Wild Animal Rehabilitation: When to Intervene and When to Leave

Deciding whether to intervene with apparently distressed wild animals requires knowledge of species behaviour to avoid causing more harm than good through well-intentioned but misguided action.

Key Facts

Many apparently abandoned young animals are not abandoned but temporarily left by parents who return
Handling wild animals causes acute stress responses that can be fatal in some small species
Fawns and leverets found alone are almost always not abandoned — human intervention often causes genuine abandonment
Birds with feathers that appear to have fallen from the nest are usually fledglings learning to fly safely
Injured birds and mammals showing obvious injury, blood or inability to flee are appropriate intervention cases
Licensed wildlife rehabilitators should be contacted before intervening with any wild animal

Welfare Considerations

Well-intentioned intervention with wild animals that do not need help causes genuine welfare harm. Removing apparently abandoned young from their natural situation interrupts parental care relationships and exposes animals to handling stress. The rule of thumb — if a wild animal allows easy human approach, it probably needs help; if it runs or flies away, it probably does not — provides useful first-line guidance. Calling a wildlife rehabilitator before taking any action is the best approach in genuinely ambiguous situations.

What You Can Do

Do not remove apparently abandoned young animals unless they are obviously injured or in immediate danger
Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before intervening with any wild animal
Keep pets indoors if injured wildlife is present to prevent predation during vulnerability
If you find an injured animal, keep it in a ventilated box in a quiet, dark, warm location while awaiting help
Save your local wildlife rehabilitator contact before you need it urgently