PLEASE NOTE:
IT IS PERFECTLY LEGAL FOR A VETERINARIAN TO TREAT WILDLIFE IN NEW JERSEY
Since nature does not provide supportive care to animals when they are hurt, injured or sick, they need our help. In all cases, you must try to find a licensed wildlife rehabilitator to take the animal, but until you can find one, the following information will help guide you on what to do in the interim.
ADULT ANIMALS
(squirrel, chipmunk, opossum, raccoon, fox, skunk, deer, flying squirrel, ground hog, beaver)
WHAT TO DO AND NOT TO DO:
Assess the injury/problem (read below).
Gently move the animal into a container or a pet carrier with a soft blanket. Use gloves, blanket, a plastic shovel or a piece of cardboard to move the animal to avoid getting bitten or causing more injury to the animal. Do not force liquid into the animal as you could drown the animal if you get fluid into the lungs instead of the stomach. This is especially important if the animal is unconscious or unable to swallow. Do not give any animal or bird cow’s milk – it makes them very sick.
If the animal is cold (hypothermia) – wrap the animal in a soft blanket and supply heat by putting a heating pad ON LOW under half the container.(putting the heating pad under half the container allows the animal to get away from the heat if it desires). If you do not have a heating pad, use a baggy of warm water or a sock with rice heated in the microwave. DO NOT BURN THE ANIMAL. The animal should not be offered water or food until normal temperature is regained.
If the animal is overheated or dehydrated, offer pedialyte and/or water in a shallow dish and put the animal in a cool place or shade. This is common when an animal is trapped and left in the trap in hot weather.
If the animal is injured/trauma – always put the animal in a quiet place away from stress, pets, and children. It is always best to get the animal to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian as soon as possible.
Assessing the problem will help the veterinarian and/or rehabilitator when communicating to them on what to do.
Head Trauma:
The animal will walk around in circles dazed and confused. The animal will have swelling anywhere around the head/eye/jaw area. Sometimes blood will be seen around eyes, ears and nose. Any nocturnal animal (raccoon, skunk, fox or opossum) with a head injury or any other injury could be out in the daytime – please do not assume that it is an animal infected with rabies. Opossums do not harbor rabies anyway.
However, always be cautious not to touch the animal and use gloves. There are medicines that will help the brain swelling, but they must be administered as soon as possible.
Cat bites or other animal bites:
The animal could have a puncture wound under the fur that cannot be easily detected. The animal will lie on their side sometimes and experience heavy breathing or gasping. Rabbits, baby squirrels, chipmunks and birds are especially vulnerable to cat bites.
Treatment usually requires veterinarian intervention and antibiotics.
Trauma:
In all cases of trauma, the animal will need supportive care and triage. Whether it is a small cut, head injury, broken bone, animal bite, fall from a tree, etc. it is important to stabilize the animal, keep the animal in a quiet place, warm away from noise, children, pets and undo stress.
Get them to a veterinarian or licensed wildlife rehabilitator immediately.
Pneumonia:
Many times animals fall into pools or when feeding the animal incorrectly and getting fluid into their lungs. The animal will not want to eat. In severe cases, the animal will experience gasping, heavy breathing, cold (hypothermia). Sit the animal upright, wrap them in a blanket, keep them warm and get them to a veterinarian or licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
ORPHANED, BABY WILDLIFE:
Squirrels, raccoons, chipmunks, possums, skunks, ground hogs.
BEFORE YOU REMOVE THE BABY ANIMAL, BE SURE THE MOTHER IS REALLY GONE.
Always try to get the babies back with the mother.
Squirrels:
If the babies fall out of a tree and they are not severely injured, place them in a basket with a warm bottle of water or heating pad underneath (to avoid freezing or hypothermia) and keep a close watch to see if the mother comes to get them. Many times they do! If mother does not return by nightfall, then you will have to take them in and call a wildlife rehabilitator.
Raccoons:
Place the raccoon baby in basket wrapped up in a blanket in a safe place away from other predators. The mothers will usually come back at night for their babies.
WHAT TO DO AND NOT TO DO:
BABY ANIMALS CANNOT PRODUCE THEIR OWN HEAT!
They rely on the mother’s body for warmth and so you must supply the heat for them. Do not overheat or burn the animal. You can provide supplemental heat by placing a heating pad on very low under half the container. If you do not have a heating pad, use a baggy of warm water, water bottle, or sock with rice heated in the microwave.
Do not feed any animals or birds cow’s milk.
Keep the animal hydrated by offering pedialyte or special animal formulas in an untippable bowl, that can be obtained at you local pet store. Goat’s milk is also adequate.
Do not force any liquid into an animal especially if animal is lethargic, unconscious or sick!
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