Every Spring, the SPCA Monterey County Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center rescues hundreds of baby birds and mammals. These tiny babies receive critical care while they are raised at the SPCA, and then released back into the wild. 

Many of these babies come to us from people unintentionally trimming trees during the wrong season. In our area, winter is the optimal season for tree trimming. 

The main reason for winter trimming is that birds and small mammals are usually not yet nesting, so they are not in danger of falling when a limb is trimmed. Also during this period, trees are in a dormant state, laying the foundation for new growth in the upcoming spring. Trimming in winter provides trees with added protection as they heal, as there are fewer pests and diseases present to harm them. 

Some of the first babies to arrive every year are hummingbirds. They come to us after being blown from trees during storms or when the trees and shrubs they are nesting in are trimmed. While our team will always try to reunite these little nestlings with their parents whenever possible, sometimes the baby is in too critical a condition or it is simply not safe to do so. 

You can help by avoiding trimming trees and shrubs during baby season. If you see a nest or baby bird on the ground, please call us at 831-264-5427 for advice. Hummingbird nests are tiny, about the size of a walnut or a golf ball. Because of this, they are almost impossible to see when trimming trees or shrubs. Hummingbird nestlings are even tinier, about the size of a jelly bean, and weigh about 1/3 the weight of a dime. 

You can also help by not attempting to feed rescued wild animals. Last year, one of the rescued babies had finders who attempted to feed her sugar water. It took weeks to carefully remove the crusty, crystalized sugar from her feathers. Even just one day of the wrong diet could injure or kill a rescued wild baby. Please always call the SPCA Wildlife Center for help.