Helpful Information

Simple Things You Can Do to Avoid Harming Wildlife

Most of the wild animals brought to our clinic suffer from injuries or problems caused by humans. Since most people try to avoid causing harm to other living things, here are things you can do to help.

1. Keep pets supervised. Prevent your pet cats and dogs from attacking wildlife. Raise cats as indoor pets. Spay and neuter pet cats. See: Cats and Wildlife, Cats Indoors
2. Prevent window strikes. Alert birds to large glass surfaces by hanging streamers or putting silhouettes on windows. See: ABC Glass Collisions Program
3. Educate children. Teach them that wild animals are not playthings and should not be molested. Children should not destroy nests, burrows and other wildlife homes.
4. Pick up litter. Cut six-pack connectors, retrieve fishing line, and properly dispose of watch batteries.
5. Drive carefully. Be alert near wildlife refuges and rural areas. Stop and move turtles away from roadways.
6. Leave infant wildlife alone. A parent may be nearby. If you find young birds on the ground, attempt to return them to the nest.
7. Cap chimneys and vents. Prevent birds, ducks and raccoons from getting trapped.
8. Secure fishing equipment. Don’t leave fishing line or hooks unattended. Retrieve kite string from trees.
9. Check before mowing. Walk through the area first to make sure no rabbits or ground-nesting birds are present. Squirrels and Spring Tree Trimming (PDF)
10. Check trees before trimming. Look for active bird or squirrel nests. Avoid cutting down dead trees that provide wildlife homes.
11. Use non-toxic products on your lawn and garden.
12. Secure motor oil. Birds often fall into unattended oil pans and few survive.
13. Don’t keep wildlife as pets. It’s illegal, and captivity is a constant stress. See the “Wildlife as Pets” section below.
14. Remove sticky fly tapes from areas where birds can contact them.
15. Take down unused nets. Birds become entangled in soccer and volleyball nets, especially raptors that hunt at night.

How to Rescue Birds

1. Prepare a container. Place a soft cloth (not terry cloth) on the bottom of a cardboard box or carrier with a lid. Make air holes. For small birds, use a paper sack with holes.
2. Gently pick up the bird and place in the container, being careful with the wings.
3. Warm the bird if cold. Place one end on a heating pad on low, or use a warm water bottle wrapped in cloth.
4. Cover the container with a light sheet or towel.
5. Keep it quiet. Warm, dark, quiet place. No food or water. No handling. Keep children and pets away.
6. Contact a rehabilitator as soon as possible. Don’t keep the bird longer than necessary.
7. Wash your hands after contact. Wash anything the animal touched.
8. Deliver to a wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible.

See additional information on Native Songbird Care’s “I Found a Bird” page.

Wildlife as Pets

It is illegal to possess a wild animal. If you find injured or sick wildlife, please contact us. Wildlife do not make good pets because:

1. Most become troublesome as adults when maturing instincts conflict with taming
2. Young animals may seem tame but become aggressive and unpredictable with age
3. They become too wild to keep yet too tame to survive in their natural habitat
4. Captivity is not natural and causes constant stress
5. Wild animals carry diseases harmful to people (see Links page, “Animal Diseases” section)
6. They need specialized veterinary care and knowledge of their specific needs

It is against the law in most states to keep wild animals without proper permits, even if you plan to release them.

More info: CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Manual 671 (PDF) | Laws Regarding Wildlife | US FWS Laws/Treaties/Regulations

Bats and Rabies

The Rabies virus is preventable and treatable. Untreated, it can stay dormant up to 7 years and is almost always fatal if symptoms develop. Anyone who has touched or held a bat should call their county public health department.

Shasta County: Shasta County Public Health Dept. — 530-225-5591 or 800-971-1999