Wildlife Information - What to Do
If you've come to this part of our web site, you've probably come here for one or more of the following reasons:
Initial screening
Whether you’ve found a baby bird, turtle in the road, or loon washed up on the beach, please read through the following information to see whether the animal actually needs assistance.
Please contain the animal, because wild animals will try to hide within a short time period of time. If it’s a baby follow our warming guidelines. Also know that since we are a volunteer organization, we rely on the kindness of people like you who have cared enough to help the animal to go that extra step and transport it to one of our licensed wildlife rehabilitators as e do not have regular rescuers and transporters.
If the wildlife you have found is apparently injured, sick, hit by a vehicle, or found near a dog or cat please call our Hotline (757.543.7000) immediately.
If it’s not obviously injured, look for any of the following. If you can answer yes to one or more of the following, please call our Hotline (757.543.7000) immediately:
· Is there bleeding? (past or present)
· Torn or punctured skin?
· If it’s a bird, does it look extra “inflated“?
· Is there heavy breathing, gasping, lack of regular breathing
· Bruising apparent? Please note: birds bruise green, and do not get gangrene
· Unable to stand, stands awkwardly, drags foot or leg, has a head tilt
· Broken limbs, wing or leg hanging awkwardly or at odd angle
· Is it cold? The bird or animal should be warm to the touch
· Is it thin? Baby birds are mostly abdomen and normally have a pot-bellied appearance, baby mammals should look plump
· If it’s a bird, does the skin on the neck or abdomen look wrinkled or like tissue paper?
· If it’s a mammal, does the skin stay “tented” when pulled up between the shoulder blades?
· Are the eyes clear and bright? Dull or sunken eyes are signs of illness, dehydration, and/or emaciation
· Is it stunned by striking against a window or building, but has no signs of injuries?
· Was the animal found in a chimney, swimming pool, or garage?
· Is it lethargic, sleepy, non-responsive?
· Are there flies or ants on or near the animal/bird?
· Any white or pale yellow “grains of rice” on skin, feathers, feather shafts, fur, or in ears?
· Are dead siblings or parents nearby?
· Have children or pets handled it?
· Is it in immediate danger, does it stay in place when approached?
· Are the weather conditions bad?
· Have you already attempted to reunite or renest?
· Are you just not sure?
Rescue AND TRANSPORTAION
General information
BABIES: If the animal is healthy, and renesting is an option; refer to the section on “Renesting and Reuniting” Procedures. If it is in a position where it cannot be safely renested or reunited with its parent, it will need to come into care. Please remember that baby animals and birds are fragile and usually do not bite. However, you should always use caution. Use gloves and/or a small towel and gently pick up the baby. They can be placed in a small box lined with a towel or soft paper towels or tissue. Cover the box so the baby doesn’t escape, and give no food or water before transporting to the rehabilitator.
ADULTS: In order to minimize contact between you and a potentially dangerous adult animal, wear thick gloves and use a heavier towel to cover it and place it in a dog or cat crate. In the case of most birds, cardboard boxes may be used safely. Use good judgment and exercise extreme caution as the animal or bird does not realize they are trying to help. Remember, any injured adult could potentially be caring for young, especially if it is a female. Stay alert for possible babies in the area. Do not to give food or water. The confined animal can now be transported to a licensed rehabilitator.
WARMING GUIDELINES
A quick message about warming animals and birds for transportation. Many birds and mammals are found stunned, hit by vehicles, etc. These animals will most likely be losing body heat due to shock. During the spring and summer, young animals are prone to hypothermia because they are no longer in their nest or with siblings to share body heat. There are several methods for warming animals:
a heating pad set on low can be placed below half of the container holding the animal
plastic soda bottles or doubled zip lock baggies filled with warm water can be wrapped in cloth or placed inside socks and placed near the animal
an old sock filled with about one cup of raw, uncooked rice and heated in the microwave for 45-60 seconds will maintain heat for a hour or two
Please be careful not to overheat the animal. Wrap the source of heat in layers of cloth or towel until the temperature feels safe enough to place beside the animal. If they have a small bird or baby mammal, turn it every 15 minutes so his body warms evenly while they transport it to a WRI licensed rehabilitator.
Also note: Raptors do not require heat unless they are hypothermic! Raptors will quickly overheat due to stress, and some birds such as Coopers Hawks and Sharp Shinned Hawks may become hyperthermic (overheated) and die on the short drive to the rehabilitator.
Why we ask you to transport
· It can take many hours to find a transporter and the animal you have found needs helps ASAP
· If you do not have a vehicle, please ask a neighbor, friend, or family member to help
· If you are at work, can you transport the animal during lunch or after work, or find a coworker who may be willing to help?
· If absolutely cannot transport the animal you MUST at least contain the animal under a basket, in a yard, etc.
