What Should You Do If You Find an Injured Wild Animal in Your Yard?

Finding an injured wild animal in your yard can be upsetting. Your instinct may be to help immediately, but wild animals can bite, scratch, or carry diseases even when they look helpless. The safest approach is to keep your distance, prevent contact, and get a trained professional involved quickly.

What is happening

Injured wildlife may be stunned, in shock, or suffering from fractures, wounds, or illness. They often hide pain and may react defensively if approached. Some animals that appear orphaned or injured are actually healthy and just waiting for a parent, especially young birds and mammals. Handling them incorrectly can cause further injury to the animal and put you at risk.

Emergency warning

If the animal is a large or dangerous species such as a bear, coyote, mountain lion, wolf, moose, or a potentially rabid animal like a bat, raccoon, skunk, or fox acting aggressively, do not approach it. Call 911 or your local emergency services immediately. If you or anyone else has been bitten or scratched, seek urgent medical care, as rabies and other infections are serious concerns.

What to do first

1. Secure the area. Bring children and pets indoors. Keep everyone away from the animal.
2. Observe from a distance. Note the species, size, visible injuries, and location. Do not crowd or corner it.
3. Call for help. Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, your local animal control, or your state or provincial wildlife agency. They can advise whether to leave it alone or arrange pickup.
4. Follow their instructions. Many agencies prefer that you do not move the animal unless it is in immediate danger.

If you must move the animal

Only do this if a professional tells you to, or if the animal faces immediate danger such as traffic. Wear thick leather gloves and eye protection. Use a towel, blanket, or piece of cardboard as a barrier, and avoid direct skin contact. Gently guide the animal into a secure, ventilated container with a lid, such as a pet carrier or a sturdy box with air holes. Keep it dark, quiet, and warm. Do not offer food or water unless a rehabilitator instructs you to. Never handle bats with bare hands, and never attempt to move a large or aggressive animal yourself.

What NOT to do

• Do not touch, pet, or pick up the animal with bare hands.
• Do not give food, water, or human medications.
• Do not try to treat wounds or splint limbs yourself.
• Do not keep the animal as a pet or take it home.
• Do not let pets or children near it.
• Do not assume a young animal is orphaned; watch from a distance first.

When to call for help

Call a wildlife rehabilitator or animal control for any injured, sick, or distressed wild animal. Call emergency services if the animal is a danger to people, is trapped in a hazardous location, or if anyone has been bitten or scratched. If a bite or scratch breaks the skin, wash the area with soap and water and seek medical care right away.

What to monitor

Watch from indoors for signs of improvement or worsening, such as difficulty moving, bleeding, or labored breathing. Keep a safe distance and report changes to the rehabilitator. Wash your hands thoroughly after any contact with the animal, its container, or its waste.

How to prevent it

Secure trash cans, remove fallen fruit, and avoid leaving pet food outside. Seal gaps under decks and sheds, and check your yard before letting pets out. These steps reduce encounters and keep wildlife and pets safer.

Your next step: keep everyone back, call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or animal control, and let trained professionals handle the rescue. This is general information and not a substitute for professional medical or wildlife advice; in an emergency, call local emergency services.