So far in 2026, we’ve cared for and treated 12 swans… and all but 3 had high levels of lead!

Lead is one of the most dangerous toxins in our environment.

Did you know that one tiny piece of lead, the size of a pencil tip, could kill a swan, loon or mallard?

Up to 100,000 water birds such as swans, loons and wading birds are estimated to die every year from accidentally ingesting lead shotgun pellets and discarded fishing tackle, due to their resemblance to seeds and grit.

As birds lack teeth to help them breakdown their food, they’ve developed an adaptation where they ingest small, hard objects known as ‘grit’, such as pebbles and small rocks, which they collect in a specialized muscular organ called the gizzard. As food passes through, the gizzard contracts and uses the grit to break down plant material for digestion. This grinding releases lead into the animals’ blood stream and NO amount of lead is safe.

Treating lead exposure is expensive, complicated, and puts a significant strain on our patients!

Chelation treatment is the best tool rehabbers have for fighting lead toxicity (think of chemotherapy, but for lead). This is a complicated process during which multiple medications and vitamins are used in conjunction with one another; working together, they bind the lead in the patient’s body into a compound that can be excreted through urine. Chelation treatment can be a lengthy process, and some patients must undergo multiple chelation treatments in order to be lead-free. Each patient requires months of laborious, expensive care.

Just one round of chelation is $400. The average number of treatments our swans need to be lead-free is 5. That’s $2,000 for just one bird… and we’ve treated 9 so far this year, that’s $18,000!

As spring approaches, we want to share with you many of the questions we receive through our wildlife hotline regarding wild babies. 

In our last issue we covered baby squirrels and the concerns you may have when you find them PLUS what to do… or not to do. You can find this article on our website under ‘in the news’ if you’d like to revisit this story.

In this issue, we’d like to educate you on baby Cottontail rabbits.  Cottontails make up a good portion of the spring calls we receive as baby Cottontails seem to be everywhere at this time of year!

Q: Mom has not been around all day – I think she’s abandoned her babies – should I intervene? 

A: No. Moms will only feed her babies 2 times a day… at dusk and dawn. She does this to prevent predators from following her to the nest

Q: Should I feed them? 

A: No!! Improper food or milk can kill them. Baby Cottontails are very fragile little creatures and if they DO indeed need help, they need help from a licensed rehabilitator.

Q: How do I know mom is coming back to feed her babies? 

A: Typically, if you see a nest of bunnies, they should be active, plump and wiggly. If they look lethargic, thin and wrinkly, call us immediately.

Q: Is the bunny old enough to be on its own? 

A: Generally, if the baby is 4-5 inches long (10 to 13 cm.), the ears are up and it’s active, it is likely just fine. Bunnies are independent at 3 weeks of age.

Q: Is the bunny supposed to be out of the nest? 

A: Young bunnies will often explore outside the nest before being fully weaned. They do not need help.

Q: I found the nest in a bad spot. Can I move it?

A: No. The nest needs to be in the same spot in order for mom to locate and care for her babies.

Q: What do I do if I run over the nest with a lawnmower? 

A: Check and see if the bunnies have any injuries – if they do, call us immediately. If they escaped injury, you can rebuild their nest by gathering the nest material that was on top of the nest (usually dry grasses, leaves and fur that mom plucks from her tummy). When mom comes back to feed her babies, she will check her nest and complete any renovations needed.

If finders have questions about bunnies (or any other wild animal); they can call us to get clarification and/or guidance to determine if the babies really need our intervention. 705-437-4654

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WILD ONES CURRENTLY IN OUR CARE