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Found an Injured or Young Bird, Squirrel, or Rabbit? The Safe Next Steps

A young animal alone is not always abandoned. Keep pets away, avoid food and water, recognize urgent injuries, and contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for species-specific instructions.

By Animalso Team 9 min read

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Keep children and pets away, watch from a distance, and do not offer food or water. A feathered young bird, baby squirrel, or rabbit seen alone may still have a parent nearby; visible injury, coldness, weakness, predator contact, or immediate danger calls for prompt advice from a local licensed wildlife rehabilitator or wildlife agency. The guidance below is U.S.-centered, so people elsewhere should contact the wildlife authority or permitted rehabilitator for their jurisdiction.

What to do in the first few minutes

Your first job is to prevent a second emergency. Move people and pets indoors or well away from the animal. Stay far enough back that it can behave normally; crowding can keep a parent from approaching and can increase stress in an injured animal.

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  1. Observe before touching. Note the species, approximate size, feather or fur development, ability to stand or move, breathing, bleeding, and exact location. Look for a nest, burrow, tree, or other place where a parent could be nearby.
  2. Check for urgent danger. A road, drain, pool, construction area, loose domestic animal, extreme cold, or ongoing attack may require immediate professional direction. Do not chase an animal into a more dangerous position.
  3. Call qualified local help. Contact a licensed or permitted wildlife rehabilitator, state wildlife agency, or local animal-control authority and describe exactly what you saw. Tell them whether a cat or dog had contact, even if you cannot see a wound.
  4. Follow species-specific instructions. If a professional says to leave a healthy youngster in place, leave the area and keep pets inside. If containment is necessary, ask how to do it before attempting capture, especially with large birds, bats, or animals that may bite.
  5. Record what happens. Note when you found the animal, where it was, weather conditions, and any changes while you wait. This information helps the rehabilitator decide whether reunification or treatment is appropriate.

Never feed or give water unless a professional directs you

Improvised feeding and watering can injure a distressed youngster. Food can enter the airway, an incorrect diet can cause serious illness, and a cold or shocked animal may not be able to digest anything safely. Do not use a dropper, syringe, bowl, milk, bread, seeds, fruit, or household pet food as a guess. Wait for instructions from a rehabilitator who knows the species, age, condition, and local rules.

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Do not try to raise wildlife at home or administer medication. Wild animals have specialized diets, development needs, and release requirements, and possession may be restricted by state or local law.

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Being alone does not automatically mean an animal is orphaned

Young wildlife often spends time away from its parent or nest as part of normal development. Parents may be nearby but out of sight, foraging, or avoiding attention that could draw predators. Watch quietly from a substantial distance and follow the observation period recommended by your local authority rather than repeatedly approaching the animal.

Animal and stage What can be normal Signs that change the response First action
Feathered young bird Hopping, perching, and moving on the ground while parents continue feeding it Unable to move, obvious injury, severe weakness, or danger from traffic or pets Keep pets away; ask a rehabilitator whether it needs help
Downy baby squirrel On the ground after a fall while the mother is away Cold, wet, injured, persistent crying, fly eggs, or predator contact Keep pets indoors and obtain reunification instructions
Young rabbit Quiet nest with little visible activity; fully furred, open-eyed juvenile moving normally Wound, weakness, coldness, fly eggs, or known cat/dog contact Follow local nest-reunification guidance or call a rehabilitator

If you found a bird

Feathered fledgling

A young bird with most of its feathers that can hop, perch, or move about is often a fledgling, not an orphan. It may spend several days on the ground while it learns to fly, and its parents may continue feeding it. The National Audubon Society states: “It is important to keep fledglings in the wild and allow the parents to continue feeding them.” Keep cats, dogs, and people away and give the family space. Do not carry a healthy fledgling to a shelter simply because it is not flying strongly yet.

If the bird is in immediate danger, ask a rehabilitator whether it can be moved a short distance to nearby cover. Only do so when instructed; moving it far from its parents can make reunification harder.

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Downy nestling or injured bird

A mostly down-covered bird that cannot move normally, or any bird with bleeding, an open wound, a visibly broken limb, or severe weakness, needs expert advice promptly. A nestling found beneath a nest may sometimes be returned when a professional confirms it is safe and shows you how. Do not attempt to splint, clean, or treat an injury yourself.

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For a small injured bird, Audubon guidance describes a secure ventilated box or paper bag lined with paper towels while you contact a rehabilitator. Keep the container dark, quiet, and away from children and pets. Large birds with talons or strong bills can cause serious injury; consult a rehabilitator before trying to contain one.

Bird that struck a window

A window-struck bird may be stunned even without an obvious wound. Audubon describes placing it in a quiet ventilated box or paper bag for a short period, then opening the container outdoors to see whether it flies. If it cannot fly normally, contact a rehabilitator. Do not release a bird that remains unable to fly, is bleeding, or shows other distress.

If you found a squirrel

Healthy baby on the ground

A baby squirrel on the ground is not proof that its mother has abandoned it. Ohio wildlife guidance recommends leaving a healthy fallen baby at the base of its tree, keeping pets indoors, and giving the mother an opportunity to retrieve it. If the mother does not return promptly, the guidance describes placing an open, shallow box near the tree so the baby is visible and protected while reunification is attempted. Follow the timing and setup recommended by your local rehabilitator rather than improvising a different location.

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Observe from far enough away that the mother feels safe approaching. Persistent handling, loud conversation, or frequent checks can prevent a reunion. A juvenile that is fully furred, alert, and moving confidently may already be independent; a rehabilitator can help you distinguish that case from a vulnerable infant.

