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Summer is the busy season in the animal kingdom, so it’s not unusual to run across an injured squirrel, bird, or other critter on your property. Most people in this situation would want to help the injured animal, but may not know how to do so safely. If the creature is seriously ill or badly hurt, call a wildlife removal service immediately. But here are a few things you can do until help arrives.

How to Treat Injured Animals on Your Property

Squirrels

If you find a young squirrel with a fluffy tail and a body longer than six inches, it’s probably just an adolescent exploring outside the nest. However, smaller babies may need some help reuniting with their mothers. Start by heating some rice in a sock and placing it in a container near the tree closest to where it was found. The mother should be back to get the errant baby in a few hours but, if not, a wildlife removal expert can help get the animal to a rehabilitation center.

Adult squirrels can contract rabies, which makes them riskier to deal with than the babies. If the squirrel is acting strangely and frothing at the mouth, avoid approaching the animal and let a wildlife removal expert handle the situation. However, if your dog attacked a squirrel or it has an obvious injury, you may be able to help. Because squirrels can bite when they’re scared and hurt, throw a towel over the animal, scoop it up, and quickly put it into a cage. Give it something soft to lay on, keep it warm, and make sure it has plenty of water.

Birds

wildlife removalIt’s a myth that parents will abandon their babies if they’re touched by a human, so feel free to put stranded birds back in their nests if you find them on the ground. If the nest was destroyed by another animal, a shallow wicker basket is a good substitute. Hang it near the original nest with the babies inside and watch from a distance to ensure the parents come home.

Adult birds can also be injured by cats and dogs, or flying into an obstruction. If you find a bird with a broken bone, gently pick it up and place it into a shoebox filled with enough padding to keep it comfortable. Your local vet or wildlife removal expert will be able to give you instructions on rehabilitating the animal and getting it back into the air.

Raccoons

Unlike squirrels, raccoons can be very aggressive, especially when they’re injured and afraid. It’s always best to let a professional handle these animals, but that isn’t always possible. If you find a raccoon that needs immediate assistance, wear heavy gloves and always approach the animal from behind. Throw a towel over its head, scoop it up, and place it into a sturdy box or animal carrier. Because raccoons are so tough to deal with, call a wildlife removal company or rehabilitation center instead of trying to handle it yourself.

 

If you find an injured animal or have unwelcome visitors on your property, call the wildlife removal professionals at A.S.A.P. Critter People. Their highly skilled team services homes and businesses throughout the Cincinnati area, offering safe, humane ways to remove snakes, possums, squirrels, birds, and more. Visit their website for more on their services, follow their Facebook for more tips and advice, and call (513) 941-0258 for immediate assistance.

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