What to do if you find injured or orphaned wildlife.

The first thing to do is be sure that the animal is in need of help. Observe the animal from a distance. Does it seem distressed or disoriented? Is it lame or have visible wounds? How does the fur/feathers look? Are there flies or mosquitoes swarming around it?

Note the location found. If it is a bird, was it found near a window, base of a tree or in the middle of a yard? Was there a cat nearby? If it is a mammal, was it near or in the road, base of a tree or was there a cat or dog involved? Is it an adult, juvenile or infant? Note the behavior. Is it approaching people or pets? Is it circling, staggering or appear to be seizuring? Caution must be taken if it is a rabies vector species such as a raccoon, fox, coyote, skunk, or bat. ALL MAMMALS regardless of age can contract rabies. Never use bare hands or allow children to handle wildlife. A frightened or injured animal will bite. Be aware of the animals defenses. Mammals will bite and scratch, birds will use their beak or talons.  Once you have determined that the animal is in need of help, call your local animal control officer, veterinarian or the Dept of Fisheries and Wildlife for the nearest wildlife rehabilitator.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FEED!! If this is an orphan that has been without food for a length of time or hypothermic (cold) it could die! The first thing that must be done is to warm the animal. If it is a mammal, place it in a box or container with soft ravel free covers such as t-shirts, sweatshirts or best, baby receiving blankets. Fill a soda bottle with hot water, make sure the cover is tight and place the bottle in a sock. Tie the end of the sock and place the bottle in the container with the animal. The heat will radiate through without risk of burning the animal. Get it to a rehabilitator as soon as possible, the sooner it is in the hands of a knowledgeable person, the better the animals chances are of survival. If it is a bird, place it in a box or paper bag with shredded paper and a few air holes. Keep both mammals and birds in a quiet, warm, darkened place. This will help to keep them calm. Resist the urge to pet them, especially in the case of baby rabbits. This is extremely stressful. The common misconception is that the animal “is tame and likes to be petted”, when in fact it is eliciting a normal “freeze” response. To the animal, you are a predator and it is fearful. 

If you cannot get the animal to a rehabilitator immediately, again, be sure it is kept warm, DO NOT GIVE MILK OR MILK REPLACEMENTS! If the animal is severely dehydrated, warm Pedialyte may be given with an oral syringe. Make sure that the Pedialyte has been warmed prior to feeding and discard after 72 hours. Refrigerate opened bottles. Extreme caution must be taken when giving oral fluids as to not having the animal aspirate fluid into its lungs. If it snorts any fluid through its nose or is making a “clicking” sound, it may have inhaled fluid. STOP feeding and inform the rehabilitator. Pedialyte is NOT to be given for an extended length of time. This is an emergency measure for rehydrating the animal until it can reach the Rehabilitator. Check for external parasites. Mammals frequently have lice, mites, fleas, and in the case of an injured or debilitated animal, flies will lay eggs from which maggots will hatch. DO NOT USE OVER THE COUNTER FLEA PRODUCTS. Get the animal to a Rehabilitator as soon as possible. A flea comb may be used to pull maggots and fleas out of the fur, but flies will usually lay eggs in the eyes, nose, mouth and ears and will need veterinary as well as a rehabilitators care. Always wash hands thoroughly after handling any wildlife.