation driven, this fundraiser is a great way to raise money and spread awareness about the wonderful work they do for area wildlife. They’ll have craft vendors, face painting, concessions, and the Wild Things Conservation Ambassadors will offer two animal shows on the main stage. They’ll also have various informational booths highlighting how they help each species around the Northstate. A bird booth, for example, will demonstrate what’s involved in caring for orphaned birds along with an opportunity for the younger visitors to make a pinecone bird feeder. Melanie shares, “It’s a way for the community to get to know our name and say, “Oh yea, we should call them if we find something,’” instead of wondering what to do with that lonely fledgling, that sneezing opossum, or that tiny spotted sleeping fawn.

You can follow them on Facebook for more information on their “Baby Shower” along with information on upcoming volunteer orientations or go to their website for info at www.bidwellwildliferehab.org.