Many people are unsure what to do if they find a dead or injured wild animal. This factsheet explains the steps you should take, as well as providing you with some points of contact for further assistance. The most important message is that you should only intervene with wildlife if the animal is clearly unwell, and you are acting under the advice of a professional.

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Firstly, be careful. Wild animals are not tame and can cause injury to people, some can also spread diseases. Use gloves, towels and try not to touch or catch animals with your hands, or without getting some advice first.

Assess if it is truly ill or needs help before handling it – call a local veterinary practice or rehabilitation centre who may be able to give guidance on whether an animal needs treatment, how to catch it and where to take it.

For small animals, such as garden birds or hedgehogs that appear sick or injured, catch with a towel and transport in a box. Ideally keep them dark and quiet.

Do not attempt to catch larger animals without help, such as deer, foxes, otters, badgers, seals, swans or large birds. In England and Wales, the RSPCA or the SSPCA in Scotland should be called for land mammals and British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) for marine mammals. Keep your distance and await advice.

If you find a bat, do not touch it, call the Bat Conservation Trust helpline for advice.

An injured or sick animal will likely need veterinary treatment. All veterinarians must provide emergency first aid treatment to wildlife free of charge. Due to avian flu, some veterinarians will request to see wild birds outside. If a veterinarian decides an animal needs long-term care, they will be transported to a local wildlife rescue. Euthanasia, if in the best interests of the animal, may be performed.

An animal is in need of help if you see obvious signs of injury such as:

• Limping or dragging a leg.
• Blood or wounds.
• Recently caught by a cat or a dog.
• Not moving at all.
• Wheezing, gasping or breathing difficulty.
• Swelling or bruising.
• Fluffed up.

If a nocturnal animal is seen during the daytime, such as a bat or a hedgehog, it will likely require help.

Most baby animals should be left alone as their parents are usually nearby. Exceptions are:

• If a baby rodent or rabbit is found with no fur or closed eyes.
• Parents haven’t returned to the nest of a baby bird or rodent after two-three hours of continuous monitoring.

Wild animals are better in the wild. Captivity can be extremely stressful, and some animals will die even in experienced hands. If you find a wild animal, a veterinarian or rehabilitation centre has the equipment and expertise to better care for and rehabilitate it.

It is an offence to kill, injure or take any wild animal. It is an offence to intentionally disturb certain species of birds and bats when nesting/roosting. Certain species, such as red squirrels, water voles, bats, sand lizards and natterjack toads, are protected and have stricter regulations.

Keeping wild birds or animals yourself is not recommended. If an injured animal can be treated, they can be kept provided they are released afterwards. However, some non-native animals cannot be released or allowed to escape such as mink or Canada geese. By law, grey squirrels can only be rehabilitated or released under license.

If you want to keep a wild bird that you think could not survive in the wild, you must prove it is unfit for release by consulting with an experienced veterinarian. The bird must be provided with appropriate treatment, allowed adequate space to spread its wings in every direction and cared for so it can fend for itself when released. If you cause unnecessary suffering or do not meet a bird’s welfare needs, you could be prosecuted.

Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 you would need to apply for a licence to keep a wild animal in captivity unless you can prove it was obtained legally or bred in captivity. You must register the bird with the APHA, and the bird must have a unique identification mark – closed leg ring or microchip.

If you witness a suspected wildlife crime, call 999 immediately.

Avian flu affects many different birds in the UK; before touching a bird, please contact a veterinarian, rehabilitation centre or rescue organisation. There is a small risk of humans catching the disease.

In spring and summer, you may see baby birds on the ground, however they do not always need help. You should keep your distance and keep pets away.

However, nestlings (baby birds without feathers) should never be out of the nest. These will generally need help. If the nest is nearby, put the bird back in using gloves. If you cannot see a nest, you can try and make a replacement nest with a basket or pot and monitor for a few hours. If injured or the parents haven’t returned in two-three hours, then take the nestling to a veterinary practice or rehabilitation centre.

A fledgling (fully feathered baby bird) on the ground should be left alone unless it is obviously sick or injured. This is normal with many birds leaving the nest before they can fly. Their parents are often nearby and waiting for people to leave before returning to their young.

Generally, the only exception to this rule is swifts, if these are seen on the ground at any time, they will require help.

Leave eggs and nests alone. Birds’ eggs are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, therefore any disturbance could be breaking the law.

If you find a dead animal, domestic or wild, you can report it to your local council.

Some animals are under monitoring programmes so contacting the relevant organisation is also important.

Bats: The Bat Conservation Trust monitors dead bats to assess for the spread of a European strain of rabies. Call the BCT helpline (0345 1300 228) who will advise you further.

Badgers: The Badger Trust documents badger related incidents to help aid prevention. Report your sighting here - https://www.badgertrust.org.uk/report.

If you are in Wales then badgers should be reported to the Wales Veterinary Science Centre who will remove the carcass - https://www.gov.wales/report-dead-badger.

Birds: To monitor and study the spread of avian influenza (bird flu), Defra would like you to report the following finds:

• One or more dead birds of prey.
• Three or more dead birds that include gulls, swans, geese or ducks.
• Five or more dead wild birds of any species.

Contact Defra on 03459 33 55 77 or on their website https://www.gov.uk/guidance/report-dead-wild-birds.

Garden Animals: Garden animals such as amphibians, reptiles, hedgehogs and birds can be reported to the Garden Wildlife Health project which allows them to monitor and research the health of British wildlife - https://www.gardenwildlifehealth.org/.

Bat Conservation Trust: 0345 1300 228. British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR): 01825 765546. Defra: 03459 33 55 77. RSPCA: 0300 1234 999. SSPCA: 03000 999 999.