Quick Answers
If you find an injured bird, here are some quick things to consider:
- Assess if the bird is in immediate danger. If so, carefully move it to a safer spot.
- Don’t try to handle the bird or give it food/water unless you are properly trained. This could cause more harm.
- Call a local wildlife rehabilitation center or animal control. They can best assist injured birds.
- If the bird is dead, you may need to contact animal control for removal.
Assessing the Bird’s Condition
If you come across an injured bird, the first step is to assess its condition and determine if it requires immediate assistance. Here are some things to look for:
- Level of consciousness – Is the bird awake and alert or unconscious?
- Bleeding – Are there any visible wounds or bleeding?
- Ability to move – Can the bird walk/fly or is mobility impaired?
- Breathing – Does the bird’s breathing appear normal and unlabored?
An unconscious bird, active bleeding, or impaired breathing/movement indicates the need for quick action. If the bird is in imminent danger from predators, traffic, etc., you may need to move it very carefully to a safer spot. Avoid excessive handling and keep the bird calm.
When to Call for Help
In most cases, an injured or debilitated wild bird requires professional assistance for the best chance of survival. Here are some situations when you should contact a wildlife rehabilitation expert right away:
- The bird is unconscious, bleeding, or has broken bones/wounds.
- A baby/juvenile bird has fallen from the nest and appears orphaned.
- The bird is having trouble breathing normally.
- The bird is unable to stand/fly and seems weak.
- You’ve observed the bird in the same injured state for over an hour.
Leaving the bird’s recovery to chance often leads to a much worse outcome. Calling for qualified help right away gives the bird its best shot.
Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers
Wildlife rehabilitators are trained to medically treat injured wild animals and provide supportive care so they can be released back into their natural habitat. Here are some tips regarding rehabilitation centers:
- Use an online directory or contact your state wildlife agency to find a local rehabilitator.
- Confirm that the center treats birds and is able to respond quickly.
- Inquire if they can legally take in the specific species found.
- Ask when and how you should transport the bird to their facility.
Licensed wildlife rehabilitators have access to appropriate caging, diets, and medical care needed to help injured birds recover. Let them make the call on an animal’s prognosis and when release is appropriate.
When to Handle Birds
It’s best not to handle injured birds unless absolutely necessary. Wild birds aren’t accustomed to human contact and handling can stress them further. However, you may need to move a bird if:
- The bird is in immediate physical danger (on a roadway, stalked by a predator, etc.)
- The bird is trapped and unable to escape on its own.
- You need to carefully transfer the bird to a transport carrier.
If handling is required:
- Exercise extreme care and avoid excessive struggle.
- Use thick gloves to restrain the beak and body if needed.
- Hold the bird low against your body to restrict its movement.
- Never hold injured birds by the legs, head, or wings.
Have a plan for where you are moving the bird before intervening. Keep handling to the bare minimum needed to get them to safety.
Is it Illegal to Help Injured Wildlife?
Generally, no. All states encourage citizens to assist injured wildlife in a responsible manner. Here are some legal considerations:
- It’s usually illegal to keep protected wild animals without permits, even if your intent is to help them.
- Endangered species have strict regulations against capturing, handling, or possessing.
- Good Samaritan laws often protect people from liability if they are honestly trying to help animals.
- Report any captured animals to authorities and release them as soon as possible.
So when in doubt, your best course of action is to contact licensed wildlife rehabilitators or animal control rather than personally intervening with protected species.
Proper Care While Transporting
If you need to transport an injured bird to a wildlife center, here are some tips for safe, low-stress transport:
- Use a sturdy ventilated container/carrier – no wire or cardboard.
- Line with a soft cloth and avoid direct sunlight.
- Don’t overcrowd the carrier.
- Don’t offer food or water.
- Drive carefully to avoid sudden stops/movement.
- Keep noise and other disturbances to a minimum.
Proper transportation helps prevent further injury and keeps the bird as calm as possible. The goal is to contain the animal securely while allowing for sufficient air circulation. Never transport birds in the bed of trucks.
What to Feed Injured Birds
You generally should not attempt to feed wild birds without guidance. Improper food can do more harm than good. But in emergency cases where you’re waiting for transport to a rehab facility, you may need basic sustenance. Here are some safe temporary options:
- Seed-eating birds – Commercial seed mixes, chopped nuts/grains
- Insect-eating birds – Mealworms, crickets
- Fruit/nectar birds – Chopped fruits, sugar water (1 part sugar: 4 parts water)
- Carnivores – Small pieces of raw meat
Introduce these foods in very small amounts and discontinue if the bird seems distressed. The goal is just supplemental nutrition until expert care is possible. Avoid dried foods if the bird cannot swallow properly.
Signs a Bird is Dying or Suffering
Unfortunately, not every injured bird can be saved, even with quick action. Here are some signs a bird may be dying or suffering irreversible medical complications:
- No response to stimuli, comatose
- Labored, irregular breathing and gasping
- Severely bleeding, crushed, or mangled body
- Major wings/legs injuries, paralysis
- Uncontrollable seizures
- Emaciation and muscle wasting
If a professional evaluation confirms the bird’s poor prognosis, euthanasia may be recommended to prevent further suffering. This decision should only be made by trained experts.
Proper Carcass Disposal
If an animal is found deceased or dies during your care, you’ll need to properly dispose of the remains:
- Check your state and local regulations on carcass disposal.
- Double bag the body in sealed plastic bags if transporting.
- Contact veterinary centers or waste management about appropriate options.
- Never place animal remains in trash bins or community dumpsters.
- Burial may be allowed on private property away from water sources.
Proper disposal helps prevent the spread of potential diseases and complies with public health guidelines. Just leaving deceased animals outdoors can lead to secondary poisoning of other wildlife.
Summary of What to Do if You Find an Injured Bird
Here is a quick summary of the steps to follow if you encounter an injured bird:
- Carefully assess the bird’s condition without excessive handling.
- Move the bird out of any immediate danger if possible.
- Call wildlife rehabilitators or animal control for assistance.
- Avoid feeding or watering the bird unless emergency care is needed.
- Wear thick gloves if handling/moving the bird is absolutely necessary.
- Place the bird in a secure ventilated container for transport.
- Keep the bird in a quiet, calm environment while waiting for help.
- Follow instructions from wildlife experts about next steps.
With quick, compassionate action, injured birds often can recover and return to the wild. Always keep safety in mind for both the animal and yourself. Let trained wildlife professionals provide any direct medical treatment and rehabilitation.
Conclusion
Discovering an injured bird can be worrisome, but in many cases the outcomes can be positive for the animal’s welfare when proper steps are taken. Remaining calm, safely containing the bird, and contacting qualified animal assistance as soon as possible are the priorities. With this timely care, many injured birds go on to make full recoveries. So if you come across a bird in distress, remember that your actions could give it a lifesaving second chance.