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When a squirrel needs immediate help

Contact a permitted rehabilitator promptly for a squirrel that is cold, wet, bleeding, weak, unable to move normally, covered with fly eggs, crying continuously, or known to have been caught by a cat or dog. Predator contact can cause hidden injuries and infection even when the skin looks intact.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service handout credited to the Wildlife Center of Virginia explains: “A baby squirrel has the best chance of survival when it’s cared for by its mother.” Avoid handling unless it is necessary and a professional has advised you. If handling is directed, the handout says to wear sturdy gloves; that advice does not mean ordinary gloves make bites harmless or eliminate the need for professional help.

If you found a rabbit

Quiet nest or healthy kit

Mother rabbits commonly stay away from the nest for much of the day. A quiet nest therefore does not establish abandonment. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service handout credited to the Wildlife Center of Virginia notes: “You will not see a lot of activity at the nest; mother rabbits stay away to avoid leading predators to their young.”

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If a healthy kit is outside an identifiable nest, local guidance may advise returning it or the nest material to its normal position and then leaving the area. Follow the agency’s instructions about timing and checking; hovering over the nest or repeatedly disturbing it can discourage the mother from returning. Do not relocate a nest to a distant yard or wooded area.

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Independent juvenile

A rabbit that is fully furred, has open eyes, and moves normally may be an independent juvenile. It can look small to an observer while still being capable of surviving on its own. Ask a rehabilitator if you are uncertain, particularly if the rabbit is exposed to traffic, pets, or other immediate hazards.

Injured or distressed rabbit

Get professional advice for a rabbit with a wound, cold body, weakness, abnormal movement, fly eggs, or known cat or dog contact. Do not attempt home treatment or transport until you have instructions, because stress and improper handling can worsen shock.

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How to contain and transport wildlife when a professional tells you to

Containment is not the default response; it is a temporary step used when a qualified person decides the animal cannot safely remain where it is. Ask the rehabilitator to specify the container, liner, warmth, and transport method for that species and condition.

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  1. Prepare the container before approaching: it should be secure, ventilated, and large enough for the animal to rest without being crushed. A rehabilitator may recommend a box or paper bag for a small bird.
  2. Use a quiet room away from people, pets, and loud appliances. Keep the container closed or covered as directed; darkness generally reduces visual stress, but follow the professional’s instructions.
  3. Do not add food or water. Do not apply a heating pad, hot-water bottle, or lamp unless the rehabilitator specifically tells you how. Warmth requirements differ with species, age, injury, and weather, and overheating can be fatal.
  4. Transport directly to the designated rehabilitator or agency. Do not stop to show the animal to others, and do not keep it overnight unless the professional explicitly instructs you to do so.

For a large bird, a bat, or any animal that may injure you, do not attempt capture. California guidance specifically warns against handling bats with bare hands. Wait for the relevant wildlife authority or rehabilitator.

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Red flags that warrant prompt professional contact

  • Bleeding, an open wound, exposed bone, a drooping wing, or another visible injury
  • Inability to stand, fly, hop, crawl, or move normally for its developmental stage
  • Coldness, wetness, marked weakness, collapse, or persistent distress calls
  • Fly eggs or maggots on the body
  • Known contact with a cat, dog, vehicle, window, or other predator or hazard
  • Immediate danger from traffic, machinery, drains, pools, or aggressive domestic animals
  • A large bird, bat, or animal that could bite, scratch, or carry disease

Describe these signs when you call. A clear description can help the professional decide whether to attempt reunification, arrange pickup, or direct you to emergency veterinary care.

Finding the right local authority

Look for a wildlife rehabilitator who is licensed or permitted for the species in your area, or contact your state wildlife agency for a referral. Rules about possessing, transporting, and releasing wild animals vary by jurisdiction and species, so advice from a well-meaning neighbor or a general pet facility may not be lawful or medically appropriate.

The cited guidance is U.S.-based. If you are outside the United States, contact your national, regional, or municipal wildlife authority and follow its instructions. Give the agency your location, because the nearest qualified facility may depend on county or state boundaries.

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Common mistakes to avoid

  • Taking a normal fledgling or juvenile away too soon: separation from its parents can create the emergency you were trying to prevent.
  • Hovering over a nest: repeated visits can keep a parent away and expose the young to predators.
  • Feeding “just a little”: the wrong food or liquid can cause aspiration, digestive injury, or death.
  • Trying to treat an injury yourself: splints, disinfectants, and human medicines are not substitutes for wildlife care.
  • Assuming gloves make capture safe: gloves may reduce some contact risk but do not make bites, scratches, or disease exposure impossible.
  • Using one setup for every species: a container or heat method suitable for one animal may harm another.

Three practical examples

A feathered bird hopping beside a shrub

Keep the dog indoors, watch from a distance, and call only if the bird appears injured or remains in danger. Its hopping and feathering are consistent with a fledgling, so leaving it near its parents is usually safer than taking it away.

A cold baby squirrel beneath a tree after a dog encounter

Keep the dog away, do not feed or water the squirrel, and call a permitted rehabilitator promptly. Mention the coldness and dog contact; ask whether and how to attempt reunification or temporary containment.

A fully furred rabbit crossing a quiet lawn

If it is alert, mobile, and uninjured, it may be an independent juvenile. Do not chase it. Keep pets inside and contact local wildlife help if you cannot tell whether it is healthy or if the area presents immediate danger.

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