It's sick or injured
It's orphaned
I need it removed
Wildlife Hotline
614-793-WILD
(9453)          
Waterfowl

Young mallard ducks and Canada geese are commonly separated from the rest of their brood as they follow parents to food or water.  When you find a young duckling, note the location of possible ponds and streams where the rest of the brood may be, then call a wildlife rehabilitator for advice on how to reunite the young bird.  Do not endanger yourself or others by attempting to chase young or adult waterfowl when they are on the road.

GOSLINGS (baby geese)

Find the nearest water source and a group of babies that are similar in size to the orphan.  She will either be accepted by a family or will be "picked on."  If the goslings isn’t adopted, bring her to the OWC hospital or a rehab facility near you.

 

DUCKLINGS

Find the nearest water source but don’t put the duckling in the water!  Get between her and the water and if the mother is near, she should approach to retrive her young.  If the duckling is not retrieved or is picked on, bring her to the OWC hospital or a rehab facility near you.

DUCKS IN A DRAIN?

 

This is surprisingly very common!  Mother mallards will walk their young over a water drain and while she makes it over just fine, her tiny young fall between the gaps.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
1. Long pole (like a mop handle) with a small aquarium net attached to the end.
2. (2) pieces of cardboard
3. Bucket or tall box
 
Make sure the mother is near by.  If you’re positive that she’s not coming back, bring the ducklings to the OWC hospital after you’ve retrieved them.  After you (and maybe several friends) lift off the drain:

  • Block the exits/pipes with the cardboard so the ducklings can’t run in either direction.
  • Scoop up the ducklings with the net and carefully place them in the bucket.
     -- Another strange, but effective, option is to attach a wad of duct tape to the end of a pole and pick up the ducklings with the tape.
  • Once all of the ducklings have been gathered, let the mother duck hear their cries and then release them to her.

RELOCATING GOOSE AND DUCK FAMILIES

This is only for situations where you feel the geese or duck families are in direct danger, such as in a parking lot far from water, or in your yard away from water and close to traffic or domestic pets.  This is not for street-crossing families because they are probably already on their way to a water source.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not put yourself or others in danger by getting in the way of traffic!

It is not recommended to do this when the eggs have not hatched yet!  Wait until they have hatched, then:

  • Scoop the babies into a box (you can distract the parents with a very small amount of bread if you’re worried about their reaction)
  • Make sure the mother can hear her babies crying, then carefully walk the box over to the nearest water source and release the young back to their parent(s), as they should have followed you.

If the mother does not follow you, don’t release the babies - return them to her immediately.

 
The Red-tailed hawk is a medium-sized bird of prey found throughout North America. It is generally non-aggressive toward humans and other birds and is an opportunistic feeder with a diet mostly of small mammals. Raccoons are opportunistic eaters and can be avoided by keeping garbage and compost piles secure, and keeping pet food inside. Photo by Scott Schisler American bullfrogs are common in Ohio and recognized by their deep, throaty song. Photo by Dr. Don Burton Canada goslings are born in the spring and by fall are mature and ready to fly south with their flock. Photo by Katherine Clifton Coyotes were introduced to Ohio and have thrived in urban environments. This coyote, Hope, was unreleasable because she was hand-raised by humans before sent to OWC, and so lacks certain survival skills. Photo by Sue Simunich Mother deer tell their fawns to stay still and low (often curled up) all day while she is away. She will return at dusk and likely move them to a new spot. This is a safety precaution for the fawns, but many times fawns are mistaken to be orphans because of it. Photo by Scott Schisler Black rat snakes are native Ohio snakes. This snake resides at OWC because of injuries that would compromise its ability to survive in the wild. Photo by Sue Simunich. The Chukar is a game-bird in the pheasant family, originally from Asia but introduced to the United States. This Chukar is Tori, who resides at OWC. Photo by Sue Simuncich This male American Kestrel also resides at OWC and can be seen at the center’s outdoor wildlife display. Photo by Deb Keller You may see Eastern Gray squirrels like this in your backyard, consuming seeds, acorns, insects, eggs and other nuts. Photo by Sue Simunich The population of the Leopard frog is decreasing due to pollution and deforestation. They are often good indicators for environmental problems because of their sensitivity to chemical pollutants found both in the air and the water. Photo by Sue Simunich Most Snapping turtles eat plants, small mammals, fish and birds and are quick to take off your finger if you get too close. Photo by Sue Simunich Despite what it looks like, those big tuffs on the top of this Great-horned owl’s head are not ears. To predators, they may look like an easy way to grab the owl, but they are actually just feathers. Photo by Sue Simunich The American Bald Eagle is an endangered species. Photo by Katherine Clifton Male Cardinals are recognized by their bright red appearance. Photo by Scott Schisler The Eastern Fox snake resides in Ohio, Michigan and parts of Canada in flat, marshy areas. Fox snakes will eat primarily small rodents, but will also eat small birds, rabbits and other small animals. Photo by Sue Simunich The wings of the male Kestrel are slate-blue. Females are rusty to match the back feathers. Photo by Deb Keller Flying squirrels are one of the most common squirrels in Ohio, although they are rarely seen because they are nocturnal (meaning they are awake at night time). Photo by Deb Keller Red fox kits stay with their mother and siblings for several months and then go off on their own typically in July. Foxes are generally shy animals. Photo by Scott Schisler The Painted turtle is a reptile that is common in southern Canada, the US, and Mexico and is related to other water turtles like sliders and cooters. They live in ponds, marshes, and slow-moving rivers with muddy bottoms. Photo by Deb Keller Great horned owls hunt at night by waiting on a high perch to swoop down on prey. They eat small to medium-sized mammals like rats, voles, skunks and rabbits. Photo by Deb Keller Blanding’s turtles are a semi-aquatic species found mostly near the Great Lakes regions. Photo by Sue Simunich The Virginia Opossum is about the size of a house cat and “plays dead” as a defense mechanism from predators. Photo by Sue Simunich White-tailed deer have been forced to adapt to urban environments as their natural home is being destroyed by human development. Photo by Katherine Clifton Canada geese are dedicated parents and very social. When one goose is fatigued while flying, they will make sure it is not alone while it rests and will fly in shifts. Photo by Katherine Clifton Bobwhite quails are ground-dwelling birds found in North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Photo by Deb Keller Raccoon mothers will call out to their young should they fall from a tree or get lost. As long as she sees them or hears their cries, she will do whatever it takes to retrieve them. Photo by Owen DeWolfe In flight, Red-tailed hawks flap as little as possible to conserve energy. Their flight is slow and deliberate, with deep beats of their wings. Photo by David Harrison The male Red-winged Blackbird fiercely defends his territory during the breeding season. He may spend more than a quarter of all the daylight hours in territory defense. He vigorously keeps all other males out of the territory and defends the nests from predators. He will attack much larger animals, including horses and people. (birds.cornell.edu) Photo by Tripp Braden