Who To Call
There are many licensed wildlife rehabilitation centers in southern California. Many times, you can call your local animal control service to pick up an animal in need, and that service will transport to the nearest wildlife care center. However, not every animal control service will handle wildlife, and they cannot always guarantee how quickly your call will be handled.
If you are comfortable capturing an animal in need of help, most centers will allow you to drop the animal off yourself. However, please prioritize your own safety and well-being. No wild animal, especially those that are injured, scared, or otherwise out of their comfort zone, will thank you for trying to help, and they will not understand what you’re doing. Most animals have some form of defense mechanism, whether that’s claws, teeth, or a beak.
FAQ
What should I do if I find an injured animal?
Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator immediately and avoid handling the animal unless necessary.
Can I care for orphaned animals myself?
It is illegal in the state of California to provide care to native wildlife, including fox squirrels and opossums, without a license. The best outcome for the animal–and for you!–is to get that animal to an experienced rehabber.
How do I safely transport a wild animal to a rescue center?
A small box is usually sufficient for most southern California wildlife, but make sure your chosen box has sufficient air holes. You can use a towel, shirt, or blanket as padding as needed, but the animal will likely poop on, claw up, or otherwise destroy the cloth. If you cannot transport the animal immediately, keep it inside the box, and keep the box somewhere quiet, warm, and dark to minimize stress to the animal until it can be brought in for treatment.
Will my local animal control just euthanize the animal?
In most cases, no, animal control will not just euthanize an animal. Sometimes, doing so is in the best interest of the animal, which may be too injured or sick to recover even with human assistance, and in those cases, animal control may make that choice. However, most animal control services prefer transportation to licensed wildlife rehabilitation centers. They have a bit of a bum reputation, but at least currently, animal control services simply wish to help.