Do NOT Attempt to Care for Wildlife Yourself
Wild animals require specialized treatment and diets to recover from injuries or to develop into healthy adults. The wrong medical care or diet can have deadly effects. Remember in many parts of the world it is illegal to attempt to care for wildlife without a special permit or license. The most important principle in being a wildlife rescuer: Do No Harm!
Do NOT Attempt to Keep Wildlife as Pets
Wild animals can be cute and cuddly when they are young and adults suffering from trauma can be downright friendly, but that does not make them a good choice to replace your other domestic pets. Wild animals require their natural diet to stay healthy and their outdoor homes to feel secure and to display all of their natural behaviors. To keep a wild animal as a pet is to rob them of their most basic needs. Keep in mind that wild animals can carry a variety of diseases and parasites that can leave you and your family itching or land you in the local emergency room. Leave the wildlife care to those who know how to keep you, your family, and your wild animal happy and healthy.
Do NOT Trust All Internet Advice
While the internet might be a great resource to find a new recipe for dinner or find info on domestic pets it is a venerable jungle when it comes to advice for wildlife. And jungles contain some dangerous things. So if you are inclined to hit the internet for help with a wildlife situation here are three things you should look for before you opt to take any sites advice.
- Diet Recipes Beware: If a site recommends feeding the wild animal think twice about taking their advice. Most internet recipes contain items bought at the local grocery or pet store that can cause severe digestive upset in the short term and major nutritional deficiency if used long term. If the site recommends anything other than offering a shallow dish of water or a human infant electrolyte solution steer clear.
- Licenses Please: Look for a list of credentials, permits or licenses. If none are listed take caution.
- Contact Us: Most reliable wildlife rehabilitation facilities will let you know right up front how to contact them.