Don't pick baby animals up!

[PapaW]

Had some people turn up at our yard with a fox cub yesterday... It had to be put down as there is no chance it could be reared and returned..

I'm sure you all know this but I'll say anyway..

I can't stress this enough... its so tempting to pick them up and take them somwhere/to someone/rspca etc etc... Just leave them where they are! Birlds, animals whatever. As soon as you've touched them you've halved if not reduced by 75% their chances of survival. They are now covererd in human smell, thats enough alone to result in rejection/no survival when returned alone.

Please leave them alone!

[CheeZee]

I can't stress this enough... its so tempting to pick them up and take them somwhere/to someone/rspca etc etc... Just leave them where they are!

..and the same goes for me if im in a bar



sorry bro its been a quiet day ..couldnt help myself ..but its a good shout, especially where foxes and badgers are concerned

[tomcat360]

I had to put down a bunny at a cocktail party last weekend after the guys dog got ahold of it......

Broke it's leg and tore its stomach open, the lady doing the party brought me a shovel and told me to take care of it.

Too bad it had to be done, but it would've died slowly if I didnt

[libby]

Good words Papa, my mum works at a vets and they get babies brought in all the time, like you said most of 'em have to be put down because there just arent the facilities to look after them....

[wavedancer]

So sad, as a kid my mom always told me to stay away from the baby animals even though we wanted to touch them. Animals are weird, killing their own kind after humans touch them.

[Otter]

I would have to agree on general principal, although I must say I've seen and partaken in rescuing a few seals and porpoise that were stranded on the beaches. Hopefully they did well after being returned to the wild. Many times Sea World will send folks and gear over to do the rescue. But mammals are different.

[RJD]

Easier here.

Mamy, or grown mamal that doesnt have wings, time for your Mossberg...

[dougirwin13]

I am not disagreeing or otherwise, but...

Interestingly it's a myth that the parents of baby birds will abondon them if they are touched by humans:
http://www.wingtips.org/Leavealone.htm
http://media.www.dailylobo.com/media/storage/paper344/news/2003/07/17/Opinion/Column.Injured.Animals.Require.Care-447539.shtml

A good read if you would seriously consider "rescuing" baby birds who have fallen from their tree.

-doug

[libby]

Seals and porpoises are mammals

[boardofwork]

I agree in principal, but i have rescued a baby hedgehog. If i'd left it it would be dead. Unfortunately the RSPCA/rescue places/vets are not open on a sunday. I drip fed the very dehydrated hedgehog an isotonic drink and it went from almost dead to happy and alive and in the hands of a hedgehog rescue place the following monday. I think you should be saying avoid picking up baby animals whenever possible. Sometimes there is no choice.

[Stone Fox]

Seals and porpoises are mammals

Pedant!

[Otter]

Sweet Jesu, stepped in it again... Thanks for pointing that out. I guess I was referring to land mammals.