The East End is close to and on the cusp of the swiftly approaching “baby season”, which is our busiest time of the year. If we were to admit the many healthy “orphans” brought to our attention or erroneously to our facility, we would be overwhelmed and consequently unable to care for the creatures that require intensive hospital care. Informed rehabilitators make a determined effort to renest so-called “orphan” birds and reunite so-called “orphan” mammals with their family unit. It is important to note that without prolonged periods of observation, it is very difficult, in fact, nearly impossible to determine if a baby animal is truly an orphan. Rarely are we able to establish that both parents are dead. In most cases, both parents feed the young; therefore the demise of one parent does not justify a rescue. Cats in the area are also not a justification to remove healthy baby birds from their homes. Not only is this an unconscionable act, it is illegal in every state. As much as the cat lovers proclaim feline rights the cat is the interloper in this case. Fledgling birds do not fly for 24-48 hours after they leave the nest. Be assured, the parents are close at hand and are in control of the situation. These birds do not need to be rescued If you feel that you must do something; chase the cat away! DO NOT KIDNAP THESE HEALTHY ANIMALS! Squirrels fall from their nests often. If they are not injured, they can be renested quite easily. Rabbit babies are left alone by them other who only visits the nest at dawn and dusk to feed. THESE ANIMALS DONOT NEED TO BE RESCUED! Please call the Wildlife Rescue Center for simple instructions. Our experience in the field and from the Wildlife Hotline which answers approximately 10,000 calls every year, is that the public requests and sometimes demands that we rescue baby animals that do not need to be rescued. Our policy is to educate the public re the need to and how to renest baby birds and reunite baby mammals with their family unit, and vigorously encourage them to do so. Not all wildlife rehabilitators, especially those that treat small numbers of animals per year, share our view re husbanding and hand-raising “orphans” that never needed to be rescued in the first place. We know of no hospital on the East End, or elsewhere that admits and raises “orphans” that require no treatment. If they did so what would happen to their ability to adequately care for sick and /or injured patients?