If a wild animal appears injured near a road, protect yourself and other road users first. Keep your distance, do not touch or move it unless a qualified local responder tells you to, and contact the wildlife agency, authorized rehabilitator, rescue service, animal control, or veterinarian designated in your area. Rules and safe procedures vary by place and species.
It can be upsetting to see an animal hurt, but acting quickly does not mean approaching it. In most roadside situations, the most useful first actions are to get to a safe place, report the animal’s location clearly, and let a trained responder decide whether it needs help and how that help should be given.
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What to do first
1. Make sure stopping is safe
Do not stop, get out, or approach if doing so would put you in traffic or create another hazard. Do not step into a roadway to reach an animal. If it is in a dangerous position, contact the appropriate local road or public-safety authority rather than trying to move it yourself. What authority handles a road hazard depends on where you are.
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If you can stop safely, keep other people and pets away from the animal. Stay far enough back that you are not forcing it to flee, and do not crowd it to get a closer look. Wildlife may behave unpredictably when frightened or hurt. A safe distance also lets you observe without turning the encounter into an attempt to catch or corner the animal.
2. Contact a qualified local responder
Call the wildlife authority or service that handles sick or injured wildlife in your area. Depending on the jurisdiction, the right contact may be a licensed or authorized wildlife rehabilitator, a wildlife rescue group, a government wildlife agency, animal control, or a veterinarian. If you are unsure who handles wildlife, ask the local authority for the appropriate contact.
Describe the animal as best you can from a safe distance and explain whether it is on the road or creating an immediate traffic hazard. Follow the responder’s instructions. Do not assume that a general emergency number, rescue organization, or handling rule applies everywhere; the relevant agency and contact details vary by location.
When you call, make the location your first practical detail: give the road name or number, a nearby landmark, and which side of the road the animal is on. Then describe what you can see without moving closer—for example, whether it is moving or appears unable to leave the roadway. Say if you have stopped safely nearby or if the animal is creating a hazard for traffic. A responder can use those details to assess what kind of response may be appropriate.
If you do not know the species, say so rather than guessing. A description of its size, color, and visible features may be more useful than an uncertain identification. You can ask the person on the phone whether they need a photo or any additional details. Do not delay a safety call or approach the animal to gather information that can only be obtained up close.
3. Wait at a safe distance
Once you have called, remain out of traffic and follow the responder’s directions about whether to wait, leave, or take another safe action. Do not attempt to catch the animal, move it to the roadside, or put it in a vehicle while waiting unless a qualified professional specifically directs you to do so.
There is no need to keep approaching to check on the animal. If the responder asks you to remain available, wait somewhere safe and be ready to clarify the location or answer questions. If you need to leave, tell the responder when you call or update them if possible. Do not stand in a dangerous spot simply to keep watch.
Keep pets and bystanders back while you wait. Avoid crowding the animal, repeatedly approaching it, or trying to make it move. If its position changes or it moves away, tell the responder rather than following it into traffic or other unsafe areas.
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What if the animal is in the road?
Your safety and the safety of other road users come before reaching the animal. Do not walk into traffic, stop in a dangerous location, or cause another driver to swerve. If you cannot pull over safely, call the relevant local road or public-safety authority and report the hazard. If you do pull over, stay out of the roadway and contact a wildlife responder as well when the animal appears injured.
Separate the two issues when you report them: the road authority may need to know that there is an immediate traffic hazard, while a wildlife responder can advise on the animal. Which agencies handle those roles differs by place, so there is no single number or contact that applies everywhere. If you are unsure who to call about the road, ask the local authority which service manages that road or hazard.
There are narrow, location-specific exceptions for some turtles. They are not general permission to handle injured wildlife: confirm that the local agency’s instructions apply to that species and situation, and act only if you can do so safely. For example, New Jersey’s agency advises that, if it is safe to pull over and help a turtle, it can be placed several feet off the road in the direction it was traveling. The same agency directs people to refer genuinely injured wildlife to a rehabilitator. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Fish and Wildlife
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Do not generalize the New Jersey turtle advice to another species, a different location, or an injured animal that needs care. The exception is about a particular kind of animal and a safe situation. If you cannot establish that the local instruction applies—or if acting would put you in traffic—keep back and call for directions.
Should you touch or move an injured wild animal?
As a general rule, no. Keep back and get professional instructions before trying to handle or move wildlife. A well-intentioned attempt to capture an animal can put you in danger or make the situation worse, and in some places it may also violate wildlife rules. British Columbia advises people not to touch or move sick or injured wildlife without professional instructions; Ontario says not to remove wildlife from its habitat and reserves temporary care for authorized wildlife custodians.
