An inside look at wildlife rescue and rehabilitation
April 2025
(courtesy Wildlife Center of Virginia)
by Amanda S. Creasey, Contributing Columnist
One of the greatest thrills of spending time outside is encountering wildlife. Whether it’s a box turtle or bird, fox or frog, rabbit or raccoon, seeing native wildlife in its natural habitat reminds us that we share this world with many creatures.
But what should you do if you encounter one of these wild animals in distress? Do you know how to differentiate an ill or injured animal from a healthy one? Do you know what practical first steps you can safely take to increase the chances of survival for an animal that has collided with a window or been hit by a car? Most of us want what’s best for our wild neighbors, but we may not always know how to help.
(courtesy Wildlife Center of Virginia)
BABY SEASON
The arrival of spring brings flower blossoms, warmer days and later sunsets. It also ushers in what the wildlife rescue world knows as “baby season.”
According to Connor Gillespie, director of outreach for the Wildlife Center of Virginia in Waynesboro, Va., baby season begins in early spring and continues through early fall. It’s the busiest time of year for wildlife rescues because it’s when most of our native wildlife are having babies. While Wildlife Center of Virginia might admit only five animals per day during the winter, that number can exceed 50 daily intakes during baby season.
Jen Riley, DVM, serves as the hospital director at the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center in Boyce, Va. According to Riley, one of the most common mistakes people make is assuming a baby animal is orphaned and inadvertently abducting it. In the case of most wildlife, the adults do not stay with the baby 24/7. She advises would-be helpers not to intervene unless there is a clear injury.
(courtesy Wildlife Center of Virginia)
OBVIOUS INJURY
If an animal is injured, a person’s first instinct is often to offer food or water, but that can often cause more harm than good. “People want to help, but there may be underlying issues that could make food or water harmful to the animal. Young animals can also aspirate if not fed properly,” Gillespie says. In addition to the risk of aspiration, the first step usually taken at the Wildlife Center of Virginia is to anesthetize the animal for a thorough examination — and, just like humans, animals should not eat or drink before anesthesia. “Instead of providing food or water, safely contain the animal in a crate or box so it can be taken to a wildlife rehabber — the sooner, the better,” Gillespie advises.
NO OBVIOUS INJURY
If no obvious injury can be discerned, an animal may still need help. Even if an animal appears unharmed, if it has been in a cat’s mouth, been hit by a car or collided with a window, contain it and contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. “Most of what we see is trauma, with the overwhelming majority being vehicle collisions and cat attacks,” says Jessica Andersen, rehab manager at Blue Ridge Wildlife Center.
(courtesy Wildlife Center of Virginia)
SAFE CONTAINMENT
In the event of an obvious injury, cat interaction, vehicle or window collision, or upon the advice of a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, safely containing the animal is imperative. To reduce stress on the animal and risk to yourself, minimize contact by wearing gloves and placing a cardboard box over the animal to contain and shelter it. If necessary, you may need to gently restrain the animal using a towel or blanket, which can be placed in the box with the animal. Best practice includes using the smallest possible box in which the animal will fit, thus decreasing the animal’s ability to thrash, potentially inflicting further injury on itself.
WILDLIFE INJURY
Prevention is always the best option, and many actions can be taken to avert wildlife emergencies in the first place. “Cats are one of the most common reasons for admission [to Blue Ridge Wildlife Center] and half of free-roaming Virginia cats are pets [that could be kept inside],” says Riley. Gillespie says, “We love cats, but any time they’re outside, they pose a risk for wildlife.” Another preventive measure includes avoiding rodenticides or other poisons.
Not only do these substances cause suffering and death to their intended targets, but animals that consume the poisoned creatures are also adversely affected. Similarly, avoid glue traps and other inhumane trapping methods, which almost always result in injury and may result in death. Many unintended victims fall prey to these inhumane trapping options. Lead bullets and sinkers also pose myriad health risks to wildlife and humans alike.
