What to do if you find an animal in need.
Click for frequently asked questions and answers
See Instructions by Animal Type
SongBIrds
- A single baby bird can be put back in their nest, the parents WILL NOT reject it.
- Fledglings (feathered, short tails, able to perch, walk, and or hop) on the ground are going through the normal process of learning to fly. Their parents stay close by to feed and coach them. They will guide them into cover at night to hide them from predators. Please do not kidnap them or move them from their home territory! Keep your pets inside for a day or two, until the parents have moved their youngsters away.
- Parent birds will search for their missing babies for 24-48 hours.
- If an entire nest falls, you can make a new nest using a tissue-filled basket or plastic tub with drain holes in the bottom.
- Place nest in tree/bush near original nest site, secure with twine or tape. Be sure to provide overhead protection from the sun and potential predators.
- If you believe the bird must be transported to us, complete the Wildlife Drop-off Form and follow the transport instruction below.
RAPTORS (HAWKS, OWLS)
Please use caution when approaching a seemingly injured/sick raptor. Like any wild animal they may perceive you as a danger, and act accordingly. Be very careful of their talons and beak, both of which can cause serious injuries.
- Wear thick leather gloves (e.g. welding or heavy gardening gloves)
- Use a blanket, towel or even a jacket to temporarily cover the bird
- After placing the towel over the bird, gently fold the wings into its body.
- Secure legs with a gloved hand. Do not attempt to grab the feet/talons themselves even if you're wearing gloves.
- Once you have the legs secure, you can safely lift and carry the bird to a container
- Use a container (box or pet carrier) slightly larger than the bird – too large and the bird can thrash around and further injure itself. Paper towel or newspaper in the bottom of the box will help keep them from sliding around.
- Never transport a bird loose in your vehicle.
- Keep warm, dark, quiet and away from children and pets.
- Transport to your nearest wildlife rescue (see transport instruction below).
- Complete Wildlife Drop-off Form before bringing the animal to us
Squirrels
A squirrel who is nearly full-sized, has a full and fluffy tail and can run, jump and climb is independent and does not need to be rescued. However, if a juvenile squirrel continuously approaches and follows people, his mom is probably gone. In this case, you should contact a rehabilitator because the baby is very hungry and needs care.
There are a few more cases where you might need to intervene:
If it’s chilly outside or the baby isn’t fully furred, place him in a shoebox with something warm underneath (like a heating pad on a low setting or a hot water bottle). Be sure to put a towel between the baby and the heating device, or he could overheat. Do not cover him with anything or the mother might not be able to find him.
If the babies are not retrieved by dusk, take these steps:
There are a few more cases where you might need to intervene:
- A baby squirrel falls from a nest.
- A nest falls from a tree.
- A fallen tree contains an intact nest.
If it’s chilly outside or the baby isn’t fully furred, place him in a shoebox with something warm underneath (like a heating pad on a low setting or a hot water bottle). Be sure to put a towel between the baby and the heating device, or he could overheat. Do not cover him with anything or the mother might not be able to find him.
If the babies are not retrieved by dusk, take these steps:
- Wearing thick gloves, gather the squirrels and place them inside a thick, soft cloth, such as a cloth diaper or hand towel or hat.
- Place one of the following items beneath the cloth: a chemical hand warmer inside a sock, a hot water bottle (replace the hot water every 30 minutes) or a heating pad set on the lowest setting. (If the heating pad has no cover, put it inside two pillow cases so the babies don’t overheat.)
- Place the baby squirrels, cloth and warmer inside a small cardboard box or carrier.
- Complete Wildlife Drop-off Form before bringing the animal to us.
Opossums
It's perfectly fine to see an opossum during the day. This is normal behavior, not cause for alarm. Opossums are normally seen at dawn and dusk, but can be seen anytime. They are not looking to attack or bother anyone; they are actually very gentle and harmless creatures (despite their scary looks).
Opossum and Rabies
Surprisingly, opossums rarely if ever get rabies. If the opossum is hissing, drooling, swaying and/or opening his mouth really wide (so you can see his 50 teeth!), he’s just doing a bluff routine to scare you (or a dog) off! What you’re seeing is normal defensive behavior. Go away or bring your dog in for a little while, and the opossum will leave once he/she realizes that the threat is gone.
