What to do with an injured animal

How to determine if the animal is injured or not

If you want to help an animal that appears to be injured or ill, first make sure it really needs help. Avoid getting too close to the wild animal and handling it. A wild animal can behave unpredictably at any time.

The most common signs noted in sick or injured animals are:

  • Wound, bleeding or obvious injury;
  • Difficulty breathing or noisy breathing;
  • Runny eyes or nostrils, stuck eyelids;
  • Difficulty moving around, standing up or holding your head up;
  • Fatigue or marked despondency;
  • Soiled fur or feathers around the anus;
  • Areas of skin without hair or feathers;
  • Inability of birds to fly, with a hanging wing.

Do not confuse an injured or sick animal with a young animal that is hidden in the vegetation and waiting for its parents to return. Many species leave their young unattended between feeding periods.

See What to do with an orphaned wild animal

Contact a shelter in your area

It is recommended that you do not intervene when you find an injured or sick wild animal. An intervention should be performed by specialized personnel only when the injured or sick animal is in a location that poses a risk for the safety of people or pets. Before considering capturing a wild, injured or sick animal for a veterinary clinic or rehabilitation center in your area check with them to see if they can receive it. You are responsible for the costs (e.g., euthanasia). If the animal’s condition deteriorates, whether it is a species that is not likely to injure you and is not reportable (e.g., a bird that has collided with a window), although it is not recommended, you may capture it and take it to a rehabilitation center or have it euthanized by a veterinarian. It is prohibited to move certain animals over large distances distances (70km from the place where you found the animal). When catching or handling, be sure to wear gloves and wash your hands afterwards.

Helping an injured or sick wild animal

If it is a reportable animal, such as a white-tailed deer, you must report it to SOS Poaching – Wildlife Emergency This hyperlink will open in a new window. . Capturing a reportable animal is prohibited, even to take it to a rehabilitation center. Only a wildlife officer can do this.

If you are in the vicinity of an injured or sick animal, you should follow these safety guidelines:

  • Keep pets away to reduce pet stress and avoid disease transmission;
  • Avoid staying close to the animal so as not to stress it further;
  • Avoid handling the animal, especially with your bare hands. The animal could injure you or transmit a disease, even if it looks healthy;
  • Teach children to follow these guidelines. If they come into contact with a wild animal, they should notify an adult immediately.

What to do if you are bitten

If you have been bitten, scratched or come in contact with the saliva of a wild animal, whether apparently healthy, sick, injured or dead, you should:

  • Clean the wound, even if it is minor, with soap and water for 10 to 15 minutes;
  • Quickly contact Info-Santé 811 to obtain adequate medical follow-up.

If your pet has been in contact with or bitten by a wild animal, seek prompt veterinary care. The latter will assess the risk of transmission of certain diseases that may be present in wildlife (e.g., cancer, heart disease, stroke, etc.). e.g. ( rabies, distemper, leptospirosis, etc.) and will advise you on the measures to take.

Getting rid of a wild animal carcass

In general, carcasses of dead wildlife can be bagged and disposed of in the garbage. Follow the steps outlined below and our tips for best hygiene practices. 

Warning Notice      Never touch the carcass of a wild animal with your bare hands. 

Use a lined plastic bag. Wear disposable nitrile or latex gloves if you have them. If you don’t have any, make sure you use gloves that you can wash or throw away afterwards. Reach into the bag and grasp the carcass through the bag. Gradually turn it over onto the carcass, lifting it gently to fit the entire carcass into the bag without touching it. Tie a knot in the bag. Put the bag and gloves in the garbage. Wash your hands immediately after picking up the carcass. Use soap and water or a hydroalcoholic solution with a concentration of at least 60% alcohol. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth or nose during and after handling. Do not eat, drink or smoke when handling the carcass. Wear safety glasses and a face shield if there is a risk of droplets being projected during handling. Position yourself with your back to the wind so that the droplets move away from you naturally. Disinfect any equipment that has been in contact with the carcass. Use a chlorine solution (one part bleach to nine parts water). If equipment cannot be effectively disinfected, it is best to dispose of it in the trash. If a carcass is too large to fit in a garbage bag or is on a public road, contact your municipality. She will tell you what to do or what services are available.

See also