Signs that a wild animal needs help:
- Animal was picked up by a cat or a dog
- Evidence of bleeding
- Obvious broken/injured limb (dragging leg, hanging wing)
- Animal is a featherless/furless baby
- On the ground in the same spot for more than 24 hours
- On the ground with eyes closed, squinted, crusty, weepy, swollen, and/or bleeding
- Tries to get away from you but can’t (tries to fly, walk, stand, etc. but unable to)
- Flies buzzing around the animal (means the animal has been there a long time)
Find a certified wildlife rehabber:
Find a certified wildlife rehabber using the national Animal Help Now directory and follow all instructions. Do not handle, feed, or give water to the animal without speaking with a certified rehabber first.
If possible, take two photos to share:
Full-body shot that is a close-up image of the head and the entire body of the animal.
A zoomed-out photo to show the position/location of the animal in its environment.
Do not bring wildlife to zoos or animal shelters.
Report sightings of dead or injured birds:
Submit sightings using dBird, a project of the NYC Bird Alliance. This can help officials track potential disease outbreaks, especially around avian flu.
Additional source: Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary and Audubon Center.
A Parallel World 