If you find an injured or sick wild animal

If we want to help nature, not harm it, and not to undermine the ecosystem, we must only help wild animals that have suffered from human activity or environmental changes. Wild animals must be free, therefore any intervention should be minimal and justified by necessity.

Wild animals may not need help for several reasons:

● Natural process

Nature has the principles of natural selection, which ensures the survival of the strongest and most adapted individuals. For example, if weaker individuals are helped to survive, this can have a negative impact on the entire population.

● Stress

When people try to help wild animals, they experience great stress, which can have negative consequences for their health and even worsen their condition. If the injury is minor, the animal has a chance to recover without human help.

● Inappropriate help

Sometimes people rush to help wild animals that are not actually in danger, sometimes people don't know how to properly treat them, so such help can worsen the situation, i.e. cause dependence on humans, harm animals, etc.

For example, during the time of migration, wild birds that are fed do not fly away and can no longer provide food for themselves without human help, or there are cases when people try to help young wild animals that are left in a safe place by parents that have briefly went to look for food (for more information, see the section Basic rules to follow when helping a wild animal).

➤ Where to seek help?

If you have hit a wild animal with your car or have noticed a wild animal on the road that has already been hit, please call the emergency services 112.

If you find a wild animal (for example, a bird), first make sure whether it needs help.

In order to make sure whether the animal is really injured or sick, we recommend consulting the LSMU Wildlife Rescue Center by calling +370 605 72837. Assistance is provided 24 hours a day. If you are absolutely sure that help is necessary, please call the emergency services at 112.

If you notice an injured, sick, or weakened marine animal (seal, bird) in the Lithuanian coastal zone and the Curonian Lagoon, please call the emergency services at 112.

The information will be passed on to the Baltic Sea Animal Rehabilitation Center (Lithuanian Sea Museum) and the Public Institution Būk mano draugas, which will arrange for the animal to be brought to the center. More

➤ How can you tell that a wild animal needs help?

	The animal is trapped, for example, entangled in a net, wire or other obstacle, and cannot free itself.
	Visible injuries, such as bleeding, swelling, wounds, broken bones, etc.
	Obvious signs of illness (baldness, hair loss, etc.) are visible on the animal’s body.
	Unusual body position, limping, inability to walk or fly.
	Very emaciated, bone structure is visible.
	Many flies are visible around the animal, larvae are visible on the body, many ticks or other parasites are present.
	Rapid or very slow breathing. Wheezing or other abnormal breathing sounds are heard. The animal may make unusual sounds if it is in pain or discomfort.
	Behaving unnaturally, is sluggish, does not move or moves unusually, does not run away from a person, although it should normally do so.
	The animal is found in an environment that is not typical for it, for example, a nocturnal animal is seen during the day, an aquatic animal is seen on land, etc.

➤ Basic rules to follow when helping a wild animal

When rescuing wild animals, it is important to know how to act correctly so as not to harm them.

	Assess the situation If you find a baby wild animal, first observe it from a distance. If the baby is in a safe place and appears healthy, do not touch it. Parents often observe their young from nearby locations and return to feed them when the threat is no longer present. For example, baby birds are often on the ground when they are learning to fly, and this is a normal process.
	Protect If a baby bird is in a dangerous place, such as on a road or is at risk of being attacked by dogs, cats, or other animals that pose a threat to it, you can gently move it with gloves or a cloth to a safer place nearby so that the parents could find it. If you find a baby bird on the ground that is not yet fully covered with feathers (bare skin areas are visible, the body is covered with fluff), and is not standing on its feet, look for its nest. If you find a nest, place the bird in; if it has been destroyed, you can make an artificial nest. After moving the animal to a safe place, move away from it. If you notice that the animal is in the same place for too long or its parents do not appear, seek help from specialists.
	Do not disturb If you notice a wild animal in an urban area and it seems healthy, do not scare or frighten it: the animal will find its way back to nature on its own. If you notice a healthy seal lying on the seashore, do not drive it back into the water, let it rest peacefully.
	Do not feed Feeding wild animals with food that is not suitable for them, for example, giving milk to hedgehogs, bread or processed products to birds, can damage their digestive system or cause diseases.
	Seek help If you see a wild animal that is clearly sick or injured, contact specialists (↑ see the section Where to seek help?) who can advise you on how to safely capture and transport the animal and ensure it receives the necessary assistance.

When you are trying to rescue a wild animal, first take care of the safety, i.e. that of your own and the safety of those around you

Injured or sick animals may be frightened and behave unpredictably, sometimes even dangerously. They may bite, scratch, slash, or otherwise injure you. If you do not know how to properly handle a wild animal, please contact specialists (↑ see the section Where to seek help?).