Coastal Humane Society and the Lincoln County Animal Shelter in Edgecomb are in the beginnings of “kitten season,” or that time of year when orphaned kittens and moms-to-be are discovered and brought in to the shelter.

Shelter front desk staff frequently gets calls about what to do when a kitten or group of kittens is found, and the answer might not be what you’d expect.

According to Dr. Mandie Wehr, director of shelter operations and veterinarian for Coastal Humane Society and Lincoln County Animal Shelter, the best thing to do is watch and wait for the kittens’ mother before doing anything else.

“Chances are those kittens have a mom nearby looking for food,” Wehr says. “If the kittens are young, especially six weeks of age or younger, it’s in their best interest to stay with their mother. That is their best chance of survival.”

The shelter urges anyone who discovers kittens on their property or in the woods to monitor the area from a distance for at least a day, and only disrupt the kittens if it looks like their mother isn’t returning. Of course, make an exception if the kittens are sickly or in harm’s way, if for example, they are in the path of predators or traffic.

If the mother cat does return, leave some food out and call the shelter to plan the next steps. The shelter has limited volunteers to call on to help trap animals in this situation, and animal control officers for each town are listed on the Coastal Humane Society website. The shelter also lends out Havahart traps as well from their 190 Pleasant St. building.

It’s a good idea to call ahead first so shelter staff can prepare a kennel for the animal or animals.

Once at the shelter, young kittens under 8 weeks old will go home with one of the shelter’s very experienced foster volunteers who work with neonatal kittens, kittens that need bottle feeding, and pregnant moms, and other animals with special needs.

“Kittens require lots of special care, and if they’re very young, it’s around the clock,” said Foster Coordinator Heather Straz. “Our foster volunteers know best how to care for them and do a great job making sure they get proper nutrition, that they’re going to the bathroom when they need to, that they’re healthy or getting healthier, that they’re clean, and that they’re being socialized.

“When they’re old enough and ready for adoption,” she continued, “the cats are spayed or neutered and updated on vaccinations. Then it’s on to the adoption floor and on to a new home.”

Both animal shelters are in urgent need of foster volunteers and are inviting anyone interested in helping out to come to their Kitten Shower and Foster Open House on May 1, from 1-4 p.m. at 190 Pleasant St. in Brunswick. Kittens will be present. Anyone who attends and brings items from their fostering wish list will be entered into a drawing for an L.L. Bean gift card valued at $50. To see the wish list, visit coastalhumanesociety.org. To R.S.V.P. or to learn more, email foster@coastalhumanesociety.org or call (207) 725- 5051.

Upcoming sale

The Plant & Rummage Sale for the Animals will take place May 14-15, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily at Coastal Humane Society, 190 Pleasant St., Brunswick. Sale of annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, shrubs and more, as well as rummage items, go to support Coastal Humane animals. Donate goods or plants to the sale at Coastal Humane’s Pleasant Street building. Call (207) 449-1366 for details.