What to Do if You Find a Young Wild Animal
Finding a young wild animal alone can be worrying, but being alone does not always mean the animal has been abandoned.
Many wild parents leave their young for periods of time while finding food or avoiding predators. A parent may also stay out of sight while people or pets are nearby. Intervening too quickly can separate a healthy young animal from the parent who is still caring for them.
If you are unsure what you are seeing or what to do next, call the Guelph Humane Society (GHS) at 519-824-3091.
GHS Animal Services responds to wildlife emergencies 24 hours a day, seven days a week in the:
Call GHS if a young animal:
For everyone’s safety, keep people and pets away. Do not feed, give water to, handle or transport the animal unless our team directs you to do so.
If the young animal does not appear injured or in immediate danger:
Staying too close may prevent a parent from returning.
If you have already touched or moved the animal, do not panic. A reunion may still be possible. Note exactly where the animal was found and call GHS for guidance before taking further action.
Young birds develop in two distinct stages:
If you find a healthy fledgling, keep people and pets away and allow the parents to continue caring for them.
Call GHS if the bird:
Eastern cottontail rabbits build shallow, carefully covered nests in lawns and gardens. Mother rabbits generally visit only briefly to feed their young, often around dawn and dusk. Not seeing the mother during the day is normal.
If you find a rabbit nest:
Call GHS if a baby rabbit is injured, has had contact with a cat or dog, is lying outside the nest with their eyes closed or does not attempt to move away when approached.
A baby squirrel found on the ground may have fallen from a nest or become temporarily separated from their mother. Mother squirrels will often return for their young when given the opportunity.
Keep people and pets away and call GHS before moving the baby. Our team can assess the situation and advise whether a reunion should be attempted.
It is normal for a young fawn to lie quietly alone for several hours. Mother deer remain away for long periods to avoid drawing predators toward their young and return periodically to provide care.
Keep your distance and bring pets indoors or keep them leashed. Do not touch or move a healthy fawn.
Call GHS if the fawn:
Young ducks and geese normally remain with a parent or family group. A healthy family travelling together should be given plenty of space.
Call GHS if a duckling or gosling:
Do not place an orphaned duckling or gosling in water or attempt to feed them.
A young raccoon or skunk may become temporarily separated from their mother. Because these animals can carry diseases that affect people and pets, do not approach or attempt to handle them.
Keep everyone at a safe distance and call GHS. Our team can assess whether the animal may be injured or orphaned and whether a reunion with the mother may be possible.
Hatchling turtles are independent from the time they emerge and do not need care from a parent.
A healthy young turtle should generally be left to continue in the direction they are travelling. Do not relocate the turtle to a different area or place them in water.
If a turtle is injured or in immediate danger, call GHS. You can also find guidance from the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre.
Young wild animals can be difficult to identify, and different species have different needs.
If the animal is not listed here or you are uncertain about their age or condition, take a photo from a safe distance and call GHS at 519-824-3091.
Do not contain a young wild animal unless GHS or an authorized wildlife rehabilitator directs you to do so.
If containment is recommended, follow the instructions you receive carefully. In most situations, the animal will need to be kept somewhere warm, dark and quiet, away from people and pets.
Do not offer food or water. Young wildlife have highly specific needs, and feeding them incorrectly can cause serious harm.
If someone has been bitten, scratched or may have had direct contact with a bat or another wild animal, seek medical attention and contact Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health.
If a pet has been bitten, scratched or had direct contact with wildlife, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Tell GHS about any known contact when you call.
If you are outside the City of Guelph, Township of Centre Wellington or Township of Guelph/Eramosa, contact your local humane society, animal shelter or municipal animal-services provider.
You may also contact an authorized wildlife rehabilitator directly.
Always contact a rehabilitator before transporting an animal. The species they accept and their available capacity may change.
If you find a young wild animal and are unsure what to do, call GHS at 519-824-3091.
This resource was developed using guidance from:
