Found injured or baby wildlife? What to do

If you find injured wildlife or a baby wild animal, the best first step is usually to slow down, keep your distance, and watch before acting. Many young wild animals are not abandoned at all, but if the animal is clearly hurt, truly orphaned, or in immediate danger, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or the official wildlife office for your area as soon as you can.

First decide whether the animal really needs help

This is the hardest part for most people.

A baby animal that looks alone is often exactly where it should be. Deer mothers leave fawns hidden for long stretches while they feed. Young birds often leave the nest before they can fly well and spend time hopping on the ground while their parents keep feeding them nearby.

That means the kindest choice is often to do less, not more.

Before touching anything, stop and look from a distance. Ask a few simple questions:

• Is the animal bleeding or obviously injured?
• Do you know the parent is dead?
• Is the animal tangled in something manmade?
• Is it in immediate danger from traffic, pets, or people?

If the answer is no, the animal may not need to be taken anywhere.

For baby birds, it helps to tell a nestling from a fledgling. A nestling is very young and still belongs in the nest. A fledgling has feathers and may hop around on the ground for several days while it learns to fly. That ground stage is normal.

If you are unsure which agency usually handles wildlife versus pets or stray animals in your area, this guide can help: Animal control vs. the state wildlife agency: who handles what.

Keep yourself, kids, and pets safe

Wild animals are not safe to handle just because they are small, weak, or quiet.

Even a young animal can scratch or bite. Wild animals can also carry parasites and diseases. Bats deserve extra caution because rabies exposure can happen from a bite or scratch, and CDC says to seek medical help right away if a bat bit or scratched you. CDC also says to get urgent medical advice if bat saliva or brain material got into your eyes, nose, mouth, or an open wound.

So start with safety.

Move children back.

Bring dogs and cats inside, or leash them well away from the animal.

Do not try to cuddle, feed, wash, or comfort the animal.

If you must be near it for a short time, avoid bare-hand contact.

If a bat is in your home, CDC advises contacting animal control or your health department so it can be safely captured for rabies testing if needed.

What to do right away

Use this simple checklist.

1. Watch first. Stay back and observe quietly for a little while.
2. Clear the area. Keep pets, children, and crowds away.
3. Only move the animal if there is immediate danger. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says a baby animal in a dangerous location can sometimes be moved a short distance to a safer nearby spot. Do not try to move adult wild animals.
4. If it is a baby bird, check whether it can be reunited. Wisconsin DNR says an uninjured featherless songbird can be placed back in its nest. If the nest is gone, an artificial nest can be made in a clean plastic container with drainage holes, secured as close as possible to the original nest site. Then watch from a distance for at least one hour to see whether the parents return.
5. Call for expert help if the animal is truly injured or orphaned. The right office may be a state wildlife agency, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, animal control, or another local agency depending on where you live.
6. If a rehabilitator or official tells you to contain the animal, keep it simple. Texas Parks and Wildlife says a small animal can be placed in a pet carrier or sturdy cardboard box, and the container can be covered with a towel.
7. Keep it dark, quiet, and leave it alone. Stress can make an injured wild animal worse.
8. Do not give food or water. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says never give food or water to injured or orphaned wildlife because the wrong food can make the animal sick or kill it.

That last point matters more than many people realize. Good intentions cause a lot of harm in wildlife cases. Wrong food, too much handling, or keeping the animal too long can reduce its chance of survival.

When to call for professional help now

Some situations should move quickly from "watch and wait" to "call now."

Call for help if the animal has clear injuries, an open wound, or a known dead parent nearby.

Call if the animal is tangled in fencing, netting, fishing line, or another manmade object.

Call if the animal is a bat and there was any possible human contact.

Call if a baby animal has already been brought inside and you are not sure how long it has been away from the parent.

Call if you are dealing with a raptor, large mammal, marine animal, or any species that could seriously injure a person.

In many places, only permitted wildlife rehabilitators may legally keep and treat wildlife. Texas Parks and Wildlife states plainly that it is illegal to possess wildlife without the required state and federal permits. That is one big reason it is better to make the call early instead of trying home care first.

A licensed wildlife rehabilitator can also tell you whether the animal needs rescue at all. Sometimes the best advice will still be to put the animal back and leave the area.

Special cases: birds, fawns, bats, and marine wildlife

Some wildlife situations come up over and over.

Baby birds: If the bird is featherless or mostly featherless, it may need to go back into the nest. If it has feathers and is hopping, it may be a normal fledgling. Keep cats, dogs, and people away and watch from a distance.

Fawns: A fawn lying quietly by itself is often not orphaned. Virginia DWR says does return several times each day to move or feed their young. If a healthy fawn was picked up by mistake, state advice can vary, but Virginia says that if less than 24 hours have passed, the fawn should be returned to the exact same location where it was found.

Bats: Never pick up a bat with bare hands. If you know you were bitten or scratched, wash the wound with soap and water and get medical help right away. If there may have been contact, contact your local health department for guidance.

Sea turtles, seals, dolphins, whales, and other marine wildlife: Do not push them back into the water. NOAA says to report sick, injured, stranded, or dead marine mammals and sea turtles to the local stranding network right away. NOAA also says to keep people and pets back a safe distance of at least 50 yards, which is 150 feet.

Who to call and how to find the right office

Who handles wildlife calls can change from one place to the next.

In one county, the first call may be a state wildlife agency office or a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. In another, animal control may be the practical first stop, especially if the animal is creating an immediate neighborhood problem or the public needs to be kept back.

The fastest way to sort that out is to use local tools instead of guessing.

Start here:

• Animal problem: who to call
• search your city, county or ZIP
• state-by-state pages

If the animal is in a house, garage, or other building, you may also want this guide: A wild animal got into your house: what to do.

Rules differ by state, species, and city, so confirm the next step with the relevant official office for your area where needed.

Frequently asked questions

Should I give an injured wild animal food or water?

Usually no.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says never give food or water to injured or orphaned wildlife. Wild animals have very specific needs, and the wrong food or liquid can make the situation worse very fast.

Can I put a baby bird back in the nest?

Yes, if it is uninjured and clearly too young to be out of the nest.

Wisconsin DNR says a featherless songbird or one with only a few small feathers can be put back in its nest. If the nest is gone, an artificial nest can be used near the original location, and parents should be watched for from a distance for at least one hour.

I found a fawn alone. Is it abandoned?

Usually not.

Mother deer commonly leave fawns alone for long periods so predators do not find them. If the fawn looks healthy and quiet, the safest choice is often to leave it where it is and keep people and pets away.

What if I was bitten or scratched by wildlife?

Wash the wound with soap and water and get medical advice right away.

This is especially important with bats. If a bat may have exposed you, CDC says to contact your local health department to discuss testing and rabies follow-up. For more on the reporting side, see How to report an animal bite and what happens next.