What to Do if You
Find a Wild Animal

Have you found a wild animal you believe is sick or injured? Check out the information below to see if it needs to be rescued or not.

If you are unsure, please call us for advice! We will help you determine if the animal truly needs to be rescued, if it should be left alone, or —if it is a baby — if it can be reunited with its mother.

Call Us

These animals always need to be rescued:

A Guide to Wildlife Rescue

Your safety is the first priority. Never put yourself at risk.

Prepare a cardboard box (shipping box, shoe box, etc.) or kennel by placing an old t-shirt or towel in the bottome. Tip: Punch air holes in the top of plastic containers!

Do not directly handle the animal at any point. Wear gloves and use thick towels or blankets to pick up the animal and place it into your container. For large birds or mammals, wear long sleeves, thick work gloves, and protective eyewear if possible.

Place the animal in a dark, quiet location that is relatively temperature-controlled until you can transport it to us.

Do not keep the animal longer than absolutely necessary.
Note exactly where you found it. This is important for release.
Baby animals always need an external source of heat. Warm a sock with rice in the microwave, wrap a linen around it, and place it in the box.

"Do Nots" of Rescue

Do not provide food or water for the animal. Do not attempt to feed a baby animal any kind of formula. Doing so is dangerous for you and for the animal, sometimes causing severe harm to a patient.
Do not attempt to treat an animal's wounds yourself. Do not offer it medicine. Doing so is illegal and may harm the animal.
Never handle bats, raccoons, foxes or skunks (common rabies vectors) with bare hands.
Do not pet, talk to, take photos of, or play loud music around the animal. What might be comforting to you is not comforting to a wild animal in distress.
During transport, do not play the radio, smoke, or blast air conditioner.

Baby flying squirrel being fed special formula

Is It Really Orphaned?

If you come across a young wild animal and aren't sure whether it needs help, contact us before taking any action. Many baby animals are not actual “orphans” in need of rescue—they are often still being cared for by their parents or are at an age where they can fend for themselves. Remember, the best chance for a young, uninjured wild animal to survive is to remain in the care of its natural parents. For more information, refer to the species-specific guidelines below.

I Found a Wild Baby.
Can I Raise It or Keep it as a Pet?

If you find a baby bird or squirrel or an adorable raccoon, you may think about taking it home and raising it yourself. A Google search instantly delivers advice about what to feed it from more than one million ‘experts.’ Of course, you’ll let it go when it can take care of itself. So why shouldn’t you take it home?

For starters, there are state and federal laws that make it illegal to possess wild birds and most other wildlife. Our highly skilled, licensed wildlife rehabilitators have years of experience and are able to assess injuries, diagnose a variety of illnesses, and provide every wild animal with a high level of care based on science and sound practice, to return each to its natural habitat.

Wild animals do not make good pets. Wild babies may seem ‘tame’ now, but they can grow into aggressive and unpredictable adults that could injure you or damage your home. A squirrel can bite a finger to the bone. A raccoon's bite can equal that of a much larger dog. And unless it has been captive-bred for multiple generations, a wild animal will never lose all of its ‘wildness.’

And just like your beloved dog or cat, every wild animal deserves the best chance possible to grow strong and healthy. No matter what you may read on the Internet, you will not be able to help it as well as a professional wildlife rehabilitator and enable it to live the life nature intended.

What if I found a...

...Baby Squirrel

If you have encountered a young eastern gray squirrel fallen from its nest and it appears to be healthy, we recommend attempting to renest the baby.

Place the squirrel in a linen-lined, shallow box or basket at the base of the tree nearest to where you found it. Provide a warm rice sock with the baby for heat support. Leave the baby there for a minimum of 3 hours, unless otherwise instructed by a wildlife rehabber. We may recommend in some cases that you attempt for 12 to 24 hours, depending on the baby's developmental age. Squirrel mothers typically have several nesting sites, so if one is destroyed, she likely has other nearby nests where she can move her babies. Leave babies alone and minimize foot traffic in the area, including children and pets, during the renesting process.

If the mother does not return for the baby, it should be brought to us as soon as possible for professional care.

