05/05/2026
It's BABY SEASON! All across the country. So let's talk about what that means.
🐾What is "baby season"?
This is pretty self-explanatory. This is the period of time where most of our wildlife are having their babies in the wild. You may see momma raccoons and skunks out in the daylight foraging for food (this isn't being rabid) so they can provide milk and food for their young. Near bodies of water you might spot a mink or otter carrying her kits around. Deer may temporarily leave their fawn in your yard while momma is off exploring and eating. Opossums or playful weasels may run across the road. Foxes, rabbits, and many others may look for a safe spot on your property where they can raise their litter. Birds will nest in "inappropriate" areas, like your grill that you have yet to use this season!
The intervention of a human is most commonly required because of the actions of another person (they scared mom off, they killed mom, they took her babies, etc.) but at times sickness and predation also results in orphans needing assistance.
🐾What does this mean for your local wildlife rehabber?
She (or those special yet limited "He"s) is more than likely extremely stressed and overwhelmed. The light at the end of the tunnel is switched off to save power.
They are sleep deprived, getting up at all hours with a list of alarms as long as my arm to do special tube, syringe or bottle feedings, manually stimulating the babies to pee/p**p, changing out soiled bedding, cleaning babies, washing dishes, preparing formula and food, weighing animals, keeping a record of intake/output and weight gain, paying attention to various individual problems among the animals, trying to keep straight over which animal is which when they all look 99% identical. They are treating injuries and scheduling vet appointments. They need to purchase supplies, they need to turn every penny possible to afford everything (and beg for donations on top of it all). Not to mention getting bombarded with phone calls and texts, people who get upset if they aren't answered or helped immediately, people who refuse to bring the animal into care and expect the rehabber to drive to get them. If it was possible to hook ourselves up intravenously to a caffeine drip, it would quickly become the next trend. This list goes on... but I don't think starting the week THAT morose is healthy.
🐾Okay, that's cool, but why should I care?
Well, you don't have to, I guess. Unless you are:
✅Someone who accidentally caused harm to an animal
✅Someone who takes orphan or injured animals to a rehabber
✅Someone who cares about animals
✅Someone apprenticing under another rehabber or volunteering with them
✅Someone who cares about preserving nature for the future generations
✅Someone who wants to make a difference or is a charitable soul
❌Someone who wants a wild baby animal to raise as a pet
❌Someone hoping for TikTok/YouTube/Instagram/FB fame
🐾Yes, those last two examples are unfortunately just another thing that rehabbers have to combat during this busy season. Social Media becomes flooded with the photos and videos of all manner of baby animals during this time, and people have always been drawn to exotic or unique animals, and the ability to show them off.
Wild animal babies grow up... there are instincts that can never be raised or trained out of them. They are EXPENSIVE, to acquire, to feed, to provide medical care, to offer an appropriate enclosure and environment, to purchase permits.
🐾This EXPENSE brings us to another set of major problems.
🔹People want to breed these animals to make money off them
🔹People kidnap/steal baby animals from the wild because they do not want to pay a breeder for one (never mind that it may well be illegal to purchase too)
🔹People who spent money on these animals but found out they were ill equipped or experienced to handle them want to "make what we spent back".
🔹People do not provide vet care because it is too expensive (IF they can even find a vet who will treat the animal)
These animals eventually also end up at a rehabber, if they are lucky, but it takes the space of another needy animal and often requires a Non-Releasable permanent placement.
🐾How can I help?
💜Please, this baby season, resist the urge to get an animal you are not prepared for, please do not go and kidnap wild babies to hand-raise.
🩷Please treat your local rehabber with kindness, patience and understanding.
❤️Offer to volunteer if they allow volunteer positions.
🧡Donate to their cause, funds or supplies are always needed and deeply appreciated.
💛Spread the word to others about them and their needs.
💚Leave a comment with some kind words of encouragement or appreciation.
💙Practice patience and restraint by leaving any wildlife alone on your property until they move on once their young has been raised.
🩵Refuse to support the exploitation of animals that occurs via the exotic pet trade
WANT TO SUPPORT OUR RESCUE AND THE ANIMALS WE CARE FOR?
‼️All donations are tax-deductible! EIN: 88-2893806‼️
Other ways to donate or support:
💸Venmo:
💳PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/rescuemink
💵Zelle: 385-208-6934
🪙CashApp: $minkrescue
🛒Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/2XT1CY4QSGHBP (You cannot believe how many supplies we go through regularly!)