According to Riley, studies show lead alternatives to be just as effective and much safer for humans and wildlife that consume game meat. Perhaps one of the simplest preventive measures is picking up litter, which attracts animals to the roadside and leads to traffic incidents. When on the road, be prepared to stop for any animals in the roadway, particularly when animals are most likely to be on the move — at night, dawn or dusk. Another simple way to prevent harm to wildlife includes avoiding feeding wildlife, feeding pets indoors and storing pet food inside. When it comes to birds, be sure to clean bird feeders at least every two weeks to reduce the risk of spreading diseases and treat windows to prevent window strikes.
(courtesy Wildlife Center of Virginia)
MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS
Myths abound when it comes to baby animals, one being that a fawn with curled ears needs help. According to Riley and Andersen, curled ears on a fawn does not indicate the fawn is in distress. Another popular myth is the belief that handling a baby animal will discourage its parents from returning to care for it. “This is not true for any animal in Virginia,” says Riley. Nor is it true that a baby animal needs food and water right away. In fact, offering food and water risks killing a baby animal that might otherwise have survived. Many people believe they are doing right by wildlife viewed as pests when they trap and relocate them. In fact, doing so is illegal, spreads disease, usually kills that individual animal and orphans any babies left behind.
Popular myth would diagnose a raccoon active during the day with rabies. In actuality, a raccoon out during the day, especially during baby season, is likely just a busy mom trying to find food for her young.
Finally, people often believe snakes are always aggressive and dangerous. “Any wild animal that is cornered or being harassed may bite, but snakes are no more aggressive than any other group of wild animals,” says Riley. Gillespie concurs. “Most snake bites occur when people try to harm or move snakes; if you give snakes space and don’t approach them, then they will eventually go on their way,” he says.
Though people have been taught that a bird that has suffered a collision is just stunned and will recover and fly away, such trauma is often fatal within a day or two of the injury. Any bird that collides with a window, car or other object should be taken to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
HOW TO HELP
Be prepared for wildlife emergencies by supplying your car with flattened cardboard boxes in various sizes, thick leather gloves, nitrile or latex gloves, towels, and a cellphone and charger.
- Call a wildlife rehabilitator before intervening
- Contain the animal in a ventilated cardboard box or pet carrier
- Wear gloves
- Keep the animal in a safe, warm, quiet, dark space away from other animals
DON’T
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- Offer food or water, administer medications, or apply any ointments or topical solutions
- Constantly check on a contained animal
- Handle wildlife with bare hands
- Relocate wildlife
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU FIND …
TURTLES
Upon finding a turtle in the road or near the roadside, first check for signs of injuries or illness, such as blood, discharge from the nose or eyes, or swollen eyes. If no issues are apparent, never relocate a turtle to what you believe is a safer or better location. “Doing so is often a death sentence,” Riley says. Instead, move it across the roadway in the direction it was headed, placing it at least three feet off the shoulder. If injury or illness is apparent, contain the turtle in a box and call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Be sure to take note of the turtle’s specific location, as turtles cannot be released back into the wild without this information. The same advice holds true for hatchlings, who need no parental care.
BIRDS
If a bird collides with a window or other object, it needs help, even if it seems fine. Head trauma rarely manifests until between 12 and 24 hours after a collision, so even a bird that appears uninjured has likely sustained trauma that requires treatment. If the bird is a raptor, such as an osprey, hawk or eagle, the sharp talons and beak can pose serious danger to would-be rescuers. In the case of an injured or ill raptor, calling an expert is the first step. Songbirds pose fewer dangers, but keep in mind that they may not need a rescuer. Unless a bird shows obvious signs of injury or illness, or you know it has collided with a window or been in a cat’s mouth, it’s best not to intervene. If you are unsure whether a bird needs help, call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for advice.
OPOSSUMS
Mother opossums can carry up to 13 joeys in their pouches, and even if a mother opossum has died, her offspring (joeys) may still be alive in her pouch and in need of help. If you find an opossum that appears dead, you can save lives by checking for a pouch and joeys. It is important, however, to make sure the opossum is deceased before checking for a pouch. To do so, gently poke the opossum with a stick or broom. If surviving joeys are in the pouch, leave them there and bring the mother’s entire body to a wildlife rehabilitator or rescue in a box. A joey less than 7 inches long, or shorter than the length of a dollar bill, is too young to be on its own and needs the assistance of a wildlife rehabilitator.
