Maladaptation / Failure to thrive

Pertaining to any animal that has not acquired the necessary skills in order to function within the environment in a species appropriate manner. Initial assessment of this condition may depend on the rescuer’s biological knowledge/experience of/with the animal. This term typically applies to animals that have not learned the necessary skills to hunt or forage (first year juvenile raptors), build or seek appropriate shelter, or interact with their environment in a manner that considered normal for that species.

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