Wildlife Care: How to Help Injured or Orphaned Animals
Every year wild animals end up injured or separated from parents after storms, car strikes, or human activity. You don’t need special training to help safely — you just need the right steps and the right people to call. This quick guide shows what to do first, what to avoid, and who to contact.
Immediate Steps if You Find an Injured Animal
First, keep yourself safe. Wild animals can bite or scratch when scared. Watch from a distance for a minute to see if the animal moves on its own. If it’s clearly hurt, put on gloves or use a towel before handling.
Contain without stressing. Place the animal in a cardboard box or pet carrier lined with a towel. Keep the box dark and quiet. Do not try to feed or give water unless a wildlife professional tells you to — that can do more harm than good.
Use gentle warmth for stunned animals like cold fledglings or small mammals. A wrapped hot water bottle or a warmed rice sock (not hot) under the towel helps. Keep noise low and avoid bright lights; stress makes injuries worse.
When to Call a Wildlife Rehabilitator
Call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator if the animal is bleeding, has a broken limb, is hit by a car, or is a baby that clearly needs help. If you’re unsure, call local animal control, a rehab center, or a veterinarian who works with wildlife. Give them specific details: species, location found, visible injuries, and the animal’s behavior.
Many places have laws about keeping wild animals. Some species need immediate professional care, and it may be illegal to keep them at home. Rehabbers know local rules and can offer temporary care or arrange transport.
For baby birds: don’t assume the nest is abandoned. Watch for an hour from a distance — parents often return. If a nestling has fallen and you can safely reach it, put it back. If it’s a fledgling (fluffy and hopping), it usually should stay on the ground while learning to fly unless it’s injured.
For mammals: young squirrels, rabbits, and raccoons aren’t always orphaned. If a nest or den was disturbed, look around for signs of the mother returning. If the animal is cold, injured, or clearly alone for many hours, contact a rehabber.
Simple prevention helps a lot: make yards wildlife-friendly with native plants, cover pool drains, check for nests before trimming hedges, and keep pets supervised. If you drive in areas with wildlife, slow down at dawn and dusk.
If you can’t help directly, support your local rehab center with donations, supplies (towels, carrier boxes), or volunteer time. They do crucial work and often run on small budgets.
Helping wildlife starts with caution and ends with the right call. You don’t have to be an expert — just calm, careful, and willing to connect the animal with people who are.
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