...Injured Adult Song Bird

If you found a bird that hit a window and appears to be stunned, gently place it in a shoe box with air holes punched in the lid and paper towels or an old t-shirt on the bottom for the bird to grasp. Put a rubber band around the box, and place it in a quiet, dark, warm area. It often takes just a little while for the bird to recover on its own. Wait about an hour, or until you hear the bird fluttering, take the box outdoors, open the lid and point the open box away from you. The bird should bolt for the nearest tree. If it doesn't, put the lid back, keep it a little while longer, and try again. If the bird doesn't fly away, is bleeding, a wing is hanging, or you see any other obvious injury, please take it to St. Francis Wildlife.

A special note regarding woodpeckers: these birds have barbed tongues, and they must not be kept in a box with any kind of linen or looped terrycloth. Their tongues may become stuck to the linen. Simply line the ventilated box with newspaper or paper towels if you need to keep a woodpecker safe en route to a wildlife rehabilitator.

...Baby Song Bird With Little to No Feathers

If you find a baby bird on the ground, your next steps depend on its age and development. If the bird is mostly featherless with exposed skin, it's likely a nestling that has fallen out of its nest. If the bird shows no obvious injuries, it's best to return it to the nest it fell from. Contrary to popular belief, handling a baby bird won't cause its mother to reject it.

Check for nearby nests and put the baby back. If you can't find a nest nearby, you can create one yourself. Attach a small basket filled with sticks, leaves, and natural debris to a tree using a ratchet strap. If you see an adult bird come back to the nest - your rescue mission is complete! Otherwise, monitor the nest for the next 3-4 hours, checking for fresh feces either in the nest or on the ground below. The presence of feces suggests that the parents have found the baby and are continuing to care for it.

...Baby Song Bird With Feathers and Downy Fluff

If the bird has feathers with a bit of downy fluff remaining, it's most likely a healthy fledgling. Fledglings spend a few days on the ground after leaving the nest, learning to fly while still being cared for by their parents. Leave the bird where it is and check back in 2 hours for fresh feces nearby. If there is fresh poop, it means the parents are still looking after it, and no intervention is needed. If not, give us a call!

...Baby Opossum

Infant opossums are carried in their mother's pouch and become orphaned when the mother is hit by a car or attacked by an animal. If an opossum has been hit by a car, especially during the spring and summer, check the belly for a pouch. Only females have pouches. If you find babies and they are still alive, remove them and keep them warm. Bring them directly to us if you are able. If the babies are still attached to the nipples, and you don't want to pull them out, you can bring the mom and her babies. If there are no babies, please remove the adult’s body from the road to keep it from endangering the life of a scavenger.

Other baby opossums become orphaned when they fall from their mother's back or are somehow separated. If you find a baby opossum alone, check the surrounding area - there may be more! Be very quiet and listen for "sneezing" sounds that the babies would make to call the mother. If a small opossum is at least seven inches long from nose to rump, not including the tail, it's on its own and does not need your help.

...Baby Bunny

Rabbit nests are typically just small depressions in the ground, covered with fur and grass. If you find one, it’s best to leave it undisturbed. The mother usually doesn’t stay near the nest - she only returns twice a day to nurse her babies. If you suspect the mother has been killed, place twigs (never yarn or string, as they can entangle the bunnies) gently on top of the nest in a tic-tac-toe pattern. If the twigs are moved by the next morning, it's likely the mother has visited and cared for them.

If you accidentally disturb a nest while mowing and the babies are unharmed, simply return them to the nest and cover them with the original nest material. Contrary to popular belief, touching the babies won’t cause the mother to abandon them. Maternal instinct is strong, and mother rabbits will go to great lengths to protect their young.

Did you know? By the time the baby rabbits are about three weeks old or around five inches long in a natural sitting position, they are independent and no longer need our assistance!

...Fawn

If you find a fawn and its mother isn’t nearby, please leave it alone. A fawn spends the first few weeks of its life nestled in a cozy bed of leaf litter. Nature has equipped fawns with undeveloped scent glands, making them nearly odorless. Combined with their spotted coat that camouflages them against the sun-dappled forest floor, they are nearly invisible to predators. Does are attentive mothers who do not abandon their young. They keep a watchful eye on their baby from a safe distance, ensuring their own movement and scent don’t attract attention. She returns a few times a day to nurse, relying on her sharp hearing and sense of smell to ensure it’s safe.

