[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Help! I Found a Wild Animal!” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” title_text_align=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Found a wild animal and you’re not sure how to help it? Here’s what to do.” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ title_text_align=”center” title_text_color=”#878787″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”1. Assess the situation. Does this animal need my help?” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Wild animals do not often need human intervention. There are only a few situations where you should actually take action when encountering wildlife. These situations might include:<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”data:image\/svg+xml;base64,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” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,1_4,1_4,1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”|auto||204px||” custom_padding=”||14px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Injured Animals” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ title_text_align=”center” title_text_color=”#7C7C7C” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/oddduckpond\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1768\/2024\/10\/sparrow-8126436_1280.jpg” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” title_text=”sparrow-8126436_1280″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
An injured animal will make many hearts melt. But before you help an injured animal, you should make sure that it actually needs help. Otherwise, you risk doing more harm than good.<\/p>\n
You should also always prioritize your own safety. Animals will bite when they feel threatened, and wild animals often carry diseases. If taking action poses any risk to yourself, leave it to a professional.<\/p>\n
If you determine that intervention is necessary, your plan should always be to bring the animal to a certified Animal Rehabilitator.<\/p>\n
The best course of action is different for every species.<\/p>\n
Reptiles<\/a><\/p>\n Turtles<\/a><\/p>\n Birds<\/a><\/p>\n Raptors<\/a><\/p>\n Bats\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Deer<\/a><\/p>\n Squirrels<\/a><\/p>\n Rabbits<\/a><\/p>\n Marine Animals<\/a><\/p>\n Wildlife Rehabilitation and Release has information on a variety of species<\/a><\/p>\n Here are some guides on specific problems:<\/p>\n Glue Traps<\/a><\/p>\n Animals with Mange<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Orphaned Animals” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ title_text_align=”center” title_text_color=”#7c7c7c” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/oddduckpond\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1768\/2024\/10\/pexels-kathrin-fischer-1815091-26932434.jpg” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” title_text=”pexels-kathrin-fischer-1815091-26932434″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n An orphaned baby animal may not survive without human help. However, it can be difficult to tell whether an animal is actually orphaned.\u00a0<\/p>\n A baby animal’s best chance for survival is with its mother. Make sure that an animal is actually orphaned before you take action.<\/p>\n National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association’s Decision Trees for orphaned animals:<\/p>\n \u00a0Baby Birds<\/a><\/p>\n Baby Mammals<\/a><\/p>\n Note that, as mentioned in these guides, many animals will leave their babies alone while they are doing things throughout the day. A baby animal is not necessarily orphaned just because it is alone.<\/p>\n NOTE: You should never attempt to raise an orphaned wild animal yourself. This is dangerous to both you and the animal, and in many places is illegal.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Nearby Threats” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ title_text_align=”center” title_text_color=”#7C7C7C” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/oddduckpond\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1768\/2024\/10\/pexels-german-suarez-2985952-8563808.jpg” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” title_text=”pexels-german-suarez-2985952-8563808″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n If an animal is in immediate danger you may need to take action to prevent immediate harm.<\/p>\n If it is possible to remove the threat, this is the best option. For example keep your dog or cat indoors.<\/p>\n If the threat is out of your control your next best option is to move the animal away from the threat.<\/p>\n \u00a0A common example of this is turtles crossing the road. A great guide for this particular situation is this video<\/a> by Snake Discovery.<\/p>\n \u00a0If you would need to move the animal more than about a block, or you are unsure how to get it to safety, you should contact a certified Animal Rehabilitator.<\/p>\n Do not handle animals with your bare hands, and do not capture or trap an animal yourself if you cannot do so safely. If you can resolve the problem without handling the animal, this is always the best solution.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Nuisances” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ title_text_align=”center” title_text_color=”#7C7C7C” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/oddduckpond\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1768\/2024\/10\/pexels-galerieb-18384611.jpg” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” title_text=”pexels-galerieb-18384611″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n It is normal for animals to exist alongside people. However, in various situations it can become a problem, for both the humans and the animals.<\/p>\n If a wild animal is causing problems for you or someone you know, there are a few ways to handle this.<\/p>\n Animals usually become nuisances when they get into food sources, trash, gardens, or human buildings. Cutting off their access to whatever they have gotten into is the easiest way to encourage the animal to leave.<\/p>\n Wildlife Rehabilitation and Release and AnimalHelpNow have good advice for preventing and dealing with these situations:<\/p>\n Prevention<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0Nuisance Animals<\/a><\/p>\n