ADULT BIRD -

CAPTURE, CARE & TRANSPORTATION

Please do not handle any wild animal if doing so risks your safety or the safety of others. Keep in mind that if you are injured, you cannot help the animal. When in doubt, do not attempt a capture. Call a wildlife rehabilitation specialist at Greenwood Wildlife at 303-545-5849.

Before attempting a capture, secure an appropriate shelter: Identify a well-ventilated, covered box or animal carrier of appropriate size. Line the shelter with something absorbent, like newspaper or clean sheets or T-shirts (please no holes or ragged or fringed edges – these are dangerous).

Capture:

Use a sheet or T-shirt to cover the animal and gently but securely take hold of it. Keeping the animal covered minimizes its stress over being handled and offers you some protection.

Just as with injured humans, shock is often the number one cause of death in injured wild animals. As the first person to encounter the injured animal, you are in the best position to minimize that animal's shock and stress.

Shock is essentially the loss of heat and fluids from the body--a natural response to injury. Interaction with a human causes additional stress to an injured wild animal and this can kill an already shocked animal. So keep in mind that fear, noise, and cold temperatures all contribute to the animal's stress.

Perhaps it is natural for us to want to hold, pet, and comfort an injured wild animal, but the animal does not understand our good intentions. To a wild animal, we are just another potential predator. Holding them or touching them is extremely stressful, as studies and our experience have shown. Noise and music are also stressful to wild animals.

Remember that wild animals of any kind, especially those that are afraid or in pain, do not understand that you are trying to help them. Birds will try to protect themselves if they can. This is natural and should never be considered vicious.

Once inside a container, secure it closed.

Food and water:

DO NOT OFFER THE ANIMAL FOOD OR WATER, and do not leave food or water in the box with the animal. Because the animal has not been medically examined, it is impossible to know the extent of its injuries. Feeding it or forcing it to drink water at this point could cause death. As with humans, hospitalized animals need to be very gradually rehydrated and fed using special formulas and techniques. GWRS begins this process as soon as the animal enters our Intensive Care Unit.

Location:

The animal should be transported to a rehabilitator as soon as possible. If you cannot transport the animal immediately, place the contained animal in a safe, quiet, dark place that is free from noise - including music or pet and human traffic.

Warmth:

If you cannot transport the animal immediately, place a heating pad set on the lowest temperature underneath HALF of the box. This allows the animal some room to move away from the heat if it gets too warm. Do not use a heating pad if it is a hot day.

Treatment:

Do not attempt to treat the animal's injuries. Leaving the animal is the best treatment possible until it can be transported to a wildlife rehabilitation facility. Additional handling causes stress, and improper treatment can cause further injury. One exception is if the animal is bleeding excessively. If this is the case, apply gentle pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding. Do not apply a tourniquet of any kind.

As soon as possible, call Greenwood Wildlife at 303-823-8455 to have Greenwood’s wildlife rehabilitators prepare for the animal and to meet you at the Center to take over care of the animal. A volunteer will give you directions to our center over the phone.

Transportation:

1. Place the animal's covered box securely on the seat or floor of your car.
   
2. Keep the car warm and quiet (no radio, minimal talking) while you travel.
   
3. Do not let anyone, especially not a child, hold the animal on his or her lap during the trip. It is very important to think first about what the injured animal needs and the fact that contact with people is stressful for the animal. Once the animal arrives at a rehabilitation center, it will be treated by experienced volunteers who will ensure that it receives the best care possible.

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