DEER
A fawn on its own is probably not orphaned, but according to Riley and Andersen, even an orphaned fawn will likely fare better without human intervention. “Does will often adopt fawns. If you see a fawn with a dead mom or crying, it’s still best to let it be and see if it’s adopted. That is its best chance,” Riley says. Signs a fawn may be in distress include: diarrhea on its rear end, flystrike, numerous ticks or lethargy, or the fawn cannot stand, is experiencing difficulty walking or is laying completely flat on its side with its legs stretched out. If attempts have been made to leave an orphaned fawn undisturbed and no adult has adopted it or you note any signs of distress, contact a rehabber for advice. Adult deer rehabilitation is prohibited in Virginia for a variety of reasons. White-tailed deer are a high-stress species and often suffer from Capture Myopathy. “When deer undergo extreme stress, often during capture or handling, that stress can lead to muscle damage, organ failure and, in some cases, death,” Gillespie explains. Riley adds, “If an adult deer runs off, there is no need to intervene. If it can’t get up, it’s best to call animal control or the non-emergency police line.”
SQUIRRELS
Even if a baby squirrel has fallen from a tree, or the tree in which it was nested is cut down, if it is not injured and it is during daylight hours, wait four-to-eight hours before taking action to allow the mother time to retrieve her baby. Mother squirrels make and maintain multiple nests. If one is destroyed, she will relocate her babies to one of the others. In the meantime, you can help both mother and baby by placing the baby in an open-topped container, such as a shallow cardboard box, to keep it in the same place.
If a baby squirrel remains in the same place for over eight hours, if it’s after or near sundown, or if it’s cold outside, contact a licensed rehabilitator.
Keep in mind that adult squirrels with injuries or illnesses can be a bite risk, and you should not attempt to contain them without speaking to a licensed rehabilitator first. Should you be advised to contain the squirrel, wear thick leather gloves.
(courtesy Blue Ridge Wildlife Center)
FROGS AND SNAKES
Only three types of venomous snakes make their home in Virginia. If you find a venomous snake with an injury or illness, do not attempt to contain it. If you cannot identify a snake as venomous or non-venomous, do not attempt to contain it. Instead, call an expert for advice and assistance. Many centers, including Blue Ridge Wildlife Center, treat venomous snakes. Only if you are absolutely certain a snake in distress is non-venomous is it safe to contain it and transport it to a licensed rehabilitator or wildlife rescue.
Be sure to scoop reptiles or amphibians up with gloved hands, as the natural oils on human hands may harm some species.
COTTONTAILS
According to Riley and Andersen, baby cottontails are often caught up and hurt by lawn mowers and weed trimmers, as rabbit nests are difficult-to-spot, shallow depressions in the ground.
If you find a nest on your property, do not relocate it, as even a few feet of difference will make the nest impossible for the mother rabbit to see. “Young rabbits usually leave the nest after a mere three weeks,” Riley says, so even a nest in an inconvenient place will not be active very long. Keep cats and dogs away from any known nests in your yard.
Should concerns about baby rabbits arise, remember that quiet babies snuggled in a nest are likely cared for, though you may not see their mother, who is active only at dusk, dawn and overnight. Baby rabbits who have left the nest while their eyes are still closed or who are making noises are likely in distress, and such conditions warrant a call to a licensed rehabilitator for advice.
If you find a baby bunny out of the nest, call a rehabilitator to confirm it needs help, bearing in mind that even healthy young rabbits may “freeze and allow people to easily pick them up occasionally, resulting in many abductions,” Andersen says.
HIGH-RISK SPECIES
Foxes, bats, bobcats, groundhogs, skunks, beavers and raccoons are all high-risk rabies vector species, making it imperative to avoid physical contact. Making contact with a rabies vector species may result in the euthanasia of an animal that might otherwise have made a full recovery and been released back into the wild. A humane trap can be used to contain an injured animal that is still mobile, but if an injury is preventing mobility, use a shovel to gently move the injured animal to a crate or box and transport it to a wildlife rehabilitator.
For more, visit wildlifecenter.org or blueridgewildlifectr.org.
Amanda Creasey writes about the outdoors. Her column, Explore More, can be seen in Cooperative Living.