von Arx Wildlife Hospital Q&A

With a box and a towel, you have the tools needed to contain the animal by completely covering it and putting it into the box. You can put the animal in anything that is ventilated, including a laundry basket, storage container, shoe box, cardboard box, etc. Please make sure that the container is secure so that the animal cannot escape. Please bring it to the wildlife hospital. If you have any questions, call, but please note that as the wildlife hospital is an active hospital, and at times extremely busy, you may need to leave a voicemail. Every minute counts for wildlife in need!

Place the animal in a box with ventilation.  Place the contained animal in a warm, dark, quiet place in your home for the animal to rest overnight.  Do not offer food or water (it can be more harmful than beneficial to give food or water to an animal). Please bring the animal to the wildlife hospital as soon as possible in the morning. We open at 8:00 a.m.

Baby bird 

Take a photo and call the wildlife hospital. By having a photo, we will be able to age the bird and determine whether or not the baby bird needs to come in.  

Baby squirrel 

Please bring the baby squirrel to the wildlife hospital.  If a baby squirrel is on the ground, it has fallen from the nest and needs to be seen by our veterinarian. 

Baby deer (fawn) 

Please do not touch the deer.  Deer will set their young in different places while they go out to graze.  If you see a fawn alone, please leave it alone and call the wildlife hospital.  With more information, we can help assess the situation, so we do not kidnap them. 

Bat 

With gloves and a box, use a stick to push the bat into a box. Bats are rabies vector species, so you should never directly touch a bat. 

Bat colony

Immediately call the von Arx Wildlife Hospital at (239) 262-2273.

Baby duckling 

Please bring it into the wildlife hospital. Ducklings should never be alone. 

Baby rabbit 

Please call the wildlife hospital.  We do not want to disturb the nest until we have all the information. However, if your dog or a cat has destroyed the nest, or if there are dead rabbits in the nest, then bring the baby rabbit into the wildlife hospital. 

Nest with or without eggs 

Please leave it alone. It is illegal to relocate or move nests. If you have questions, please call the wildlife hospital. 

Rabies is most commonly transmitted to humans through the bite or scratch of an infected animal, as the virus is found in their saliva. Infected animals may appear healthy but can behave abnormally, either unusually friendly or aggressive.

If you find an injured animal that is considered a rabies vector, do not handle it directly. Contact the von Arx Wildlife Hospital for guidance. If instructed to transport the animal, wear thick gloves and use a secure, well-ventilated container. Avoid direct contact and never attempt to feed or treat the animal yourself.

The von Arx Wildlife Hospital must treat rabies cases as instructed by Florida Administrative Code, Chapter 64D-3.

Please try to contain the animal in a container. Do not remove any line or hooks. You can cut the line if the animal is stuck to something, however, do not remove the line or hook yourself. This can be very painful for the animal.

Always bring in an animal that is brought in by a cat or dog. Cats have bacteria in their mouth that are harmful. As far as dogs are concerned, even if injuries are not visible, they can still cause internal injuries. 

Do not touch the snake. Please take a photo and call the wildlife hospital. We can help identify.  

You can bag the animal and bring it to the wildlife hospital. If it is a domestic animal, please call Domestic Animal Services at (239) 252-7387 (Collier County), or (239) 533-7387 (Lee County). 

Small bird

Use a small washcloth, hand towel, or even a shirt, and cover them.  Make a cup with your hands, and scoop them up into the box.  

Large bird 

You can use a large towel or sheet and completely cover the bird.  Make sure to wear eye protection and gloves.  Once covered, grab the head, and then scoop up the body like a football that you are holding to your side.  Place it in a box and close the box. However, every bird is different, so if you feel uncomfortable, please call the wildlife hospital and we can advise.  

Adult squirrel 

Adult squirrels can bite, so it is recommended that you use a broom or stick to push them into a box.  Have a towel ready to cover it, if needed.   

Adult opossum 

Similar to a cat, you would place a towel over the opossum and pick them up by their sides.  If you are uncomfortable, then you can take a broom or a stick and push it into a box.  

Contain the bird in a box, cover it with a towel, and bring it to the wildlife hospital. Window strikes can cause concussions and fractures, so it is best to bring it to the wildlife hospital for care and time to recover. 

There are many ways to prevent birds from colliding with a window, such as hanging shiny decorations on the window, or using stickers or adhesives. Click here for helpful suggestions.

Alligators can live in any natural body of water in Florida. Relocating an alligator only endangers it, and another alligator will simply move into the original location. DO NOT FEED alligators, keep dogs and domestic pets leashed around natural bodies of water where alligators may live, and be alert near these bodies of water. Live with nature, rather than against it! 

We do not feed our patients animals from the wild for a number of reasons. We buy our food from local purveyors. 

NO. Feeding wildlife can spread diseases and allows wildlife to become habituated to humans. Keep wildlife wild!  

NO. It is never a good idea to keep wildlife as a pet. They are NOT meant to be domesticated, and it can lead to issues down the line. 

A fledgling is a baby bird that is learning to fly. Baby birds take about 2-3 days to learn to fly. During this time, you will see them in the bushes or on the ground hopping around and flying short distances. If you see a well-feathered baby bird hopping around, take a photo, then call the wildlife hospital. The staff will be able to age the bird and determine what to do next. 

Please call the wildlife hospital.  We have tips and tricks to help you get the animal out.

Make sure your trash can lid is secure by using bungee cords to secure the lid. Lockable trash cans are also an option. Bringing cans out in the morning, rather than leaving them overnight, is recommended.