Wildlife Care Menu Zoonoses Medical Care Care & Feeding     -Ident, Nat History     -Neonate Care     -Adult Care     -Nutrition     -Supplies Caging & Housing Identification Anatomy Physiology Psychology/Behaviour Capture/Restraint Release Long Term Care

Mammals occupy every ecological niche and all feeding categories (e.g. carnivores, herbivores, frugivores, omnivores, etc.). Some animals are specialists, foraging only in one category (e.g. carnivores, who eat only animal foods; insectivores, who eat only insects; or herbivores, who eat only plant foods), while others adapt to seasonally available foods (omnivores).

Neonate mammals, regardless of species, nurse from their mothers. The milks of wild mammals differ widely in composition, reflecting the diet of the mother, the youngster's rate of growth, climate and other factors. With some exceptions, the milks of wild mammals are very dissimilar in composition to the milks of domestic animals like cows and goats. Milks of domestic animals are often too high in lactose (a milk sugar) for neonates of other species, and wild neonates may not high enough levels of lactase (an enzyme) necessary to digest lactose. This can result in diarrhea and dehydration. Wild neonates in rehabilitation are thus fed commercial milk replacers that are formulated to more closely match their mothers' milk.

The PetAg Company manufactures milk replacers for wild mammals and publishes a book that provides formulas. The unabridged version contains over 140 formulas, while the abridged version contains formulas for most commonly found wildlife.
http://www.petag.com/Wildlife/fr_Wildlife.htm

When young mammals begin to wean to solid foods, their diets must reflect what their species would be eating in nature at that time of year. Prior to release, the youngster should be familiar with wild foods found in the season of release. Animals must have a good selection of foods from which to choose, and as much of it as they choose to eat. They should have free access to water, clean soil and calcium sources (e.g. sterilized crushed eggshells, mollusk shells, grit, bone, etc.) They must recognize as many natural foods as are possible to provide, or they will not survive release. The ability to recognize toxic plants in the natural environment is also a serious concern, since at least in part, this is learned from the mother.

Adult mammals should have free access to food, water, calcium and clean soil. If possible, foods should be presented whole, and the diet should include natural foods. When animals are admitted to rehabilitation, they should be fed what they would be eating in nature, as their digestive enzymes reflect what they have been eating. If they are to be weaned to a richer diet, it will take at least a few days before their digestive enzymes change and are at high enough levels to break down the new foods. During this time, the animal may not be receiving adequate nutrition. To prevent this, offer free choice of seasonal foods along with new foods, so the animal can pick and choose as it adjusts. When the animal is being released, it must be prepared to digest what is available in the wild, thus it is imperative that it has adjusted to those foods or it may not survive release.

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