There are several reasons to avoid improvising. You may not know whether the animal is truly injured, what species it is, or whether a special local rule applies. A movement that seems helpful could also expose you to traffic or bring you too close to an animal that is frightened. A responder can assess the information you provide and tell you whether any action is appropriate for that animal and location.
Do not treat a species-specific or narrowly defined exception as a general rescue method. In Massachusetts, the guidance cautions against attempting to capture a wild animal before seeking professional advice and includes particular advice for young birds and a limited turtle-related provision. Those examples do not create blanket permission to handle an injured animal. Check the local agency’s current instructions for the animal and circumstance.
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Some animals pose particular handling risks. South Australian guidance says members of the public should never handle snakes, bats, or flying foxes. If one of these is involved, keep away and contact a local wildlife organization or the appropriate authority. Department of Primary Industries and Regions, South Australia
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Even if you have helped wildlife before, do not assume that a method used for one species or jurisdiction is suitable here. The safe default remains distance and expert direction. The responder’s advice, the species, immediate traffic conditions, and local law all matter when deciding whether anything beyond reporting the find should be done.
What information should you give the responder?
Clear details help a professional decide what response is appropriate without requiring you to approach the animal. From a safe position, note:
- The exact location, including the road, nearby landmark, and which side of the road the animal is on.
- The species, if you recognize it; otherwise describe its size, color, or other visible features.
- What you can observe from a distance, such as whether it is moving or appears unable to leave the roadway.
- Whether it is creating an immediate road hazard and whether you are safely stopped nearby.
- Any other information the responder asks for.
If you can do so without getting closer or delaying a safety call, take a photo or short video from a distance. British Columbia specifically recommends recording the location and taking photos or video where helpful, while still advising people not to handle wildlife. Send an image only in the way the responder requests. Province of British Columbia, “What to do if you find sick, injured, or dead wildlife” (last updated November 29, 2022)
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Stick to observations rather than conclusions. You can say that the animal is lying still, walking unevenly, or remaining in the roadway if you can see that from where you are. You do not have to diagnose an injury or decide whether the animal needs treatment. Those judgments belong to a qualified responder.
Should you give the animal food or water?
No—not unless a veterinarian or wildlife professional directs you to. Do not try to feed it or pour water into its mouth. NSW Health advises people not to touch injured or orphaned wildlife and to contact someone trained to handle the animal. Ask the responder what, if anything, you should do while help is arranged. NSW Health, “Be careful around wildlife: protect yourself”
Do not assume that food or water is helpful just because the animal appears distressed. The appropriate response can depend on the animal and its condition, and the sources do not offer a universal feeding or watering method for roadside wildlife. The safe action is to leave it alone and ask a qualified person, not to put food near it or try to make it drink.
Can you put it in a box or transport it?
Do not treat a box or cage as a reason to approach or capture wildlife. Call a professional first and follow their species-specific directions. NSW interim guidance says a cardboard box or covered cage may be used to keep an animal calm and safe while waiting or transporting it if the finder is able. That is limited interim guidance, not a general instruction for the public to catch, contain, or transport a wild animal.
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The important conditions are that you have contacted a professional, that the professional’s directions fit the species and situation, and that you are able to act safely. If any of those conditions is missing, do not try to improvise containment. A box or covered cage is not a universal requirement, and its mention in interim guidance does not override other local rules or make roadside handling safe.
Some jurisdictions restrict who may take wildlife into care. South Australia says only people authorized under a rescue and rehabilitation permit may take native animals into care; if a carer cannot be reached, its guidance suggests contacting a veterinarian promptly. In Ontario, only wildlife custodians are legally authorized to provide temporary care for sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife. Check the current rules where you are rather than assuming that a brief rescue or temporary stay is allowed.
British Columbia likewise states that possessing live or dead wildlife without a permit is illegal there. Together, these examples show why taking an animal home, keeping it temporarily, or transporting it should not be assumed lawful just because the intention is to help. Ask the local agency or authorized responder what is permitted and what they want you to do.
