Step 1: Is This an Emergency?

If you have found an animal that is seriously injured (ex: an obvious broken bone) or has significant bleeding (more than a superficial scratch), this may be an emergency situation.

The best course of action is to contact a major city center rehabilitation facility that has the medical staff and resources to help the animal immediately. For those that live in Middle TN, that would be Nashville-area and Chattoonga facilities.

We are setup to treat minor injuries and help orphaned opossums.

Step 2: Identify the Species

Many infant mammals look very similar. It’s important to identify the species of mammal.
Sending photos to a wildlife rehabilitator can help confirm the species as well as internet searches for differences.

Newborn Opossum

Newborn Squirrel

Note the black toe nails for baby squirrels. More round head, darker color and larger forebody.

Newborn Rat

Step 3: Is a Rescue Necessary?

Don’t be a kidnapper!

Not all baby mammals need to be rescued, in fact, many do not.
BEFORE you take an animal from the wild, determine if it really needs human intervention. Click on the animal title below to learn more about when to rescue and when not.

An opossum who is nine to ten inches or longer (not including the tail) is independent, just leave him/her alone. If you see an adult opossum that has been hit by a car, check to see if there are babies near her, especially in or near her pouch.  See details below on Rescuing the infants.

Neonate (newborn) opossums are sometimes found alive inside the pouch of a dead mother. If you see a dead mother opossum and it is safe to do so, always check the pouch and surrounding grass for straggling babies. If you find live babies in the pouch, you can bring the mother’s body to WildCare or your local wildlife center immediately. Don’t attempt to detach live babies from a dead mother, as the babies’ mouths are closed around the nipple and removal must be done very carefully.

Opossums cannot be reunited with their mothers, and an opossum shorter than ten inches (including tail), will need warmth and care.

Juvenile opossums are fully furred and have outgrown their mother’s pouch. By instinct, they cling to her as she forages, and eventually fall off. If unable to get back to her, a baby is then on his own, a natural dispersal strategy. If healthy and ten inches or longer he is old enough to take care of himself and doesn’t need rescue.

Neonate (newborn) squirrels are usually found when a nest (called a “drey”) has been destroyed. Squirrels are excellent parents, but they are casual nest-builders, so they often have more than one drey. If one or more baby squirrels fall to the ground, their mother will often retrieve them.

If you find uninjured babies and think the mother is still in the vicinity, nestle them in a warm, shallow box at the base of the tree they fell from, or in a basket suspended so it rests against the trunk, and leave the area. Call WildCare 415-456-7283 if the mother has not returned within two or three hours.

Juvenile squirrels are still dependent on their mother. Call WildCare for advice if a juvenile squirrel approaches you, as it may be a sign that he needs medical care. Squirrels have very sharp teeth and strong jaws– never handle a squirrel without gloves.

Baby squirrels can fall from the nest, especially during a storm.  You can put the baby in a box temporarily and remove them from the rain or dangerous area (if a tree limb) came down, and then place them back outside in the box after the storm has passed. Mom squirrel WILL come looking for her baby!  If you do NOT see Mom around over the course of several hours, take the box away and contact a wildlife rehabilitator (see TWRA links for those in your area who help Squirrels).

Note exactly where you found the animal. This will be very important for release.

A bunny/rabbit who is five inches long with open eyes and erect ears are independent from Mom and able to fend for themselves. Always remember – if they can run from you – they do NOT need to be rescued!  Nests of younger rabbits should remain undisturbed.  Mom Bunny will feed her babies at dusk and dawn and will stay away to distract predators from the nest. Do NOT expect to see her sitting on the nest like a chicken!  Keep children and pets away and let Mom do her job. One way you can be certain that the mother is returning to take care of her young is to criss cross yarn or sticks over the nest and by the next day if the yarn or sticks have been disturbed, you know she has returned. You can also peek at the babies and see if their tummies look full and they look healthy. If they do NOT look good (skinny, wet, full of fleas), contact a wildlife rehabilitator immediately (see TWRA links for those in your area who help Rabbits).

A warm quiet baby found in the grass with no obvious injuries is probably not abandoned. Fawns and young rabbits remain quiet and still so that predators will not find them. If all is well, the mother will likely move her baby after the next feeding, which may not be for several hours.

Note exactly where you found the animal. This will be very important for release.

Baby raccoons will stay with Mom, and as they get older, will go exploring with her. If you find a single baby in your yard, especially during the day, call WRT for help.  Raccoons will make their homes in various places that humans don’t appreciate. Sometimes, understanding their behavior and a little patience, will allow Mom Raccoon to care for her babies without removing the family.

