Wildlife rehab is hard. Sometimes we are likened to wildlife first responders/paramedics. There certainly are lots of similarities.

We were deemed essential workers when the Pandemic was declared just like paramedics and volunteer firefighters.

We spend a lot of time, at our own expense, to maintain training and stay up on latest techniques.

We are available 24/7 for whatever wildlife emergency presents itself.

There are lots of differences between human paramedics and wildlife caregivers, too.

Unlike human first responders, who deal with emergencies & illnesses in different stages of the same species (pediatrics, general population, geriatrics) we must deal be able to do the same in different stages of over 100 different species.

One of the biggest differences, however, is the level of respect and the “Well-Intentioned Excuse”.

If a Good Samaritan comes across a horrible car accident, they don’t take the victims home and give them aspirin to help. If it’s a fatal accident with a baby strapped in the car seat, they don’t take the baby home and care for it by feeding it some concoction they found on the Internet.

They call the PROFESSIONALS immediately.

In the case of wildlife emergencies, wildlife rehabbers are the professionals although because as a kid their friend nursed a hurt squirrel once we are not respected as professionals.

All too often we are not the first call.

Instead of making that first call to a wildlife professional, wildlife in need of care is taken home by Well-Intentioned People, who often then decide to take it upon themselves to try to “help” the animal.  Not only does this delay the animal getting the proper help it needs, it can also do irreparable damage. Frequently it results in needless, preventable death.

Imagine spending hours on multiple phone calls counseling a person how to best handle a fawn that likely is not in need of help. Trying everything you can think to explain how to keep a wild family together. Patiently answering questions late into the night.

A couple days later someone calls because they had found a fawn next to a dead mom on the road just 20 minutes ago. They have prior arrangements so can’t get it to us until late. The fawn pulls in after 9:00 pm. We had already been working since 7:00 a.m.

Upon approaching the car, our suspicions were confirmed. It was apparent the caller had lied. Piecing the threads together this is the likely scenario:

This fawn wasn’t found near a dead mom. They had taken the fawn we were counseling them about days before and were feeding it inappropriately because we couldn’t possibly know more than Google. They were avid deer hunters and know deer. Besides their uncle raised a fawn 20 years ago so they know best.

When it was getting harder to keep their secret and the amount of work to care for it became reality, they arranged with “friends” to make up a story about finding it on the road by a dead mom and transport it.

Remember how we said their story all fell apart when we approached the car? We could smell the fawn. He was covered in nasty diarrhea and his diarrhea-filled transport container was next to a large bag of inappropriate formula.

He was on Death’s Door, but only we seemed to understand the gravity of the situation. They were just thrilled to be able to “help” this cute little creature.

He passed away just a few hours later.

People will try to make a case that the Well-Intentioned People meant well and should not be held accountable because they had good intentions.

Actions, whether well-intentioned or not, have consequences. Doing the Right Thing too late, is not doing the Right Thing.

The Right Thing is respecting professional wildlife rehabilitators, seeking them out, and respecting their advice.

Having to deal with preventable consequences of others “good intentions” is one of the hard parts of wildlife rehabilitation YOU can prevent.

They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Wild lives shouldn’t be the paving stones.