Animal Kingdom USA Wildlife Rescue Hotline (AKUSAWR )

1-866-945-3331 or 1-866-WILD-331 for all wildlife matters/help for sick, injured or orphaned wildlife in Westchester, NY only.

If you have found an animal that you believe needs help, please choose from the following 8 options. You will be given instructions on what to do and who to contact. Remember that it is important to respect all forms of wildlife and even though we mean well, we must know when not to interfere and unnecessarily take them from their natural home.

critically injured and needs emergency care during regular hours…

song bird, pigeon…one that nests in trees, or a pigeon,

ducks, geese, swans, turkeys, hawks and owls…
squirrel , or other small mammal…   

cottontail rabbit or a nest of newborn bunnies…

raccoon, skunk, fox, or bat…

deer…

a  turtle, or any other reptile or amphibian …

#1

During regular business hours, the following animal hospitals volunteer their services to help injured wildlife, please call them first:

Somers Animal Hospital  in Somers 914-277-3628

Brewster Veterinary Hospital in Brewster  845-279-5053

Central Animal Hospital in Scarsdale  914-723-1250

#2 If you have found a bird that appears to be sick, injured or in danger, call the hotline.

In the meantime, gently place the bird in a cardboard box lined with a soft cloth.. Keep it warm, dark, and quiet.  Please do not handle it nor give it anything to eat or drink until you speak with one of us.     
If it is a naked baby bird and you cannot find its nest , fill a zip-lock plastic bag with hot water, make sure it does not leak; wrap it in a cloth and put it under the little bird. The extra warmth can save its life...
If the bird has most of its feathers and is hopping around on the ground it might be a fledgling.  It just left its nest and has not yet learned to fly. Mom and dad are still feeding it although you may not see them. If it seems healthy, back away and observe from a distance.  If you see an adult bird approach the youngster, leave the area… the baby is safe.  We hope this has helped you and we thank you for being compassionate and helping a little critter in need. .

#3 If you see a baby duck or goose alone with no parents in sight …. it is in trouble and needs your help.
In the meantime, gently place the baby in a cardboard box with soft bedding.  Do not give it anything to eat or drink until you speak with one of us. Keep the baby dry and warm. Do not let it go in water as it will get chilled. As an extra source of heat fill a zip lock plastic bag with hot water, make sure it does not leak, wrap a cloth around it and put it next to the baby.  

For injured game birds such as wild turkeys, pheasants, and other ground birds, use a towel to cover the entire bird as you place them in the box. They are very scared in captivity and need to be stress free in a warm, dark, and quiet place.
If you have found a bird of prey such as a hawk, or owl, do not attempt to handle it.  

#4 If you have found an adult squirrel or small mammal and it appears to be sick, or injured, call the hotline immediately. In the meantime, secure it in a container lined with a towel. Be sure to wear gloves. Keep it warm, dark and quiet and do not give it anything to eat or drink until you speak with us. If you see a young healthy squirrel without its mother, and it can climb up a tree, it’s best to leave it alone unless it is in immediate danger.  If you found a baby squirrel with its eyes sealed shut and has little or no fur, you can place the baby on a hot water bottle made from a zip lock bag filled with very warm water and place it at the base of the tree.  Very often mother will find it and return it to the nest.  Watch from far away as mom will not come if you are there.  Watch for predators as well.  If she does not come in an hour, put the little one in a lined box with the warm water bag. Baby squirrels are very cute, but do not attempt to raise the animal yourself.  They do not make good pets, it is illegal and they require a special diet, housing and care.                                                       


#5 If you have found a sick, or injured cottontail rabbit, secure it in a box, lined with a soft cloth and call the hotline. A typical bunny nest is a shallow scrape in the ground, covered with fur and grass, often in the middle of a lawn. When the nest is discovered, very often people think that the babies are abandoned. This is not true! Mother rabbit only visits the nest at night to avoid attracting attention to it.  The young rabbits leave the nest at a very early age and are independent and quite small. If you have found a rabbit nest in your yard, please do your best not to disturb it for the few weeks that it takes. If you are not sure mother is feeding them, cross two twigs over the nest in the evening.  Check the nest first thing in the morning.  If the twigs have moved, then mother is evidently caring for the babies.  If it is untouched, then the babies may be orphaned.  Call us right away.

#6 If you are calling about a raccoon, skunk, fox, or bat, please do not  touch the animal but call the hotline and ask for a rabies vector certified rehabber.

#7 If you see a baby deer, which is a fawn, all alone either in a yard or by the side of the road, and there is no apparent injury, or flies around it, this is totally normal.  Mother is nearby, watching from the bushes. Fawns are born with perfect camouflage, no scent, and an instinct to stay put. Please do not kidnap the baby. Unless the mother has been killed, she will return several times a day, just to feed it. The local police would know whether or not there is a dead or injured deer in the vicinity. 
If you are not sure, or the deer is injured, please call the hotline or Somers Animal hospital at 277-3628 or Brewster Veterinary Hospital at 845-279-5053. If an adult deer has been critically injured and is suffering, please call your local police for help.

#8 If you see a turtle in the middle of a road, please stop and make sure it has crossed to safety.  Do not touch it as it may be a snapping turtle. If it is already injured, wear protective gloves, carefully slide it into a container, and immediately call the hotline.

We hope this has helped you and we thank you for being compassionate and helping a little critter in need. Our best wishes for both of you

Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitators


Rye - Jill Doornick -  small mammals, all birds – 914-967-7826  fed permit