When you find wildlife that is injured, orphaned, diseased or in some other distress, there are some preliminary things you can do to provide temporary care until a licensed rehabilitator can be contacted. Always remember that wild animals are living creatures, not toys for our amusement. They need special care and handling in order to ensure their successful release to the wild.

WHEN BIRDS AND MAMMALS NEED HELP:

• If it is young, wait and watch to see if the parents are nearby before you interfere. If the parents fail to return after 1 or 2 hours (depending on weather conditions), then rescue it.
• Rabbits only feed their young twice a day, so put a stick or straw on top of the nest and check to see if has moved well after sundown. If it hasn't moved after 12 hours (again depending on weather conditions) then rescue the young. Orphaned rabbits are very difficult to raise, so do not interfere if it isn't necessary.
• When you find young out of the nest, try to return it if at all possible. ALL parents will accept their young no matter how they smell, and a bird's sense of smell is very poor anyway.
• If the animal is injured or diseased rescue it immediately by placing it in a box, paper bag, or other container with AIR HOLES. Keep it in a warm (75 to 85 degrees), dark, quiet, safe, place. Use paper towels for the floor, don't use the old nest as it may have mites, and don't use grass as this will draw the body heat from the animal. Call for help immediately!

NEVER:

• Feed or water an animal unless specifically told to by a qualified Rehabilitator.
• Hold an injured or orphaned animal, this causes extreme stress. Some animals may seem to lie still when held, however this is how they respond to extreme stress, this can worsen the animals condition and this can kill them.
• Let orphaned young like ducks or geese follow you. This can cause irreversible bonding to humans (imprinting) instead of their own species.

CAUTION:

• Birds of prey (hawks, owls and falcons) can be dangerous especially when injured. Try to find someone who can handle them to help you. Cover them with a laundry basket or box with weight on it until you can get a help.
• Injured adult mammals are also dangerous and should be handled carefully. Remember any mammal can get rabies including man. Birds do not get or carry rabies.

HELP NUMBERS:
For help or information please feel free to call one of us.

• Jackie (716) 625-8189
• Ben (716) 940-2478
• Chris (716) 908-1863
• Kathy (716) 731-9334
• Sandy (716) 574-0359
• Tammy (716) 946-1321

If you get an answering machine, leave a message and we will return your call.
We also have a directory of other rehabilitators within the US.

Some of the animals we have helped rehabilitate include: