Below is a guideline for when you find a baby mammal or bird.  Ideally, the best chance of survival is with it's mother.  The following is courtesy of Healers of the Wild: People Who Care for Injured and Orphaned Wildlife by Shannon K. Jacobs, 1998 Coyote Moon Press, PO Box 6867, Denver, CO 80206.

Finding baby mammals

If you find a baby mammal (raccoon, squirrel, etc.), is it hurt or sick (bleeding, shivering, vomiting: was it attacked by a cat or dog)? Answer Yes(1) or No(1):

Yes(1): Call a wildlife rehabilitator.
To find a wildlife rehabilitator in your area, contact one of the following:

your state wildlife agency

humane society

audubon society

wild bird stores

city animal control officer

veterinarian

 Coast Guard or Marine patrol

 US Fish and Wildlife Service

 wildlife rehab info directory

If unable to reach a rehabilitator, call your state wildlife agency or a wildlife veterinarian.
If you are unable to reach any of the above, follow the instructions on how to rescue baby mammals below.

No(1):  Are you able to find it's nest or den and is it intact?  Answer Yes(2) or No(2):

Yes(2):  Place baby in nest/den then watch for mother for 4-6 hours.
Stay completely out of sight.  Mothers won't return if any people or pets are present.

No(2):    Place baby in shallow box close to where it was found.  Keep it warm but out of the sun.  Stay completely out of sight.  Mothers won't return if any people or pets are present.
Next, see if the mother returns.  Does the mother return? Answer Yes(3) or No(3):

Yes(3):  Leave the area.  The baby will be ok.

No(3):  Call a wildlife rehabilitator.

If you find baby bunnies

If their next has been damaged, it can be repaired.  Look for a shallow depression lined with grass/fur.  Place babies in nest with light layers of grass to hide them.  Leave the area, or the mother won't return.  Mothers return only at dawn and dusk.  If you find healthy bunnies that are 4-5 inches long, able to hop, with eyes open and ears up, they do not need help.  They are able to survive on their own.  Leave them alone.  If you have questions, call a wildlife rehabilitator.

If you find a seal pup or fawn

Mothers normally leave their babies to feed.  If the baby looks cold, hungry, diseased or confused, or if dogs, other animals, or people threaten its safety, call a wildlife rehabilitator or park ranger.  Otherwise, leave the baby alone and leave the area.  The mother will not return if people or pets are present.

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.
       Place a soft cloth on the bottom of a cardboard box or cat/dog carrier with a lid.
       If it doesn't have air holes, make some.  For smaller animals, you can use a paper sack with air holes punched in.
2.    Protect yourself.
       Wear gloves, if possible.  Some animals may bite or scratch to protect themselves, even if sick.  Wild animals commonly have parasites and carry diseases.
3.    Cover the animal with a light sheet or towel.
4.    Gently pick up the animal and put it in the prepared container.
5.    Warm the animal if it's cold out or if the animal is chilled.
       Put one end of the container on a heating pad set on low.  Or fill a zip-loc plastic bag, plastic soft drink container with a screw lid, or a rubber glove, with hot water.  Wrap warm container with cloth, and put it next to the animal.  Make sure the container doesn't leak, or the animal will get wet and chilled.
6.    Tape the box shut or roll the top of the paper bag closed.
7.    Note exactly where you found the animal.
       This will be very important for release.
8.    Keep the animal in a warm, dark, quiet place.
       Don't give it food or water.
       Leave it alone, do not handle or bother it.
       Keep children and pets away.
9.    Contact a wildlife rehabilitator, state wildlife agency or wildlife veterinarian as soon as possible.
       Don't keep the animal at your home longer than necessary.
       Keep the animal in a container, don't let it loose in your house or car.
10.  Wash your hands after contact with the animal.
       Wash anything the animal was in contact with (towels, jacket, blankets, pet carrier etc.) to prevent the spread of diseases and/or parasites to you or your pets.
11.  Get the animal to a wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible

The Laws

Remember, it is against the law in most states to keep wild animals if you do not have permits, even if you plan to release them.

