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Basic Care of any
Injured/Orphaned Bird/Animal
Note: The term
"animal" used throughout this website, unless otherwise
specified, normally refers to a mammal.
Warm, Dark and Quiet
Rule
- Keep the animal warm,
dark and in a quiet area until it can be seen by a Wildlife
Rehabilitator.
- Do not attempt to feed
it or give it fluids! An animal in shock will die if you do.
- Do NOT pet or
handle the bird or animal. They may look calm but they are actually
just frozen with fear.
Any animal/bird that is
cold and limp needs to be rescued. The real test is the body temperature
and activity of the animal. If it is cold, lethargic, or dehydrated, it
needs to be rescued. For baby mammals or baby birds, test their body
temperature by simply touching them with your hands to see if they are
warm (be sure to wear rubber gloves for mammals). Touching a baby bird
or animal will NOT cause the mother to abandon it. The animal/bird
should be active.
Dehydration can result in
serious problems if left untreated. To test for
dehydration in mammals, wildlife rehabilitators pinch the skin between
the shoulder blades/at the base of the neck to see if it
"tents", (stays pinched for more than 1 second). If so,
the animal needs immediate
help.
WARNING: In New
York state, and several other states, rabies is
currently a big concern, especially in raccoons, fox, skunk,
and bats.
WE DO NOT ADVISE THAT AN
UNLICENSED OR UNTRAINED PERSON DO A SKIN TURGOR PINCH TEST OR DO ANY
MAMMAL HANDLING WITHOUT THE PROPER INSTRUCTION OR GUIDANCE of A WILDLIFE
REHABILITATOR OR A VETERINARIAN.
It may be wisest to call
an expert before you touch.
Remove baby birds/animals
from the nest IF there is a problem. Place them in a small, dark,
covered box with holes punched in the lid. Remember any animal even in a
"downed" condition can suddenly bite. Always call a
Wildlife Rehabilitator for help, especially with an adult bird or mammal
or any mammal prone to rabies.
Keep your patient warm by
using one of the following methods:
Ways
of warming a bird/animal:
NOTE:
Wrapping a bird or an animal up in a towel will NOT cause it to produce
heat and warm itself back up. You MUST use one of the following
techniques to get its temperature back to normal. This is a critical
life saving factor for any distressed bird or animal.
- Warm an animal by
positioning a heating pad, set on LOW, under HALF the
box for an animal, entire box for a bird.
- Fill a ziplock bag,
rubber glove, or plastic pop/soda bottle with warm water and place
it in the box or hang a 40 watt light bulb over the box.
- Microwave a dishtowel
for 25 seconds (only warm enough that it can be placed over your
face) and use that.
Do NOT
put fresh green grass in the box because the moisture in it will chill
the patient. You may line the box with paper towels.
Ways
of keeping a bird/animal in a dark area
Removing
visual stress is as easy as closing the covering of the
"box/container" that the animal/bird is in.
- Using a towel/blanket
to cover a birdcage (not recommended as it may destroy feathers
rendering a bird flightless) type container.
- Or putting the
box/container in a dark room.
- If you do not have a
container, then placing your hands over the eyes of certain (non
typically dangerous) animals such as a duck or goose.
Quiet
Noise is
also a stress factor that should be eliminated by placing the
"box/container" in a room where there are no people
(especially children) or pets. A closed bathroom or spare bedroom are
good areas until it can be transported to a Wildlife Rehabilitator.
First
Aid for Birds/Animals
Do not attempt
"first aid" except for the "warm, dark and quiet"
rule. Many people use things like tape to temporarily "fix"
broken wings on birds. Later, the Wildlife Rehabilitator must perform
the painful process of removing it from
the birds’ feathers, usually destroying many of them and hurting the
bird in the process. There is also a good chance of being bitten or
injured by a frightened, distressed bird or animal.
Feeding/Fluids
For the most part,
rescued birds/animals should not be fed. Assume you SHOULD NOT feed your
patient unless instructed by a Wildlife Rehabilitator to do so. DO
NOT FEED bread, milk, karo syrup, egg yolk, infant formula, honey,
peanut butter or homemade concoctions. DO NOT USE ANY OF THESE. Besides
being improper nutrition, they can be HARMFUL to your patient. For
example, bread to a young duckling can actually impact its crop (stomach
like area) and cause it to die. Call a Wildlife Rehabilitator for help.
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