Frequently Asked Questions

SFWC is here to help. If you see any of the following on a wild animal you’ve just encountered, please give us a call at (954) 524-4302, so we can best assist you.

• Attacked by a dog or cat
• Evidence of bleeding
• Obvious broken limb
• Featherless and on the ground
• Shivering
• Found near another dead animal
• Has been crying for several hours
• Seen wandering with no direction as if lost and unsure of what to do

IF AFTER HOURS – REMEMBER:

You can leave the injured, orphaned, or sick wild animal in one of our night cages so we can assess first thing the following morning, or you can keep the animal somewhere safe and contained in your home until you are able to bring it to us the following morning (recommended).

• Use common sense and think of your safety first
• Try to contain the animal if safe to do so
• Keep the animal warm and quiet until it can be transported and while it is being transported
• Do not pet or handle the animal
• Do not try to feed or give water to the animal

When to leave an animal alone:

It is common to see wild baby animals outside during spring as a new generation makes its way into the world. Wild baby animals might seem like they need our help, but unless the animal is truly orphaned or injured, there is no need to intervene. Give us a call if you are unsure, and we can help guide you.

Animal Drop-Off:

The South Florida Wildlife Center is available to receive injured, orphaned, or sick wild animals Monday-Sunday from 9 AM to 5 PM. There are no admissions fees though donations are highly encouraged so we can continue our work.

Rescuing a wild animal:

Never handle an adult animal without first consulting a wildlife professional. Even small animals can injure you. Once you’ve contacted someone who can help, describe the animal and his physical condition as accurately as possible.

Unless you are told otherwise, here’s how you can make an animal more comfortable for transport:

1. Put the animal in a safe container. For most songbirds, use a cardboard box or similar container. First, punch holes for air (not while the animal is in the box!) from the inside out and line the box with an old T-shirt or other soft cloth. Then gently place the animal in the box.
2. Put on thick gloves and cover the animal with a towel or pillowcase as you scoop him up gently and place him in the container.
3. Do not give the animal food or water. It could be the wrong food and cause him to choke, trigger serious digestive problems or cause aspiration pneumonia. Many injured animals are in shock, and force-feeding can kill them.
4. Place the container in a warm, dark, quiet place—away from pets, children, and all noise (including the TV and the radio)—until you can transport the animal. Keep the container away from direct sunlight, air conditioning, or heat.
5. Transport the animal as soon as possible. Leave the radio off and keep talking to a minimum. Because wild animals aren’t accustomed to our voices, they can become very stressed by our noises. If they’re injured or orphaned, they’re already in a compromised condition. Keep their world dark and quiet to lower their stress level and help keep them alive.

You can leave the injured, orphaned, or sick wild animal in one of our night cages so we can assess first thing the following morning, or you can keep the animal somewhere safe and contained in your home until you are able to bring it to us the following morning (recommended).

• Use common sense and think of your safety first
• Try to contain the animal if safe to do so
• Keep the animal warm and quiet until it can be transported and while it is being transported
• Do not pet or handle the animal
• Do not try to feed or give water to the animal

• An appropriately sized pet carrier or pet crate.
• Cardboard box with pre-made breathing holes at the top and bottom. The breathing holes should be big enough to fit your thumb in but not bigger.
• A plastic bin with a towel or a piece of cardboard (with pre-made breathing holes) as the lid.
• Always line the bottom with a soft absorbent material like paper towels, a bath towel, or an old shirt.

Unless you are told otherwise, here’s how you can make an animal more comfortable for transport:

• Put the animal in a safe container. For most songbirds, use a cardboard box or similar container. First, punch holes for air (not while the animal is in the box!) from the inside out and line the box with an old T-shirt or other soft cloth. Then gently place the animal in the box.
• Put on thick gloves and cover the animal with a towel or pillowcase as you scoop him up gently and place him in the container.
• Do not give the animal food or water. It could be the wrong food and cause him to choke, trigger serious digestive problems or cause aspiration pneumonia. Many injured animals are in shock, and force-feeding can kill them.
• Place the container in a warm, dark, quiet place—away from pets, children, and all noise (including the TV and the radio)—until you can transport the animal. Keep the container away from direct sunlight, air conditioning, or heat.
• Transport the animal as soon as possible. Leave the radio off and keep talking to a minimum. Because wild animals aren’t accustomed to our voices, they can become very stressed by our noises. If they’re injured or orphaned, they’re already in a compromised condition. Keep their world dark and quiet to lower their stress level and help keep them alive.