Finding baby birds

If you find a baby bird, is it hurt or sick (unable to flutter wings, bleeding, wings drooping unevenly, weak, shivering, attacked by cat/dog)? Answer Yes(4) or No(4):

Yes(4): Call a wildlife rehabilitator
To find a wildlife rehabilitator in your area, contact one of the following:

• your state wildlife agency
• humane society
• audubon society
• wild bird stores
• city animal control officer
• veterinarian
• Coast Guard or Marine patrol
• US Fish and Wildlife Service
• wildlife rehab info directory

If unable to reach a rehabilitator, call your state wildlife agency or a wildlife veterinarian.
If you are unable to reach any of the above, follow the instructions on how to rescue baby birds below.

No(4):  Is the bird feathered?  Answer Yes(5) or No(5):

Yes(5):  It is a fledgling.  Normal behavior to be hopping on the ground.
Parents will still feed it.
Is it safe from cats, dogs and people?  Answer Yes(6) or No(6):

Yes(6):  Leave the area, baby is ok.

No(6):   Put bird in bushes or on the tree limb nearby. Watch from a distance.
Are parents nearby?  Answer Yes(7) or No(7):

Yes(7):  Leave the area, baby is ok.

No(7):   Call a wildlife rehabilitator.

No(5):   It is a nestling.  (Needs help!)
Can you find the nest?  Is it intact?  Answer Yes(8) or No(8):

Yes(8):  Put baby back in nest.
Observe from a distance.
Are parents visiting nest?  Answer Yes(9) or No(9):

Yes(9):  Leave the area, baby is ok.

No(9):   Call a wildlife rehabilitator.

No(8):  Make a substitute nest.
Poke holes in bottom of berry basket/margarine tub.
Line with dry grass, the old nest, or pine needles.

Hang from original tree or nearby tree.
Put baby in nest.
Observe from a distance.
Are parents visiting nest?  Answer Yes(10) or No(10):

Yes(10):  Leave the area, baby is ok.

No(10):   Call a wildlife rehabilitator.

If you find a baby duck, goose, quail or killdeer

If you know the mother is dead, or if baby is injured, call a wildlife rehabilitator right away.
If baby is separated from the mother and you know where she is, place baby close by so she can hear it.  Watch from a distance.
If the mother is not found or does not claim the baby within an hour, call a wildlife rehabilitator.  If you cannot reach one, rescue baby and follow How to Rescue Baby Birds below.

How to rescue baby birds
Only adults should rescue baby birds.  Before rescuing adult birds, seek guidance from a wildlife rehabilitator.
1.    Prepare a container.
       Place a clean, soft cloth with not string or loops on the bottom of a cardboard box or cat/dog carrier with a lid.  If it doesn't have air holes, make some.  For smaller birds, you can use a paper sack with air holes.
2.    Protect yourself.
       Wear gloves, if possible.  Some birds may stab with their beaks, slice with their talons (claws) and slap with their wings, to protect themselves, even if sick.
       Wild animals commonly have parasites and carry diseases.
3.    Cover the animal with a light sheet or towel.
4.    Gently pick up the bird and put it in the prepared container.
5.    Warm the animal if it's cold out or if the animal is chilled.
       Put one end of the container on a heating pad set on low.  Or fill a zip-loc plastic bag, plastic soft drink container with a screw lid, or a rubber glove, with hot water.  Wrap warm container with cloth, and put it next to the animal.  Make sure the container doesn't leak, or the animal will get wet and chilled.
6.    Tape the box shut or roll the top of the paper bag closed.
7.    Note exactly where you found the animal.
       This will be very important for release.
8.    Keep the animal in a warm, dark, quiet place.
       Don't give it food or water.
       Leave it alone, do not handle or bother it.
       Keep children and pets away.
9.    Contact a wildlife rehabilitator, state wildlife agency or wildlife veterinarian as soon as possible.
       Don't keep the bird at your home longer than necessary.
       Keep the bird in a container, don't let it loose in your house or car.
10.  Wash your hands after contact with the animal.
       Wash anything the bird was in contact with (towels, jacket, blankets, pet carrier etc.) to prevent the spread of diseases and/or parasites to you or your pets.
11.  Get the bird to a wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible

Remember, it is against the law in most states to keep wild animals if you do not have permits, even if you plan to release them.

If you would like to contact Shannon K. Jacobs, her email is wildlifewriter@aol.com.

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