Found or Injured Wildlife Guide

Opossums are famous for playing dead, and can lay motionless for up to an hour. This is a natural defense mechanism and completely normal. Do not disturb an opossum who suddenly appears to be dead after being startled. Keep pets away from the opossum and leave it alone and check back after 1-2 hours.

Call a wildlife rehabilitation center near you.

Do not handle raccoons. Call a wildlife rehabilitation center near you.

Baby moles or gophers are hairless and blind. They should not be found outside of the underground nest. If you cannot locate the tunnel, take it to a wildlife rehabilitation center.

Adult gophers and moles can be injured easily by lawn mowers and weed whackers. Bring injured adults to a wildlife rehabilitation center.

Baby Squirrel

There are 2 species of squirrels in the Bay Area, fox squirrels who nest in trees and ground squirrels who nest underground. In either case, a baby squirrel who is alone on the ground probably needs help. First, search for the nest. Look for more babies by carefully walking a few feet around the area and listening for high pitched cries. If possible, place the baby back into the nest, back away and observe from a distance to see if the mother returns.

If are unable to locate the nest, bring the infant to a wildlife rehabilitation center.

• If you have a nest of squirrels in your attic or trees that contain babies, you must wait until the babies have left the nest before boarding up the space or trimming the tree. It is illegal to disturb nesting squirrels. If a nest of squirrels is accidentally dislodged, bring the entire nest to a wildlife rehabilitation center.

Adult Squirrel

If an adult squirrel is missing large patches of hair, but its behavior is normal, it is probably suffering from sarcoptic mange. Most healthy adult squirrels can fight off this infection naturally so it is best to watch the squirrel for a few weeks. If you are unsure, call a wildlife rehabilitation center for advice before intervening.

• Adult squirrels can be injured by attacks from dogs and cats, or from being hit by cars. If you find an injured squirrel bring it to a wildlife rehabilitation center.

What to do if you find an injured bat:

• If a bat is on the ground it is injured or sick.
• DO NOT touch sick or injured bats.
• Call a wildlife rehabilitation center or call your local animal control center.

If you must bring the bat to a wildlife rehabilitation center:

• DO NOT touch the bat with your bare hands
• Cover the bat with a jar or a can and gently slide a piece of cardboard under the bat.
• Place a secure lid on the container.

What to do if you find an injured adult fox or coyote:

• DO NOT handle or feed the animal.
• Call animal control to pick it up.

What to do if you find an injured baby fox or coyote:

• Call a wildlife rehabilitation center.
• If you must transport the animal to a nearby hospital, make sure to wear gloves.
• Place the animal into a secure container such as a pet carrier.
• DO NOT give it any food or water or touch it with your bare hands.
• DO NOT take selfies.

Fawns

What to do if you find a baby deer left alone: The mother is most likely out feeding and will be gone for several hours. If you want you can keep back from a far distance (500 feet or more) and watch for the mother to return.

If you must bring the fawn to a wildlife hospital:

• ‍‍Keep as quiet as you can and touch the fawn as little as possible. Fawns are terrified of people.
• DO NOT offer them food or water.
• AVOID skin contact with deer. They eat poison oak which leaves poison oak oil on their bodies.
• They also may have ticks.
• Be careful because deer have sharp hooves and cancause an injury when they kick.

Adults

What to do if I find an injured adult deer?

Adult deer cannot be treated. They cannot handle the stress. Most injuries can heal on their own. It is best to leave them alone and stay as far away as possible. If you see that the deer has a broken bone you can call animal control.

What to do if I find an injured marine mammal:

• Marine mammals include seals, sea lions, sea otters, and dolphins.
• DO NOT touch, feed, or pick up the animal. These animals are easily stressed and can bite.
• DO NOT take selfies with the animal
• Call the Marine Mammal Center: 415-289-7325

Songbird is a broad classification of perching birds and the most common type of bird found in inland locations around the Bay Area. They include jays, mockingbirds, sparrows, finches, robins, and blackbirds, just to name a few. Here is what to do if you find a bird that might need help.

Domestic cats pose a significant threat to songbirds, often causing severe stress and injury. It is estimated that 2.4 billion birds are killed by outdoor cats each year in the U.S. alone. To prevent such incidents:

• Keep cats indoors to keep wildlife safe from their natural hunting skills
• Give your cats an enclosed outdoor space by building a catio. Catio Spaces has free designs.

Birds frequently collide with windows due to reflections that appear as open spaces, leading to serious injuries. Birds who have flown into windows may receive severe injuries to their eyes or brain and can suffer from broken bones. To prevent such incidents:​

• Use decals, paint, or tape on the exterior of windows to break up reflections and make glass visible to birds.​
• Install external screens or netting to deter birds from approaching windows.​
• Modify feeder and bird bath placement at least 30 feet away from windows to reduce collision risks

By following these guidelines, you can help protect birds in your area and support their well-being.

What Do I Do if I Find an Injured Bird?

