17 Ducklings and a Baby Jackrabbit
At the Wildlife Hospital, just like in the media, the weeks leading up to the Easter holiday are filled with baby bunnies, ducklings and chicks.
The difference, of course, is that here at WildCare, the young rabbits (and hares), ducklings and baby birds are all wildlife patients, orphaned and desperately in need of care!
This baby Jackrabbit's rescuer found her in the open with one eye glued shut with purulent discharge. Clearly she needed help!
An exam in the Wildlife Hospital revealed no clues as to the cause of the damage to the eye, but the young Jackrabbit was very thirsty and hungry, indicating she had been alone for a while.
Dr. Sorem gently flushed the eye with an eye wash and used an ophthalmoscope to examine the interior of the eye. The young hare had damage to her cornea, but the anterior chamber of the eye was clear.
In the video below you can see the baby Jackrabbit enjoying her mid-day meal of specialized Jackrabbit formula after a follow-up eye exam.
Please note that caring for Jackrabbits (and ALL wild animals) requires extremely specialized skills, knowledge and training. Anyone who is not a licensed wildlife rehabilitator should NEVER try to raise a baby Jackrabbit like this one (or any other animal.)
Too often WildCare admits baby animals that are ill and dying from inappropriate care provided by well-intentioned people trying to raise them on their own. Always call WildCare at 415-456-7283 if you find a wild animal in need of care!
When these ducklings' mother was hit by a car, quick-thinking bystanders knew just what to do.
They called the Marin Humane officer on duty, who arrived in time to corral 16 fluffy, peeping babies into a carrier for transport to WildCare.
As he drove away, he received another call about another solo duckling found two blocks away. The officer turned around and collected the other duckling. Based on proximity, and the powerful winds blowing that day, we assume the solo baby was from the same group. She likely got blown away from her siblings and ended up lost and alone.
The officer brought all 17 ducklings to WildCare.
On intake, the ducklings were stressed and frightened. Our team prepared two cozy incubators for them, arranged with chopped Romaine lettuce, duckling mash, a water source, and a feather duster for the ducklings to snuggle under.
After weighing them and dropping a few drops of dextrose into each tiny beak to help reinvigorate them, we left them to warm up and recover from their ordeal.
A camera attached to the door of the incubator gives a close-up view of the little ducks adjusting to their new circumstance as orphans in care. Enjoy the video below, and be sure to turn up the sound!
Fortunately the next morning they had all acclimated and relaxed. These ducklings will remain in care until they are old enough to return to the wild.
Whether you celebrate the Easter holiday, or just enjoy the candy, you likely associate the weeks leading up to Easter with images of baby bunnies, chicks, and ducklings.
Ads are full of adorable baby animals, and some people think a duckling, chick or rabbit will make a perfect Easter gift for their children. They then purchase an animal on impulse, but too often they then abandon or surrender their new "pet" once the animals have grown out of the fuzzy baby stage.
WildCare encourages you to think carefully about what an animal will need to stay healthy and happy before adopting that animal into your life.
Learn more about why buyers should beware of gifting chicks and ducklings for Easter in this article.
And, of course, no wild animal should ever be kept as a pet.
Help WildCare advocate for wildlife and care for the ill, injured and orphaned baby animals that will grow up to be wild and free! Donate today!