COMMON RESCUE SITUATIONS

Do you have an animal that needs help?

Sick owl

Encountering a wild animal in distress can be challenging

This guide offers practical steps for common wildlife rescue scenarios in Arizona, helping ensure the safety of both the animal and yourself. By following these tips, you can make a positive impact on local wildlife.

Common Cottontail Suggestions

  • Bunnies play dead and then jump at the first chance they get, which can lead to spinal injuries after rescue. Please avoid handling them and keep them contained until rescue assistance arrives.
  • Cow’s milk makes bunnies sick.
  • Use goat’s milk or kitten replacement formula only.
  • Do not feed cold or dehydrated animals. It is more important to get them to a wildlife center. Cold and dehydrated animals are in shock and cannot digest food.
  • Bunnies with closed eyes need to be stimulated to potty, or their bladder can rupture. Failure to toilet them can cause their bladder to rupture.
  • Secure the animal in a carrier with a soft towel, away from pets and children. Comfort the animal by providing warmth in a dark, quiet area where it can rest and help transport to a wildlife rescue

Cottontail Rescue Tips

Mother rabbits don’t abandon their nests. They only tend to babies a few times a night to quickly feed them. Babies are left alone in shallow divots in grass, garden beds, under woodpiles, and in junk piles. If the animal is healthy and the nest was inadvertently destroyed, it is always best to try to reconfigure the destroyed area and let the mother come back to continue her care

It is normal to see bunnies with eyes open and no parent. This is normal and these guys should not be rushed to rehab. Bunnies accidently taken at this age have a low rate of survival. They stress easy and they still need their Mom . If you believe the animal is in need of assistance, please call a rehab center.

Bird in a trap

How To Remove An Animal From A Glue Trap

Supply List

  • Corn starch or baking flour
  • Canola oil, baby oil, or mineral oil
  • Q-tips
  • Paper towels
  • Scissors
  • Sprinkle corn starch over all the sticky parts
  • Loosen adhesive patiently with drops of oil
  •  Use as little oil as possible and do not pull
  • Avian bones are fragile and feathers take a long time to grow back

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