Human beings are very compassionate creatures. We see a homeless person and we want to give them food. We see a big dog picking out a little one and we want to help defend the smaller one. It’s just in our nature to want to do something to look out after a creature that is in danger or which is struggling.
This is especially true when you are talking about small animals. When someone sees a kitten, puppy, baby bird, or other young critter they feel compelled to look out after them. The question is whether they really should do this or not? Is this really safe for people to do such things, which may make you wonder if you should feed a baby wild animal that you have found?
So, you see a baby bird, possum, squirrel, or other wild animal in your neighborhood that seems to have lost her mother and may even be suffering from some kind of injury. You hate to see this animal supper, and really want to do something to be able to provide for its care. The sensible thing to do, it would seem, would be to provide this animal was some food. Should you do that though?
First of all, consider that the reason that the mother animal may be out of the picture is that she is sick and passed on or the baby him or herself is sick and the mother moved the creature out. Many wild animals carry diseases that are quite dangerous to human beings, and caring for this animal may actually put you in danger. This is why you need to be extremely careful before even making a decision like this.
The second issue that you face is that as these animals grow they could potentially be dangerous to you. It is not just about whether they are sick or not, but is also related to the fact that these are wild animals. Wild animals act erratically and can be dangerous at times, meaning they may attack you even if you have gone out of your way to protect and nurse them. This can pose a very serious danger to you because many of these animals have very sharp claws and teeth that can cause a severe injury to you. You simply shouldn’t be risking this.
If you decide to at least nurse the animal at first to ensure that it has a greater chance of survival, then ensure that you are protecting yourself. Make sure that you wear gloves well feeding the animal and that you have on clothing that protects any exposed layers of skin. It is even a good idea to wear a surgical mask and goggles to protect your respiratory system.
As the animal starts to near an adult age it is a good idea to take it to a wildlife refuge for it to be cared for. These professionals will know how to release it back into the wild so that it can be safe and thrive.
Read more:
Florida Wildlife Control
