As an easily excitable Pit Bull and Boxer mix, my dog can be a little intimidating to smaller animals... and she doesn't know it. If she sees a bird or a rabbit in our backyard, she will go bounding over, and though I know she's just trying to make a friend, our visiting animal doesn't, so they usually run away immediately — not that I blame them for that. She probably looks so scary to them! I've tried many times to teach her to approach carefully, but her excitement gets the best of her every time.
My pup could probably learn a lesson from the one in this TikTok video, though. He saw a tiny animal in need, and not only was he so calm about it, he also tried his best to help. What a hero!
@thebernerbunch Weller loved his baby bird so much 🥹❤️ DISCLAIMER: If you find a baby bird with feathers (a fledgling), you should leave it where you found it, unless it is in immediate danger. It is a natural process for the fledglings to be out of the nest hopping around for several days before they can actually fly. The mother bird is most likely watching it from a tree close by and is still feeding it. However, if the baby bird is in immediate danger, you can very carefully move it to a safer spot close by. If you think the bird is injured, call a local wildlife rehabilitator. Also, It violates federal and state laws, such as the Migratory Bird Act, to possess any wild native American bird for any length of time without proper permits… even if you were doing so with the best intentions. #bernesemountaindog #babybird #gentlegiant #cutedog
♬ Rockin' Robin - Bobby Day
This video shared by @thebernerbunch on Thursday, July 4 shows a Bernese Mountain Dog named Weller discovering a baby bird in the grass, and trying his very best to be gentle around his new friend. Well, as gentle as a dog who can weigh over 100 pounds when fully grown can be, anyway!
This sweet giant is many, many times bigger than the baby bird who appeared stranded in the grass, but it didn't seem to bother the bird one bit. Weller just sat down right next to the bird, who seemed to be chirping happily with his new BFF nearby.
And when a neighborhood cat who's known for stalking birds started approaching, Weller became the ultimate bodyguard, keeping his new friend safe.
Weller continued to keep an eye on the bird and checked on it every day as it grew... though this story does have a bittersweet ending. The bird got big enough to fly away, which is great — not so great that Weller didn't understand where his new friend went. Poor guy!
What to Do If You Find a Baby Bird
If you happen to find a baby bird in your yard like Weller did, there are few important things to know if you want to help.
As the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service points out, the only time a baby bird on the ground needs your help is if they're featherless or have their eyes closed , since that means they aren't ready to leave the nest. You can put them back in the nest if you can find it nearby, but if you can't, leave them where you found them — their mama will find them and bring them back!
If they seem sick or injured, calling a wildlife rehabilitator is the best thing you can do.
Basically, we can all learn a lot from Weller — watch our tiny feathered friends from a distance and approach gently!
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