WHY you MUST NOT GIVE FOOD OR WATER
· Aspiration of food or fluid can cause pneumonia
· Dehydrated animals will die if given food before being rehydrated
· Birds must be identified to determine proper diet
· The wrong diet or baby formula can be very harmful
Why can’t you raise or keep wildlife
· Young animals and birds require a large amount of care. Birds may need feedings every 10- 15 minutes, and mammals may need 2 – 4 hours feedings around the clock.
· Wild animals do not make good pets. At maturity, most will become aggressive
· Proper nutrition is essential for the animal’s survival
· Wildlife can carry illnesses that can be transferred to humans and pets
· It is illegal in the state of Virginia to hold wildlife without proper permits
It is almost impossible to catch a flying bird. It may be caught if it is weak, has a fractured wing, or head injury. You may attempt to catch it by using a crab or fish net, towel, or sheet. Alternative nets can be made out of a pillowcase with wire coat hanger run through the hem of the case then bent into a circle. The “net” can then be attached to a broom handle with duct tape or string wrapped around the wire to the handle.
Sick or injured birds may be caught by throwing a towel on top of it. You can then scoop the bird and towel together and placing both into a box.
All birds (except owls) and squirrels will most always escape into the light. If you have a bird or squirrel in your home, please know that getting it out of your home is a simple procedure.
- try to confine the bird or squirrel to one room. Shut the doors to the rest of the house or block open areas with sheets
- If it is injured, wait an hour for it to calm down. You can then attempt to catch it using a net or towel then place the bird or animal in a box, dog, or cat crate
- If it is uninjured turn off lights in room
- open one window or door to the outside in the room the animal is contained and the bird or squirrel should escape
- Remember to keep pets and people out of room
- Remember- If the bird or squirrel is injured it should be captured and taken to a rehabilitator
WRI receives calls from stores and warehouses about birds that become trapped in their facilities. It is sometimes very difficult to get a bird out of a warehouse - but the same basic principals apply as if it were in a home.
If the bird is a raptor, please call our Hotline (757.543.7000) for help.
Mammals and birds will occasionally be trapped in chimneys. You can try to use a rope placed in one of the corners of the chimney to help the animal climb out. In most cases, however, the animal will have to be allowed to get into the fireplace before it can be helped out of the home. Close the screen or glass in front of the fireplace. If nothing is in front of it, place a piece of plywood or hang a sheet in front of it. Open the flue and allow the animal into the fireplace. Use the instructions for “Birds and Squirrels Trapped in a House”.
If the animal is a raccoon, duck, or other large animal, please call our Hotline (757.543.7000) for help.
Birds usually attack windows for a few reasons:
- They are territorial. Birds during pre-breeding and breeding season stake out “territories”, an area that the pair of birds will not allow others of their species to live. These birds may see their own reflection and mistake it for a rival bird. They will strike out at reflections in mirrors, windows, parked cars, etc. The way to correct this problem is to remove the reflection. In windows, this can be accomplished by closing curtains, placing paper on the outside of the window (as long as it’s not going to rain in the next few days), or applying window clings or frosting the window. Yellow Highlighter has also been proven to work. With cars, you should move the car for a few days or cover it with a car cover.
- They see a continuation of the trees and bushes near the window. Again, closing curtains, placing paper on the outside of the window (as long as it’s not going to rain in the next few days), or applying window clings or frosting, or marking the window with yellow highlighter will help break up the appearance of bushes and trees. Another helpful hint would be to remove some of the limbs and bushes near the window.
- The bird is being chased. Birds being chased by predators, particularly hawks such as Coopers and Sharp Shinned hawks, will fly head long into a window. Occasionally, the hawk will follow behind the prey, and hit the same window.
If the bird has hit a window, please pick it up and call our Hotline (757.54.7000). They often have concussions or other injuries. Birds that hit windows should not be released until they receive medical attention.
Please call our Hotline (757.543.7000) for help
House finches and sparrows are sometimes seen with swollen eyes. These birds have a condition called conjunctivitis. The condition starts as draining, crusty eyes quickly incapacitates the bird by basically making it unable to see. This is a highly contagious disease to other sparrows and finches. Please contain the bird and call our Hotline (757.543.7000). You will need to transport the bird to a rehabilitator for care.
Also, please do the following: take down your feeders, clean them with the following procedures:
- Take down feeder and throw remaining seed away in their trash can
- Clean up any seed that's on the ground
- Use a 1 part bleach to 30 parts water solution to clean the entire feeder
- Let the feeder air dry
- Use the remaining bleach solution on the ground under the feeder to help disinfect the area
- Repeat the cleaning every day for several weeks to minimize the spread of the disease
Wildlife with fishing line wrapped around it should be caught as soon as possible. Unfortunately, this can be hard to do as they may still be mobile enough to escape capture until they are debilitated. Never remove a fish hook as this can damage the animal further. If the animal has been captured, you should call our Hotline (757.543.7000) so that you can get information about which rehabilitator to transport it to.
If the animal is hanging, and you cannot reach it, or it has a bottle or jar stuck on its head immediately call our Hotline for help.
. If you need immediate assistance, please call our 24/7 Hotline 757.543.7000
