Wildlife Clinic

Animals Explore Your field guide Search

Found an animal?

Step 2 of 2

Where is the bird now?

Most window strikes are concussions. The next twenty minutes decide the outcome.

On the ground, upright, breathing, barely movingEyes open, not fleeing.
It flew off within a minute or twoNo obvious injury.
Head tilted, one wing drooping, or bleeding at the beakSigns beyond a simple stun.

Back Start over

True in every situation

01Do not give food or water.Most wildlife arriving at a clinic is dehydrated, and liquid in the wrong place kills faster than hunger.
02Warmth, dark, and quiet, in that order.A ventilated box with a towel beats any enclosure you can improvise.
03Never handle a bat, a raccoon, a fox, a skunk, or a coyote with bare hands.Rabies-vector species are a different procedure.
04A cat's mouth is the emergency, not the puncture.Any cat-caught animal needs antibiotics within hours.
05Keep the finding place.Where you found it decides where it can go back.

If you found an animal

I found an animal
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Wildlife Clinic is an educational project of the Animal Institute. We do not accept animals. If an animal needs care, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.