First, read the information on this website about nestling and fledgling songbirds. If you need further information or have determined the baby is orphaned or injured, contact a wildlife rehabilitator. While you are waiting to hear back, the following instructions will keep the animal safe and comfortable.
What to do while you wait
A dark, quiet place
Keep the animal in a dark, quiet place indoors, in an enclosed or covered container. For most species, a cardboard box with the lid closed is perfect. If your home is small, a closet or a bathroom is an excellent spot. A basement, heated garage, or spare bedroom will also work.
Keep children, pets, and people away from the room the animal is in. Remember that it is orphaned and possibly injured and frightened, and we want to keep its stress down as much as possible. Unlike our pets, wild animals are not comforted by people talking to them, petting them, or looking at them.
A heat source
Baby birds rely on their mother or father to keep them warm. Keeping them warm will reduce stress on their system, once their body doesn’t have to fight to keep its temperature up. Some examples of an appropriate heat source:
- a clean sock filled with dry, uncooked rice, and microwaved for one minute
- a plastic bottle or jar with tight-fitting lid from the recycling bin filled with hot tap water and wrapped in a tea towel or face cloth (and secured to the box so that it does not squish the baby)
- an electric heating pad set to “LOW” and placed under half of the box
- several chemical hand warmers (e.g. Hot Paws) that stay warm for up to 8 hours
Re-heat water bottles and rice socks as necessary. Once they have something warm to snuggle up to, most baby will go right to sleep.
No food or water
This is a tough one, because our first instinct is often to try to give food or water to an animal we’ve found, but there are some really good reasons not to.
Why shouldn’t I feed the baby?
- If the animal is dehydrated, starving, or suffering from trauma, their body may not be strong enough to digest food. Trying to feed them can cause bloating, shock, or death.
- Trying to force-feed food or water can accidentally end up with the liquid in the animal’s lungs. This can cause pneumonia, and death.
- If you feed the wrong food to the wrong species, it can cause serious digestive problems.
- Once you get the animal to a wildlife rehabilitator, they will need to assess their condition and maybe run some medical tests. These are a lot easier to do if the animal hasn’t been eating. It’s just like when your doctor or veterinarian asks you or your pet not to eat the night before an appointment.
Once you’ve spoken to a wildlife rehabilitator, if they ask you to give the animal some food please follow their advice.
Why shouldn’t I give it water?
- If the animal is injured and having trouble standing, or if they panic trying to get out, they could fall into the water dish. This can cause hypothermia, or even drowning.
- Trying to force-feed water can accidentally end up with the liquid in the animal’s lungs. This can cause pneumonia, and death.
- Once you get the animal to a wildlife rehabilitator, they will need to assess its condition and maybe run some medical tests. These are a lot easier to do if the animal hasn’t been drinking. It’s just like when your doctor or veterinarian asks you or your pet not to eat or drink the night before an appointment.
Once you’ve spoken to a wildlife rehabilitator, if they ask you to give the animal some water please follow their advice.
