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

Cervo (1)

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