Neonate raccoons are helpless for about six weeks, and their mother usually keeps them well hidden. You are unlikely to encounter baby raccoons unless their nest is disturbed or their mother is interrupted while moving them. Raccoons are very attached to their young. If a mother is alive and she has been separated from all her young, she will try aggressively to retrieve them for several nights. If allowed to reach them, she will move them to an alternate nest. Call WildCare for assistance with reuniting a family or if you have found a single neonate (newborn) raccoon. Never handle a raccoon OF ANY AGE with your bare hands.

Juvenile raccoons leave the nest at about eight to ten weeks of age and begin to travel with their mother. From then on they have no permanent den site. If excluding raccoons from your walls, attics or crawlspaces is a goal, this is when it is safe to do so.

Before attempting a rescue — understand that YOU are the monster in this scenario, have a plan

For Tennessee Residents

This Information is specific for residents of the state of Tennessee. If you do not live in TN, “Bless Your Heart”, it’s a great state and you should consider a relocation. You will need to find wildlife rehabilitators closest to you. For help knowing where to start, see the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (NWRA).

Step 4: Rescue

  • Only adults should attempt a rescue.
    If rescuing an adult animal, first consult a wildlife rehabilitator for advice.
  • Prepare container first. A box with soft rags or cloth and some small air holes.
  • Wear gloves. Gently collect and place babies in the container box. Cover with a light towel or cloth.
  • (For Possums) If babies are attempting to nurse on the mother, remove them very slowly and gently to prevent injuring the babies. They actually swallow the nipple, so be careful!
  • Close the box. Place half of the box on a heating pad on LOW, and half of the box off of the pad so they can crawl to warmth if needed or move away from the heat. Make sure the pad stays on, as many have auto-shut offs.
  • If you don’t have a heating pad, you can use a bottle of warm water (ensure that the bottle can’t fall and hurt the babies) and you will need to occasionally reheat the water.
  • Wash your hands after handling the animal(s).
  • Keep the box in a quiet, calm, dark place away from pets and children to minimize stress.

Step 5: Helping Rescued Animals, especially Possums

Warmth. Safety & calm. Hydration. If you can do these, you will help tremendously.

Warmth

Baby possums can not maintain their body temperature. Optimally they need supplemental heat ~93 F (90-95F). If animals are cold, they can’t properly hydrate, and therefore can’t process food. Warmth is CRITICAL to their survival especially if they don’t yet have their mature fur (where they look like a miniature version of an adult).
Use a heating pad on LOW with half of the container on the pad and half off, so they can move away from the heat if too much. Note many heating pads have an auto-shut off, so be aware. Their body temperature is lower than a humans so it should feel warm but not hot. Also beware that babies can overheat as well, so don’t make it too hot. Optionally, you can also fill water bottles or jars with warm water with a t-shirt of cloth around it — just make sure the bottle can’t fall over or leak.

Safety & Calm

Keep them away from pets, children, and in a dark, quiet, safe, calm environment. Remember humans (and other domestic pets) are the scary monsters to them. Stress will diminish their healing from injuries. Limit handling as well. This is not the time to bring friends and family over for a photo session with scared trapped rescued animals.

Hydration

After they are warm and calm, you can offer them hydrating fluids. Hydration is CRITICAL and is more than just water. You can offer the following:
* Pedialyte mixed with water (3 parts water, 1 part Pedialyte). [Can be generic version of Pedialyte, the brand is not important.]
* Water with a couple of drops of honey (or with a little apple juice)

If an adult (or clearly not a baby), you can put some in a cap or shallow dish. Baby possums can’t drink from a feeding nipple, so you can offer with a feeding syringe (NO needle), drop by drop and let them lap it up. Be careful not to get fluid in their nose and do not force fluids into their mouths.

Do NOT …

No feeding the animal without talking with a wildlife rehabilitator first (especially for babies). Seriously, please do not.
It’s well intentioned, but feeding an animal can actually be life threatening and will likely make the rehabilitation process slower and more difficult. Animals can’t digest/process food without being properly hydrated (and warm!). Also not all food is appropriate for that species and their stage of development — it can cause diarrhea which will worsen dehydration which is a serious problem, and in some cases there are complications like refeeding syndrome which can be fatal especially for emaciated animals.

If we’ve been communicating and have agreed that we have capacity to take in the animal, please fill out the Admissions Form. BUTTON/LINK