Rescuing Baby Mammals
If you’ve gone through our flow chart and determined you need to rescue a baby mammal, follow these steps to ensure its health and safety.
- Prepare a transport container. Line a small cardboard box or paper bag with a soft, clean cloth with no strings or loops. Make air holes for ventilation.
- Protect yourself. Wear gloves to prevent the animal from biting or scratching you. Gloves can also help protect you from any fleas, lice, ticks, or diseases the animal may be carrying.
- Place the mammal in the transport container. Cover the animal with a light sheet or towel and gently put it in the prepared container. Tape the box shut or roll the top of the paper bag closed. Keep the container in a warm, dark, quiet place away from kids and pets. Do not attempt to feed it unless you have sought professional advice.
- Warm the animal if it feels cold to the touch. Put one end of the container on a heating pad set on low or fill an empty bottle with warm water, wrap it in cloth and put it next to the animal. Screw the cap on tightly to prevent the container from leaking.
- Contact PHS or a local wildlife center as soon as possible. You can reach our 24-hour emergency hotline at 626.792.7151. Don’t keep an injured or sick mammal at your home longer than necessary.
- Wash your hands after handling the mammal. Additionally, wash anything the animal was in contact with to prevent the spread of disease and parasites to you and your pets.