How To Help Injured Wildlife

(January 24, 2022)

Houston SPCA’s Wildlife Center of Texas receives over 9,000 injured and orphaned wild animals each year. Rescuing a native species in need can look a bit different than picking up a stray companion animal. Here is what you need to know to best help injured wildlife in your area.

Remember, the Wildlife Center of Texas does not take in healthy adult animals. If you are looking for help removing an animal from your home or relocating an animal from your property, please contact 911 Wildlife at 713-287-1911.

Rescuing injured or orphaned baby wildlife is a delicate process and has some extra guidelines to review before action should be taken.

Adult Birds and Mammals

Injured or sick adult animals should be safely caught and confined to a box and brought to the Wildlife Center of Texas as soon as possible to ensure successful treatment.

Do not attempt to free an animal from a glue trap. Bring the animal and the trap to the Wildlife Center of Texas for removal.

The Harris County Health Department classifies raccoons, skunks, bats, foxes, and coyotes as high-risk rabies vector species. Special care must be taken to ensure that no saliva exposure occurs. Do not touch or attempt to contain one of these animals. Please call the Houston SPCA’s Wildlife Center of Texas at 713-861-9453 to speak with staff before bringing any of these animals to us.

Reptiles and Amphibians

Baby Turtles are independent from birth and do not need to be brought to us unless ill or injured.

Uninjured turtles found on roadways should be helped across the street in the direction they were traveling. Only bring in turtles if they are injured, appear ill, or are covered in insects.