What to do with orphaned wild animals

Lots of young animals are handed in to us as orphans, but many of them actually haven’t been abandoned at all! If you’re worried about a baby animal that seems to be alone read our advice below.  If after that you’re sure the animal has been abandoned, either call us on 0300 1234 999 or find your nearest wildlife rehabilitator.

I’ve found a baby...

badger or otter

In this case it’s best to watch the baby from a distance, ideally for 24 hours but at least overnight, to see if the parents come back.

bat

People often think they have found a baby bat because they don’t realise just how small adult bats can be! The Bat Conservation Trust (0845 1300228) will be able to help you and also put you in touch with your local bat carer. If you find what you think is a baby bat you need to treat it very carefully - if you have to pick it up, handle it with gloves, or use a soft towel. It might be possible to return the bat to the mother, depending on where you found it.

bird

If the bird is under a possible nest site, watch it from a distance to see if the parents are still feeding it. Cats and other predators catch young birds and drop them. If you know this has happened, the bird should be taken to a vet or a wildlife centre. 

deer

Fawns are often left alone from a very early age and the mother will return to feed them. This is a survival strategy, because the mum is trying to keep potential predators (including you!) away from her young. Either watch the fawn from a distance to see if the mum returns, or leave the baby in peace and check on it again after 24 hours.

fox

Many fox cubs are unnecessarily brought into care because they are thought to be abandoned. A study of foxes in Bristol showed that 92 per cent of such cubs would survive if returned to where they were found. Watch the cubs from a distance to see if their parents are still feeding them. Do this for at least 24 hours. Only intervene immediately if the cubs are in direct danger. Should you disturb a fox litter, causing the mother to run away, try and leave the cubs where they are and monitor from a distance. Mum should return for them and move them to a more secure location when she feels it is safe. For more information, see The Fox Website and our FAQ. 

hare

Leverets, baby hares, are left alone as soon as they are born. This is another type of survival strategy, so that the mother hare doesn’t put all her eggs in one basket! She'll return to feed her babies once a day at dusk, so don’t disturb them. If you’re worried, watch them from a distance to see if the mum comes back.

hedgehog

Hoglets are often found in the autumn, when they’re eating lots and trying to put on weight before hibernating. Young hedgehogs in Britain need to weigh about 500g to survive hibernation, so you might be able to help by just giving them some food. For examples of what to feed them, see our 'hedgehogs and hibernation' FAQ.

However, if the young hedgehog is smaller than 500g and the weather is about to turn cold, they might do better in care. The British Hedgehog Preservation Society has a list of hedgehog carers on their website, or contact us on 0300 1234 999 for more advice.

rabbit

As with hares, it's not unusual for a mother rabbit to be away from her babies. She will leave her kittens in a burrow and close it with earth, returning to nurse them about once a day, usually at night. If the kittens are found above ground, then either they are old enough to explore (usually between 18 and 25 days) and should be left alone, or something has dug them out of the burrow. If this is the case, the babies will be too young to survive, being vulnerable to predators, the cold etc. It's not easy to tell the difference between the two scenarios unless, there is evidence of a disturbed nest, or if the kittens are very young, as young rabbits have fur and open eyes from about 8 to 10 days old.

If you're worried that the kittens have been abandoned, watch from a distance to see whether the mum comes back. This may mean watching them overnight to see if she returns; if the kitten(s) are not in immediate danger. It's important not to disturb a rabbit's nest as this makes the mother more likely to abandon her young.

seal

Seal mums leave their pups very early on in life so it’s not unusual to see one by itself. However, some pups can be separated from their mothers by storms and others don’t feed properly for whatever reason, these might need treatment.

It’s best to watch from a distance for at least 24 hours to see if mum is still around before requesting help. If the seal is on a beach with lots of people and dogs then you may need to act sooner.

tawny owl

If the owlet is under a possible nest site, then watch from a distance. The parents may be nearby and possibly calling. If you can hear them, leave the bird alone. Tawny owls can actually climb back up into the nest if they fall out!