Are you one of those people who halts traffic to help a turtle cross the road? Stops to say a prayer and check the pouch for babies of a possum killed on the road? Tries to find the nest of a baby bird.
I’m so glad you care about wildlife! Thank you for all you do. At Fox Run Environmental Education Center we appreciate our finders.
For those of you with a passion for helping wildlife one simple way is to put a wildlife rescue kit in your car. The things in this kit will help you to safely catch and move a wild animal so that you can transport them to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
Most states have Good Samaritan laws that allow you to pick up and transport wildlife to a licensed facility.
This article will help you put together a few things that will help you safely check on an animal and if necessary, transport it to a local wildlife rehabilitator.
The List
A few simple and easy to find items
Makes a compact kit you can fit in your car
Your Safety is Important
Always make sure that you pull over in a safe spot and consider traffic when checking on the animal. Put on your emergency blinkers.
Having a floro-vest that can be easily seen by oncoming traffic will keep you visible. Your kit should also include a strong flashlight and extra batteries.
Leather Gloves
Welding gloves are a must. Animals who are hurt and afraid can and do bite. Welding or wildlife gloves are made of thick leather and will protect your hands and lower arms.
Goggles
Protect your eyes. This is especially important if you are picking up a bird as they may try to peck at your face.
Latex gloves
Always wear latex/vinyl gloves when you pick up an animal or inspect a wound. Orphaned babies especially are typically covered with lice or fleas. In addition, if the animal has open wounds you don’t want the blood to touch your bare skin.
Cleaner
Baby wipes and hand sanitizer are both great to have for cleanup after handling the animal.
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This volume covers skills you need, training, the business side of things, funding, communicating with the public, supplies, equipment, fluids, and formula. and learning the basics of administering fluids, transportation, triage, warmth, and so much more.
Try to Move Them Without Picking Them Up
Use a cat carrier or cardboard box. It’s important to have a safe and secure way to transport the animal. If they are loose, they can panic and cause further injuries to themselves.
Also never hold a wild animal on your lap or in your arms. An animal that appears calm and cuddly is most likely in shock. In addition, it may wake up and panic at an inopportune moment.
Don’t let children handle or play with the baby. This is NOT the time for a selfie!
Animals can have a heart attack and die from stress. Unfortunately, they are programmed to feel stress from our voices and smell. So, limit handling and noise.
In addition, baby animals may have parasites or are carrying diseases that you don’t want to expose your children too.
If you can, move your carrier right in front of their body. Use the square of cardboard to gently lift and move them into the cage.
Help them feel safe and secure. Towels are a great tool in picking up an animal. Throw the towel over them and quickly pick them up and place them in the carrier.
After you have them in a cage or box use another towel to place over the cage. The dark will make them feel safer.
Pillowcases work well for picking up small animals. Use a rubber band to secure the open end.
Hand Warmers
These chemical active hand warmers are great for an emergency. You only need to shake to activate. Eyes closed babies cannot produce their own heat and hyperthermia is a real danger to their life.
Never place heat directly on or under the baby. This may cause overheating and they may not be able to escape. Wrap the hand warmer in a small cloth and place it next to, but not on the baby.
PSA - Don’t let wildlife or domestic pets drive!
Cutters
Scissors or wire cutters. Don’t go cutting a fence on private land without permission. Obviously, that would be breaking the law.
However, it’s good to have a pair of wire cutters in case you find an animal entangled in a fence.
Sometimes you find a turtle or a bird whose legs are wrapped with fishing line. They may simply need to be cut free.
Important Numbers
Look up the numbers for wildlife rehabilitation facilities in your area. Make a note if they take certain species. Not all rehabbers take all animals.
Download the Animal Help Now App on your phone. This app works throughout the USA and can help you locate wildlife rehabilitators. You simply enter your location, and it will give you any licensed rehabilitators in your area.
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How to Tell if a Wild Baby Animal Needs Intervention?
Most wildlife rehabilitators deal with injured and orphaned babies. We never want to create an orphan. Wild mom is the best possible mother for the baby.
For this article we are looking at animals you may find on the side of the road. The ‘what to do’ instructions would be slightly different for animals found in your yard or in the woods.
Call your local rehabilitator for advice or any questions.
If you see baby mammals on the side of the road look around and see if you see mom’s body. A dead mom tells you these babies are orphans and need intervention.
Other signs that babies may be orphans are:
Covered in parasites such as fleas, ticks, and/or lice
Matted or dirty fur
Crying and moving in a circular manner
Obvious dehydration or emaciation
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Opossums
Opossums are a unique situation. First, sadly they are often hit on the road. Second, female possums have a pouch that may contain living babies.
You can check the pouch. This is definitely a case for wearing latex gloves. Possums are scavengers.
An adult male opossum has pronounced testicles so you can check for sex first. Also remember, possums can and do “play possum”. Use care because you may have an animal that is just injured.
You can read more about opossums on our blog.
The pouch does not open at the time of death so you will need to locate the flap and pull it open to check. Sometimes you don’t have to open it because you can see the babies moving around in there.
Many rehabbers will also just accept the dead mom and open the pouch at their center. Just place the body in your carrier.
Turtles
You may also encounter a turtle that has been hit on the road and has a broken shell. Shells can be glued back together, and the turtle can most likely be re-released.
Always make sure you note the location where you found the turtle. Turtles have a homing sense and must be released back into their territory.
Using your latex gloves pick up the turtle gently and place them in your carrier. Turtles do feel pain. Don’t push on the shell pieces.
Never use any kind of tape on a turtle shell. This can push the shell into delicate organs and can also cause more damage when it is removed.
Read our article Turtles are Terrific to learn how to safely help turtles across the road.
Not all rehabbers take reptiles so make sure you locate one who does and add them to your list.
Author, Ame Vanorio, is the director of Fox Run Environmental Education Center and a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. She has written several books on wildlife rehabilitation and conservation. Check out her books on Amazon!
