Rescue Guidelines

Always rescue an animal if it

Cannot fly or walk properly or is walking in circles
Is bleeding
Wings are not held evenly, i.e., one wing may droop, or one held higher than the other
Cannot stand upright, is limping, or has a limb that appears broken
Head is held at a tilt
Has been attacked by a dog or a cat
You see flies buzzing around it, or see signs of maggot infestation, i.e. you may see what looks like rice kernels or yellow patches under the feathers or fur
Has had an impact injury, i.e., hit by a car, flown into a window, or fallen from nest onto concrete
Parents are known to be dead
Adult animals that can be easily approached; babies that exhibit begging behaviour or follow humans or domestic pets
Babies that are out of the nest and are totally or nearly unfeathered, or mammals that are not furred
Animal is shivering or feels cold to the touch

Protect yourself by wearing gloves (e.g., garden or welders gloves) as animals will often bite or scratch and may have external parasites
Most smaller birds and baby mammals can be caught by gently throwing a towel over them and then gently lifting them up
It may be possible to gently sweep sweep or push larger birds and adult mammals into a box turned on its side
Be extremely careful with adult squirrels, opossums and any raptor (hawk, owl). You may want to call a rehabilitator or animal control for help capturing these animals
Place the animal in a small, well-ventilated box that has a soft cloth (without loose strings) on the bottom
Mammals like another towel to hide under; baby birds can be placed inside an empty tissue-lined margarine container
Place box in a quiet, dark, warm place; if the animal is unfeathered or unfurred, shivering, or feels cold, try to provide supplemental heat using a heating pad, set on low, and placed under a portion of the box, or place a zip-loc bag or soda bottle filled with hot water and then covered with a towel inside a section of the box (make sure there is no leakage, as getting wet will only further chill the animal)
Make sure the box is securely closed
Do not give the animal anything to eat or drink
Do leave the animal alone once in the container.
Do not cuddle or pet it, nor allow children or pets near it