Injured birds and other wildlife
How to help an injured bird or wild animal in New York City, and the things that quietly make it worse.
If a cat may have touched it, treat it as an emergency. Cat saliva carries bacteria that are fatal to birds and small mammals without prompt antibiotics, and a cat bite often leaves no visible wound.
If a bird or small mammal is attacked by a cat, it is an emergency. Cats have an anaerobic bacterium called Pasteurella in their saliva which is deadly. If an animal attacked by a cat does not get the proper antibiotic in a short time (usually within the day) it is likely fatal. Please also note that very often a cat bite will leave NO visible wounds, even if the teeth have punctured the skin. Even more reason to get to a rehabber immediately! If cats are in the area where you find an injured bird, assume it may have been bitten, and get to a rehabber immediately.
Found a squirrel?
This website has resources and instructions https://www.urbanutopiawildlife.org/reunite
Is that bird injured?
This resource page has some great information
https://www.wildbirdfund.org/how-to-help/rescue/
If you see a bird hit a window, then it needs to be transported to a rehabber. If a window strike is not fatal upon impact, it leaves a bird in shock, and it needs to be treated by a rehabber. Many times people will leave the bird and say it flew away a few minutes later-this is a shock response, and sadly most of these birds will die later. So if you see a bird hit a window, contain it and get it to a rehabber. You can also prevent window collisions by using Feather Friendly, or other products in a variety of price ranges. More info at https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/why-birds-hit-windows-and-how-you-can-help-prevent-it/#
In urban areas with limited green space, we're more likely to see baby birds going through the natural process of fledgling or leaving the nest.
In most cases, these birds do not need your help! Even though the bird may look helpless, it's probably okay and you should leave the young bird alone. Often people pick up perfectly healthy fledglings because they see a bird on the ground, unable to fly, and looking rough. It’s likely it’s a normal part of a birds life! Part of a bird becoming an adult is them learning how to fly, while the parents are hidden nearby and watching, looking for food, and letting their baby learn independence. This can take a few days, or a few weeks. If the bird can stand and hop, leave it alone. This image shows a lot of common fledglings https://www.wildbirdfund.org/how-to-help/rescue/field-guide-to-fledglings/
This article explains the stages of bird development, and when to help, and not help-
https://www.audubon.org/news/when-you-should-and-should-not-rescue-baby-birds
https://chirpforbirds.com/how-to/what-to-do-when-you-find-a-baby-bird-on-the-ground/
How to handle injured birds
Approach the bird slowly and quietly from behind, pointed away from traffic, so as to not scare it. Do not talk to the bird as you walk toward it. Wild birds are frightened of humans and will try to escape, often flying back into glass or into the street. Even a soft and gentle voice is stressful. If you see a bird that has been injured, capture it as soon as possible-they often fly away in shock after a few minutes only to die later, so the sooner you can get them, the better chance they have to survive.
The best way to catch a bird is to corner and either scoop up like a burrito or soft football, or toss a sheet or something similar over them, and then scoop up. Gently but firmly grab the bird by putting one or two hands over its wings. Avoid uneven grips or pushing the wings in any direction, this can cause or worsen internal injuries.
Put the bird into a cardboard box with holed poked into it for air (a few pencil sized holes are more than enough, you don’t want them to be too big as birds bodies are much smaller than we see from the outside). Close up the box securely so the bird doesn’t escape. Just because they can fly, doesn’t mean they’re not injured, they may be in shock.
Never touch a bird after touching a cat. Wash your hands between animals. There are few diseases communicable from birds to humans, make sure you wash your hands after handling any animal.
Regarding baby birds (especially those that are close to naked or are in distress for some reason) and need transport to WBF. These babies are very fragile and vulnerable to cold and exposure to cold. They usually need supplemental heat of some kind (the sock with rice or ziplock bag with water (warmed up in the microwave) can work well as well as a heating pad on low while bird is at a house anyway. This heat source may need to be monitored to make sure it stays warm (if not a heating pad) and should be warm, but not hot to the touch.
Birds that collide with a window ALWAYS need to be brought to a rehabilitation center. Even if they appear physically okay and awake, even if they are flapping around, they need medical care (often anti-inflammatories and potential fracture care).
Window strike victims should NOT be given additional heat through, for example, a heating pad. Adding heat increases blood flow so that is not recommended as the bird may be bleeding out in the brain. However, you can place window strike victims in a dark and quiet container and to keep that container in a warm room.
If a bird is going in a car, it is important the AC is not directly on the bird if possible or turned down so bird doesn't get cold on the way over. It is also good to keep the noise level down in the car while driving. Do not talk to the bird, not even gently. Music, our voices, and other human made noise can cause excessive stress, and we don’t want to add even more stress to an injured bird, they are extremely sensitive. Wild animals have a deep and instinctual fear of humans (this helps them maintain a healthy caution around people)
Where to take injured wildlife
A licensed rehabber is registered with the state and federal government. The training for and maintenance of licensing is extensive. Many well intentioned people claim to care for and rescue wildlife, but only a licensed rehabber is legally, technically, and ethically qualified to care for wildlife. The process of assessment, care, and recovery requires specialized knowledge and equipment, and cannot be replicated at home.
Please note, a vet or tech that cares for domestic animals may not be trained, equipped, or licensed to care for wild animals-even domestic birds are very different from wild birds. It’s always best to to go a rehabber.
