First Aid:
if and when it is necessary to contact
the emergency service for animals
Rehabilitation of wildlife casualties requires a licence and a large investment of time and resources. It is mainly in the animal’s best interest to transfer it to an appropriately trained and equipped individual/organisation as soon as possible.
Before attempting to capture a wildlife casualty:
- Observe, assess, discuss, then decide whether intervention is appropriate
- All wild animals can potentially transmit disease and inflict serious injuries
- Remember, your own safety is of paramount importance
Per il soccorso e il recupero della fauna selvatica chiamare il numero 055.2761111 (provincia di Firenze – Prato – Pistoia)
Fonte: Irish Wildlife Matters

Help needed
- Road traffic accident casualty
- A wild deer that will allow you to approach it is sick
- Damaged limb/s
- Obvious wounds
- Injured fawn
- Fawn in danger e.g. from dogs/machinery
- Fawn ONLY IF you’re POSITIVE it’s been on its own for over 48hrs
- Trapped or caught e.g. in fence – do NOT cut free and release until fully assessed
- If unresponsive/unconscious – needs veterinary attention immediately
Help NOT required
- ALL APPARENT ORPHANS, (unless injured, in dangerous situation, or definitely alone)
- Healthy adult deer in garden
- If you are not equipped
- If you or others would be put in too much danger

Help needed
- Road traffic accident casualty
- A wild boar that will allow you to approach it is sick
- Damaged limb/s
- Obvious wounds
- Injured baby wild boar
- Trapped or caught e.g. in fence – do NOT cut free and release until fully assessed
- If unresponsive/unconscious – needs veterinary attention immediately
Help NOT required
- ALL APPARENT ORPHANS, (unless injured, in dangerous situation, or definitely alone)
- If you are not equipped
- If you or others would be put in too much danger

Help needed
- Road traffic casualty (RTA)
- A hare / rabbit that will allow you to approach it is sick
- Rabbit with myxomatosis
- Damaged limb/s
- Obvious wounds
- Attacked by cat
- Trapped or caught e.g. in fence – do NOT cut free and release until fully assessed
- If unresponsive/unconscious – needs veterinary attention immediately
Help NOT required
- ALL APPARENT ORPHANS, (unless injured, in dangerous situation, or definitely alone)
- If you are not equipped
- If you or others would be put in too much danger

Help needed
- Road traffic casualty (RTA)
- An otter that will allow you to approach it is sick
- Damaged limb/s
- Obvious wounds
- Injured cub
- Otter cub IF it’s on its own, and ONLY after lengthy observation from a distance
- Otter cub if definitely alone and under 1kg in weight
- Trapped or caught e.g. in fence – do NOT cut free and release until fully assessed
- If unresponsive/unconscious – needs veterinary attention immediately
Help NOT required
- ALL APPARENT ORPHANS, (unless injured, in dangerous situation, or definitely alone)
- If you are not equipped
- If you or others would be put in too much danger

Help needed
- Road traffic casualty (RTA)
- A marten that will allow you to approach it is sick
- Damaged limb/s
- Obvious wounds
- Marten in danger e.g. from dogs/machinery
- Marten cub that still has its eyes closed or is unstable (less than 12 weeks of age)
- Trapped or caught e.g. in fence – do NOT cut free and release until fully assessed
(NB; a trapped animal will display a high levels of aggression) - If unresponsive/unconscious – needs veterinary attention immediately
Help NOT required
- If you are not equipped
- Healthy adult marten in the garden
- If you or others would be put in too much danger

Help needed
- Grounded
- Inside the living area of a house - Check inside your woodburning stove before lighting!
- Damaged limb/s
- Obvious wounds
- Attacked by cat
- Trapped or caught e.g. in fishing equipment – do NOT cut free and release
- If unresponsive/unconscious – needs veterinary attention immediately
Help NOT required
- If you are not equipped
- If you or others would be put in too much danger

Help needed
- Road traffic casualty (RTA)
- Out during the day
- Unresponsive but not in nest (hedgehogs only hibernate in nests)
- Damaged limb/s
- Limb protruding when curled up
- Underweight at wintertime (under 600g by November)
- Obvious wounds
- Injured baby hedgehog (often making high pitched pipping sound)
- Baby hedgehog IF it’s on its own, and ONLY after lengthy observation from a distance.
- Trapped or caught e.g. in fence – do NOT cut free and release until fully assessed
- If unresponsive/unconscious – needs veterinary attention immediately
Help NOT required
- ALL APPARENT ORPHANS, (unless injured, in dangerous situation, or definitely alone)
- If you or others would be put in too much danger

Help needed
- Road traffic accident casualty (RTA)
- Damaged limb/s
- Obvious wounds
- Injured baby squirrel
- Seemingly ‘tame’ squirrel
- Blind baby squirrel on the ground, ONLY after lengthy observation from a distance
- Baby squirrel if it’s limp and cold to the touch
- Trapped or caught e.g. in fence – do NOT cut free and release until fully assessed
- If unresponsive/unconscious – needs veterinary attention immediately
Help NOT required
- If you are not equipped
- If you or others would be put in too much danger

Help needed
- Road traffic casualty (RTA)
- A badger that will allow you to approach it is sick
- Damaged limb/s
- Obvious wounds
- Injured cub
- Badger cub IF it’s on its own, and ONLY after lengthy observation from a distance
- Trapped or caught e.g. in fence – do NOT cut free and release until fully assessed
- If unresponsive/unconscious – needs veterinary attention immediately
Help NOT required
- ALL APPARENT ORPHANS, (unless injured, in dangerous situation, or definitely alone)
- If you are not equipped
- If you or others would be put in too much danger

Help needed
- bird lying on its side and floppy – needs veterinary attention immediately
- dangerous location – e.g. cat nearby
- obvious injuries
- If unresponsive/unconscious – needs veterinary attention immediately
Help NOT required
- ALL APPARENT ORPHANS, (unless injured, in dangerous situation, or definitely alone)
- If you are not equipped
- If you or others would be put in too much danger

Help needed
- bird lying on its side and floppy – needs veterinary attention immediately
- Caught by cat
- Oiled
- Hit by car
- Ferito – ad es. si è schiantato contro la finestra
- Dangerous location e.g. on road, fallen into water, garden with cats, seabird found inland
- Can’t fly e.g. injured wing, grounded swift, grebe or diver away from water
- Obviously injured e.g. leg dangling, can’t stand up, broken beak
- Trapped or caught e.g. in fishing gear – do NOT cut free and release until fully assessed
Help NOT required
- Only one eye – unless bird of prey
- Swan not on water
- Bird standing on one leg

Help needed
- Road traffic casualty (RTA)
- A fox that will allow you to approach it is sick
- Damaged limb/s
- Obvious wounds
- Injured cub
- Mange
- Fox cub IF it’s on its own, and ONLY after lengthy observation from a distance
- Trapped or caught e.g. in fence – do NOT cut free and release until fully assessed
- If unresponsive/unconscious – needs veterinary attention immediately
Help NOT required
- ALL APPARENT ORPHANS, (unless injured, in dangerous situation, or definitely alone)
- If you are not equipped
- If you or others would be put in too much danger