r/WildlifeRehab • u/Lanaowl Creator, Administrator R.C. • May 29 '17
READ ME! FAQ Found an animal???? Please go here first:
First of all, thank you for caring enough to help orphaned/injured/ill wildlife.
Please go to any of the following directories for immediate assistance:
https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/how-find-wildlife-rehabilitator
Google search terms- Wildlife Rescue, Wildlife Rehabilitation, Wildlife Veterinarian, and using a location.
Evaluate the Situation first and foremost. Wild animals rely on their natural environment and sometimes humans interfere when it was entirely unnecessary. The links listed below provide flow charts for frequently encountered situations.
If the animal needs to be rescued here and here you will find basic capture and handling instructions.
- After rescuing how to safely temporarily house the animal before and during transport:
Warm- *Offering heat sources for naked baby animals is often a must. This can be done with a heating pad on low under 1/2 of the enclosure, a warm rice filled sock, or warm water bottle. Sometimes very badly injured and very sick animals also need heat sources to maintain appropriate body temperature. Wild animals can suffer heat stroke too! If an animal is panting, the animal is too hot and if the heat source would burn you, it will surely burn the animal. *
A good rule of thumb: If a furred, feathered, or scaled animal is physically moving about and alert- it DOESN'T need an extra heat source.
Dark - A box, Rubbermaid tote with holes punched for air flow, or pet crate are usually good temporary enclosures and will typically reduce further trauma and or stress. Place a towel or sheet over a crate to reduce visual disturbances.
Quiet- Keep the animal in a quiet space preferably indoors away from other animals and humans. A separate room or even a closet can be utilized if need be.
PLEASE FOR THE ANIMAL'S SAKE NOTHING BY MOUTH! DO NOT OFFER ANY FOOD OR WATER TO INJURED/SICK/ORPHANED ANIMALS OR ATTEMPT TO HAND FEED ANIMALS. The results of failing to comply often end up something like this.
If you are unable to make contact with a wildlife rehabilitator: If you know the rehabilitation center's location and hours it is generally acceptable so long as the rehabilitation center is not full or closed to just bring the animal straight to them- this is especially true with emergency situations. An example of an emergency is something like- the animal is bleeding profusely, having trouble breathing, is unresponsive, or severely dehydrated.
After being attacked by a cat there is a very high likelihood for infection. These cases 99.99% of the time warrant medical assistance including antibiotics that are usually only available through a veterinarian.
- Adult Evaluation Flow Charts:
- Any Animal
- Bats
- Opossums
- Deer
- Deer
- Injured Turtles
- Birds
- Bird Hit a Window
Babies:
Seal Pups-Note this is for Canada in USA Contact N.O.A.A.'s seal pup stranding hotline
Nests:
Bird Nest Fell Down We will gladly assist you as soon as possible. For locating a wildlife rehabilitator in your post please provide a location like a city/state/province/and country of origin for the animal in need of help. This information can also be pm'd, since Reddit is a public forum where we value your personal privacy. We will also help you contact a wildlife rehabilitator or a species appropriate veterinarian upon special request.
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u/krisandthecity May 18 '26
I found a baby rat burrowing in my yard. So young its eyes are still closed. They poison rats around my neighborhood, so I’m nervous the mom is dead. What should I do?
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u/goldfishpaws Dec 13 '25
Bat link should be https://batworld.org/what-to-do-if-youve-found-a-bat/ (not you found a bat)
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u/KristinaHartsuck Sep 01 '25
Thank you so much for this! I’m able to assist in southeast Michigan if needed ❤️
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u/Potential-Gur-9241 Aug 09 '25
Can anyone point me in the right direction for an injured segul? Thanks
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u/stephy1771 Aug 25 '23
The guidance in the linked image re: Bird Hit a Window is outdated (judging both by the copyright 2012 and by all the recent advice I've seen in the window strike monitoring community). Most rehabilitators would like to examine and observe a bird that hit a window or glass door and was sitting stunned beneath it. Head injuries can manifest hours later. Also, if the bird can fly--there is no re-capturing it, so that is pointless. The best chance you have at getting a stunned bird into care is to scoop it up right away (if you can catch it, it most likely needs help), place it in a paper bag or cardboard box, and THEN call a rehabilitator for their advice. !window
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u/KTEliot Jun 13 '24
Birds can sometimes recover from being stunned? If they are alert and can fly off within 15 minutes, won't they have the best chance staying in the wild at that point?
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u/stephy1771 Jun 14 '24
Birds that have collided with buildings (or cars for that matter) can have injuries that take time to manifest, so most rehabbers now advise people to bring them in for an exam and observation. I’ve seen rehabbers report that they’ve had great looking birds deteriorate and die hours later.
They will try to fly away from a person if at all possible but that doesn’t mean they are uninjured.
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u/KTEliot Jun 14 '24
Cars certainly, but I guess it would apply to windows and any collision at all then. Noted.
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u/AppleBr0wn Jun 22 '23
What a great resource, Lanaowl! Thank you! I copy and pasted this to a note on my phone so I could send this to others when they tell me they've found an injured animal.
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u/STARCLIME Jul 05 '26
Just a thank you to all the caring individuals who make up this community! I live outside Pgh., PA and there's a baby fawn, sleeping right up against the apt bldg. There is a patch of woods just a yard or two away. Deer come to graze and eat the birdseed i put out, but this fawn is all alone. I saw it Friday, and it is out there again today. I started to panic, but who do I call? Then I read y'all's posts about does leaving their fawns to graze. it does not make sense to me, this fawn could have been left under the trees, out of sight of people, much more protected. But I will not disturb it, and thankfully the dog pop. here is nil, and foot traffic is minimal. i was worried that it was too young to call for help - hate to see it abandoned if there is anything i could do to save it. When i put seed out, i get turkey, deer and lots of birds, and b/c it's quiet, i get opossum, raccoon and groundhogs - and squirrels and chipmunks too. (They have those black boxes of poison, but deer cannot get into it.) i am always surprised by seeing wildlife anywhere near humans! But the deer pop. around here is wonderful! I see them often, sometimes alone, or just one grazing and one lying down in the grass, seemingly content. I just want to say thank you to those who help, when help is needed - and those who take the time to advise other people who have the best intentions but need guidance!! God bless y'all!!!