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This week old baby buck was found in a Tallahassee backyard Wednesday morning. He ended up in Donna Cross’s care at the wildlife rescue organization St. Francis Wildlife.

“He’s scared. He’s not sure what’s going on. He was found drenched,” says Cross.
“Because of Fay, there’s so much flooding that the mothers are able to get away but the babies, they can’t follow.”

It’ll be 6 to 8 months before these fawns are ready to be released into the wild.

The orphaned baby buck is not alone. There is a baby raccoon, which Cross says barely survived. “She was brought in drenched, wet, coming down a drainage in the street. And somebody found her. They thought it was a kitten.”

Add a hawk with an injured wing. “She’s dehydrated, she’s emaciated. Not finding food in the storms right now so we’re force feeding her.” says Cross.

There are also hundreds of baby squirrels. Brandy Weaver of the Northwood Animal Hospital took in a hundred in three hours on Sunday.

“Typically,” says Weaver, “From the wind from the storm, their nest was blown down.”

Volunteers are braving a muddy dirt road out in the country that more often has them getting stuck then getting through just to try and save the animal. Volunteer Amy Beach  her husband came to feed the squirrels.

“Our girls are quite anxious for us to get home and take some home with us so they can help feed them” says Beach.

In all but a few cases, the animals are released back into the wild after regaining their health. The 30 year old organization depends on volunteers, donations and some grants to stay in operation. You can learn more about it and how to care for and help injured animals at its website:

http://www.stfranciswildlife.org/