Opossum Stuck in Fence or in Tree
Make sure the opossum is really stuck! If a dog has run him up a tree or onto a fence, he won’t move until the threat is long gone. If the opossum is truly stuck in a fence, call us at 931-539-0055
Baby Opossum
Baby opossums stay in their mother’s pouch until they are three months old and the size of a mouse.
At this age, they ride on her back and sometimes fall off without mom noticing. If you have found a baby opossum smaller than 7 inches long (not including the tail), they are too young to be on their own, and you should contact MTWR. If their body length is longer than 7 inches (not including tail), then they’re big enough to survive without intervention. The animal may still be brought to us for relocation or to prevent injuries from house pets.
Please complete the Wildlife Drop-off Form and follow the transport instruction below.
Opossum and Rabies
Surprisingly, opossums rarely if ever get rabies. If the opossum is hissing, drooling, swaying and/or opening his mouth really wide (so you can see his 50 teeth!), he’s just doing a bluff routine to scare you (or a dog) off! What you’re seeing is normal defensive behavior. Go away or bring your dog in for a little while, and the opossum will leave once he/she realizes that the threat is gone.
Opossum Stuck in Fence or in Tree
Make sure the opossum is really stuck! If a dog has run him up a tree or onto a fence, he won’t move until the threat is long gone. If the opossum is truly stuck in a fence, call us at 931-539-0055
Baby Opossum
Baby opossums stay in their mother’s pouch until they are three months old and the size of a mouse.
At this age, they ride on her back and sometimes fall off without mom noticing. If you have found a baby opossum smaller than 7 inches long (not including the tail), they are too young to be on their own, and you should contact MTWR. If their body length is longer than 7 inches (not including tail), then they’re big enough to survive without intervention. The animal may still be brought to us for relocation or to prevent injuries from house pets.
Please complete the Wildlife Drop-off Form and follow the transport instruction below.
Raccoons
If you see a Raccoon that seems disoriented, falling down, circling or showing unprovoked aggression, do not approach. Call your local animal control agency right away!
Baby Raccoons
The best chance for survival of baby raccoons is to ensure that they are able to stay with their mother. If baby raccoons are found alone and seem healthy, they should be left for an entire night in the place that they were found so that the mother has a chance to return and retrieve them. Raccoons are great mothers!
To keep safe, small babies may be placed in a cardboard box with holes cut into the top and a large flap cut into the side, which will keep the babies inside but allow the mother to push in, grab them, and take them to safety. If the raccoons are very young and the weather is dropping below 70 degree F and it is safe for you, place them inside the box on a heating pad set on a low temperature or put them on, or near, a chemical hot pack that is wrapped in linens or a sock. Do not place the box in direct sunlight.
Larger babies may be placed under an upside-down clothes basket with a medium-weight rock placed on top to keep the babies safely inside. The rock should be light enough to allow the mother to remove the rock and get to her babies. Do not place the basket in direct sunlight.
Always wear sturdy, protective gloves when handling raccoons, and if the babies are not retrieved by their mother by the following morning, please call MTWR right away (931-539-0055), complete the Wildlife Drop-off Form and follow the transport instruction below.
Baby Raccoons
The best chance for survival of baby raccoons is to ensure that they are able to stay with their mother. If baby raccoons are found alone and seem healthy, they should be left for an entire night in the place that they were found so that the mother has a chance to return and retrieve them. Raccoons are great mothers!
To keep safe, small babies may be placed in a cardboard box with holes cut into the top and a large flap cut into the side, which will keep the babies inside but allow the mother to push in, grab them, and take them to safety. If the raccoons are very young and the weather is dropping below 70 degree F and it is safe for you, place them inside the box on a heating pad set on a low temperature or put them on, or near, a chemical hot pack that is wrapped in linens or a sock. Do not place the box in direct sunlight.
Larger babies may be placed under an upside-down clothes basket with a medium-weight rock placed on top to keep the babies safely inside. The rock should be light enough to allow the mother to remove the rock and get to her babies. Do not place the basket in direct sunlight.
Always wear sturdy, protective gloves when handling raccoons, and if the babies are not retrieved by their mother by the following morning, please call MTWR right away (931-539-0055), complete the Wildlife Drop-off Form and follow the transport instruction below.
deer
If you have found an infant deer, make sure it is really abandoned! Almost all wild animals leave their young for a period of time in order to feed or gather more nutrients for the baby. A doe will often leave her fawn for an entire night, returning to the area she chose to bed down in during the heat of the day. If you have located a fawn, leave it alone for at least six hours, though a fawn can wait up to three days before it actively begins to search for food. If you return and the fawn is shivering, has a boney look, or appears stressed, then you may intervene. Contact the nearest wildlife rehabilitator.