If you’ve already picked up a healthy fawn simply because it was alone, return it to the spot where you found it as soon as possible so its mother can care for it. However, if the fawn is injured, was rescued from a pet, its mother is dead, or it's covered with insects, please bring it to us immediately for proper care.

If you find an injured or sick young deer that no longer has its spots, please call FWC at 888-404-3922. We are unable to accept deer older than spotted fawns.

...Injured Adult Owl/Hawk/Eagle/Vulture/Osprey/Kite

Birds of prey (also called ‘raptors’) use their powerful feet and sharp talons (claws) as weapons. You must wear heavy gloves when attempting to handle one. The safest way to capture one of these birds is to place a box or a laundry basket over it. Then, slide a flat item under it, tape both, and transport it to us immediately. You may also cover it with a blanket, towel, or any other handy lightweight item large enough to cover the entire bird. Approach the bird from the rear if possible. When close enough, carefully place the item over the bird and cover the bird completely. Quickly restrain the bird under the covering. Grasp the tops of both legs, holding the feet away from you. Gently fold the bird's wings in a normal position against its body. Place the bird in a cardboard box into which you have cut ventilation holes, and bring it to our facility or a drop-off location. Keep an injured bird warm in cold weather and out of direct sunlight when it's hot.

If you do not feel comfortable rescuing a bird of prey yourself, please place a laundry basket or large box into which you’ve cut air holes over the bird, place a brick or heavy book on it, and call us.

...Baby Bird of Prey

Determining whether a young raptor is orphaned can depend on the species' natural behaviors. For instance, vultures nest on the ground, so finding a solitary vulture hatchling is not uncommon. If you come across a grounded raptor, contact RWS for proper species identification, so we can guide you on the next steps.

In general, if you find a fluffy hatchling raptor, look for signs of a nest in the trees above or adult raptors of the same species nearby. If possible, gently return the baby to its nest, wearing thick gloves for protection. If the nest is inaccessible, you can create a temporary nest using a milk crate and leaf litter to help the baby.

If you come across a raptor that is mostly feathered with little to no downy fluff, it's likely a healthy fledgling. Observe the bird from a distance for a few hours and check for any adults of the same species nearby. If the baby isn't moving and there is no activity, or if the chick remains still overnight, contact us to assess the situation. We may advise you to bring it in for care.

Raccoons are Rabies Vector Species (RVS), which means they are able to carry the rabies virus. Therefore, never handle these species barehanded, even babies. Always call us before handling at all. If an RVS bites or scratches you, or its saliva comes in contact with an open wound on your body, it will need to be tested for the rabies virus. This test necessitates euthanizing the animal. Help our patients by being responsible during their rescue!

...Injured Adult Raccoon

Raccoons are mostly nocturnal. However, it is quite common, especially in urban areas, for a healthy animal to venture out during the day if it is hungry. The old assumption that if they are seen out in the day time they are rabid is not true. Frequently, mother raccoons that are nursing babies will search for food night and day. You may also see raccoons any time of the day or night if someone feeds their pet outdoors. Pet food left outdoors will attract wildlife — rats, raccoons, foxes, opossums and others. The best way to prevent wildife from becoming a nuisance is to remove the attractant. Feed pets indoors, and secure trash can lids. It is illegal in Florida to intentionally feed raccoons, foxes, bears and Sandhill Cranes.

Distemper is a very common disease in raccoons. Distemper symptoms closely resemble rabies symptoms. Both are related to the nervous system and may include paralysis, circling, and lack of fear of humans. Care should be taken when a raccoon looks sick or acts strangely. Distemper cannot be transmitted to humans, but it can infect your pets. Always keep your pets’ rabies and distemper vaccinations current.

If you see an injured or sick raccoon that can't walk or run away, call us.

...Baby Raccoon

Finding a baby raccoon alone can be concerning, as these babies stay close to their mother. Unlike baby skunks, raccoon babies don't venture out of the den during the day. If a mother has recently moved her young to a new den, she may be in the process of transporting them. In this case, she should return within the hour. Keep a safe distance and watch for her.

Sometimes, a baby raccoon may become separated from its family due to falling or getting trapped overnight. The mother will usually return to rescue it. If the baby has not been reunited with its mother by the following evening, we will assist in the reunion.

If you find a single baby raccoon with its eyes still closed or if the baby is injured in any way, please contact us immediately.

