Rescue Guidelines
When to call a rehabilitator
- 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: e.g., you may see what looks like rice kernels or yellow patches under the feathers or fur
- Has had an impact injury: e.g., hit by a car, flown into a window, or fallen from nest onto concrete
- Parents are known to be dead
- Adult animals who can be easily approached; babies who exhibit begging behaviour or follow humans or domestic pets
- Babies who are out of the nest and are totally or nearly unfeathered, or mammals who are not furred
- Animal is shivering or feels cold to the touch
If you have already caught the animal
- Make sure the box you have it in is small, well-ventilated and tightly covered
- Keep the box in a quiet, dark, warm place
- Do not offer anything to eat or drink
- Keep the animal away from people and household pets