When most people think about wildlife babies, they often picture devoted mothers caring for nests, dens, and burrows full of hungry youngsters.
And while wildlife moms certainly deserve their share of the credit, many fathers in the animal kingdom play an important role in helping raise the next generation.
This Father’s Day, we’re celebrating some of Marin County’s hardest-working wildlife dads—and highlighting the important role families play during baby season.
The Great Horned Owl Dad: The Provider
While female Great Horned Owls spend weeks incubating eggs and caring for newly hatched chicks, fathers take on the critical responsibility of keeping the family fed.
Night after night, male owls hunt rodents, rabbits, and other prey, delivering meals to their growing family. As the chicks get bigger, so does dad’s workload. Once the nestlings fledge, the parent roles swap and dad is their primary caretaker while mom hunts and brings back food.
During baby season, WildCare often receives young owls that have fallen from nests before they are ready to fly. Whenever possible, our goal is to reunite these youngsters with their families so their parents can continue raising them in the wild.
The Coyote Dad: The Protector
Coyotes are among Marin County’s most devoted fathers.
After pups are born in spring, male coyotes help provide food, defend territory, and protect the den while the mother cares for the young. As the pups grow, both parents work together to teach the skills needed to survive.
Healthy coyote families play an important role in maintaining balanced ecosystems, which is one reason WildCare works to promote coexistence between people and wildlife throughout our community.
The California Quail Dad: The Watchman
If you’ve ever spotted a family of California Quail crossing a trail, you’ve likely seen a father on duty.
Male quail help keep watch for predators and sound alarm calls when danger approaches. Their vigilance helps protect vulnerable chicks during the earliest weeks of life.
For young wildlife, attentive parents can make all the difference.
The Acorn Woodpecker Dad: The Team Player
Acorn Woodpeckers have one of the most fascinating family systems in Marin County.
Rather than raising young alone, multiple adults often work together to help care for chicks. Fathers help defend nesting cavities, gather food, and maintain the acorn granaries that support the family throughout the year.
It’s a remarkable example of cooperation in the natural world.
Why Baby Season Matters
Right now, while wildlife families across Marin County are busy raising young, WildCare’s Wildlife Hospital is busy raising the young of those who were separated from their devoted parents. This is always our busiest time of year when we receive the majority of our total annual patients!
Each spring and summer, our team cares for hundreds of orphaned and injured young animals, including birds, squirrels, rabbits, bats, fawns, and more.
Whenever possible, our first goal is reunification. The best place for a healthy baby animal is with their parents, who can provide care and teach survival skills that humans never can.
But when a baby truly needs help, WildCare steps in.
From feeding orphaned bat pups every few hours to raising young birds until they’re ready to fly, our staff and volunteers work tirelessly to give vulnerable wildlife a second chance.
This Father’s Day, we’re grateful for all the wildlife parents working hard across Marin County and for the community members who help protect them.
Because every successful baby season starts with giving wildlife families the opportunity to thrive.
Give a gift that protects wild families this Father’s Day
Baby season is WildCare’s busiest time of year. Every day, our Wildlife Hospital team cares for orphaned and injured young animals that need specialized food, medical treatment, and around-the-clock attention.
Your support helps provide lifesaving care for vulnerable wildlife and gives young animals the second chance they deserve.
Make a donation in honor of the dad in your life and help us say yes to every animal that arrives at our door. Let’s give them the chance to return to the wild where they belong.