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Found an Animal

Finding a wild animal in need can be stressful and emotional. Your first priority should always be the safety of you and the animal — and knowing when wildlife truly needs help. Many seemingly “orphaned” babies are actually being cared for by their parents and don’t need human intervention.

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Three Things to Do First

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  1. Keep the animal warm — Place it in a cardboard box with a soft towel. If available, put a low heat source (like a heating pad or warm water bottle wrapped in cloth) under half the box so the animal can choose its comfort level.

  2. Keep the animal quiet — Wild animals become stressed easily. A calm, quiet environment helps them conserve energy.

  3. Keep the environment dim — Darkness reduces stress and prevents sensory overload.

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❗ Do NOT feed or give water unless instructed to do so by a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. This can cause serious harm or even be fatal to a wild animal. 

Found An Animal: About Us

Reuniting is Best!

Now that I have the animal...what do I do?

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Found an Opossum

Florida opossums are incredibly resilient, but they do need human intervention in certain situations. Please seek help if you find an opossum that is:

  • Hit by a car

  • Being dragged or attacked by a dog or cat

  • Covered in ants or flies

  • Bleeding, limping, or unable to move normally

  • A baby separated from its mother

  • A deceased mother with babies still attached

If the opossum is injured or acting oddly

  1. Contain safely:
    Use a towel or thick gloves and gently guide the opossum into a secure, ventilated box or pet carrier.

  2. Provide warmth:
    Place a heating pad on LOW under half the box, or use a warm (not hot) water bottle wrapped in cloth.

  3. Reduce stress:
    Keep the environment quiet, dim, and calm. Do not allow pets or children near the animal.

  4. Do not give food or water:
    Opossums aspirate easily — feeding them without proper technique can be fatal.

If the mother is deceased

If a mama opossum has passed away (most common after a car strike):

  • Check the pouch — joeys can survive for HOURS after the mother dies.

  • Do not pull the babies off unless trained — their tiny jaws latch tightly and improper removal can cause severe injury.

  • Bring the mother WITH the babies to a rehabber, or let a rehabber instruct you step-by-step on safe removal.

If the baby opossum is alone

Baby opossums cannot be reunited the way squirrels and raccoons can.
If you find:

  • A baby under 8 inches (not counting the tail)

  • A baby alone with no mother in sight

  • A baby wandering near roads, pets, or predators

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➡️ It automatically needs rescue. Place it in a warm box and contact a rehabilitator.

 

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Found a Squirrel

Most baby squirrels are NOT orphaned

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Mother squirrels routinely retrieve babies who fall from the nest. A baby on the ground does not always need rescue.

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Before intervening, observe:

  • Is the baby warm?

  • Is it crying loudly?

  • Is it injured or bleeding?

  • Is the mother coming down the tree to try to retrieve it?

If the baby seems healthy and the area is safe, reunification is usually the BEST option.

 

How to attempt reunification

  1. Warm the baby FIRST — cold babies will not call loudly enough for the mother to find them.

  2. Place the baby in a box or basket secured to the base of the tree where it was found.

  3. Keep pets and children away.

  4. Give the mother time:

    • Daylight hours are best.

    • Mothers will often retrieve within 2 hours, but may take longer if the area is noisy.

  5. Play baby squirrel cries (YouTube) softly — this can help guide the mother.

If the mother has not returned by sunset, the baby will need a rehabilitator.

 

When squirrels need immediate rescue

Seek help right away if:

  • The baby is cold, weak, dehydrated, or not crying

  • The baby has ants, flies, or visible injuries

  • The baby was attacked by a dog or cat (even if no wounds are seen)

  • The nest has fallen and cannot be reconstructed

  • The mother has been confirmed dead

 

Adult squirrels

Adults should only be contained if:

  • They are unable to stand or climb

  • They are bleeding, dragging limbs, or seizuring

  • They are stuck or trapped in a space

 

Never attempt to handle an adult squirrel without thick gloves, a secure container, and guidance from a rehabber — these animals can bite severely when stressed.

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Found a Raccoon

Raccoons Always Need a Licensed Rehabilitator

Because raccoons are considered rabies vector species (RVS) in Florida, all raccoon cases — babies or adults — must be handled by someone with proper training and a state permit.
Do not attempt to raise, feed, or care for a raccoon on your own.
Improper handling can unintentionally harm the animal and can have legal consequences, even with the best intentions.

