Small Mammals

small mammals wildlife rehabilitation and release - double-trouble_mg_0597cl_cr_pb_pb_v_cl_cr_br_leg_cloneGuidelines for Handling Sick, Injured, or Orphaned Native Wildlife

 

Whether you live in a city or a rural part of California, wild animals are your neighbors. Most wild animals will not bother you. They naturally fear humans and keep their distance – so long as they remain fully wild. Do not attempt to make them pets and put them at risk from others and pets.

 

What to do if you find Sick or Injured Native Wildlife:

WR&R does not recommend members of the public handle sick or injured adult wild animals due to various factors. When injured or sick, a wild animal will try its best to defend itself and an inexperienced person can likely be injured by it, or cause further harm the animal.

 

If you find an animal that is sick or injured, please:

Call Wildlife Rehabilitation & Release’s emergency hot line:  530-432-5522.

 

This is the answering service number that operates 24 hours a day/7 days a week/365 days a year. A volunteer experienced with handling wildlife will call you back as soon as possible. Volunteers may not be available to come immediately out at night, so please follow care instructions listed below, as applicable, if necessary.

 

Or Contact Nevada County Animal Control 530-273-2179 who also may assist with local wildlife as well.

 

If you must confine an injured animal:

 

  • Please keep an eye on it and if possible, place a laundry basket or other device over it to contain it and keep it from wandering away so we can give it the help it needs.

 

  • Wear heavy leather gloves, to avoid the possibility of getting bitten. Besides a possible injury, some animals carry diseases harmful to humans.

 

  • Wash your hands immediately.

 

  • Do not give the animal any food or water. A sick or injured animal will most likely be in shock, dehydrated and more.  As such, it cannot process food or water until stabilized and doing so could cause it further harm.

 

  • Leave the animal alone. Remember human noise, touch and eye contact are very stressful to wild animals.

 

  • Keep children and pets away.

 

small mammals wildlife rehabilitation and release - cawildlifeopossomWhat to do if you find Orphaned Native Wildlife:

 

  • First, make sure the animal is truly orphaned. Often one may think the animal is without a parent, but that is not always the case, nor easy to tell. For example, Deer and Jackrabbits, will leave their babies “parked” in a certain location while they graze all day and return to them in the early evening. If you believe one of these is orphaned, please read the species information below prior to disturbing it to make sure it is truly orphaned. If you have further questions, please call WR&R for advice.

 

  • If you are sure that an animal is orphaned, or it is in danger from a predator, do give it assistance. Often the “telling” signs are if the baby is unkempt, emaciated, injured; visually easy to tell the mother hasn’t been there to clean it or feed it.

 

  • Using gloves or a towel or T-shirt or similar item, gently pick up the baby and put into a secure container. That may be a box or pet carrier or other device that should be lined with soft material, not a towel with nap to catch and tear the baby’s small claws.

 

  • A heat source will often be required, as many babies do not have the ability to thermoregulate, meaning they cannot control their temperature as of yet and can get too cold and die. Heat will help keep the young warm and comfortable. This can be accomplished using a heating pad, a hot water bottle, a sock full of rice, heated in the microwave (making sure it is not too hot!). The heating device should not have direct contact with the animal. It should be wrapped in a couple layers of material and placed next to the animal or by placing the heating pad under half of the crate or box, so that the animal can get off the heat, if they get too warm.

 

  • Leave the animal alone. Remember human noise, touch and eye contact are very stressful to wild animals.

 

  • Keep children and pets away.

 

  • Wash your hands immediately after handling the animal.

Do not give the animal any food or water. A baby animal will most likely be in shock, dehydrated and more. As such, it cannot process food or water until stabilized and doing so could cause it further harm.

 

  • If an orphan is found, please do not attempt to raise it yourself. Each species has specific needs that an experienced rehabilitator will know and therefore be able to best meet its needs, giving it the best chance of survival and eventual release back to the wild.

Call Wildlife Rehabilitation and Release’s emergency hotline: 530-432-5522.

 

  • This is the answering service number that operates 24 hours a day/7 days a week/365 days a year. A volunteer experienced with handling wildlife will call you back as soon as possible. Volunteers may not be available to come immediately out at night, so please follow care instructions given by the volunteer and as listed above and below, as applicable.

 

Animals Trapped in the House or Garage

  • Open a door or window to the outside and close off any doors to other rooms.
  • Leave the animal alone in the dark and quiet, and it will probably find its way out.

small mammals wildlife rehabilitation and release - cawildliferaccoonHandling Injured Adult Wildlife

WR&R does not recommend members of the public handle sick or injured adult wild animals due to various factors.  When injured or sick, a wild animal will try its best to defend itself.  Many species can carry diseases.

 

If you have no other choice, here is what you need to handle an injured animal:

  • Very thick gloves
  • Blanket
  • A pet carrier or a container with lid and air holes
  • Remember – safety first!

Throw a blanket over the animal to keep it calm. Wrap it up with the blanket while wearing gloves. Put it in the container and close it tightly.

Call Wildlife Rehabilitation and Release 530-432-5522. A volunteer will take it into care and likely to a veterinarian. Do not try and care for this animal yourself, it needs immediate attention from a licensed veterinarian and wildlife rehabilitator.

Small Mammal Guidelines

We have many different species of mammals in our area, including those not normally seen as they are nocturnal or extremely shy or rare. These include flying squirrels, ringtail cats, otter, beaver, and more.

 

Some of our wildlife are what are known as vector species. This means that they can have rabies or carry the rabies virus, but is also not necessarily the case.   Distemper, parvo and head trauma often appear with similar symptoms. Therefore, we frequently don’t know immediately which of these issues the animal may be experiencing.

Typically these species are the meat eaters including, but not limited to skunks, foxes, bats, coyotes, bobcats and raccoons (There has never been a reported case of rabies in a raccoon in California)

 

Below are descriptions of the more common small mammals, and more information is available on the following website by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife:

https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Keep-Me-Wild