Paula: 573-759-3400

Guide to Orphaned & Injured Wildlife

Written by Brittany Davis for

Second Chance Wildlife Center 

Please note that it is illegal in Missouri to have any wildlife as a pet.

So, you’ve found a baby deer… 

Determine if it needs to be rescued:

• If it is lying quietly and unbothered by flies, it is fine. Moms leave their babies in one spot while they graze for the day.
• If you see flies and the baby is not moving to get them off, something is wrong and it may need care.
• Deer keep their spots until they get their winter coat. The fawn can be 4 months old, 45 lb and still have spots.

Always bring it to a rehabilitator if:

• It has been injured, hit by car, or attacked by a dog and there are numerous flies and mom is nowhere to be found.
• If you know for a fact that mom was killed (fawn was standing beside a dead adult next to the road).

Leave it alone if:

• It is lying quietly and there are no flies. They will not run from you; mom tells them to stay put until she returns.

If you have to bring it to a rehabilitator:

• Place in a size appropriate kennel lined with a towel. Keep warm.
• NOTE: Deer fawn can only be rehabilitated by a licensed deer rehabilitator for the County it is found in!
• Autumn Winds Rehab can only take deer/fawns from Pulaski County.

So, you found a juvenile/adult deer…

BE EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS WHEN APROACHING AN INJURED DEER OVER 15 LB. Deer at this size are very flighty and can severely injure and even kill an adult person. Usually deer of this size have been hit by a car and 90% of the time euthanasia is the best course. Please do not attempt to put the deer in your car.

So, you’ve found an opossum…

 Determine if it needs to be rescued:

• If it is a baby by itself, you see no evidence of mom and it fits on the palm of your hand, it may need help.
• If the babies are by mom but mom is injured, both mom and babies may need help.

Always bring it to a rehabilitator if:

• It was hit by a car.
• Mom is injured.
• Mom is dead. Babies will continue to nurse and could get very sick. Check her pouch.
• It was caught by a cat, dog, or another animal.
• Mom is no where to be found.

Leave it alone if:

• It is about 10” or greater in length, excluding tail.
• Mom is coming back for it.

If you have to bring it to a rehabilitator:

• Place in an appropriate sized box with lid lined with a paper towel. Keep warm.
• DO NOT put any food or water in the box.
• DO NOT try to feed it anything.

So, you’ve found a baby rabbit… 

 Determine if it needs to be rescued:

• If you come across a rabbit nest in your yard/garden and you want to make sure the mom is still visiting the nest (which she only does twice a day, once during the dawn hours and again in the dusk hours), place 2 lightweight twigs in an X across the nest. Check back in 24 hours; if they are disturbed, mom is visiting the nest; if not, the babies need help.
• Baby rabbits are only in the nest for 4-5 weeks and then are weaned. When they are weaned, they are about the size of a fluffy tennis ball and are starting to venture out on their own.

Always bring it to a rehabilitator if:

• Mom has abandoned the nest (check using above method).
• You or your dog has destroyed/dug up the nest and you are unable to reconstruct the nest.
• It was caught by a cat.
• You are renovating your yard and you cannot wait a month for the babies to be on their way.
• You have hit any of them with your mower (you only need to bring in the injured babies).

Leave it alone if:

• Mom comes to the nest. She takes FAR better care of them than us.
• They are tennis ball sized and are eating grass. They are weaned.

If you have to bring it to a rehabilitator:

• Place in an appropriate sized box with lid lined with a small towel. Keep warm.
• DO NOT put any food or water in the box. Chances are it will only make a mess and get cold and wet. You do not need to bring in any of the nest; we are only going to throw it out.
• DO NOT try to feed it anything. Rabbits will mostly refuse anyone who is not mom.
• DO NOT handle them more than absolutely necessary. Rabbits are afraid of everything larger than them. They seem calm because they are dying of fear.

It is sad but:

• Baby rabbits are extremely fragile. We have a 50% release rate. This is considered exceptional, especially when you consider they only have a 30% survival rate in the wild.

So, you’ve found a baby squirrel…

  Determine if it needs to be rescued:

• Baby squirrels mostly fall from their nests that are high up in trees. Unless you actually see mom collecting the baby, it will probably need to be brought in.

Always bring it to a rehabilitator if:

• It was caught by a cat.
• It was bitten by a dog.
• You know the mom is dead.
• It has been following people around.
• It was hit by a car.
• It was attacked by another animal.

Leave it alone if:

• Mom is tending to it.

If you have to bring it to a rehabilitator:

• Place in an appropriate sized lidded box lined with a small towel. Keep warm.
• DO NOT put any food or water in the box.
• DO NOT try to feed it anything.
• Baby squirrels aspirate very easily. If you have to feed it, use Pedialyte to keep it hydrated. This does not provide nourishment! It is meant for very temporary use. If its eyes are closed, it will need to be stimulated to urinate.

So, you’ve found an adult squirrel…

  Determine if it needs to be rescued:

• Adult squirrels are very strong, aggressive, and are unapproachable when healthy.
• Most injuries come from animal attacks and from being hit by cars.

