Wildlife Care
In Rye Brook, NY

Turtles are commonly found on roads for a variety of natural reasons including searching for a mate, returning to a nesting site, or seeking warm asphalt to bask on. If a turtle is crossing a road, gently help it continue in the direction it was already heading. Never relocate a turtle to a different area, as they have strong homing instincts and will attempt to return. If you find a turtle basking on dark asphalt, moving it to a warm sunny rock nearby is a safer alternative. If you encounter a snapping turtle, do not attempt to handle it and contact a wildlife expert instead.

Turtles found with notches or tags on their shells may be part of an ongoing research study. Note the location and any identifying details and contact your local nature center or search online to report the sighting.

Stay calm. Unnecessary handling can cause additional stress and injury to a wild animal. Using gloves or a towel, gently place the animal in a warm, quiet, dark container such as a cardboard box lined with a soft cloth. Place the box on a heating pad set to its lowest setting, or next to a warm water bottle wrapped in a towel. Do not offer food or water, and keep the animal away from pets, people, and noise. Note the time, location, and any relevant details such as how the animal was found, and contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible.

Please be aware that it is illegal in New York State to possess any wild animal unless you are actively transporting it to a licensed NYS wildlife rehabilitator. Keeping a wild animal as a pet is also prohibited by law. Violations can be reported to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Law Enforcement at (845) 256-3098.

The most important first step is to determine whether the bird actually needs help. Many baby birds found on the ground are fledglings, meaning they are in the normal process of learning to fly. A fledgling will appear feathered and may hop or flutter. The best thing you can do is keep pets and people away and observe from a distance. The parents are almost always nearby and will continue to feed and care for the bird on the ground.

If the bird is a nestling with little or no feathers and has clearly fallen from a nest, locate the nest and gently return the bird to it if the nest is intact and accessible. If the nest cannot be found or is damaged, create a surrogate nest using a small basket or box filled with leaves or soft cloth, secured in a nearby tree or shrub out of direct sun and rain. The parents will respond to the baby's distress calls and return once the area feels safe.

Contact a wildlife rehabilitator if the bird is visibly injured, bleeding, vomiting, shivering, or lethargic, or if it has been handled by a cat or dog. For ducklings or goslings separated from their mother, attempt to reunite them with the flock first and call a rehabilitator only if the mother cannot be located or the baby is rejected.

Baby rabbit: If the nest is intact, wearing gloves, return the babies to the nest and cover it lightly with nearby grass or leaves. The mother visits only at dawn and dusk, so her absence during the day does not mean she has abandoned the nest. Placing strands of yarn across the nest opening can confirm her return if the strands are disturbed by the next morning. Baby rabbits that are four to five inches long, have open eyes and upright ears, and can hop are fully independent and do not need intervention.

Fawn: It is completely normal for a doe to leave her fawn alone for extended periods while she forages. A fawn curled quietly in the grass is not abandoned. Contact a wildlife rehabilitator only if the fawn appears cold, injured, or confused, is being threatened by animals or people, or if you have confirmed that the mother is no longer alive.

Opossum: Young opossums that are five to six inches or longer, excluding the tail, are independent and can be left alone if they appear healthy. If the animal is smaller than this, or shows signs of injury or distress, contact a licensed rehabilitator.

For all baby mammals, do not attempt to feed them. Wild mammals require species-specific formulas, and feeding regular milk can cause serious harm or death. Keep the animal warm, dark, quiet, and unstimulated until you have reached a rehabilitator.

Use a breathable container such as a small basket or cardboard box, avoiding plastic which can trap moisture. Line it with leaves, paper towels, or a soft clean cloth. Secure the nest in the tree or bush closest to where the animal was found, positioned out of direct sun and rain and as high as you can safely reach. Place the animal gently inside and leave the area. The parent will hear the distress calls and return to care for or relocate the baby once the environment feels safe.

Use a cardboard box, pet carrier, or similar breathable container with air holes poked in the sides. Line it with a soft cloth and, if available, place the container on a heating pad at its lowest setting or include a warm water bottle wrapped in a towel for warmth. Secure the container so the animal cannot escape. Keep it in a warm, dark, quiet location, do not offer food or water, and transport the animal to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible. Minimize handling and human interaction throughout.

Each year, well-meaning people inadvertently separate young wild animals from their mothers by assuming they have been abandoned. In the vast majority of cases, a baby animal found alone is not in danger. Mother animals regularly leave their young unattended for hours at a time. Before intervening, take a moment to observe from a safe distance and consult the guidance above or call our hospital in Rye Brook for advice specific to your situation. The best outcomes for wildlife almost always involve minimal human interference and prompt connection with a licensed rehabilitator when genuine help is needed.