As a wildlife rescue, each spring we receive hundreds of baby birds, rabbits, squirrels, and other wildlife that have been injured or orphaned due to spring cleaning practices. Wild animals can be accidentally injured or orphaned when people trim trees, mow lawns, clear & burn brush piles, or find animals trapped/nesting indoors. When you start spring cleaning around your home and yard, here are a few spring cleaning tips to help protect wildlife nesting and raising their young in your backyard.
Tip #1: Cutting Grass
Be on the lookout for nesting babies before cutting your grass and weed eating. Small animals like cottontail rabbits make their nests IN THE GRASS! Their nests are hard to find on purpose– especially if the grass is long.
If you find a baby bunny, unless it is in distress or has an obvious injury, please leave it. Mother rabbits only come to the nest twice a day to feed their babies- at dawn and dusk.
Tip #2: Trimming Trees
Is there a tree or bush in your yard that needs pruning? Think before you cut. This time of year, your trees are being used as a nursery. Before you cut, examine the tree for nesting wildlife in the branches and trunk. If wildlife is present, wait a few weeks for them to raise their young and move on. If possible, consider trimming your trees in the winter months to avoid damaging nests.
Tip #3: Burning Brush Piles
As you clear your property of downed trees and limbs, be mindful of how you burn your brush piles. Rabbits, birds, and other small wildlife nest in those piles for protection. Every year we receive dozens of injured and orphaned animals from burn piles.
For the safety of wildlife and our community, refrain from burning large piles of brush. Start your burn piles small at a nearby location and add brush to it as you go. “Thank you” from all the wild families out there that call your brush pile their home.
Tip #4: Clean Bird Baths, Houses & Feeders
Keep your bird baths, houses, and feeders clean to reduce the spread of disease, fungus, bacteria, and illness among birds and young chicks. Keeping them clean also makes your yard a more attractive nesting site for birds.
Clean and sanitize your bird houses with a bleach water solution at the beginning and end of every breeding season. At least every week, empty and clean your baths & feeders by washing or letting them soak in hot water with bleach. Rinse and dry completely before refilling.
Tip #5: Found sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife while cleaning?
Their life depends on your next action. Bringing orphaned or injured wildlife IMMEDIATELY to a licensed wildlife rescue facility greatly INCREASES the animal’s chance of survival. The longer you wait the higher chances for malnutrition, dehydration, injuries from confinement or handling, and the animal losing their skills to be wild. Learn what you can do in a wildlife emergency by visiting: https://goldcountrywildliferescue.org/wildlife-emergency/