Always bring it to a rehabilitator if:

• A car hit it and is unable to move/walk.
• It was attacked by a cat, dog, or other animal.

Leave it alone if:

• It is able to move away and up a tree.
• If you find that you are chasing it all over, chances are it will be fine.

If you have to bring it to a rehabilitator:

• Wrap it up in a towel and place in an appropriate sized box with secure lid. Be careful! A squirrel bite can do a lot of damage, as can their claws.

  So, you’ve found a turtle…

  Determine if it needs to be rescued:

• Most of the turtles we get do not need to be here. If you see a turtle crossing the road and you want to help, simply place them on the side of the road in the direction they were going. Turtles are very territorial.

Always bring it to a rehabilitator if:

• A car hit it and there are serious cracks in the shell and/or the appendages/head are injured.
• An animal attacked it and there are serious cracks in the shell and/or the appendages/head are injured.
• If you see mucous bubbling out of its nose.
• If it has swollen eyes or ears.

Leave it alone if:

• There are only a few scales missing from its shell and there is no blood present. This is not serious and they will grow back.
• They are hatching in an appropriate area. Turtles are independent from birth. If they are in your yard and you want them moved, call for advice.

If you have to bring it to a rehabilitator:

• Place in an appropriate sized box, with lid, lined with paper towel.    

So, you’ve found a Raccoons, Fox or Bat...

DO NOT APPROACH UNTIL YOU HAVE ASSESED THE SITUATION AND HAVE CALLED A REHABBER OR ANIMAL CONTROL.

  Determine if it needs to be rescued:

• Determine the age. We are only allowed to rehab healthy young of the year.
• Raccoons: resemble a mini adult at 12 weeks, so this size and smaller is acceptable.
• Foxes (both red and grey): resemble mini adults at 10 weeks, so this size and smaller is acceptable.
• Bats: are accepted at any age, according to law.
• Raccoons nest in trees. Watch the young on the ground (from your house) to see if mom comes to get them. If they are still on the ground after a couple of hours, they may need help.
• Baby bats stay in the roost but are occasionally carried by mom. A baby on the ground will need assistance. Mom will not come back.

Always bring it to a rehabilitator if:

• You know mom is dead.
• It was hit by a car or attacked by another animal.
• It was caught by a cat.
• There was exposure to people (was handled or bit someone).
• It has flies, ants, or other bugs on it.

Leave it alone if:

• Mom is nearby.
• Its activity looks suspicious. Rabies will make animals act very differently, ranging from complacent/calm to raving/foaming. Stay in your house and alert the proper authorities.

If you have to bring it to a rehabilitator:

• Handle with latex gloves and/or a towel and place in an appropriate sized box with lid or kennel lined with a towel.
• Raccoons also carry a roundworm which can be passed on to people and other animals. It can be extremely painful and could be fatal. Please throw away any towel, box, and gloves used with raccoons.

So, you’ve found a baby bird…

 Determine if it needs to be rescued: 

• Check feathering:
• If naked/downy, try to put the baby back in its nest. Songbirds have no discernable sense of smell; the parents will accept it.
• If it is feathered and hopping around, leave it alone and watch from inside your house to see if the parents are feeding it.

Always bring it to a rehabilitator if:

• It is sitting in the open asleep.
• It has visible injuries (head tilt, broken appendages, etc)
• It was caught by a cat.
• It was hit by a car or fell hard against your roof/driveway/ sidewalk.
• If the nest is too high or you do not know where the nest is.
• If there are no parents taking care of the baby.

Leave it alone if:

• It takes you more than 5 minutes to catch it.
• Parents are caring for it. Young birds learn to fly from the ground.

If you have to bring it to a rehabilitator:

• Place in an appropriate sized box with lid lined with a paper towel. Keep warm.
• DO NOT put any food or water in the box. Chances are it will only make a mess and get cold and wet.
• DO NOT try to feed it anything. Unskilled hands can force food/water into the lungs.

It is sad but:

• Cats are a part of the world. Do not rescue the baby just because there might be a cat in the area. Even if they avoid the cat, they still have to deal with dogs, hawks, owls, foxes, snakes, cars, and people. Unless a cat is actually about to pounce, leave it alone.

So, you’ve found an adult bird… 

  Determine if it needs to be rescued: 

If you are able to approach and pick up an adult bird, there is something wrong.

Always bring it to a rehabilitator if:

• A cat caught it.
• It hit a window and is not walking/flying after an hour.
• It was hit by a car and is not walking/flying after an hour.
• It was attacked by another animal.

If you have to bring it to a rehabilitator:

• Place in an appropriate sized box with lid or kennel lined with newspaper or paper towels.
• DO NOT put any food or water in the box. Injured animals are not interested in eating or drinking. Keep warm.

If it is a hawk, owl, or heron:

• Call for advice. These birds are extremely dangerous as adults. Hawks and owls have very sharp talons and very hard grips. Herons have long pointy beaks and they will aim for your eyes.

If it is a goose:

• Try to contain the wings. These are very strong birds and can very easily hurt a person caught off guard. They can also bite and scratch with their feet during handling.