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Featherless Birds
If injured, call a local rehabilitator to make arrangements for the bird to receive proper care immediately.   If it is cold, warm it in your hands, DO NOT feed or give water.  If the bird is not injured, find the nest and place the young back  in it.  Most birds are unable to detect your scent on their young and after you leave they will quickly forget your intrusion.  These birds must be placed back in a nest because they cannot control body heat.  If both the nest and the nestling are down tie the nest back up into the tree in about the same place if possible, with heavy twine.  Birds can get tangled in thin string.  If the nest is torn apart, a new one can be made out of a margarine tub (about the same size as the nest), lined with dryer lint, dry leaves or pine needles.  Do NOT use fresh grass, mud or cotton, as bird’s feet and nails can get caught in it.  Drainage holes should be placed in the bottom of the tub in case of rain.  Tie the new “nest” in the tree with heavy twine and watch from a distance.  If the parents have not returned in ½ hour of consistent watching the birds should be brought to a local rehabilitator.

Downy or Incompletely Feathered Birds
Find the nest and place the young back in it.  If you are unable to find the nest or replace it, the bird(s) must come in for rehabilitation.  If the bird is replaced in nest, watch from a distance to see that the parent bird returns.
 
 

Fledglings (Older Baby Birds)
These birds are partially feathered, can hop about, and may be able to flutter or fly short distances.  Leave them alone unless they are being attacked by a dog or cat.  The parents keep track of their young and feed  them for some time after they leave the nest.  Remember:  Birds learn to fly from the ground up!  Often the parents will make their presence known by squawks or swoop attacks when you approach the young.  If you’ve watched from a distance and after an hour (of consistent watching) no parent has been seen, the bird may be brought to a local rehabilitator.

Young Precocial Birds (birds that are mobile upon hatching e.g. Killdeer, ducks)
If the baby is running around, leave it alone and watch from a window.   Keep children and other animals away.  If the parent is nearby, it will direct the baby to hide when it calls.  If after an hour (of consistent watching) no parent has been seen, the bird may be brought to a local rehabilitator.
 
 

Cottontails
Rabbit nests are shallow indents in the ground, commonly in lawns and gardens. Many are in dog runs, or sides of driveways.  It is best to leave them alone until the babies leave about three to four weeks after birth .  Keep domestic animals away from nests.  The mother lines the nests with fur and dry grass.  If you find such a nest, cover it with dry grass.  Place 2 twigs crisscross on top of the nest and check in the morning to see if they have been moved by the mother rabbit entering the nest.  Since the mother visits her young only once or twice a day, usually at dawn and dusk, do not expect to see her.  Cottontail mothers return to the nest even if the young have been handled or if the nest has been exposed by a lawn mower.  At 3-4 weeks rabbits are self-sufficient.  They sit up, hold their ears up and can hop (i.e. look like miniature adults).  Leave them alone unless they are injured.  If you have already contained the rabbit, it should be replaced where found.

Raccoons
These young animals are frequently left alone by their mothers for several hours at a time. This is true even when the young raccoons leave the hollow tree nest to accompany their mother on her journeys.  Youngsters of this species found by themselves are almost never orphans.  Mother raccoons forage at night and stay in their dens during the day.  If mother has not returned by late morning and the babies are making loud noises, it can be assumed something has happened to the
mother.  Special permission is required to rehabilitate raccoons as these are a rabies carrying species.  Although most rehabilitators do not rehabilitate raccoons, we can refer you to other rehabilitators that do.

Fawns
During the first two weeks of life, fawns are left by their mother for their protection.  The mother returns every few hours to nurse.  Fawns who are found curled up and quiet should be left alone and checked again in a few hours.   If they are standing, crying and/or appear very weak they should be brought to a local rehabilitator.

Opossums
Baby opossums stay in their mother’s pouch for about 2 ½ months. However, older youngsters are often seen accompanying their mothers on nocturnal foraging expeditions.  If the opossum is 6-8 inches long (not including the tail) it is independent of the mother and should be put back or left alone . Smaller opossums should be brought to a local rehabilitator if mother is nowhere in sight.

Squirrels
Occasionally leaf nest(s) are destroyed in storms and young squirrels fall to the ground.  Unless squirrels are functioning independently of the mother, they need to be brought to a rehabilitator.  Since baby squirrels dehydrate quickly in the sun and are chilled easily on cold nights, they need help as quickly as possible.  If the squirrel is uninjured, appears healthy and the mother is around it is possible that she will retrieve the baby and return it to the nest.  If she doesn’t retrieve the baby within two hours, it should be brought to a local rehabilitator

Raptors (falcon, hawk, owl...)
Nestling/fledgling raptors should be replaced in nests whenever possible. Fledglings are on the ground as they learn to fly and are fed and protected by the parents.  Parent birds will attack if their babies are bothered or threatened.  If the bird cannot be replaced in it's nest and/or no parent is sighted in the area after a ½ hour of consistent watching please call a local rehabilitator to receive specific instructions.  Please remember that the feet and talons of a raptor are extremely strong and serve as its primary means of defense.  A towel, blanket, jacket other light weight item, which can completely cover the bird, can be used to capture the bird.  A solid net works best, but is not always available.  Although these are young birds, their means of defense are as dangerous as an adult raptor.
 

WILD ANIMALS DO NOT  MAKE  GOOD PETS.  THEY CAN NEVER BE TRUSTED AND CARRY DISEASES  WHICH CAN BE TRANSFERRED TO HUMANS AND/OR DOMESTIC ANIMALS.  IT IS ILLEGAL TO POSSESS NATIVE NEW YORK WILDLIFE WITHOUT THE PROPER  PERMITS.

To find a rehabilitator in New York State call your regional office of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Wildlife Rehabilitation Page