What to Do If You Find Injured or Orphaned Wildlife

Juvenile Animals

Always Remember

Animal Collisions

Decide if You Should Intervene

Remain as calm as possible—try not to cause any stress to the wild animal—this will only cause it to try to get away, possibly further injuring itself. Without getting too close to the wild animal, observe it to determine what kind of animal it is, if it is in fact injured or orphaned, and what kind of injury it might have suffered. Do not touch or disturb the animal until you have spoken to authorities about the situation.

If you determine a wild animal needs help, call a wildlife rescue service. They will instruct you on your next course of action, and prevent harm to you and further harm to the animal. Be able to identify the animal—if not the exact name, at least the physical traits, including the approximate size.  

If you suspect an animal is orphaned, consider that in most cases, a baby animal left alone is not actually an orphan. Some animals, such as rabbits and deer, will leave their young alone and only visit a couple times a day for feeding—this draws less attention from predators. Others, such as foxes, will leave their young alone for long periods of time while they hunt for food.  It is important to leave these wild animals alone unless you are absolutely certain they are in need of your help. Remember, your very presence may be keeping mom away.

Commonly Found Juvenile Animals                                                           Back to Top 

Different animals require slightly different courses of action. You should always call your local wildlife rescue service to determine the best action to take for any found baby animal.  Here are some examples of animals you might see fairly often:

Birds

If you find a baby bird on the ground under or near a nest, do not automatically assume that it has fallen and needs your help. These birds, called fledglings, are often learning to fly by jumping out of the nest. The mother bird will continue to feed the baby on the ground until he learns to fly. Although these birds do not need you to return them to the nest, you should be conscious of likely predators. Try to keep cats and dogs away from the fledgling.

Squirrels

You typically will not see baby squirrels outside the drey, or nest. However, if after a big storm with heavy winds, you find baby squirrels who have blown out of their drey, place them in a box at the base of the tree. The mother should rescue her babies. If you notice that she does not return, contact your wildlife rescue service.  

Deer

If you find a fawn that seems healthy, but do not see her mother nearby, do not bother her. The mother is most likely close by waiting for you to leave before she goes back for her fawn. A fawn by herself is not necessarily orphaned. However, if you find a fawn who is obviously injured, bring her to a quiet place while you call your wildlife rescue service—and do not try to interact too much with her.  

Rabbits

Since rabbits build their nests on the ground, they have a fair chance of encountering people or pets. If you find a nest, it is important to leave it alone, even if you suspect the mother might be dead. If you have observed the nest for a day and have seen no activity, place a string over the top of the nest and wait until morning. If the string has moved, the mother has returned during your absence and these are not orphaned rabbits. If the string is in the same place, and the babies are cool, call your wildlife rescue service.

Always Remember                                                                                      Back to Top

Animals caught in the wild and brought in to your home have a very low chance of survival. The babies need to be raised by their mothers, and if that is not an option, they need to be taken to a wildlife rehabilitation center to increase their chances of survival. Bringing a wild animal into your home will not help it. Also, almost all birds and mammals are legally protected and it is against the law for you to have them in your home without a permit.

Animal Collisions                                                                                         Back to Top

Inevitably, because humans continue to use animals’ habitats for development, there will come a time when the two will clash. Unfortunately, the animal usually loses.  This is the case with roads bisecting animal habitats.

Avoid Animal Collisions

Drivers should avoid animal collisions as much as possible by driving carefully when on country roads, using high beams at night, paying attention to animal crossing signs, and limiting driving during high-risk times such as dawn and dusk. Do not beep at wildlife crossing the road as it will only frighten them, unless there is a deer in the road, in which case, a long sustained beep will encourage her to move. If there is an animal in the road, do not swerve. You are not sure which direction the animal will run, and swerving puts other motorists behind and coming toward you at risk. Instead, brake immediately.

If You Hit and Animal

Pull your car onto the shoulder, turn on your hazards, get out of your vehicle, and call the police. Report the accident, location, and condition of passengers and animal. Place flares behind your vehicle to warn traffic of the danger and wait for assistance. Do not attempt to approach or move the animal—it is frightened and may kick or bite.

Never leave the scene of an accident without informing local law enforcement, even if there is minimal damage to your vehicle. In fact, in some states, it is illegal to hit an animal and not report it to the local law enforcement. After you notify the police, call your local wildlife rescue service to see if they can come out also—maybe the animal can be saved.

Updated October 2009                                                                                      Back to Top

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