What should you do if you find a wild animal in crisis ?

Remember:   Injured animals have the same 'golden hour' that humans have.   The sooner they receive treatment, the better their chances for survival.   Get them to care ASAP.

Please remember also, that though wild animals do not have the emotions that humans have, they  do experience pain, fear, stress, heat, cold, thirst, nausea, confusion...suffering in general.       Please do not leave an animal to suffer while you wait for the children to get out of school to see  it, act  as quickly and compassionately as you would like a rescuer to do for you or members  of  your  own family.   Thanks!

The Basics

Your safety first!   If it has teeth or can harm you, call for assistance.   Always wear gloves or use  a  towel or article of clothing to pick up a wild animal, then wash your hands thoroughly as an added precaution.

Any animal mauled by "the kitty" will need antibiotics.   Cat teeth are needle-like and their saliva  carries the deadly Pasteurella bacteria.   The tiny punctures may not be obvious right away, leading you to believe there are no wounds.   We find that the following day there will be tiny bumps with little scabs all over the victim.

If a bird strikes a window, even if it seems to recover within minutes, it needs to be observed for 24 to 48 hours, just like a human with a concussion.   Signs of distress may not show up for hours following the injury.

Never give an injured animal food or water.  It can lead to vomiting, aspiration and death.

Never give any wild bird or mammal cows milk, it causes diarrhea and may result in death.

Heat kills furred and feathered critters.   Do not leave them in closed vehicles, direct sun or near a heat source.   Naked babies are the exception...no fur...no feathers...it needs to be kept warm.

Never place a wild bird in a bird cage.  If the bird panics it may break feathers, wings, legs, feet and beaks.   Bird cages are for domestic birds that have been raised in cages.

Raccoons, coyotes, foxes, skunks, bobcats, lions and bats are the mammals most likely to carry rabies.  Call for assistance with these animals, no matter what their age.

Raptors (hawks, owls, eagles and falcons) kill their prey with their feet and talons (toe nails), then tear the flesh with their powerful beaks.   Small owls and falcons can be easily handled with gloves or a towel, but, please do not attempt to capture large raptors unless you have been specifically trained...call for assistance.

Don't create orphans.   If a baby bird has feathers and can hop, it doesn't need your assistance.  Put the kids, the cat, the dog and yourself in the house and let the parents take care of the baby, they can do a much better job.

Baby birds grow rapidly during the first two weeks of life.  In essence, they go from birth to teenager in about 15 days whereas it takes human babies 13 to 15 years...every few hours a baby is without proper nutrition is the equivalent of months without food for a human baby!

A baby mammal that attempts to run away from you probably doesn't need your assistance, unless it was brought home by 'the kitty' or you know for a fact, the mother is dead.   Babies that are in distress, look distressed.  They are unable to walk, appear sick, shiver, and may whimper and cry.

Remember; all wild animals are protected by the State and Federal Government.   Under existing laws, you may possess a wild animal no longer than it takes to get it to the nearest licensed wildlife rehabilitation facility for help.   Keeping wild animals captive is the equivalent of putting them in prison.  Please, always consider the animal first and do what is best for it.   Thanks again!