Baby Mammal Decision Tree

How to rescue baby mammals  —Only adults should rescue baby mammals.
Before rescuing adult mammals seek guidance from a wildlife rehabilitator.
 
1 Prepare a container. Put a soft cloth in a cardboard box or cat/dog carrier with a lid. If there are no air holes, make some.  For smaller animals you can use a paper sack with air holes punched in.

2 Protect yourself. Wear gloves. Some animals may bite or scratch, and wild animals have parasites.

3 Cover the animal with a light sheet or towel.

4. Gently pick up the animal and place it in the container you have prepared.

5 Warm the animal if it is cold out or if it is chilled. Put one end of the container on a heating pad set on low.
Or fill a plastic bottle with hot water, wrap bottle in cloth and put next to animal. Make sure the bottle doesn’t
leak or the animal may get wet and chilled.

6 Tape the box shut or roll the bag closed.

7 Note exactly where you found the animal, and how. This is very important!

8  Keep the animal in a warm, dark place. Don’t give it food or water.
Leave it alone—don’t handle or bother it.  Keep children and pets away.

9. Contact a wildlife rehabilitator, or one of the other numbers on this site.
Don’t keep the animal any longer than necessary.  Keep the animal in the container, don’t let it loose in your house.

10 Wash your hands after contact with the animal.
Wash anything the animal came in contact with to prevent the spread of diseases and or parasites to you or your pets.

11 Take the animal to a rehabilitator as soon as possible.

Back to the Wildlife Rehab Page