I've found a BABY animal...what do I do?

Please consult with a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) officer, or animal control officer before intervening!

Under Colorado law, it is illegal to possess any species of wildlife without a license. This is where licensed rehabilitators like us come in! In addition to being licensed to take care of wildlife, we have the ability to provide injured and orphaned wildlife with the best nutrition, appropriate medical care, and are usually able to pair them with their own kind so they can thrive and learn proper behaviors for their species.

It is legal, however, for the general public to capture an injured wild animal and transport it to a willing veterinarian, CPW, or licensed rehabilitator.

PSSWF is licensed to accept all species of wildlife except skunks and bats.

PLEASE DO NOT FEED ANY WILDLIFE, especially babies, UNLESS A REHABILITATOR INSTRUCTS YOU TO DO SO. online sites will give you diets to feed various wildlife, and many of these are extremely harmful! FEEDING WITH IMPROPER METHODS OR INAPPROPRIATE FOODS CAN LEAD TO THE DEATH OF THE ANIMAL.

If you have fed an animal before bringing it to us, please let us know so we can take appropriate measures on intake.

Does this baby need rescue?

If you have an animal you believe is in distress, don't hesitate to contact us for advice! Below are a few tips related to common animal calls.

Many wild babies are intentionally left alone by their mothers while the mother forages, because they are often safer from predators away from her than with her. Please be sure the animal is truly orphaned before picking it up. In many cases, “renesting” can be used to return a baby to its mother rather than bringing it into rehab.

Rescued baby care

Reach out to your local rehabber ASAP to get the process started, and then in the meantime:

Please DO NOT FEED or give water unless directed to by your local rehabilitator. Improper diets (don’t trust the ones you see online) and poor feeding methods have caused the death of many babies before rehabilitators have the chance to save them.

Keep babies warm and quiet - use blankets, towels, etc. to make a nest in a box. Heat pads set on low, rice bags, microwaved water bottles, etc. can aid in providing heat - just make sure the baby can’t come into direct contact with the heat source as it can lead to burns.

Minimize handling - despite the fact that they are adorable, over handling baby wildlife can cause more harm than good. Though they often sit quietly, they are typically frozen in fear and view you as a predator. Alternatively, if they do become too accustomed to people, it can negatively impact their survival upon release.

Capture

PSSWF is a volunteer-based organization and relies on the general public to capture and bring animals to us. We do have a small team of transport volunteers that can sometime assist with getting an animal to us.

If you are certain that the animal needs rescue, please contact your local wildlife rehabilitator for assistance and advice and follow these guidelines:

If you can safely catch the animal and get it in a kennel, crate, or box, place it in a dark, quiet area until you are able to contact us. Please keep your own safety in mind - beware of teeth, claws, beaks, and talons!

If you are unable to catch the animal, you may try to herd it into a yard or some other area it cannot get out of until we, or another wildlife service, can arrive. It’s best for injured animals to be out of direct sunlight, severe weather, and away from pets and roads while they wait for rescue.

Once caught, it is important to get the animal to a rehabilitator as soon as possible - wild animals stress easily. Keep the animal in a quiet, safe place away from predators, direct sun, and bad weather until you can get it to your nearest rehab facility.

Useful Contacts:

PSSWF

(970) 96-6895 (call or text)

psswildlifefoundation@gmail.com

Pitkin County Animal Control Dispatch

970-920-5300

CPW - Canyon Creek Office

(970)-947-2920

CPW - Grand Junction Office

(970) 255-6100

CPW - Meeker Office

(970) 878-6090

CPW - Hot Sulphur Springs Office