"How do I decide if an animal is in need of my intervention?"

The International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council says: Not every animal that is on its own, can't fly or climb, or seems to be in the wrong place, is in need of help. You may find a fallen nest, a fawn without its mother, or a young raptor that cannot fly. There are several important things to consider in these situations. The following list will help you determine whether the animal needs help, or whether it is exhibiting normal behavior.

An animal requires immediate help if:

• It is bleeding profusely.
• It is unconscious or convulsing.
• It is helpless and in danger of being attacked by another animal, or has been attacked by a cat.
• It has a broken leg or wing.
• It has collapsed, or is staggering, or weak.
• It has been burned.
• It is entangled in fishing line, string, net, debris, etc. or its bill or muzzle is caught in a jar, container, plastic rings from canned beverages, etc.
• It has a fish hook in its mouth or body.
• It is stuck to a glue trap, fly paper or other sticky surface.
• It has ingested oil, antifreeze or other chemicals.
• It is covered with in oil, tar, etc.
• Its eyes are crusted shut, or it appears to be blind.
• It has been shot.
• Its nest has fallen to the ground.
• Its parent (in the case of animals that are raised by just one parent, such as hummingbirds or young mammals) or parents are known to be dead, injured or ill.
• It is trapped in a vehicle or building.

Young animals that appear to be on their own may not require intervention. Parents normally leave their youngsters while they forage. Some animals, such as deer, watch their young from a distance so as not to draw the attention of predators. They attend their young only to nurse them, until the time the youngsters are strong enough to follow. Often, the finder can resolve the problem. At other times, professional help is necessary. Some things that appear to be problems may instead be normal behaviors or stages of development.

"Why should I find a wildlife rehabilitator and not take care of an orphaned or injured animal myself?"

The International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council says: People who find wild animals, particularly orphaned animals, sometimes want to care for them. We strongly discourage this practice for various reasons: First, there are local, regional and federal laws that may prohibit you from having a wild animal in your possession, even while temporarily caring for it with the intention of release. Wildlife rehabilitators or care centers are permitted to keep wildlife for rehabilitation. There are diseases that humans and pets can contract from wildlife. There are also diseases that domestic pets can transmit to wildlife. Rehabilitators are trained to recognize and deal with injuries, illnesses, parasites and other conditions that may be present. They can administer appropriate medications, manage wounds, and stabilize an animal that is in shock. Not all veterinarians have experience with wild animals. A rehabilitator will know an appropriate veterinarian for consultation. Rehabilitators and care centers have the necessary equipment, caging, and environment required by different species. Rehabilitators are trained to care for an animal while preserving its wildness. Young birds and mammals suffer as a result of human impact. An animal that has lost its normal or innate fear of humans will not survive in the wild. Releasing a tame wild animal is signing its death sentence. The field of wildlife rehabilitation is a discipline with its own body of literature, training and certification. In the best interests of wildlife, we urge you to have their well-being as your first priority: entrust them to the capable hands of a trained, experienced, permitted rehabilitator.

"How do I find a wildlife rehabilitator?"

Wildlife Rehabilitators are licensed by federal and state wildlife agencies. The California Department of Fish and Game has a directory of all currently licensed rehabilitators in California at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/rehab/facilities.html . Contact the rehabilitator closest to you. In the Coachella Valley, The Living Desert in Palm Desert and the Coachella Valley Wild Bird Center (760/347-2647) in Indio are your best choices. For contacting The Living Desert, call 760/346-5694 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.. We will accept orphaned and injured wildlife brought to us between those hours. We can also provide advice on wildlife situations between those hours also. If we are not available to the phone, leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as we can. The Living Desert accepts for rehabilitation any orphaned, sick or injured native wildlife brought to us. The Living Desert does not generally go off grounds to rescue orphaned or injured native wildlife. The Living Desert provides advice on nuisance or out-of-place native wildlife, but will not act on any requests to take action, except requests from the responsible government authority. The Living Desert refers callers with these requests for action to the proper governing authority. This is generally the California Department of Fish and Game. California Department of Fish and Game can be contacted at: 909/484-0167 M-F, 8-5, for all native wildlife issues. 888/334-2258 24hours/7days, for wildlife violations only. Note that CalDF&G is not available on the weekends or after hours for anything other than wildlife violation reports. For after hours emergencies that involve public safety, call 911. For non emergencies, you will need to wait on CalDF&G. The Living Desert is not an animal shelter. We will not take in orphaned, injured, abandoned or unwanted non-native wildlife or pets. Seek your local animal shelter for help with pets.

"How can I become a wildlife rehabilitator?"

To become a wildlife rehabilitator requires training, experience, resources and licensing. For more information see the web site of the California Council for Wildlife Rehabilitators at http://www.ccwr.org/ .