Please remember fawns will grow into deer, and deer do not make good pets. Do not attempt to rehabilitate the deer yourself. Not to mention, it's illegal to try.
Before you attempt to pick up the fawn, you will need a substantial blanket or comforter. Even though the little animal is light enough to be picked up by a child, the fawn’s legs are impressively strong and can easily cause injury. It is not natural for a fawn to be lifted up by a human, so expect some kicking.
A heating pad on the low setting or pair of warm bottles can be used to raise the baby’s temperature. In a pinch, you can also throw a few blankets in the dryer and use them once they are nice and warm. Be careful not to overheat the fawn.
Please complete the Wildlife Drop-off Form.
Call or email us for further instructions if you are unable to get the fawn to a rehabber within 2 hrs.
Please remember fawns will grow into deer, and deer do not make good pets. Do not attempt to rehabilitate the deer yourself. Not to mention, it's illegal to try.
Before you attempt to pick up the fawn, you will need a substantial blanket or comforter. Even though the little animal is light enough to be picked up by a child, the fawn’s legs are impressively strong and can easily cause injury. It is not natural for a fawn to be lifted up by a human, so expect some kicking.
A heating pad on the low setting or pair of warm bottles can be used to raise the baby’s temperature. In a pinch, you can also throw a few blankets in the dryer and use them once they are nice and warm. Be careful not to overheat the fawn.
Please complete the Wildlife Drop-off Form.
Call or email us for further instructions if you are unable to get the fawn to a rehabber within 2 hrs.
Rabbits
If you have found a wild baby bunny, determine if the baby needs rescuing by asking the following questions.
Complete the Wildlife Drop-off Form and follow the transport instruction below.
- Does the bunny feel cold and is lethargic?
- Is the bunny covered in parasites (fleas, fly strike or ticks)?
- Has the bunny been in a dog or cat’s mouth?
- Does the bunny have a broken limb or other obvious injury?
- Does the bunny have abrasions?
- Is the bunny having difficulty breathing (gasping, gurgling)?
- Is the bunny coat matted and/or patchy?
- Does the bunny have a head tilt and cannot hold its head straight?
- Is the bunny exhibiting odd behavior (circling, falling over, etc.)?
- Is the bunny bleeding?
- Did you find what you believe to be Mom dead?
Complete the Wildlife Drop-off Form and follow the transport instruction below.
Reptiles
coming soon...
To transport an animal:
Never handle an adult animal without first consulting a wildlife professional. Even small animals can injure you. Once you’ve contacted someone who can help, describe the animal and his physical condition as accurately as possible.
Unless you are told otherwise, here’s how you can make an animal more comfortable for transport or while you’re waiting for help to arrive.
Never handle an adult animal without first consulting a wildlife professional. Even small animals can injure you. Once you’ve contacted someone who can help, describe the animal and his physical condition as accurately as possible.
Unless you are told otherwise, here’s how you can make an animal more comfortable for transport or while you’re waiting for help to arrive.
- Put the animal in a safe container. For most songbirds, use a cardboard box or similar container. First, punch holes for air (not while the animal is in the box!) from the inside out and line the box with an old T-shirt or other soft cloth. Then gently place the animal in the box.
- Put on thick gloves and cover the animal with a towel or pillowcase as you scoop him up gently and place him in the container.
- Do not give the animal food or water. It could be the wrong food and cause him to choke, trigger serious digestive problems or cause aspiration pneumonia. Many injured animals are in shock, and force-feeding can kill them.
- Place the container in a warm, dark, quiet place—away from pets, children and all noise (including the TV and the radio)—until you can transport the animal. Keep the container away from direct sunlight, air conditioning or heat.
- Transport the animal as soon as possible. Leave the radio off and keep talking to a minimum. Because wild animals aren’t accustomed to our voices, they can become very stressed by our noises. If they’re injured or orphaned, they’re already in a compromised condition. Keep their world dark and quiet to lower their stress level and help keep them alive.
- Transport the animal as quickly as possible to the nearest wildlife rescue.
- Complete Wildlife Drop-off Form before bringing the animal to us.
Tennessee Wildlife Identification (Tennessee Watchable Wildlife)