If you find an injured or sick bird, get it into a cardboard box with small airholes, and take it to the Wild Bird Fund. They are open every day from 9am-7pm, and you do not need an appointment-just go to their facility!
Keep it in a dark and quiet room to minimize stress and stimuli. If you are unable to go, you can also contact NYC Bird Alliance Injured Bird response team (citywide network of volunteers specializing in care and transport of injured birds).
Email injuredbird@nycbirdalliance.org and someone will reply shortly. The email hotline is monitored by volunteers all day. When you compose the email, you will notice that it’s automatically populates with instructions-please read and follow them. It’s important to give your exact location and phone number so someone can help you faster. Please note these are all volunteers, just like us, their capacity may be limited, so please be kind and understanding.
There are more tips at-
https://www.nycaudubon.org/take-action/help-a-bird-in-trouble/what-to-do-if-you-find-an-injured-bird
If it’s a large bird or bird of prey, don’t try to approach or handle yourself. It is dangerous! Contact NYC Bird Alliance (there’s a team specializing in large birds) or call Urban Park Rangers. This link has more on wildlife care in NYC-
WBF bird rescue resources
https://www.wildbirdfund.org/how-to-help/rescue/
Animal help now (find licensed rehabbers anywhere) https://ahnow.org
DEC Find a Licensed Rehabber search tool
https://www.dec.ny.gov/cfmx/extapps/sls_searches/index.cfm?p=live_rehab
List of Licensed rehabbers in NY State
https://data.ny.gov/w/p5wx-nivw/caer-yrtv?cur=3dPRTc7TChq
NY State Wildlife Rehabilitation Council page on finding a wildlife professional
https://www.nyswrc.org/find-a-wildlife-professional
Why not to feed injured wildlife
Giving any injured or sick bird (or any wildlife) food or water is never ok. This is for a few reasons.
- A compromised bird may be dehydrated, cold, or managing internal injuries. Every last bit of energy they have is being used to maintain critical body functions. It takes a lot of energy to digest food, energy that they do not have enough of. Diverting that limited energy to something non critical, like digesting food and water, will cause organ failure or death.
- There may also be internal injures that we don’t see, or delayed onset symptoms. A bird ingesting water in a compromised state can aspirate or drown, and the ingestion of the food itself can exacerbate internal damage. The severity of the situation may not be apparent immediately, especially to the untrained eye, so it’s best not to introduce food or water until a professional assessment has been made.
- When a bird is physically injured, it is also in diminished mental capacity, such as stress or shock. They are not in a coherent mental state, and can’t make the right decision to abstain from food or water, so it’s best not to offer any to them.
- An emaciated bird cannot process solid food, and needs a rehabber to evaluate specific circumstances before introducing nutrition
- Wildlife also has very specific nutritional needs, especially when injured (yes, even pigeons!) Licensed rehabbers go through extensive training and work with scientists to ensure this nutritional knowledge is current. The products they use are not the same as used for pets, many are not even commercially available. When the bird is well enough to eat, they will be fed many nutritious, species appropriate meals.
- the other danger of improper feeding is imprinting. Imprinting refers to when an animal forms attachments to other living beings-ideally their parents. It’s crucial to develop their sense of self. When wildlife imprints into humans, they rely on us, instead of developing their instincts to hunt and forage to survive. They do not recognize others of their species, and will not understand other crucial behaviors like nesting, migration, and mating. They can approach humans in inappropriate ways-whether it’s begging for food from people who may harm them (intentionally or not) or even biting and attacking people when they don’t get food (like the very bold squirrel in Prospect Park). Often these “nuisance” wildlife end up euthanized if authorities consider them a threat to public safety. It leads to death either way. Imprinting is incredibly difficult to reverse in wildlife, it is believed to cause a physical change in the brain. Unfortunately there are a lot of videos online showing the improper care for injured wildlife, usually viral videos shared by major media outlets. Many of these videos conclude by showing released wildlife continuing coming back to a particular person’s home for food and care. As cute as this may seem, it is highly unethical, as it’s a death sentence for wildlife. Imprinting is great for socializing cats and dogs who need safe homes, and we all know there are plenty of those to go around! To avoid imprinting, rehabbers have ways to hide themselves or use surrogates, allowing wildlife to maintain a healthy distance and caution around humans.
Why is some wildlife euthanized
It can be heartbreaking to go through the trouble of rescuing wildlife and taking to a rehabber, only to find out the animal was euthanized. For many, the instinct is often to blame the rehabber-how can someone end the life of an animal? However, this decision is not made lightly-every other option is considered before this, and euthanasia is a last resort. If an animal is not responding to treatment, has injuries or illness too severe for treatment, or is in a condition where their quality of life will not be good after treatment (such as excessive pain and suffering) a rehabber may decide humane euthanasia is the appropriate next step. As devastating as the ending of a life may be, it is cruel to force an animal to live through excessive suffering. Wildlife can suffer in ways that aren’t always apparent to the untrained eye-I’ve counseled many well meaning people who have kept a wild animal in domestic care, without realizing the animal is dying an extended death. The same emotions and attachments that drive our passion to help animals can also cloud our judgment, and a logical decision is not always the most pleasant one. Please remember-nobody wants to euthanize an animal, and rehabbers, like rescuers, are driven by care and love. There is a vast emotional toll on the folks who have to do this extremely difficult job, and our compassion should extend to them too.