South Dayton Wildlife Rehab - SDWR

06/12/2026

06/12/2026

We would like to remind everyone again that wildlife offspring are often left alone for substantial periods of time. This is normal - it is done primarily to keep predators away.

Cottontails are left alone except for twice a day, at dusk and dawn, when the mother comes to feed them.

They are not abandoned!

How to keep cottontails safe in your yard:

-Check the grass for the cottontail kits before mowing or yard work
-Secure the nesting area or walk dogs on a leash to avoid domestic animal and cottontail interactions. (Cottontails kits ate typically out of the nest in three weeks.)
-Keep domestic cats inside or provide a catio.
-Do not spray pesticides in the yard while wildlife are present. It will kill them.

Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator if:

-any of the cottontail kits are injured.
-flies or fly eggs are visible on the kits. This is an emergency. If the animals get wet, the fly larva will hatch and begin to feed.
-you find a cottontail kit out of a nest and cannot locate the nest
-the nest has been flooded

As always, please take photos and message a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or facility near you for assistance. Many rehabilitators can assist in providing ideas how to secure the nesting site, how to renest, and what to look for to see if mom has truly not been by to feed them.

Do not assume if you do not physically see the mother, they are abandoned. Many times you will not see them.

Please do not attempt to feed or give water. If you need to get the animal to a rehabilitator, keep them in a warm, quiet place until you do so.

Our website, AnimalHelpNow.org, can assist in locating licensed wildlife rehabilitators and facilities, and help us all be better neighbors to wildlife.

06/12/2026

If you can safely pull off the road, check for babies! If alive, call a wildlife rehabber right away. If deceased, please remove the body well off the road so the "natures clean up" crew are not injured doing their job!

06/12/2026

🦇💚 Simple actions can save bat lives 💚🦇

As we spend more time outdoors during the warmer months, it's important to remember that our wild neighbors share these spaces too.

💚 Check your yard for grounded bats before mowing.
💚 Turn outdoor ceiling fans off at night to prevent tragic injuries.
💚 Add escape ramps or critter skimmers to backyard pools so bats and other small animals can climb to safety.
💚 Protect native habitat by leaving dried palm fronds in place during spring and summer, when many bats use them as roosts and nurseries.

Small changes in our everyday routines can make a huge difference for bats and the ecosystems they support. If you find a bat in need of help, please contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator in your area.

Together, we can help keep wild bats safe 🦇

06/07/2026

Bat Pup Season! Any newborn baby bat you find alone is an emergency. Their diet is strict and the feeding schedule is demanding for our volunteers (every 2 to 3 hours around the clock). This little dehydrated boy is about 3 days old. The reunite attempt with his mama failed. 😪

Please send good vibes, and call us for advice if you find an abandoned bat pup. 🖤🍼🦇

06/03/2026

Nobody like Mama 🥰

Did you know....

Mother bats use their pups distinctive vocalizations to locate them within the colony! While it may look like this Brazilian free-tailed bat mom is screaming for mercy, she is actually calling out for her pup. She is surrounded by babies who belong to other mothers. When her pup hears her call out he/she will call back until they find each other among the crowd. A free-tailed bat mom and her baby can recognize each others voices and scents among thousands of other mothers and babies on a cave wall.

05/31/2026

Thanks to all our followers for your kind hearts!! 😊🙏 Do you have a rescue story to share?? 💪😎💕

05/31/2026

It's bat pup season! ALWAYS attempt a reunite at dusk with Mama Bat. This "Ladder Reunite" is a smart way to allow Mama to pick up her baby from an elevated spot (which allows her to take flight with the baby much easier).

05/31/2026

Looking to make your backyard a safe haven for bats this summer? Here are a few tips on how you can help your local bat colonies! ❤️🦇