Wildlife rehab center says some animals they take in didn't need to be helped

Just days before the Fourth of July weekend, staff at one Denver metro wildlife rehab center have a message for anyone headed outdoors: Think twice before taking an animal from its natural habitat.

Staff at the Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center said they’re seeing a huge influx of animals being brought in during the past month.

So far, they have 145 more animals than they did this time last year and June isn’t even their busiest month, July is.

They expect even more to come in during the next few days, especially during the Fourth of July weekend.

“We have a lot of people out camping and hiking and biking,” said Leah Peschock, the animal care supervisor at the center, “and that’s a lot of times when people will find an animal.”

The center is the only in the Denver Metro to take in birds and water fowl. They also take in mammals like raccoons and most recently received a marmot.

“Space is becoming limited,” said Paschock, “I mean, we’re stacking bins, were trying to find every little cubby we could possibly put these guys.”

Pashcok said there are times when people bringing in the animals are actually doing more harm than good.

“The best thing to do is just to leave it alone and take a look at it in a few hours,” she said.

Over at the center’s outdoor facilities, wildlife rehabilitator Amanda Manoa points out a few ducks that could have been left alone.

“We just want to make sure were not kidnapping,” she said, “mom might be around the corner and they just got separated.”

Manoa said they’ll still take the animals in and will make sure they’re ready to go off in the wild on their own.

The animals are usually released at a nearby private pond.

Manoa said if a gosling is found, it will often times be adopted by other adult geese.

She suggests calling the center before deciding to take off with an animal.

Plans for expanding the center are underway, but in the meantime, staff are relying on the help of other facilities in places like Colorado Springs to take in additional animals they may not have room for.