Wildlife Baby Season: What to Expect When Wildlife Is Expecting (Do’s & Don’ts)
Spring is here—and with it comes the chaos, charm, and confusion of wildlife baby season. As temperatures rise, wild animals become increasingly active, searching for safe nesting spots to raise their young. Unfortunately, attics, sheds, chimneys, and other tucked-away corners of your home can seem like the perfect quiet place for a raccoon, skunk, or momma squirrel to settle in with her babies.
Across Ontario, wildlife centres are already seeing a surge in injured and orphaned animals, and they’re urging the public to pause before intervening. (Read more here). If you’ve found baby animals in or around your property, here’s what you need to know—and what to avoid.
Do: Observe Wildlife Behavior from a Safe Distance
When you spot wildlife babies—whether it’s baby birds under a tree or baby squirrels in the eaves—your first instinct might be to help. But interference is often more harmful than helpful. In many cases, the mother is nearby, waiting for humans and predators to leave before returning to feed or relocate her nest.
Start by watching quietly from a distance for several hours. If the mother doesn’t return, or if the animal appears injured, it may be time to call a professional.
Don’t: Assume the Animal Is Abandoned
During wildlife baby season, it’s common for many animals to leave their babies alone temporarily while they search for food or scout for danger. Even baby skunks or birds that appear vulnerable might not be in distress. Touching or relocating the animal too soon can interfere with the natural rearing process and increase its risk of being rejected by the mom or targeted by predators.
Do: Look for Signs That Help Is Needed
There are a few clear signs that an animal may require critical care or professional intervention:
- Obvious signs of trauma or bleeding
- Flies or ants swarming the animal
- Crying for prolonged periods without response
- A dead mother nearby
- The animal is in an unsafe or exposed location
In these cases, avoid trying to rescue the animal yourself. Reach out to a licensed wildlife rehabilitation facility or animal control expert for guidance.
Don’t: Try to Raise or Relocate Wildlife on Your Own
It’s illegal in Ontario to keep wild animals without proper permits—even wildlife babies. Attempting to raise an orphaned animal as a pet can lead to serious health risks for you and the animal. Even babies can carry parasites, diseases, or become aggressive as they grow. Additionally, DIY relocation often results in the baby being separated from its mother and unable to survive.
Do: Protect Your Home from Becoming a Nursery
If you’ve noticed wildlife behaviour near your roof, chimney, or shed, there may already be animals nesting inside. Raccoons, squirrels, and bats are notorious for turning homes into nurseries during wildlife baby season. Attempting to remove them without experience can result in accidentally trapping babies inside or leaving the mother outside to panic.
SWAT Wildlife offers humane, effective squirrel removal, raccoon removal, and bat removal services across the GTA. We also handle bird removal and ensure the entire family—mother and babies—is relocated safely and legally.
Don’t Wait Until the Noise Gets Louder
It’s easy to dismiss the first scratching sound in the attic or chirping in the walls. But during wildlife baby season: what to expect is escalation. The longer wildlife remains in your home, the more damage they can do to insulation, wiring, and structure—not to mention the stress of nightly noise or lingering odours.
Need Help? Call SWAT Wildlife
Spring should be a season of renewal, not raccoon-related chaos. If you suspect wild animals are nesting on your property, or if you’ve found abandoned or injured young, contact us. We provide humane, expert-backed solutions that keep your property secure.