How to Handle Hatchling Season

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IS A HAVEN FOR BIRD POPULATIONS. THE NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY SAYS MORE THAN 500 SPECIES CAN BE FOUND IN OUR AREA FOLLOWING YEARS OF HABITAT, RESTORATION AND BEACH PROTECTIONS. NUMBERS HAVE GREATLY IMPROVED. THE HELP ALSO COMES FROM CONCERNED BIRD LOVERS. BUT WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU FIND A HATCHLING OR ANOTHER BABY WILD ANIMAL THAT LOOKS INJURED OR SICK TOM BAYLISS, OUR SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTER JOINS US NOW TO TELL US WHAT WE SHOULD DO WHEN WE SEE A LITTLE BABY ANIMAL THAT DOESN'T LOOK SO WELL. >> ALL RIGHT. AND IT HAPPENS A LOT THIS TIME OF YEAR AND ALL KINDS OF CONCERN CALLS COME INTO THE VON ARX WILDLIFE HOSPITAL IN NAPLES, A BABY SQUIRREL APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN KNOCKED FROM ITS TREE. NEST OF MOCKINGBIRD SAYS TUCKED INSIDE THE DELIVERY OF LANDSCAPING PLANTS. A SCREECH OUT SMALL ENOUGH TO COPE AND 2 HANDS IS BOUNCING ALONG THE GRID AND NEARLY 100 OF THESE YOUNG PATIENTS ARRIVE EVERY WEEKEND ON ARCS, WHICH IS PART OF THE CONSERVANCY OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. MANY OF THE BABY CREATURES THAT FLOOD MONARCHS AND THE REGION'S OTHER ANIMAL HOSPITALS EVERY SPRING ARE NEVER IN TROUBLE. >> IF YOU FIND A BABY ANIMAL THAT IS LOAN, IT APPEARS HEALTHY, KEEP CHILDREN AND PETS AWAY OBSERVED FROM A DISTANCE AND GIVE THE PARENTS TIME TO RETURN FOR MANY WILDLIFE SPECIES ALONE IS EXACTLY WHERE A BABY IS SUPPOSED TO BE. >> THEIR PARENTS OR CLOSE BY DOING WHAT WILD PARENTS DO. LEAVING THE YOUNG TUCKED IN THE GRASS OR ON A BRANCH FOR HOURS WHILE THE HUNT FOR FOOD. A PERSON FINDS THE BABY ALONE ASSUMES THE WORST AND SCOOPS IT UP. STATE WILDLIFE OFFICIALS SAY MOST OF THOSE RESCUES ARE MISTAKES. HERE'S ERIN, THANK HONOR RESCUE COORDINATOR AT THE WILDLIFE CENTER OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. IN VENICE. THE BABIES WILL LEAVE THE NEST BEFORE THEY'RE ABLE TO FLY. YOU'LL FIND THEM ON THE GROUND ANYWHERE. FIRST 7 TO 21 DAYS, DEPENDING ON THE SPECIES. >> MOM AND DAD ARE STILL ABSOLUTELY TAKING CARE OF THE BABIES THAT IT BE. >> WILNER BOWL BUT VALUABLE TIME FRAME FOR THE BIRD. THE BIRD TO LEARN HOW TO BE BIG BIRD. AND AND MOM AND DAD WILL STILL TAKE CARE ROOM AND GOALS OUR TEACHING THEM TO FORGE MORE AND MORE AND PREVENT THEMSELVES FROM GETTING THEM TAKEN BY PREDATORS. MOM AND DAD ARE STILL GOING TO SOME OF THE PROTECTING. AND THAT IS NORMAL BEHAVIOR. >> THE ANIMALS THAT TRULY NEED THE ORPHANED AND INJURED TEND TO BE VICTIMS OF THE HUMAN WORLD AROUND THEM. A CAR, A CAT, A MOWER. IN THOSE CASES. MONARCHS EXPERT RIGHT INSTRUCTIONS ON THEIR WEBSITE FOR WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND A SICK OR INJURED ANIMAL. >> TOM, HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN IT'S TIME TO STEP IN AND ACTUALLY HELPED THE LITTLE ANIMAL? >> THERE ARE ANIMALS THAT REALLY NEED THE ORPHAN, THE BLOODIED AND INJURED IN THOSE CASES. COLOR RESCUE EXPERT AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS ANYTIME YOU'RE SEEING A INJURY OR A LEG INJURY OR THE BABY BIRD KIND OF HOPPING AROUND AND >> YOU'RE NOT BEING A PARENT COME DOWN, YOU WOULD BE SEEING WHEN THEY'RE ON THE GROUND. YOU WOULD BE. I'D BE LOOKING FOR A 2 HOUR MONITORING PERIOD WHERE WE'RE LOOKING TO SEE IF AHMED COMING DOWN OR DATA COMING DOWN TO FEED THEM. AND THEN PICTURES AND VIDEOS. WE CAN ALWAYS TELL A LOT BY BODY CAN AND BODY CONDITION AND ON VIDEO AND ADD TO THAT PHOTO SO THAT WE CAN KIND OF ASSESS THE SITUATION BEFORE WE INTERVENE. >> IF ONE IS NOT AVAILABLE AND THE ANIMAL CLEARLY HAS A BROKEN WING OR LEG OR IS BLEEDING, SCOOP IT UP IN A WELL-VENTILATED BOX WITH A TELL COVER IT SECURELY AND BRING THE ANIMAL HIM. IF YOU CAN'T. LISTEN TO THE MONITOR AT THE CLINIC FOR THE REHABILITATION OF WILDLIFE ON SANIBEL ISLAND. IF YOU CARE, LEAVE IT, THERE. >> AND THAT IS SOME REALLY HELPFUL INFORMATION FOR ALL OF US. ANIMAL LOVERS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. THANK YOU, TOM. YOU'RE WELCOME.