Milk Substitutes for the Orphaned Mammals Request

WildCare annually accepts 2,000 orphaned babies each year. On the average there are 1,000 baby mammals that require species-specific milk in order for them to grow strong. WildCare purchases $6,000 in powered milks annually.

Milk substitutes for wildlife vary tremendously by species. As an example:

Opossum milk 20% protein, 28% fat, 16% lactose and 24% solids where
Beaver milk 33% protein, 56% fat, 5% lactose and 34% solids.
In comparison to
Cow milk 26% protein, 30% fat, 37% lactose and 12% solids.

If these species-specific milks are not provided for these babies they will not be healthy babies if they even survive. The proper milk substitutes are essential for their survival.

A Cottontail baby nurseres 4 times a day drinking 3 cc each feeding.  A cottontail weans at 2.5 weeks of age.  It cost $0.71 for milk to nurse a cottontail.  That doesn’t sound like a lot but WildCare accepts 600 baby bunnies a year.  We spend $426 for cottontail milk each year. 

Budget for One Year Milk Substitutes
$6,000 One year’s milk supply
Total: $6,000 one year milk substitutes for the orphaned mammals