If you find a raccoon of any age, contact a licensed rehabilitator immediately.

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When a Raccoon Needs Help

A raccoon requires immediate rescue if it is:

  • Lying out in the open or not moving

  • Hit by a car

  • Bleeding, injured, dragging limbs, or seizuring

  • Covered in ants, flies, or maggots

  • Attacked by a dog or cat

  • Blind, confused, circling, or unusually friendly

  • A baby alone with no mother in sight

  • Next to or near a deceased mother

  • Trapped, stuck, or crying nonstop

Raccoons are excellent at hiding illness — even mild symptoms should be taken seriously.

 

Baby Raccoons (Kits)

Signs a Baby Raccoon Needs Immediate Help

Rescue right away if the baby is:

  • Cold, weak, or crying loudly

  • Wandering alone during the day

  • Injured, dehydrated, or lethargic

  • Found next to a deceased mother

  • Found on the ground during storms

  • Smaller than a kitten

  • Eyes still closed or ears folded (neonate)

Baby raccoons decline very quickly and cannot survive without proper warmth and feeding techniques.

 

If You Find Baby Raccoons

 

1. Provide Warmth Only

Do NOT feed the babies.
Wrong formula — or a single incorrect feeding — can cause fatal aspiration or bloat.

Warm them using:

  • A heating pad on LOW under half the box

  • OR a warm water bottle wrapped in cloth

 

2. Place Babies in a Safe Containment Box

Use a box the mother can get into, but the babies cannot climb out of — 12-inch walls work well.
Line with a T-shirt or soft cloth.

 

3. Put the Box Where the Babies Were Found

Place it at the base of the tree or right where the babies were discovered.
Keep pets and people away.

 

4. Play Baby Raccoon “Calling Mom” Sounds

Every hour, stand nearby and play the YouTube audio:
“Newborn Baby Raccoon 04-04-09”

This helps guide the mother back to her babies.

 

5. Give Her Time (When Safe)

Moms often retrieve babies within 1–4 hours, especially near dusk.
If it’s unsafe, raining, cold, or the babies are injured, contact a rehabber sooner.

 

6. If Mom Has NOT Returned by Daylight

Bring the babies inside, keep them warm, and contact a licensed rehabilitator.
Do not feed them.

 

7. Take the Baby to the Nearest Drop-Off Location

A licensed rehabilitator must hydrate, feed, and medically treat the babies properly.

 

If You Find an Adult Raccoon

Rescue immediately if the raccoon is:

  • Lethargic or unable to walk normally

  • Out during the day and acting confused or overly friendly

  • Bleeding or injured

  • Hit by a car

  • Trapped or caught somewhere dangerous

 

Containment (Only if the raccoon is immobile)

Use:

  • A sturdy carrier

  • Heavy gloves

  • A thick towel
    OR
    Place a bin or laundry basket over the animal until help arrives

Never attempt to pick up an alert or mobile adult raccoon — they are extremely strong and can deliver serious bites.

 

Important Note About Raccoons

Because they are regulated wildlife, raising or treating raccoons without a permit is not only dangerous — it can lead to:

  • Aspiration pneumonia

  • Metabolic bone disease

  • Improper development

  • Human imprinting (making release impossible)

  • Mandatory euthanasia if discovered in unpermitted hands

 

The safest, kindest thing you can do is to keep the raccoon warm and transfer it to a licensed professional.

Found An Animal: Get Involved
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How to Find a Wildlife Rehabilitator

Finding the right help quickly is important, especially for babies or injured animals.
Here are the most reliable resources for locating licensed wildlife rehabilitators in your area:

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1. Animal Help Now (AHNow)

www.ahnow.org
This is the best and fastest tool for finding wildlife help anywhere in the U.S. Enter your location and follow the prompts to see nearby licensed rehabilitators, transport options, and emergency contacts.
There is also a free AHNow mobile app for quick access.

2. Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission

FWC provides official guidance on what to do if you find injured or orphaned wildlife, plus links to permitted rehabilitators and wildlife resources.

🔗 https://myfwc.com/conservation/you-conserve/wildlife/injured-orphaned/

Use this resource to learn when intervention is needed and to confirm proper, legal wildlife assistance in Florida.

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