Wildlife emergencies

Have you found an injured animal? Here are some tips on bringing them to safety.

During Normal Business Hours

We are open everyday 9:00am-5:00pm.

HOLIDAY HOURS: We will be closing at 1:00pm on Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Our after-hours drop-off cages will be available for emergencies.

Call 305-751-9840 and text a photo of the animal you found to 786-459-9155 FIRST before bringing any patients to the hospital.

After Hours

Help Us Help Them – Capture, Contain & Transport

Capture 

Most small birds and animals can be picked up using a towel and a cardboard box. Throw the towel, sheet, or even an old t-shirt over the animal making sure to cover the eyes. Once the eyes are covered the animal will usually calm down making the capture easier and less

Prepare the box

Poke a few holes in the box before you place the animal in it. Poke from the inside out so the sharper edges face the outside of the container. Put a soft cloth, newspapers or paper towels on the bottom of the box.

Contain the animal 

Scoop up the animal using a towel or other soft cloth and gently place the animal in the box. Leave the towel in the container if there is room to help keep the animal warm. Don’t wrap the towel around the animal. Just leave it loosely covering the animal. Close the box or put the top on the box.

No food or water

Feeding the wrong food can cause more harm than good. Forcing food or water may cause choking, aspiration pneumonia or other harm.  If you have to keep the animal overnight, do not offer food or water.

PHSS has 24-hour drop off cages 

You may bring the animal to PHSS and place the container in one of the kennels on the side of the building.

Keeping the animal overnight 

Place the container in a warm, dark, quiet part of the home. Leave the box alone, no peeking.

Stress is a Killer 

Wild animals and birds are not accustomed to be handled by people or around loud talking, noisy children, or your pets. Do not try to hold or pet them. This will cause a great deal of stress for the animal and it may strike out and you or it may be injured.  Often they get very quiet and still.  People think this means they are calming down but it really is a defense mechanism hoping that you will think it is dead and leave it alone. Stress is a major cause of death for injured wild animals. Please contain it, keep warm, leave it alone and transport it to PHSS as soon as possible.