r/WildlifeRehab May 29 '17

READ ME! FAQ Found an animal???? Please go here first:

147 Upvotes

First of all, thank you for caring enough to help orphaned/injured/ill wildlife.

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.


r/WildlifeRehab 6h ago

SOS Bird Canada Goose with broken leg - do I let it be or continue to try to catch?

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15 Upvotes

We tried to catch twice with no luck because it can fly, my yard isn’t fenced, and there is a pond access in my yard. We have two ponds in the neighborhood, and right now it’s staying close to my yard during the day then flies toward the back pond for roosting every night.

Should I keep trying to catch if I get additional help (which always proves to be hard to find)? Or can this goose eventually heal to be strong enough to survive on its own?

I have spoken to a licensed rehabber and would bring it in to the wildlife hospital if I do catch. There is no one that will come out to catch it, so it would be up to me to catch & transport.

I’m conflicted because I don’t want it euthanized if it’s capable of surviving after the initial healing. But I also don’t want it to suffer if surviving means severe limitations and pain for the rest of its life. The ankle has been broken for 8 days at this point.


r/WildlifeRehab 5h ago

SOS Mammal What to do with this baby rabbit with leg disability?

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8 Upvotes

We found this baby bunny in our yard yesterday that hasn’t opened its eyes yet. It looks like it cannot use the back legs since it is just crawling and dragging the back legs. We decided to put it in a box after it was sitting at the same spot for the whole day. We have fed little bit of kitten milk with a feeding bottle.
This has never happened to us and we don’t know anything about rabbits so if anyone can help us answer some questions I would appreciate it!
1. How old does this guy appear to be? I am guessing a couple days old but wanted to make sure
2. Should I keep feeding him kitten milk and take care of it? We are open to permanently taking care if needed
3. Any other advice?
We live near Dallas, TX
Thank you so much!


r/WildlifeRehab 2h ago

SOS Reptile Florida, USA- Please help, i just found this lizard that was stuck in a bucket for who knows how long and he’s alive but not moving much. What do I do?

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2 Upvotes

r/WildlifeRehab 5h ago

SOS Mammal Need help with rescue

3 Upvotes

Found a tiny baby western meadow vole in the road, need to take it a wild life place for care none of local ones are helping, the one in pefferview said they will take him but I dont have a way of getting there lmk if anyone can take him or help currently in peterborough


r/WildlifeRehab 11m ago

SOS Mammal How to keep an injured baby squirrel overnight

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r/WildlifeRehab 14m ago

SOS Bird Injured/sick house finch? Spoiler

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Upvotes

This poor baby appeared at my bird feeder, and I want to make sure that whatever she is suffering from isn't contagious to our other visitors. This is my first time seeing her. She appears to have this mass on her side as well as her beak. She seems to be fully active and I am unable to catch her. Please advise! Located in Western Washington. Spoiler due to injury pictures!


r/WildlifeRehab 1h ago

SOS Bird Baby wren in a nest on my front porch, I am concerned with the way his wing is positioned here. Is this a concern of a break or defect?

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Upvotes

r/WildlifeRehab 1d ago

Discussion Grieving after Euthanasia

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79 Upvotes

I found a baby bird with a cobweb covering her face on the ground after work. Initially motionless, she attempted to fly away but only inches at a time. I called VEG ER in Long Island, NY, to see if I could bring her in for evaluation. They advised euthanasia, but I hoped she could be rehabilitated. After saying goodbye, I cried in my car, second-guessing my decision. I wondered if taking her to a wildlife rehab would have been different.

I’m curious if anyone has experienced a similar situation and what I can do differently next time.


r/WildlifeRehab 1d ago

SOS Bird Bird flu? In western ND with no rehabbers around…

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26 Upvotes

r/WildlifeRehab 12h ago

Rehab Methods Copper and zinc suits help injured penguins recover in Chile

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1 Upvotes

r/WildlifeRehab 1d ago

SOS Bird Does he need help?

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29 Upvotes

Hello together, my girlfriend and I found this little birb outside in Niedersachsen, Germany. We are staying in a resort close to a lake and found him rolling around outside.

He is unable to fly and is not good on his feet. He is constantly tripping. It is really windy out here and I am not sure if it is because if the wind or if he is sick/injured.

He also fell head first into a hole on the floor but we digged him up again as he was unable to escape on his own.

For know we put him in a more protected area outside.

Is it just a baby bird having a rough day or does he need to be rescued?

