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FAQ

I found an injured pigeon; can I bring it in?

Most are not considered wild; "city pigeons" or rock pigeons are actually long-ago escaped domestic pigeons (AKA feral). There is only one pigeon species native to Washington: the Band-tailed pigeon. It is grey with a white strip on the back of its neck and white on the tip of its tail. The easiest way to tell if your pigeon is wild or feral is by the color of its feet. Wild pigeons have bright yellow feet and beaks; feral pigeons have reddish brown, pink, or orangish feet. If you have found a band-tailed pigeon, give us a call. If you have found a rock pigeon, first check to see if it has a bird band around its leg; it may be someone's escaped pet or racing pigeon. If there is no band, please call your local humane society, bird rescue, or another center that can care for domestic species.

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I found a baby deer all by itself; is it orphaned?

Not necessarily. Mother deer leave their babies alone for hours at a time, relying on the fawn's camouflage to keep them safe from predators. However, if the baby seems injured, ill, or distressed it may be orphaned. If it looks healthy and happy (quiet), his mother should return for him in a couple of hours. In fact, if you remove the fawn from his original location his mother will continue to search for him for three days!

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How do I take care of the baby squirrel/bunny/opossum/raccoon I found?

Please remember that it is illegal for you to take care of wildlife without a rehabilitation license from WDFW. No matter how cute and sweet a baby wild animal seems, it will grow up to be wild. You should bring in any orphaned babies to a rehabilitation facility to ensure they get the best chance at making it in the wild once they're older. If you are interested in becoming a licensed rehabilitator in the state of Washington, please click the following link: 

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