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The common safe default is to keep your distance and seek expert instructions. These official examples show why the exact action depends on jurisdiction and species:
| Location | Official guidance relevant to a roadside find |
|---|---|
| New South Wales, Australia | Do not touch injured or orphaned wildlife; contact someone trained to handle it. Interim use of a cardboard box or covered cage is described only if the finder is able and while waiting for help or transporting the animal. NSW Health |
| British Columbia, Canada | Note the location and take photos or video if useful; do not touch or move sick or injured wildlife without professional instructions. The province says possessing live or dead wildlife without a permit is illegal there. Province of British Columbia |
| Ontario, Canada | Do not remove wildlife from its habitat. Only authorized wildlife custodians may provide temporary care for sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife. Government of Ontario |
| Massachusetts, United States | Seek professional advice before trying to capture a wild animal. The guidance includes particular advice for young birds and a narrow turtle-related provision, not a general authorization to handle injured wildlife. Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife |
| South Australia | Do not handle snakes, bats, or flying foxes. Only people authorized under a rescue and rehabilitation permit may take native animals into care; contact a veterinarian promptly if a carer cannot be reached. Department of Primary Industries and Regions, South Australia |
| New Jersey, United States | If it is safe to pull over and help a turtle, the agency says to place it several feet off the road in the direction it was traveling. Injured wildlife should be referred to a rehabilitator. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Fish and Wildlife |
These examples are jurisdiction-specific, not a substitute for checking current local instructions. Wildlife care and possession laws differ, and the right action can also depend on the species and whether the animal is truly injured. If local guidance is unclear, contact the agency responsible for wildlife in your area and ask before handling it.
When considering whether a narrow exception applies, check the whole situation rather than focusing on one detail. Is the action safe for people and traffic? Does the guidance cover this species? Is the animal actually injured, or could it be a young animal that is normally unattended? Does local law permit the action? Has a qualified responder told you to move or contain it? If you cannot answer those questions confidently, do not treat the exception as permission to act.
Rules can be especially consequential when temporary care or possession is involved. Ontario reserves temporary care for authorized wildlife custodians, South Australia limits taking native animals into care to people authorized under a rescue and rehabilitation permit, and British Columbia states that possession of live or dead wildlife without a permit is illegal there. These are local examples, not universal legal rules. Check the current requirements in your location rather than relying on a rule from another state, province, or country.
When a young animal may not be injured
A young animal seen alone is not automatically injured or abandoned. Massachusetts guidance includes separate advice for young birds, illustrating why age and species can change the response. Do not capture a young animal based only on its presence near a road. Describe what you see to a local wildlife professional and follow that agency’s advice for that species.
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Keep the same roadside precautions in place while you seek advice: stay out of traffic, keep pets and bystanders back, and do not approach merely to decide whether the young animal has been left alone. The fact that an animal is young does not by itself establish that it needs to be moved or taken into care. A local professional can advise whether the observed situation calls for intervention.
Quick decision checklist
- Stopping would be unsafe: Do not stop or approach. Report the road hazard to the appropriate local authority from a safe place.
- You can stop safely, but the animal is not in the road: Keep people and pets back, note the location, and contact a qualified wildlife responder.
- The animal is in traffic: Do not enter the road. Contact the road or public-safety authority and ask the wildlife responder what to do.
- The animal is a snake, bat, or flying fox in South Australia: Do not handle it; contact a wildlife organization.
- You are considering moving, containing, feeding, watering, or transporting it: Wait for professional instructions. A turtle exception applies only where local guidance says it does and only when the action is safe.
In short, you can help without touching the animal: protect people and traffic, keep your distance, report the location and what you can observe, and follow the directions of a qualified local responder. If you cannot safely remain at the scene, do not put yourself in danger to do so.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I find an injured wild animal?
First make sure you can stop and observe without putting yourself or other road users in danger. Keep people and pets back, note the location and what you can see from a distance, and contact the qualified wildlife responder or agency in your area. Follow its instructions rather than trying to catch, move, feed, or treat the animal yourself.
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Generally, no. Keep your distance and ask a qualified local responder before handling or moving wildlife. There are narrow, species- and location-specific exceptions, such as some turtle guidance, but they do not apply to injured wildlife generally. Never enter traffic to reach an animal.
Who do I call for injured wildlife?
The right contact depends on where you are. It may be an authorized wildlife rehabilitator or custodian, wildlife rescue group, government wildlife agency, animal control, or a veterinarian. If the animal is creating an immediate road hazard, contact the relevant local road or public-safety authority as well. Ask a local authority to direct you if you are unsure.
Can I give an injured wild animal food or water?
Do not give food or water unless a veterinarian or wildlife professional directs you to. NSW Health advises people not to touch injured or orphaned wildlife and to contact someone trained to handle it. Ask the responder what, if anything, is appropriate while help is arranged.
What if the animal is in the road?
Do not walk into traffic, stop in an unsafe place, or make drivers swerve. From a safe location, report the hazard to the appropriate road or public-safety authority, and contact a wildlife responder if the animal appears injured. A turtle-related exception in some local guidance is narrow and should be followed only if it applies and can be done safely.
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The Bottom Line
Protect people and traffic first. Keep your distance, report the animal’s exact location to a qualified local responder, and do not touch, move, feed, contain, or transport it unless that responder gives specific instructions. Species-specific exceptions and wildlife laws vary by location.
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