Well-meaning intervention can sometimes cause more harm.
Please Do Not Touch!
Your safety and the animal's well-being are paramount. Wait at a safe distance and observe carefully.
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If a rescue is necessary, injured wild birds can be rounded up and captured using a towel, blanket, or piece of clothing. Place the towel over the bird, covering their head, and gently scoop them up.
Mammals and birds of prey, such as owls and eagles, can be very dangerous to handle without prior training and experience, so please call MARS before you put the animal or yourself at risk.
If you have captured an animal, handle them as little as possible. Even if they appear calm, cuddling and human contact is extremely stressful to wildlife and may even kill them. Put the animal in a cardboard box or other container with air holes and keep them in a warm, dark, quiet place, away from children and pets. Never give wildlife food or water unless instructed by a wildlife rehabilitator.
The MARS Wildlife Hospital is open 7 days a week. It is tremendously helpful if you can transport the animal to us, but if that isn’t possible please call to arrange for a volunteer to pick it up. The less time it takes for the animal to get here, the better its chances of successful rehabilitation! Remember it is illegal to keep wildlife in your possession for more than 24 hours.
Many young birds found during the spring and summer months are in the process of “fledging” or leaving the nest and it’s normal for them to be on the ground for several days before they learn how to fly. Usually the fledgling’s parents are nearby and will return periodically to feed and protect their young. Unfortunately, many of these happy healthy fledglings are “kidnapped” by well-meaning members of the public who think they are injured!
The best mother for a baby bird is its own mother, so before you intervene:
Nestlings are baby birds that have recently hatched and are not yet ready to leave the nest. They are blind and naked or covered with short pinfeathers and some fluff. Nestlings are unable to stand up, hop, or perch. They are totally vulnerable and rely on mom and dad for food and warmth. If you find a healthy nestling on the ground, try to locate the nest nearby. If the nest is intact, you can put the nestling back. It is a myth that bird parents will abandon their babies if a human has handled them! Make sure to put them back in the right nest — check for other siblings of the same age and species. Then watch from a distance to make sure that the parents return within 2 hours.
Nestling FAQ
Fledglings are baby birds that have developed enough that they are ready to leave the nest but cannot fly. They are almost fully feathered, but the tail and wing feathers are too short for flight. Fledglings are able to stand up and hop and are learning to perch. They are much more independent than nestlings but still rely on mom and dad for food. If you find a healthy fledgeling on the ground, you can move it a short distance to a safer location, but otherwise please leave them alone. Being on the ground is a natural event – it doesn’t matter how many times you put fledglings back in the nest, they will jump back out. This is an important stage in their development, during which the parents will teach them how to find food and recognize predators. Watch from a distance to make sure that the parents return within 2 hours.
Fledgling FAQ
Brancher is another term for a fledgling. Owl and other raptor fledglings are often called branchers because rather than jumping to the ground after leaving the nest, they will perch on a branch nearby. Like fledglings, they are still unable to fly so can be mistaken for a bird in distress.
Brancher FAQ
Do not assume that a lone fawn is abandoned. When the mother deer is off foraging for food, she often leaves her young behind, sometimes for several hours. The fawn knows to stay still and quiet and does not have a scent so is difficult for predators to locate by smell. Please never touch a fawn with your bare hands – this transfers your scent and makes it easy for predators to find.
The best mother for a fawn is its own mother, so before you intervene:
Do not assume that the babies have been abandoned. Raccoon moms are very attentive, and if you’ve found babies who are all alone, mom may be off foraging for food. Even though raccoons are nocturnal, in order to keep up with the energy requirements of feeding babies, mom must go out during the day. Do not touch the babies more than absolutely necessary, as raccoons are carriers for a number of diseases and viruses.
The best mother for a baby raccoon is its own mother, so before you intervene:
Do not assume a lone seal pup is abandoned. Pups are often left alone on or near the beach while their mother hunts. Pups can bite so please do not attempt to touch them! Your presence may also frighten the adult seals and cause them to abandon their young.
The best mother for a baby bird is its own mother, so before you intervene:
Do not assume that all bats carry rabies. While bats are a rabies vector species, meaning that they have the ability to carry rabies and spread it, the CDC has determined that only 0.5% of the entire bat population of BC is a carrier of the virus. Bats are nocturnal, and will often find odd places to roost during the day or over winter during hibernation,often on sides of buildings, inside patio umbrellas, or even inside wood piles.
Before you intervene:
Any animal that is in physical contact with a cat’s paws or mouth needs medical attention. Cat’s mouths harbour a number of bacteria, including Pasteurella multocida, Capnocytophaga canimorsus, Stretpcoccus, Staphylococcus, and Moraxella that need to be treated with antibiotics. Even if the animal doesn’t have any bite marks, there may be bacteria on the fur or feathers that is consumed during grooming that can cause major health issues.
Cat attacks are our most common reason for human-influenced admissions. In 2024 had over 140 patients admitted due to cat attacks alone, ranging from small birds (both babies and adults), juvenile squirrels, a raccoon kit, ducklings, garter snakes, bats, voles, and even a baby mink.
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