Found an Animal?
See the chart below for instructions on what to do when you find a wild animal in distress.
Very important – do not attempt give ANY food or water to an injured or orphaned animal. A professional needs to assess the animal’s condition first. Feeding or giving fluids could actually cause more harm than good. And in some cases could kill the animal.
WHAT TO DO:It is an adult sized animal or a Baby? If its an adult, please do not try to handle it directly. Injured / Stressed wild animals see us as predators and when hurt, they often will panick and try to defend themselves out of fear and pain. If you can safely contain it, securely, Off the road and away from domestic pets, with a Garbage can, box, rubbermaid bin with breathing holes , please do. Then call us immediately! 973-506-4353 If its a baby or young juvenille animal, of any kind, put gloves on, Or use a thick towel to carefully wrap and put the baby in a box or small bin, with a towel, shirt, or blanket. Baby animals cannot regulate their own body temp and get hypothermia very easily, they need an acutal heat source ( a blanket or towel is NOT a heat source) A convenient , easy heat source can be a hand warmer packet, a water bottle or soda bottle filled with hot water, a sock filled with dry rice or beans and microwaved for 2 minutes, a car seat with heated seats on high. Make sure to put the towel or blanket between the heat source and the baby's skin. Once you have the baby secured and warming up, CALL US IMMEDIATELY 973-506-4353
If it is an uninjured baby bird or bunny, and you see the nest, gently place it back in its nest. and keep ALL humans and pets away from that area. These babies are fragile and their best chance of survival is if they are raised by their moms. If you can’t locate the nest or the mom, call us !
If you find an injured bird or waterfowl, please call Avian Wildlife Center in Wantage NJ @ (973) 702-1957 or Franklin Lakes Animal Hospital at 201-848-1991 PLEASE DO NOT keep the animal as a pet or try to raise this animal yourself, for many reasons. First of all, they require VERY specific formula, delivered with special equipment so they do not aspirate the formula in their lungs. Chances are the stress and incorrect feeding will kill it. Animals carry many diseases and parasites that are contagious to humans. Also, It is illegal in NJ for people to keep wild animals as pets. We know how cute they can be but they were born wild and need to stay that way. Our goal is always to release them back to the wild once they are old enough and healthy enough. Large and small, they are all important parts of our ecosystem.