Wildlife Rehabs Warn of Worsening Conditions for Botched Unprofessional DIY Animal Rescue Attempts

Even though impromptu or DIY animal rescue attempts may have the best of intentions, wildlife rehab centers cautioned that poor or unprofessional treatment may make the conditions for the animal worse.

A talk on animal rescue was given by office manager Carly Corbin and staff veterinarian Dr. Emily Hsieh.

In her interview with WTOP, Corbin discussed cases that illustrate what can go wrong when a non-rehabilitators attempt to care for animals and what people should do if they suspect an animal might be in trouble.

Misunderstanding Wildlife

The discovery of fawns that appear to have been abandoned by their mothers causes a lot of calls to Blue Ridge Wildlife Center, according to Corbin, who frequently answers the calls.

It served as an example of a typical misunderstanding of typical wildlife behavior.

Deer frequently leave their fawns while they go foraging and then come back to tend to them.

Corbin said that for that species, something that might worry and seem strange to someone else might be completely normal.

In one instance, a car struck a screech owl. Corbin claimed that those who initially took care of the owl thought the raptor would be fine.

The owl seemed to be very alert and aware, and other than squinting a little and perching clumsily on one foot, it appeared physically healthy.

But according to Corbin, the owl was taken to Blue Ridge after spending almost a week in the care of a non-rehabilitator.

According to Corbin, their team found it had severe fractures in numerous locations throughout its body after taking X-rays. The owl was humanely euthanized, she continued, because of the level and severity of its wounds.

Real Rescue

She said that the best course of action is to get in touch with wildlife rehabilitators if you're concerned that an animal might be in trouble.

Wildlife rehabilitators can offer advice if it is obvious that an animal has been hurt.

According to Corbin, the best course of action when attempting to save an injured animal is to keep it in a tranquil, quiet, and dark setting, such as a cardboard box or pet carrier.

She advised against checking on it because doing so can lead to more stress.

While the animal is being carried to the rehabilitator's area, she advises against peeking and against giving it food or water, WTop News reported.

In Boyce, Virginia, at the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center, Corbin and Hsieh presented a talk on the subject.

"Best Intentions Gone Wrong" is the title of their lecture.

Read also: Rattlesnake Mistakenly Trapped in Arizona Home for Two Years with No Food Supply, Still Survived 

Glue Traps

In October of this year, Vancouver Is Awesome published an article about the hazards of using glue traps.

Small boxes with an adhesive coating known as glue traps are used to capture mice and other small rodents.

According to the Wildlife Rescue Association of BC, which has its headquarters in Burnaby, glue traps can cause similarly sized wild animals to suffer agonizing deaths from starvation, dehydration, and exhaustion.

Wildlife Rescue encourages people to seek out alternative approaches to pest control and advises them to contact a professional for help.

Related article: NYC Pest Control Project for Invasive Species Kills Woodpecker Instead