• Observe from a distance. If other birds are visiting it, it's a fledgling and it's best to leave it undisturbed.
• If the bird needs help, place the bird in a secure, covered container, such as a shoebox with holes, or animal carrier, and keep it warm, quiet, and dark.
• Keep children and pets away from the bird.
• DO NOT pet or handle the bird more than necessary.
• Do NOT offer food or water, as a full stomach can lead to complications with medical treatments.
• Get the bird to a wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible.

What Do I Do if I Find a Baby Songbird?

Is the bird a nestling or a fledgling?

Fledglings—young birds with developing feathers—often end up on the ground near their nests as they learn to fly. During this phase, parents continue to feed and care for them. They do not need your help.

Nestlings will have only fluffy down, without flight feathers (long feathers on the wings and tail). Nestlings need help!

If you find a nestling bird on the ground:

• ‍Keep the bird safe: Prevent pets and children from approaching the bird.
• Observe and wait: Watch from a distance for a few hours to see if the parents return to care for the bird.​ If it is within sight/sound range of the original location, the parents should be able to find it and will continue to care for it.
• Locate and return to the nest: Find the nest and place the hatchling inside, ensuring it matches the other chicks.​ Hang or place it in a tree as close to the original location as possible.
• Don't worry about scent: Human scent won't cause parents to reject their young.
• Create a makeshift nest if needed: If the original nest can't be found, fashion a temporary one using a container lined with a natural substrate like grass and place it near the original location.

Like other birds, it is very common for young raptor fledglings to be on the ground. Many can hop from perch to perch or climb back up to their nests. Often the parents will feed and care for the fledgling while it is on the ground. Keep dogs and cats away from the fledgling, and observe from a distance. If the parents continue to visit the baby, it is best to leave it alone.If the parents do not return within several hours or if the bird appears injured, call a wildlife rehabilitator for advice.

If you find an injured raptor or vulture, you may need to transport it to a wildlife rehabilitator. Raptors and owls have very sharp, very strong talons. Wear heavy leather gloves. Place a sheet or towel over the bird and gently place it in a secure container for transport. Keep the container warm, dark and quiet. Do not offer the bird any food or water. Get the bird to a rehabilitation center as soon as possible.

I Found a Baby Raptor

Nestling and fledgling raptors often are able to hop or climb back into their nests and parents will continue to care for them while they are on the ground.

• If the bird appears healthy and uninjured, it is best to observe from a distance and allow the parents to care of it.
• Keep pets and small children away from the bird.
• If the baby bird appears injured or the area is not safe, call a wildlife rehabilitation center for advice.

I Found an Injured Raptor

• Wear leather gloves, even baby raptors have very sharp talons
• Place a large sheet or towel over the bird and gently place it in a secure container such as a pet carrier or cardboard box with a lid.
• Cover the container with a towel or sheet to keep the area warm, dark and quiet.
• Keep away from pets
• DO NOT let the bird out of the carrier.
• DO NOT give the bird food or water.
• DO NOT pet or handle the bird.
• Keep small children and pets away from the bird.
• Get the bird to a wildlife rehabilitation center as soon as possible.

It is very common to see aquatic birds on the ground, so signs of illness or injury may look different from other birds. Most birds are able to heal and adapt to minor injuries, but water birds are particularly susceptible to certain types of injuries such as becoming trapped in fishing lines or netting, or injuries from fishing hooks. Fishing hook and line injuries are most common in crowded piers. To avoid hooking a bird, try to spread out away from other anglers. If you are on a boat, move away from other boats.

If you see a potentially injured bird that you are unsure of, slowly approach. If you are able to get within about 10 feet without it flying away, it probably needs help. If the bird is a duck or goose that is regularly fed by humans in a park, the approach distance technique is not applicable. In this case, notify the authorities within the park.

I Found an Injured Water Bird

Place a large sheet or towel over the bird and gently place it in a secure container such as a pet carrier or cardboard box with a lid. Cover the container with a towel or sheet to keep the area warm, dark and quiet.

• Keep away from pets
• DO NOT let the bird out of the carrier.
• DO NOT give the bird food or water.
• DO NOT pet or handle the bird.
• Keep small children and pets away from the bird.

I Hooked a Water Bird! What Do I Do?

From time to time, anglers will accidentally hook a pelican or other water bird, don’t panic.

• DO NOT cut the line and release the bird.
• If possible get someone to help you, wear sunglasses to protect your eyes and gloves to protect your hands
• Gently, slowly, and evenly reel in the bird.
• Grasp the bird firmly, fold the wings in and cover the birds head with a towel or jacket.
• Hold the beak or bill firmly and slightly open to allow the bird to breathe
• Always remove the hook by cutting the barb.
• Push the barb slowly forward and cut it with wire cutters.
• Back the rest of the hook back out.
• Before releasing the bird, check it over for fishing line or other hooks and remove anything that could cause further injury.
• If the bird has swallowed the hook or any fishing line it should be taken to a rehabilitation center. See International Bird Rescue.
• If the bird is otherwise uninjured, release it by pointing its head away from you and towards the water and step away quickly.