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How to Handle an Injured Animal
photo: (c) Forest Preserve District of DuPage County |
Your personal safety is the first thing you should consider when handling an injured wildlife situation. It's instinctual for animals to fear humans. Even though they might be injured, they will react to that fear. You will be of little help if you're injured by an animal's beak, teeth or claws.
Gently wrap the injured animal in a cloth as you pick it up. This gives you a better grip and helps keep the wings and/or legs from further damage as it struggles. It's also a good idea to cover the animal's eyes. If it can't see you, it has one less reason to be scared.
Do not try handling adult raccoons, opossums, deer or any large bird. Call a wildlife rehabilitator or care center first so they can send a trained person with appropriate equipment.
If you must handle an adult animal immediately for safety purposes (i.e., it's in the middle of the road), then do so with extreme caution. Defensive reactions by such animals can cause great harm to you. A heron will go straight for the eyes and can blind or kill you with its sharp, powerful beak. A deer can break a rib or cause even more damage if it kicks you. We are not implying that these animals are vicious. They are scared, in pain and cannot run away, so they will defend themselves anyway they can. The best thing to do in this situation is get a box with air holes or blanket to put over the animal and leave someone with it while you call for experienced help.
Transporting an Injured Animal
photo: (c) Forest Preserve District of DuPage County |
After you've spoken with a rehabilitator, they may recommend that you transport the injured animal yourself if they cannot locate a rehabilitator to come to you and as long as you are not putting yourself in a dangerous situation. Most centers recommend that the animal is cared for by a wildlife rehabilitator or care center before attempting to go to a veterinarian. Many veterinarians are not certified to treat wild animals and they risk losing their license if they accept your "wild" patient. A center's trained staff can stabilize the animal's condition, deal with shock, blood loss, dehydration, and immobilize fractures or distribute antibiotics if necessary.
Heat, Dark, and Quiet
It's important to remember three things when transporting an injured animal:
- Heat: Have the car warm and have a hot water bottle in the box where the animal is located (unless the weather outside is 80 degrees or warmer). You can construct a hot water bottle from any container or zip-lock bag, anything that can be tightly closed. Fill it with hot tap water and wrap it in a light towel to protect the animal from direct contact with the hot container. Carefully wedge it so it will not roll.
- Dark: Keep the box closed, but with air holes. Place it directly on the seat. It may be tempting to allow your child or another passenger to have the 'experience' of holding it or carrying it, but please explain that you must think first of the needs of the animal.
- Quiet: It is best to keep the radio off and voices low and to a minimum.
Lastly, it's important to remember that you are dealing with a wild animal, not a family pet that finds our touch and voice comforting.
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