Amanda's wildlife rescue

06/01/2026

Q: In the United States, can I move a bird's nest with eggs or baby birds in the nest?

A: There are very few exceptions, so the short answer is NO. The majority of birds & their "live" nests, a nest with eggs or live offspring, are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) of 1918.

This law prohibits individuals from killing, capturing, selling, trading, transporting, or having possession of protected birds, their feathers, the nests, & eggs without a permit or license.

One of the main reasons it is not recommended to move a bird's nest, especially with eggs, is the bird will not search or look for their nest and simply assume the nest and babies are gone. The majority of birds will "fledge" or leave the nest between 10 and 21 days. This really isn't that long.

So, early spring please start being mindful and aware that birds are looking for places to build nests. These nests could be in dryer vents, mailboxes, wreaths, hanging plant baskets, trees, bushes, grills, campers, boats, cars, or patio furniture. Even bicycle helmets & boots.

And one last thing, adult birds will not abandon their offspring because you handled or placed them back in the nest. Many birds simply have a poor sense of smell & cannot detect human scent. (There are some birds who have well developed olfactory systems but even these birds will not abandon offspring handled by humans.)

Https://ahnow.org/blog/2025/05/30/ignorance-can-be-illegal-and-it-can-kill/

05/31/2026

I WASN’T A DEAD LEAF ON YOUR PORCH.
MY BABY WAS STILL CLINGING TO ME.

You found me under the porch light.

Small.
Brown.
Folded.
Still as a curled leaf after wind.

Maybe you thought I was dead.

Maybe you thought I was a mouse.
Maybe you wanted to sweep me away before the cat noticed.

But look closer.

There is a tiny body pressed against my chest.

Tiny claws locked into my fur.
A face smaller than your thumb.
A baby who cannot fly, cannot hunt, cannot understand why the sky suddenly fell.

I am a mother bat.

Not every bat lives in an attic.
Some of us roost in trees, tucked among leaves, trusting bark, branches, and darkness.

But storms shake branches.
Heat drains bodies.
Tree trimming breaks roosts.
And sometimes a mother falls with her baby still holding on.

Please do not touch us with bare hands.
Do not pull my baby away from me.
Do not throw me into the air.
Do not give us water or food.

Keep cats, dogs, and children away.

Call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or bat rehabilitator immediately.

If we are in danger and you are told to contain us, use thick gloves or a towel.
Place us gently in a ventilated box with soft cloth.
Keep the box dark, quiet, warm, and secure.

If anyone touched us bare-handed, or if a pet had contact, call animal control or your local health department before release.

Because I was not a dead leaf.

I was a mother on the ground,
trying to keep one tiny life
attached to mine.

Bat rescue guidance in the U.S. consistently warns not to handle bats with bare hands, not to feed or water injured bats, and to contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or bat specialist. Nebraska Wildlife Rehab also gives specific guidance for a mother bat with babies attached: avoid bare-hand contact, keep them protected, and get rehab guidance; if she is not injured, a trained/safe rehang may be possible using a branch, but if she remains grounded or the baby is alone, they need rehabilitation help.

05/28/2026

The difference between an injured animal that survives and one that doesn't is rarely the injury. It's what happens in the five minutes after someone finds it.

Most people stop, look, and drive off because they don't know what to do. Or they approach with good intentions and do something that makes it worse.

🌿 The one thing most people don't know: covering the animal's head and eyes drops the stress level immediately. An animal that can't see calms down. It's the single most effective thing you can do before help arrives.

No food. No water. Wrap loosely to keep warm. Call your state wildlife agency or find the nearest licensed rehabilitator at ahnow org by zip code.

A blanket and thick gloves in the trunk. That's the entire kit 🐾

05/25/2026

05/26/2025

Bushel of bunnies

05/25/2025

We are at capacity until the end of May for residents OUTSIDE of Blue Springs. While we would love to have more hands, more space and less people kidnapping wildlife, at this time to provide quality care to our current patients at both locations (Blue Springs & Lone Jack) we are only accepting Blue Springs residents. PLEASE just because you see a wild animal please do not kidnap it and bring it to a rehabber. What happens is 1. Mom has worked so hard and is probably nearby watching a human (predator) run off with her baby.
2. This limits space for wildlife that are TRULY injured and orphaned needing rehabilitation because people are bringing in abducted healthy animals now without a mom.
PLEASE HELP- on community posts Question -is this person legal, are they abducting this animal? or refer them to our hotline for reunting Strategies or our Education album here on our page. It breaks our hearts ! We are here to rehabilitate those that deserve a second chance not to boost someone’s ego being a “rescuer” or “ hero” by kidnapping an animal from the wild , then bringing it in to us.
Babies are being born, juveniles are learning to fly or explore.. where they live in the wild.

04/22/2025

Hello big world!

01/05/2025

Opossums are extremely prone to frostbite and it's really common this time of year to see them with missing ears, toes, or tips of their tails because of the cold weather. Like any other animal, they are just trying to stay warm and survive with all of their digits, so you may see some closer to your house when the weather is frigid. They are nature's vacuum cleaner and will keep your yard free of pests like ticks, mice, and venomous snakes come spring. Be kind and let them live under your porch for now so they can stay warm and survive to carry out their jobs in the spring.

If you want to feed them in a heated bowl, they love scrambled eggs, chicken livers (raw), yogurt, berries, and anything your cat would eat. They get along well with cats and don't spread any diseases to them either, so you can just pretend you have an extra cute feral kitty!

01/05/2025

Evan Micheal Peyton!!!