July 15, 2008
While looking for their lacrosse ball, a couple of teenagers heard a loud hissing noise coming from an old tree house. They climbed inside and spotted a baby vulture.
"I got home and I heard this little hissing sound. The boys said we found something, a little creature," said Michele Notto.
A little guy they have named Herbert.
"My sons told me they found it all alone, the mother had flown away so they wanted to help it," said Notto.
According to the Wildlife Center of Virginia, while helping may be one's first instinct, it is better to leave the animal alone.
"When people find animals like this it really is important to give them some space and leave them alone, because more often than not they're only using the area temporarily and will be gone," said Wildlife Center President, Edward Clark.
Now that Michele and her kids know how to care for Herbert, they are just enjoying having him around.
"It's so exciting to have a little creature in your yard. As much as the boys wanted to observe it, they haven't touched it. They've got a privilege and a great opportunity to see nature work, to see these little birds develop," said Notto.
Clark says generally vultures like to nest in flat ledges, but says a tree house is an uncommon location to nest.
The baby vulture is expected to stay in the tree house until it can fly, which will take up to eight weeks.
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