Every day, well meaning people rescue wild birds and mammals they believe to be abandoned. Some animal mothers leave their babies for hours at a time to search for food. Some animal mothers stay away from their babies as much as possible to avoid attracting a predator's attention to their young. Do not stay around for the mother to see you-she will not return while you are there.

Illinois Raptor Center staff members believe that human intervention should be a last resort. Animals are always better off with their own kind, not with people. The following guide is intended to educate the public about behavior that may be mistaken for an injury or abandonment.

If you believe an animal is injured and may need treatment, call a licensed rehabilitator immediately for instructions. Keep children and pets away.

 Bunnies open their eyes at seven days and are on their own at about two weeks. Cottontail rabbits are nocturnal (night) animals. The mother comes to feed about twice a day- at dusk and dawn. You probably won't ever see her. Baby bunnies do not follow their mothers, and their mothers do not teach them anything. They do not stay in family units. All a rabbit needs to know to survive is to eat, run and breed. They are on their own when their eyes are open and they are fully furred.

Mother rabbits cannot protect their young. They stay away from the nest in order not to draw predators to their babies.

If you have to chase a bunny to catch it, it does not need your help.

Bunnies with their eyes closed can be put back in the nest. Don't worry about touching them-the mother will take them back. Cover the nest with nesting materials and put two strings forming an X across the nest. If the X is moved, the mother has returned. If the X is not moved in 24 hours, check the babies. If they are cold to the touch, covered with parasites or seem weak, call a licensed rehabilitator.

Mother deer help their babies by staying away from them as much as possible so they don't draw in predators. When the fawn is able to run fast enough to keep up with its mother, it will follow her and stay with her.

Deer are nocturnal (night) animals. You probably won't ever see a mother deer, but she will see you. Leave the fawn alone! Fawns brought to rehabilitators rarely needed to be rescued.

 If a featherless or downy baby bird with eyes closed falls from the nest- put it back into the nest. Don't worry about touching them - mother birds will take them back!

If a partially feathered baby bird with eyes fully opened falls from the nest, leave it alone! This little bird is called a "brancher" and it has "fledged" from its nest. It will spend the next week or so hopping around beneath trees and shrubs, growing flight feathers, learning how to fly and eat on its own. The parents are still around feeding the babies, that by now, are scattered throughout the neighborhood. Don't go near them. Keep cats, dogs and children away! Give the parents a chance to raise their young until they can be on their own. If some birds are dive bombing you - those are probably the parents!

If the complete nest falls out of the tree with the baby birds in it - carefully put them back in the nest and put the nest back into the tree as closely to its original position as you can. (use twine or duct tape if necessary). If the nest is destroyed, a plastic butter-type tub with slits cut in the bottom for drainage can be a substitute nest. Fill it with clean, natural nest materials.

Place the babies in the new nest and secure it with twine or duct tape to a location near its original site. When the babies start cheeping again, the parents will return, locate the babies and start feeding them again. Stay far away so as not to frighten the parents.

 A bird of prey, or raptor, is a bird that eats other birds or small mammals. Raptor means, literally, to seize. Owls, hawks and falcons are all raptors. These birds can be extremely dangerous Their feet and talons (claws) are used to kill their prey and tear it into bite-sized pieces. These talons can easily sink into the hand or arm of a rescuer. Even baby raptors can strike with their feet. Do not try to handle any raptor without first calling a licensed rehabilitator.

ORPHANS If a featherless or downy baby raptor with eyes closed falls from a nest - it can be put back into the nest. Don't worry about touching them - mother birds will take them back! BUT if the parents are near and see you with their baby, the situation can be very dangerous for you! Some of these birds can strike with tremendous force. They can strike your head or knock you from a ladder. Also, a raptor's nest may be dangerously high. Do not attempt any rescue in which you have concern for your safety.

Some raptors do not build a nest. Some take over the empty nests of other birds, some nest in cavities and some nest right on the ground. You will have to know what kind of bird it is to be able to find its nest site. Call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for help.

If a partially feathered baby raptor with eyes fully opened falls from the nest, leave it alone! This baby raptor is called a "brancher." It will spend the next several weeks growing in flight feathers and learning to fly. The parents are still around feeding the babies that, by now, are scattered throughout the area. Don't go near them! Keep cats, dogs and children away! Stay away so the parents don't attack you. Birds of prey are very protective of their young and have the skills and the weapons to defend them against most predators - that includes human predators.

Raptor babies not only have to learn to eat on their own during the brancher stage of their lives but they have to start to hunt on their own. They must watch their parents and be exposed to live prey in order to learn these skills. A bird that is not able to sharpen its hunting skills before winter weather comes will surely die of starvation. Only the strong will survive.

Raptors cared for by people will not have the opportunity to learn these important life skills. You will not be doing the bird a favor if you try to feed or care for it.

If a wild animal is in danger of being injured by a cat or dog - remove the cat or dog - NOT the wild animal! Pets are not natural predators and are not part of the natural food chain in this hemisphere of the world. Domestic animals running at large kill an average of 11 small birds and mammals every day - hundreds of millions are killed each year!!

Bells and declawing have no effect on a cat's ability to hunt baby birds or mammals in a nest, branching birds or roosting birds. Because of the bacteria on the

teeth, dog and cat bites are usually fatal to wild animals. Antibiotics and/or steroids must be given immediately if the wild animal is to have a chance of being saved from an attack.

Don't let your pets run loose! Without responsible pet ownership, the lives of our native wildlife will always remain in jeopardy!

It is against the law to possess and care for native wildlife, whether mammals or birds, without scientific permits from the State of Illinois Department of Natural Resources and special use permits from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, even if you intend to return the animal to the wild.

It is also against the law for anyone to live trap and relocate any wild animal without a nuisance trapping permit from the state of Illinois - even on their own property. Fines starting at $500.00 per animal and time in jail can be given to those who decide to break the wildlife laws.

People holding game, furbearer or trapping permits are not allowed by law to possess animals from the wild. Injured wildlife may be taken to a veterinarian for medical care. Veterinarians are not obligated to take care of wildlife through their business but most will do what they can to help. After medical treatment, the veterinarian will transfer the animal to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

Teachers and other educators are not exempt from the wildlife laws. Call the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Springfield office at 217-782-6384 if you have any questions or would like the name of a rehabilitator near you.