If you can contain the bird or turtle, do not remove the hook or fishing line. Bring the animal to us. You may cause more injury removing it, and there may be other internal hooks.

Bring it to us or any other wildlife rehabilitation center if the baby is smaller than 7 inches (typically the length of your middle finger to wrist).

If it is larger than 7 inches and moves well with no wounds, it no longer needs a parent. He/she can be released back into the wild.

NO. Please bring it to your nearest rehabilitation facility. There may be a puncture wound or broken bones.

• Call us during our business hours. After hours, keep the bird in a warm dark area. Do not feed or offer water.
• If the baby looks healthy (no blood, no ants, no wounds, not colder than your hand), look for a nest near where you found it and place the baby back in the nest.
• If the nest is too high, try nailing a basket to the tree in a shaded area near the original nest. Fill the basket with leaves. Come back in an hour and check for fresh poop.
• If the bird is covered with feathers, no fluff, and looks like a smaller version of the adult, this may be a fledgling learning to fly. Leave it where it is because the parents are taking care of it.

• A fledgling is a bird that is almost completely covered in feathers (not fluffy down) and looks like an awkward version of an adult.
• Fledgling birds hop out of the nest onto the ground. Then they learn to fly from the ground up.
• It may take a few days for a fledgling to fly away completely.
• Parents will continue to feed a fledgling while they are on the ground.

If the baby is warm, does not have ants, does not have a wound, and was not caught by an animal, it can possibly be reunited with its mother.

• • First, place the baby on the ground where you found it.
  • Make sure all children and pets are inside or far away. You do not want to scare mom.
  • On your cell phone, go to YouTube and play as loud as possible https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGtA8w-hlTw
  • Leave phone near the baby and step away. This may take several attempts.
  • NEVER FEED THE BABY
• If mom doesn’t pick up after 24 hours of trying, please bring the baby squirrel to us.

Scoop the bird with both hands by placing one hand on each side, covering each wing with your hand. Have the box/carrying container close by, and place the bird on a pillowcase or paper towel.

• Toss a large blanket, sheet, or towel over the bird, making sure to cover the head. Make sure to firmly hold the bird with the sheet over the bird by placing one hand over the middle section of each wing.
• Your grip should be firm but not tight. Imagine holding a squirmy baby.

• Wear the thickest gardening gloves you own. Place a thick towel over the whole squirrel, but make sure to cover the head. Place your fingers behind the head, stabilizing the head and jaw. This should feel like you are pinching the jaw from behind but not restricting airflow. With the other hand, pick up the back end. Now, place it in a pet carrier. Cardboard boxes are not preferred for squirrels since they easily chew their way out.
• If you are unable or do not have access to gloves, you can place a carrier in front of the squirrel. With a cardboard box or towel, guide the squirrel into the carrier.

• DO NOT pick up by the tail, and do not offer food or water.
• Tilt a box on its side, and guide the opossum into the box using the other hand.
• If the opossum is lying on its side, you can cover him/her with a towel, place one hand at the base of the tail and the other under his/her neck. Then slide it into the box.
• If the opossum is dead, check to see if it’s a mother with babies in her pouch. It is best to remove the babies and keep them warm until you can transport them to a rehabilitator. 

• If it is a dead opossum, check if it is a mother with babies in her pouch. If it is a mother, remove the babies, keep them warm and contact us as soon as possible.
• You can contact a trapper for removal (this is a paid service) or double bag the body to dispose of in your trash.

• Alligators live in Florida. This is their home; if you are concerned about your safety, call FWC Gator 888-404-3922.

• Call a local shelter for cats or dogs.
• For exotics, call FWC at 561-357-4200.

• If you give the raccoon some space, it should move on. Mother raccoons with very small babies will look for food during the day.
• If the raccoon is not moving or acting sick, call animal control first and then us during business hours.
• If you feed cats outside, you are inviting all wildlife to a free meal.

You can report to FWC or your local police department.

Never offer it food or water Bring the bird in if there is blood, any body part is limp, or it does not start to recover after 15 minutes.

Otherwise: 

• If the bird is in a safe place, you can leave it there and monitor its recovery
• If cats, dogs, or small children are around, place the bird in a shoebox. Put the shoebox in a quiet place.
• Release it back where you found it if the bird is very active and vocal after one hour. If not fully recovered after an hour, call us.