Please note that it is illegal to care for wild animals unless you are a licensed wildlife rehabilitation facility. Please call Wild ARC (250) 478-9453 and let our highly trained staff help, as wild animals require special species-specific treatments.

A wild animal may need assistance if...

• an adult animal can be captured easily.
• it seriously favours a leg or wing.
• it sits on the road, not moving for traffic.
• it is bleeding.
• it is having difficulty breathing or is convulsing.
• a bird sits with its feathers puffed and does not move for a long period.
• a bird runs on the ground when others fly away.
• in most cases, LEAVE BABY ANIMALS ALONE! They only need help if they appear to be dehydrated or emaciated - sunken eyes, dull coat, listless, or injured.

If possible, call the closest wildlife rehabilitation facility after carefully observing the animal and before you attempt to capture it. If you are on southern Vancouver Island, call Wild ARC (250) 478-9453. For the rest of BC, please find the closest wildlife rehabilitator on the Wildlife Rehabilitators Network of BC website. Outside of BC and Canada, check the wildlife rehabilitator listings on Wildlife International.

If you must confine an injured or orphaned animal...

• Do not handle any wild animal if doing so risks your safety or the safety of others. If you are injured, you cannot help the animal. When in doubt, do not attempt capture and call a wildlife rehabilitation centre for advice.
• Wear gloves and protective eyewear.
• Use a towel to cover the animal's head to calm it down and reduce shock.
• Do not handle or pet the wild animal, this just creates more stress and may lead to deeper shock - many wild animals in shock in fact look like they are resting. Keep a safe distance from the animal, and do what you can to protect it from harassment by pets or other people.
• Do not offer the animal food or water, and do not leave food or water in the box with the animal (except hummingbirds which must be given a sugar-water solution immediately, and every 30 minutes thereafter to avoid dehydration). Because the animal has not been medically examined, it is impossible to know the exact extent of its injuries. FEEDING IT OR FORCING IT TO DRINK WATER AT THIS POINT COULD CAUSE DEATH. As with humans, hospitalized animals need to be very gradually rehydrated and fed using special formulas and techniques. Wild animals have specific dietary requirements that are specific to each species - feeding the wrong food can greatly impact the animal's health and recovery.
• Prepare a well-ventilated, covered box of appropriate size by lining it with something absorbent, like newspaper or clean cloths (without holes or ragged or fringed edges). If you have no other alternative, wrap the animal in a towel or sweatshirt for immediate transport to a wildlife rehabilitation centre.
• Place the box in a safe, quiet, dark place that is free from noise and pet and human traffic. Place a heating pad set on the lowest temperature underneath HALF of the box. This allows the animal some room to move away from the heat if it gets too warm. Do not use a heating pad if it is a hot day.
• DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TREAT THE ANIMAL'S INJURES. Leaving the animal as is, is the best treatment possible until it can be transported to a wildlife rehabilitation facility. Additional handling causes stress and improper treatment can cause further injury. One exception is if the animal is bleeding excessively. If this is the case, simply apply gentle pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding. Do not apply a tourniquet of any kind.
• Wash your hands immediately afterwards as many wild animals can transmit diseases to you, your children, and your pets.
• Do not attempt to rehabilitate the wild animal on your own. Each animal has nutritional and care needs that are highly specific to its species. Call a licensed wildlife rehabilitation facility to arrange to drop off the animal.

Orphaned wildlife

The most important thing to do if you find an infant wild animal is to MAKE CERTAIN IT IS TRULY AN ORPHAN. Very often, well-meaning rescuers pick up and walk away with healthy infants while the parent animal watches.

The most common animals to be unnecessarily rescued are FLEDGLING BIRDS. They often spend up to several days on the ground while learning to fly and are being fed by parents nearby.

Whole nests can be placed back into trees. If nests have been destroyed, pre-fledgling birds can be put in a hanging basket (with drain holes) such as a margarine container and hung on a nearby tree to allow the parents to continue to feed and care for the youngster. It is NOT true that the parent will abandon the young bird if touched by humans - MOST BIRDS DO NOT HAVE A GOOD SENSE OF SMELL!

YOUNG MAMMALS may appear lost and alone while they explore or wait for parents to return from foraging for food nearby. Remember, mammals such as deer and cottontail rabbits are ONLY FED 2-3 times per day and THEIR PARENTS LEAVE THEM ALONE FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. This is natural and normal. Seals will also be found alone on beaches and may not be orphaned. Monitor the situation closely and call Wild ARC to describe the seal's condition and length observed on the beach.

If a young animal is truly orphaned (parent is killed or missing after careful observation) or injured, it needs prompt attention! Contact Wild ARC or your local wildlife rehabilitation facility as soon as possible.

Transportation

Follow these steps to make the injured animal as comfortable as possible during its transport:

• Place the animal's covered box securely on the seat or floor of your car.
• Keep the car warm and quiet (no radio, minimal talking) while you travel. Keep all windows rolled up for safety and warmth.
• Do not let anyone, especially not a child, hold the animal on his or her lap during the trip. It is very important to think first about what the injured animal needs and the fact that contact with people is stressful for the animal. Once the animal arrives at a rehabilitation center, it will be treated by experienced staff who will ensure that it receives the best care possible.

Remember...

In general, we do not recommend that members of the public handle wild animals unless the animal is in critical distress and needs to get to help quickly. The stress of capture by humans is a significant cause of death in wild animals. If you have to handle a wild animal, protect yourself from teeth, claws, and talons. Feathers and bone are fragile, so handle wild animals firmly but gently.

It may be tempting to care for the injured or young wild bird or mammal yourself. Before you do, please consider:

• All wild animals are protected under provincial and/or federal laws. It is ILLEGAL to keep wildlife without an appropriate permit.
• Many wild animals carry parasites and diseases that can be transferred to you or your pet.
• Veterinarians cannot care for your injured wild animal as your possession of it is "illegal".
• Knowledge of proper diet, housing, and handling is essential to their well-being and survival.
• Wild animals are unpredictable or potentially dangerous.
• It is cruel to cage and make pets of wild animals that will eventually resent their confinement.