The goal of treating injured wildlife is to rehabilitate and return the animal to the wild as soon as possible with minimal human contact.

It is illegal to keep or care for wildlife without a permit.

You can make the difference for injured wildlife by following these guidelines.

1.	Prepare a container.
		Place a soft cloth on the bottom of a cardboard box or pet carrier with a lid
		If it does not have air holes, make some
		For smaller animals, use a paper sack with air holes punched in
2.	Protect yourself.
		Wear gloves, if possible
		Some animals may bite or scratch to protect themselves, even if sick; wild animals commonly have parasites (fleas, lice, ticks) and may carry diseases
3.	Cover the animal with a light sheet or towel.
4.	Gently pick up the animal and put it in the prepared container.
5.	Warm the animal (80°) to prevent shock.
		Put just one end of the container on a heating pad set on low or
		Fill a hot water bottle with warm water (make sure it does not leak) and wrap in a soft cloth or towel and place near animal
6.	Leave the animal alone - do not handle or bother it.
		Do not force feed anything - the wrong food is harmful
		Keep children and pets away
7.	Tape the box shut or roll the top of the paper bag closed.
8.	Keep the animal in a warm, dark, quite place. This helps the animal feel secure.
9.	Note exactly where you found the animal. This is very important for re-release.
10.	Contact a wildlife care center in your area.
11.	Get the animal to a wildlife care center as soon as possible.
12.	Wash your hands and anything the animals was in contact with to prevent the spread of parasites and/or diseases to you or your pets.

To find a Wildlife Care Center in your area contact:

	Your state wildlife agency
	Humane Society
	Audubon Society
	Wild Bird Stores
	City Animal Control Officer
	Veterinarian
	Coast Guard or Marine Patrol
	US Fish and Wildlife Service

CARE FOR LOST OR ABANDONED WILD ANIMALS

Many baby animals are left alone by their parents for long periods of time. Do not assume that they have been abandoned. A baby's best chance of survival is its mother.

Care for Baby Bunnies

	Place babies back in the nest with light layers of grass to hide them. If the nest has been damaged it can be repaired.
	Leave the area, or the mother won't return. Mothers usually only return at dawn and dusk.
	Healthy bunnies that are 4-5 inches long, able to hop, with eyes open and ears up do not need help. Leave them alone.

Care for Baby Birds
More than 75% of birds rescued by well-meaning humans do not need help.

	Most baby birds live on the ground for a period of time while their parents teach them to fly.
	The best thing to do if you find a baby bird that is naked or only has partial feathers and appears healthy is to put it back into its nest.
	Parents will still care for it even after you have touched it.
	If the nest is too high, gone or cannot be found, make a new one using any small container such as a berry box or basket; line it with dry grass; and secure the new nest with the babies as high up in a tree in shade as you can safely reach.
	Do not feed babies with droppers or attempt to make them drink.
	It is more important to keep them warm, dry and quiet.
	The wrong diet or improper feeding can cause more harm than no food at all.

Help for Opossums

	Opossums are non-aggressive and are unlikely to carry rabies, as their body temperature is too low.
	If you find an opossum in your attic or garage try to find out how it got in and then, after it leaves to find food, block the entrance.
	It is best to leave the opossum in its own territory, where it can find food and shelter away from people.
	If you find an injured opossum, put a towel over its head, gently grasp the tail and slide it into an overturned box with air holes.
	Slowly tip the box upright and secure the lid.
	Transport the animal to a wildlife care center immediately.
	Check the pouch of a dead female opossum for babies; they can survive for up to 24 hours after the mother has died.

Care for Fawns or Seal Pups

	Call a wildlife care center if the baby looks cold, hungry, diseased or confused, or if dogs or other animals, or people, threaten its safety.
	Otherwise leave the baby alone and leave the area.
	Mothers normally leave their babies to feed and will not return if people or pets are in the area.

UNWANTED TENETS

Try these Steps, one at a time, to encourage animals to leave attics and other spaces.

1.	Make it smell unpleasant
		Pour a very small amount of ammonia in an old can and place a small rag half in the can and half out.
		Use only enough ammonia to create an unpleasant odor but not enough to create deadly fumes for animals or humans.
		Place the can in the attic or space occupied by the animal.
		Make sure the attic or space is vented and receives fresh air.
2.	Make it look unpleasant
		Keep a bright light on.
3.	Make it sound unpleasant
		Turn on a load radio talk show.
4.	Secure entry areas
		Give animals time to move themselves and young out - usually 3 to 4 days.
		Once animals are out, secure all entrances so nothing can get back in.

WILDLIFE TIPS

Balloons are not biodegradable and injure and kill wildlife. Many marine animals, like turtles and dolphins, get sick and die from eating balloons they mistake for jellyfish and other sea creatures. Birds and small animals get entangled in strings from balloons caught in trees.

You can make a difference by not using or releasing balloons outside.

Thousands of birds and marine creatures are killed every year by fishing line.

You can make the difference by putting fishing line in the trash.

Listen to broadcasts of Orcas whales and other underwater sounds off the coast of Vancouver at www.whalelink.org.

Each year hundreds of millions of songbirds are killed by free-roaming cats.
Millions of cats are run over by cars, mauled by dogs, poisoned and lost.
The average life span for a free-roaming cat is two to five years, while an indoor cat may survive for more than 17 years.

You can make the difference by being a responsible pet owner and keep your cat indoors.

Go to www.abcbirds.org for the truths about cats and birds and tips for happy indoor cats.

Logging and tree trimming kills hundreds of thousands of young songbirds each year during nesting season.

You can make the difference by not trimming or cutting down trees and bushes during nesting season from March through September.

If trimming is necessary use extreme caution and look for nests before cutting.

Keep cats and dogs indoors during nesting season and encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same.

Avoid disturbing nesting areas.

Many wild animals are killed every year because they lost their fear of humans through feeding and became a nuisance or threat. Feeding or handling wildlife is dangerous and illegal.

You can make the difference by not feeding wild animals, especially predators like bears and alligators.

Cover garbage cans tightly.

Keep pets and pet food inside.

Cut open six-pack rings before disposing.

Don't give animals as presents.

Adopt domestic animals from shelters.

Help preserve wildlife habitats and wetlands.

Make your yard a naturescape or backyard wildlife habitat!

More Americans attend zoos than all professional sporting events combined.