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Found One? What To Do
Baby bird on the ground. Turtle in the road. Bat in the house. Here’s what to do right now, and what to stop doing.
Most finds do not need rescuing
Most wild animals people find in their yards do not need to be rescued. The ones that do need a specific kind of help, and the wrong kind can cost the animal its life.
Start with one question. Is the animal actually in trouble? A nest of baby rabbits with no mother in sight is normal, because her absence is not abandonment. A baby bird on the ground is a moment where every instinct says to act, and acting too quickly is one of the most common ways people harm the animals they mean to help. When an animal is hurt, the right response depends on what is actually wrong, and the articles below show how to tell. The baby animal triage tool walks you through that first decision.
Some situations do call for action. A turtle in the road should be helped if you can do it safely, and how you help matters almost as much as whether you do. A bat in the house is usually lost, not there on purpose, and there is a right way to get it out and a wrong way.
When an animal needs a professional, the rehabilitator finder sends you to your state or province’s own list or guidance page. It does not point to blogs or random directories.
The last group covers a different question, which is whether you can keep what you found. The practical case against is strong for every animal listed, and the law varies by state. The Can I Keep It tool shows what the law says where you live.
Baby or injured animals
What To Do If You Find A Baby Bird On The GroundEvery instinct says to act, and acting too quickly is one of the most common ways people harm the bird.→What To Do If You Find A Baby TurtleHatchlings are tiny and look helpless. This covers what wildlife biologists actually advise.→What to Do If You Find an Injured SquirrelThe right response depends on what is actually wrong with the squirrel, and this helps you tell.→Baby Rabbits Don’t Need Rescuing as Often as You ThinkA nest with no mother in sight is normal, not a sign of abandonment.→Find a Wildlife Rehabilitator (state by state)Pick your state or province and go straight to that government’s own list or guidance page.→Right animal, wrong place
Bat in the House? Here’s Exactly What to Do (And What Not to Do)A bat indoors is usually lost, not there on purpose. This covers what to do and what to avoid.→What To Do (And Not Do) If You Find A Turtle In The RoadStop if you can do it safely. How you help matters almost as much as whether you do.→What To Do If You See An Opossum (And Why You Should Support Them)What to do when you meet one, hissing, drooling, and playing dead included.→Thinking of keeping one as a pet?
Can You Keep A Wild Rabbit As A Pet?Why bringing home a young wild rabbit rarely goes the way you picture it.→Can You Keep a Fox as a Pet? Here’s What You’re Getting IntoThe videos are charming. This covers the gap between the clip and living with a fox.→Can You Keep a Wild Mouse as a Pet? Probably Not, Here’s WhyIn most states you cannot legally keep a wild mouse, and there are practical reasons not to anywhere.→Can You Keep a Wild Toad as a Pet? The Honest AnswerWhy the toad living in your garden is better left there.→Keeping a Pet Raccoon: The Legal Reality, State by StateRaccoons are intelligent and can bond with people. This covers what the viral clips leave out and where the law stands.→Why a Pet Opossum Almost Never Works Out, Even Where It’s LegalSome places allow it, and the biology still makes it a bad idea.→We email when there’s something worth knowing.
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