Transporting An Animal

Infant Animal Capture, Care, and Transportation

Capture:

• Find a towel, blanket, or light weight material that will completely cover the animal. Also, find a well ventilated box or plastic pet carrier. Line it with a soft material like a towel or old t-shirt.
• Completely cover the animal with the material and gently restrain it under the material.
• Place the animal in your well ventilated cardboard box or plastic pet carrier.

Care:

• Please DO NOT FEED or OFFER WATER to the animal. It can aspirate or choke on what it is offered. Infant mammals require very specific food that needs to be fed using the correct technique. If the animal is too cold, stressed, or injured feeding it can jeopardize the animal’s survival or even cause death.
• Handle the animal as little as possible. Refrain from petting or holding the the animal as it is extremely stressful and can contribute to the animal going into shock. Most wild animals also have fleas, mites, or other external parasites so refrain from handling the animal if possible.
• Keep the animal in a dark, quiet, calm, and warm place to reduce stress until it can be brought to a licensed rehabilitation facility.

Transportation:

• Place the covered and secured box on the floor or seat of your car.
• Keep the car quiet (no radio and quiet voices) and warm to reduce stress.
• Do NOT let a child or other individual hold the animal in transport. It is a safety risk for the person, as well as extremely stressful for the animal. Please think first about the well being of the animal in your care.

Remember, your safety is the most important factor. Do not unnecessarily put yourself or others at risk for injury while attempting to rescue or capture an animal. When in doubt call the Wildlife In Need Center  at (262) 965-3090.