Wildlife SOS

I found an animal… What do I do now?

If you encounter an animal that may be injured or orphaned, we will help you determine whether an animal is injured or orphaned, and help you find out what to do next. It is amazing how specific the needs of each animal are, so it is not a good idea to try and help them by yourself. At the Prairie Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre we pay attention to nutritional, behavioural and developmental needs of each animal and we also have a volunteer Veterinarian. Read the instructions below to find out what you can do to help.

What animal have you found?

Young Squirrel
Young Rabbit
Young Bird
Young Deer (Fawn)
Young Duck (Duckling)
Bat

General Info

For non-dangerous animals such as a robin or sparrow that you have determined are injured or orphaned, please follow the How To Rescue Wildlife instructions. Please do not offer any food or water unless directed by PWRC. For dangerous wildlife such as raptors, adult mammals, and large waterfowl, please contact PWRC for further instructions.

If you have found a dead animal on your property, you can call the City of Winnipeg at 311 and notify them. The deceased animal must be located on public property as they will not remove it on private property.

First Aid for Wildlife

Just as with humans, the first few hours after the injury are the most critical and the sooner the patient receives treatment the better chance there is for success. Something as simple as a warm, dark place to feel safe and the administration of fluids can mean the difference between life and death.

Injured or orphaned wildlife needs to go to a permitted wildlife rehabilitation facility. Please call PWRC at 204-510-1855 for further information or have questions not answered on this page. If you wish to care for a wild animal and think you are capable please keep the following things in mind:

  • It is illegal for the public to have wildlife in their possession unless they are taking it to a permitted care facility.
  • If you really care you will want to see the patient get professional attention.
  • Even if it’s small and cute now it could grow into something that may become dangerous when its natural instincts develop or at the very least become large and messy.
  • Incorrect food may keep the animal alive but not healthy.
  • Even if you plan to release it in the future, raising wildlife in captivity will not give them the chance to learn the survival skills they would learn from a natural parent and may permanently impair them from living successfully in the wild.
  • Wildlife deserve to be free and raised by a natural parent.
  • You can be involved with the rehabilitation process at PWRC by keeping in contact with your patient’s progress and being present at the release.

Orphans

Often well meaning members of the public pick up what they perceive to be orphaned wildlife when in fact they are simply normal young needing to be left with their parents. The following are common cases of mistaken orphans:

  • Fawns found curled up and alone in the grass or side of the road. Adult deer do not abandon healthy fawns so if you find one and cannot see a doe please remember that it is normal and she is within the area. The doe stays at a distance from the fawn to keep predators away and only meets back with the fawn at dusk. If the fawn is on the side of the road pick it up gently and place it in the grass or trees nearby. Your scent will not cause any problems. If a fawn is found wandering aimlessly and calling loudly, found injured or found near a dead doe it is in need of help.
  • Songbirds such as Robins, Crows, Magpies, Blue Jays and several species of sparrows seen hopping on the ground, unable to fly are likely not in trouble. Birds such as Bluebirds are able to fly shortly after leaving the nest but the species mentioned previously are not and may take over a week to learn to fly after leaving the nest. As long as the parents are in the area and the young are not in immediate danger, the best thing is to let the parents do their job and leave the young alone.
  • Young hares (White-tailed Jackrabbits and Snowshoe Hares) are born fully haired, eyes open and eating grass. They may be tiny and look helpless but Mother Nature has provided them with a fur coat and an instinct to stay still and camouflaged. The mother only joins up with the young at dusk and dawn to nurse them and the family go their separate ways once again. Hares taken into captivity almost always die from the stress so leaving them with their very capable mother is always best.

If you believe you may have an orphan wild creature please call and discuss it with a wildlife centre before taking an action.

Injured Wildlife

When attempting to aid an injured wild animal or bird always remember your safety. In most cases the following procedure is the best.

  • Cover the patient with a towel, coat or blanket
  • Transfer them, towel and all, to a cardboard box with no air holes and close the lid
  • Keep the animal warm, dark and quiet
  • Never feed an injured patient until you’ve talked to a wildlife hospital
  • Contact a wildlife hospital for further instructions as soon as possible as delays may cause further illness or death in your patient
  • If you are unsure or fearful to approach a wild patient or the patient is a larger or more aggressive species please stay with it and call a wildlife hospital for help.

The following are a few common injuries and how to deal with them:

Window Strikes

PWRC’s protocol when a bird hits a window is to put it immediately into a small cardboard box with a towel for support. Put the box in a warm, quiet place for approximately 1 hour. If the bird is active and flies away strongly when the lid is opened, then it was merely stunned. If it is unable to fly after the rest period, the impact may have caused internal bleeding or broken a small bone in the shoulder. Further treatment will be needed.

