Per state law only licensed individuals may possess wildlife. If you have found an injured animal or one you suspect may have been orphaned you will need to contact one of these individuals for care. Well meaning citizens often attempt to aid wildlife they find, but improper care or delay of veterinary treatment hinders the animals recovery and is counterproductive. Often by the time a rehabber has been contacted it is too late for these animals to survive. A wildlife rehabber should always be your first contact when finding wildlife.
Click here for a map and downloadable version of the rehabber list.
FAQ:
Can I feed the animal any food while waiting to get it to the wildlife rehabber?
It is best to not offer any food to an injured animal. Giving an injured animal food can lead to additional health problems such as aspiration or introduction of bacteria. In addition, the food offered may be outside of the animal's natural diet which can cause other health complications.
Where should I keep an animal while waiting for a rehabber?
An injured animal should be kept in a dark, warm, quiet place away from pets, children, stereos, tvs, etc. Usually, a pet crate or a shoe box is a good option. A heating pad or warm water bottle should be placed on one side of the box.
My cat caught a small mammal or bird but it appears to be okay, should I still contact a rehabber?
Yes. Anytime a cat captures a small animal it is important to immediately seek care for that animal. Cat's mouths are full of bacteria and a small scratch can be fatal even if the animal initially seems okay. Cat teeth and claws often leave deep puncture wounds as well which might be hard to identify right away.
I found a baby bird, is there anything I should do?
If the bird is fully feathered and uninjured it is likely a fledgling. There are essentially teenage birds that are learning how to fly but are not yet able to do so. Their parents are nearby and still caring for them. In this case it is best to keep pets and small children indoors and observe the bird from inside the home. The adult birds should check in on the fledgling every few hours. If 24 hours pass and there is no observation of the parents, contact a rehabber.
If the baby bird is a nestling - one with no feathers or very small feathers - look to see if you can locate the nest that it fell from. If it is safe to do so, place the baby bird back into the nest. You do not need to worry about your scent being on the baby bird, the parents will still return to care for it. If the nest is too far to reach safely please contact a wildlife rehabber. In the event that the entire nest has been knocked down it is acceptable to place it into a basket and hang the basket in the tree close to where the nest was. Observe the nest for a few hours to see if the parents return. If not, contact a rehabber.
I found an injured or orphaned mammal, what should I do?
When it comes to mammals, especially foxes, skunks, and bats, it is important that you do not touch them. It is always best to immediately reach out to a wildlife rehabber or Colorado Parks and Wildlife for further instructions. If the animal is injured or is at risk of becoming further injured, gently coaxing them into a pet carrier is okay. Do this using a towel and thick gloves (think welding gloves) or a wooden board. Leave the pet carrier somewhere dark and quiet until the wildlife rehabber can be reached with further instructions. Baby mammals are often left alone for more than 8 hours at a time. If the animal is not making any distress calls it is best to quietly observe from inside to see if the parents return.
A bird hit my window and seems stunned, does it need a rehabber?
This question is best asked to your local rehabber directly. Some prefer to have these birds brought in so they can be examined and make sure there are no fractures or internal injuries, others might have you place the bird in a quiet place over night and check to see if they fly away in the morning.
I found an animal that is stuck in a glue trap, how can I get it out?
If you have found an animal that is stuck in a glue trap, immediately use flour or corn starch to cover the rest of the sticky area to prevent the animal from becoming further entrapped. You will need to get the animal to a wildlife rehabber to remove it. Using vegetable oil to remove the animal without anesthesia is stressful and painful and the oils can leave the animal hypothermic and cause additional complications if they attempt to clean it off of themselves. Animals often also suffer dislocations and fractures while struggling to get out of the trap. Do not attempt to remove an animal on your own.
I want to relocate an animal I caught, where can I let it go?
State laws for wildlife relocation depend on each species. It's important to check with Colorado Parks and Wildlife before transporting any species. Only tree squirrels, cottontail rabbits, and raccoons may be relocated without a permit. Squirrels can be relocated up to ten miles away and rabbits and raccoons no more than two miles. Please keep in mind that relocation should be one of your last resorts. Relocating an animal could result in orphaned young which cannot be relocated and then must go to a wildlife rehabber which in turn takes away from animals that truly need assistance. Relocated animals also must compete with established animals for food, territory, and shelter. Attempting to have the animal move on naturally is preferred.