The local wildlife rescue centers are currently unavailable...

Appreciate every help <3


r/WildlifeRehab 19h ago

SOS Mammal Baby Squirrel Emergency

2 Upvotes

Hello! I am looking for someone in Oregon who could give me a hand. We recently found some baby squirrels. We believe they're fox squirrels so we can't take them into a rehabilitation center. I think they're about 4 weeks and I'm not quite sure what to do. They're definitely severely dehydrated And probably hungry. ​If there is anyone anywhere between Eugene and Portland really, that is able to take them in And get them rehabilitated t​hat has more experience please reach out ASAP. Thank you!


r/WildlifeRehab 23h ago

Discussion Raccoon damage?

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2 Upvotes

Been trying to catch a raccoon off and on now for about two months in my attic. My house is a concrete slab no basement. I was in the bathroom and just figured I’d check the rest of my house because this is the only area that I’m worried raccoon might be in my house. I found this damage under the bathtub. Not sure if it’s related to a raccoon or not and just to note that entry that is down it’s been like that for a couple years. I just never put it back up.


r/WildlifeRehab 1d ago

SOS Bird Sick injured crow need help or guidance

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2 Upvotes

r/WildlifeRehab 1d ago

SOS Mammal Deer mouse found, help!

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18 Upvotes

I found a dead mouse a few days ago and yesterday i saw a couple of little ones jumping around my driveway, I assumed the dead one I found might have been their mom. So I caught one and got it inside. It’s in an enclosure with a heating pad underneath it, from what I’ve researched, seems like it might be around 2-3 weeks old. It doesn’t like me to feed it, it did grabbed a little bit of the pedialyte that I gave it with a brush. It might have nibbled on some food too but hard to tell. I’ve been looking for some guidance and someone that could help me. Any ideas? Thoughts? Comments? Help. I’m in Michigan


r/WildlifeRehab 2d ago

SOS Bird Need rescue!

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31 Upvotes

hi, I’m in Richmond Va with a golden finch that appears to have an eye infection. it’s contained with ventilation. any help is greatly appreciate.


r/WildlifeRehab 1d ago

SOS Mammal Is this a fox with mange?

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7 Upvotes

Wondering if this is a fox, he seemed to be getting around pretty well but looked extremely skinny and mangy.


r/WildlifeRehab 1d ago

Discussion Attic - won’t leave at all

2 Upvotes

Off and on I have heard a animal in my attic making loud noises. I had a guy come out and install traps over the hole in my roof the first night he said that he seen the raccoon on his camera. That’s attached to the cage. come out so he went to go get it and he says the raccoon went back in the attic and just tripped the cage since then it’s been five days and that raccoon still has yet to come back out out of the attic for some reason he inspected the roof and he says the only other thing that he seen was a circular vent on my roof that has a piece of plastic in it and he seen no hair. I’m just trying to determine if this animal truly can live this many days without food and water.

I’ve been trying to catch this thing for Two months


r/WildlifeRehab 3d ago

SOS Bird Baby bird help!!

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24 Upvotes

I found this little baby bird on a sidewalk, I tried finding the nest but didn’t see anything. It’s making a lot of noise and moving around and every time I put my hand (im wearing gloves) near it it moves towards my hand with its mouth open. Right now I’ve put it in an empty little box with a bunch of paper towels in it but I don’t know what else to do, I’m in the OakPark IL area so if anyone knows any places I could bring it too! I’m pretty sure it’s also a type of sparrow


r/WildlifeRehab 2d ago

SOS Bird Mourning Dove Nestling or Fledging? In need of help or not?

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10 Upvotes

r/WildlifeRehab 4d ago

SOS Mammal Options for this Squirrel?

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130 Upvotes

I'm in Colorado and am worried about this squirrel. The lesion has been progressing over the last several weeks but she's still eating well and active / foraging / evading predators. Any suggestions? Concerned she'd be immediately euthanized if taken to rehab or if she loses the eye, despite her activity levels and normal (current) quality of life. Could this be squirrel pox?


r/WildlifeRehab 3d ago

SOS Bird Is this bird okay?

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23 Upvotes

I found it on my front yard under a tree. It had its mouth open nearly the whole time and tried to walk a little bit but kind of stumbled. It didn’t look hurt. It’s been there a few hours and wildlife hotline is closed as it’s evening. Should I do anything? I feel so bad


r/WildlifeRehab 4d ago

Education Is this deer park humane?

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14 Upvotes