Oiled or Dirty Wildlife

Oiled or dirty wildlife is best wrapped in a towel with only their head protruding so they cannot preen and end up ingesting whatever product is on their feathers or fur. Pack them securely into a cardboard box so they cannot move, cover the box, keep in a quiet, warm place and call a wildlife hospital where they will receive proper washing and treatment.

Waterfowl

Orphaned goslings can easily be placed with other goose families but in most cases they must be placed with the same size goslings. Orphaned ducklings and goslings are extremely “stressy” and must not be handled or played with. Keep them in a small box with a towel and a heat source to snuggle into. Never give them a large pan of water to swim in. When they are stressed they may lose their waterproofing if put in water and when they get wet and cold, death is very likely.

Cat Caught Birds

Even a small puncture from a cat’s claws can introduce bacteria that can kill a small songbird in as little as 48 hours. Keep the bird warm, dark and quiet and transport to PWRC to begin treatment with antibiotics as soon as possible. Shock from the cat maul is also of serious concern.

Carriers for Wildlife

It is extremely important to crate the patient carefully.

  • A dark, well-padded, small container is the best. Never use wire caging.
  • Tiny patients such as bats can squeeze out of very small spaces. Put them first in a sock or cloth drawstring bag and tie shut before putting them in a box.
  • Chewing mammals such as muskrats can chew out of cardboard very quickly so always put them in a non-chewable container.
  • Patients in large boxes can thrash around and damage themselves even more than they already are, so keeping the box to a size slightly larger than the animal will be the safest.
  • Holes do not need to be put in cardboard boxes as cardboard is not airtight and a wild animal will see the hole as an escape route and attempt to get out. This may result in an escape or further damage to the animal.
  • Bedding, such as dry straw, paper towel, a blanket or towel is advised. Cardboard is slippery and an already injured patient can do more damage if they slip around during transport.

We would be happy to answer any questions you may have about the animal you just found. Please call the office at 204-510-1855.

Do’s and Don’t of Living with Wildlife

Living With Wildlife (PDF)   Be Bear Smart (PDF)

Do’s

  • Do keep your cat inside, especially during spring and summer when baby birds are on the ground learning to fly. If you must let your cat out, please supervise their outdoor activity or place on a leash.
  • Do try to put baby birds with no feathers that are found on the ground back into the nest (only if they have not been attacked by cats). Mother birds will not reject babies that have been handled by people.
  • Do drive with care on all roads. Motor vehicle related injuries are one of the main reasons animals are admitted to the wildlife center. Take a brake for wildlife.
  • Do place injured a bird in a cardboard box and a mammal in a pet carrier, with a non-frayed towel or paper towel on the bottom, and place in a warm, quiet place until they can be transported to the Prairie Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. (See note in Don’ts)
  • Do put caps on chimneys and seal up any entrances to your house before a wild animal decides to move in.
  • Do keep trash in secure containers equipped with sealable lids, or equip regular trashcans with tie-downs or weights placed on their lids (ie raccoons).
  • Do trim trees in the fall.
  • Do check long grass for rabbits nests before mowing lawn.
  • Do cut six-pack container rings before recycling so animals cannot get their heads or necks caught.

Don’ts

  • Please don’t peek in the box, as wildlife view us as predators and could injure you.
  • Don’t give the animal any food or water before speaking to a PWRC volunteer.
  • Don’t pet or play with any wildlife. In most cases, these animals are under a lot of stress and unnecessary handling could cause premature death. Wildlife also carry parasites and diseases that can be transferred to humans or domestic pets. If you find an injured or orphaned wildlife, place in a cardboard box or pet carrier and keep them in a quiet, dark and warm place. Keep them away from the smells and sounds of your pets and yourselves until you can contact PWRC.
  • Don’t ever feed a wild animal cows’ milk, concoctions from the internet, or formulas bought over the counter. These formulas do not meet the animals’ nutritional requirements and can potentially cause malnutrition or even death. Mammals are not able to properly digest cow’s milk, which therefore leads to bloating and diarrhea.
  • Don’t attempt to treat a wild animal yourself. If you can do so safely, transport the animal to PWRC as soon as possible. Don’t travel with your pets in the car. The travel alone is very stressful for the wildlife; your pet in close quarters will only make it worse. Don’t have any music or talking when transporting.
  • Don’t assume that animals left unattended always need your help. Many animals will leave their young alone for long periods of time.
  • Don’t trap wildlife during the spring and summer months as they may have babies and this could potentially cause unnecessary orphans. Call PWRC for advice or check out Humane Pest Control.
  • Don’t trim branches in spring, if you need to please look first to see if a nest is in the area before trimming. Do trim trees in the fall.
  • NEVER keep any wild animal, even a turtle or snake, as a pet.

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