Foxes are Rabies Vector Species (RVS), which means they are able to carry the rabies virus. Therefore, never handle these species barehanded, even babies. Always call us before approaching. If an RVS bites or scratches you, or its saliva comes in contact with an open wound on your body, it will need to be tested for the rabies virus. This test necessitates euthanizing the animal. Help our patients by being responsible during their rescue!

...Fox Out During the Day

Foxes are mostly nocturnal; however, it is quite common, especially in urban areas, for a healthy animal to venture out during the day if it is hungry or its den has been destroyed. Frequently, mother foxes that are nursing babies will search for food night and day. Pet food left outdoors will also attract them. The best way to prevent wildlife from becoming a nuisance is to remove the attractant. It is illegal in Florida to intentionally feed raccoons, foxes, bears and Sandhill Cranes.

Distemper is a common disease in foxes. Distemper symptoms closely resemble rabies symptoms. Both are related to the nervous system and may include paralysis, circling, and lack of fear of humans. Distemper cannot be transmitted to humans, but always keep your pets’ rabies and distemper vaccinations current. Care should be taken when a fox looks sick or acts strangely. If you see an injured or sick fox that can't walk or run away, call us.

...Mange and Foxes

Another common disease in foxes is mange. Sarcoptic Mange is caused by microscopic mites that burrow into the outer layer of the skin, causing intense irritation. Lightly infected animals may suffer only short-term effects; however, heavily infected animals suffer from fur loss, crusty skin, and malnutrition.

Mange is easily treatable. Please contact us for support and advice for suspected mange cases in your area!

...Injured Adult Turtle

If you see a turtle in the road and feel it is safe to stop, always carry it across the road in the same direction it was going, or it will just turn around and cross the road again. If you are unable to pick the turtle up, you can slide your car mat beneath it and push it to the side of the road. If it is on a highway or very busy road, do not move it further than 1/4 mile from where you found it. If a turtle is injured in any way, please bring it to our facility or Northwood Animal Hospital.

...Baby Turtle

$Adult box turtle with carapace fractures$

There is no such a thing as an orphaned turtle. Female turtles lay their eggs and leave; the babies are on their own as soon as they hatch. If you find a baby turtle, please leave it alone. Do not take it home or move it to another area with the intention of protecting it. You can do more harm than good. Turtles carry specific turtle diseases from their area. If you relocate a turtle, you could be introducing a new disease to the area that could be devastating for the turtles that live there. Turtles also have a powerful homing instinct and will only try to find their way back to their original home.

Bats are Rabies Vector Species (RVS), which means they are able to carry the rabies virus. Therefore, never handle these species barehanded, even babies. Always call us before handling at all. If an RVS bites or scratches you, or its saliva comes in contact with an open wound on your body, it will need to be tested for the rabies virus. This test necessitates euthanizing the animal. Help our patients by being responsible during their rescue!

...Injured Adult Bat

If you come across an adult bat in an unusual spot, like the side of your house, don’t panic—bats sometimes choose odd places to rest! Also, remember that spotting a bat (or any nocturnal mammal) during the day doesn’t necessarily mean it’s sick or rabid. Bats do essential work for our ecosystems, providing free pest control and even helping to pollinate plants and spread seeds throughout the world!

If you find a bat on the ground, it does need help! Bats cannot take off from the ground like birds or other animals. They need to launch from an elevated surface, such as a tree branch, rock, or building, in order to get airborne. To help, put on thick gloves and long sleeves, place a small linen over the bat, grasp it lightly in one hand and hold it out away from you, then place it vertically against a tree trunk or building so that it can latch on with its feet. If the bat latches on, leave it overnight and check back in the morning. If the bat falls when placed or is still where you placed it after 24 hours, please call us.

For containing bats, we recommend using a small cloth to throw on top of the bat. Wear thick gloves, long sleeves, and long pants. Bats are a highest-risk rabies-vector species, and any inappropriate touching by a rescuer may necessitate the animal's euthanasia for testing. Help our patients by being responsible during their rescue!

If you suspect a bat is injured, regardless of its age, it needs to be seen by a wildlife rehabber. Give us a call!

...Baby Bat

It can be difficult to tell if a bat pup is orphaned. Call us first, as each bat situation may be unique.

What to Do if You Find a Wild Animal