What to Do If You’ve Found a Wild Animal

To avoid the risk of transmitting rabies, extra caution is encouraged with the following rabies vector species. If you ever come across any of the species listed below, don’t touch them; call the SBWCN Helpline for assistance!

All mammals, including humans, are susceptible to infection with rabies virus. In California, skunks and bats are the animals that are most frequently identified with rabies. Rabies is occasionally detected in other wild animals such as coyotes, foxes, and raccoons. 

If you find any of the following species in need of care, call SBWCN:

• Bats
• Bobcats
• Coyotes
• Foxes
• Raccoons
• Skunks

Do not transport the animal. Avoid touching it, and keep children and animals away from it. For after-hours assistance, please call Santa Barbara County Animal Services: (805) 681-5285

Bats will sometimes seek shelter in the covered space above your door or other spaces around the outside of your home that are shielded from the sun and other environmental exposures. To encourage them to move on, follow these steps:

• Observe the bats in their space. Try to determine how many there are so you know when they all have left. If the bats are actually in your attic and not just on the exterior of your house, this will be harder. 
• Shine a bright light into the space where the bats are roosting. Bats dislike bright light and this will make them uncomfortable. 
• Play talk radio loudly. 
• Observe the roost in the hour before and after dusk. This is the time when bats are going to be the most active.
• When you are sure that all the bats have left, block off the space so they can not return. 

If the bats are in your attic: 

• Go around your house and fill any small space with caulk. Bats can get into a home through the tiniest space, so make sure to caulk everything.
• Hang a bat net at the main entry point. Bat nets act as a one-way exit with no re-entry. Any bats that are still in the space can leave safely but none can return. Netting with a 1/4th mesh works best. Any larger, and bats may be able to get through the holes; but any smaller, bats may be able to crawl on the mesh. Secure the top and sides of the net, leaving the bottom open. 
• Leave the netting on for at least four clear, mild temperature nights, and watch every night. Once bats are no longer exiting, you can permanently fill the opening. 

If the bats are only roosting on the exterior of your house:

• Hang a bat net until you are sure that all bats have left the space. Then permanently seal the space either using caulk or by installing a permanent mesh barrier. 

You can also purchase bat houses to give bats an alternative place to live. Remember, bats are an essential part of our ecosystem!

If you have a raccoon in your chimney, it’s most likely a mother raccoon looking for a safe spot to care for her litter. Do not attempt to start a fire to scare them out or use traps. Instead, follow these humane steps:

• Create loud noise. Bang on the top of the fireplace to scare them out. If this doesn’t work, use a speaker to play a loud talk radio station next to the fireplace. Most animals are scared of humans and this will make the mother think your fireplace is not a safe spot to raise her litter.
• Flash light. Try to deter them by flashing some lights.

If the raccoons leave, put a steel cap on the top of your fireplace to prevent future issues.

If this did not work, call Santa Barbara County Animal Services: (805) 681-5285 or Santa Barbara City Animal Control: (805) 963-1513

Bunnies are one of the most frequently “kidnapped” mammal species. Rabbit mothers dig a very shallow nest in the ground that is easily uncovered when mowing or raking the yard. If you find a rabbit nest, the best thing to do is leave it alone.

No mom around? Do not worry. Mother rabbits only return to the nest two or three times a day, usually before dawn and right after dusk.

To determine if they are orphaned, either place a string across the nest in a tic-tac-toe shape or circle the nest with flour. Check the nest the next day. If the string or flour is disturbed, the mother has returned. If not, call the SBWCN Helpline .

A bunny that is bright-eyed and 4-5 inches long is fully independent and does NOT need to be rescued! If you find a bunny that’s in an unsafe area (in the road, in a house) put it in a dark, quiet location, like under a shrub. Bunnies are a prey species and while they may look calm, they are actually very scared. 

If  a bunny is visibly injured, sick, or definitely orphaned, call the SBWCN Helpline.

If you see a baby skunk without a mother, it might not need any help! Juvenile skunks will often go on walks with their siblings during the day without the supervision of their mother and then return to the den at night. 

If you see a skunk that is about six inches long (the length of a dollar bill) or with other, similar-sized skunks, it is most likely a baby that is exploring and will return home at dusk.

If you see a skunk that is alone, unsteady on their feet, looks confused, or is going in circles, please call the SBWCN Helpline.

Do not touch or handle skunks. Do not allow contact with pets or children. These animals are rabies vector species and can be dangerous. 

Call the SBWCN Helpline: (805) 681-1080 or Santa Barbara County Animal Services: (805) 681-5285

If the eyes are open:

Is the tail full and fluffy? Is it mobile?

• If yes: leave alone; it’s old enough to be on its own.
• If no: put back in nest if possible or at base of tree in open box with heat, monitor for mom to return for a few hours. If mom doesn’t return, call SBWCN.

If the eyes are closed:

Put back in nest if possible or at base of tree in open box with heat, monitor for mom to return for a few hours. If mom doesn’t return, call SBWCN.

Every year, SBWCN receives hundreds of baby birds that are mistakenly believed to be in need of care. In order to make the best decision for these songbirds, use our interactive tool aboveto determine the best course of action.

Young crows spend a lot of time on the ground while developing, which unfortunately means they’re often mistaken to be injured or orphaned. Use our interactive tool above to help determine if they need help.

Before interfering, observe the ducklings for half an hour. If you don’t see the mother duck come back, gather the ducklings into a box and bring them to SBWCN. 

If the ducklings enter a dangerous situation by themselves, like walking into the middle of the road, gather the ducklings into a box and bring them to SBWCN.

I FOUND DUCKLINGS IN MY POOL

It is not uncommon for people to find ducklings in their pool. Sometimes ducklings will follow their mom into a pool and then find themselves unable to get out as they can not fly yet! If you find ducklings stuck in your pool, follow these steps to let them out:

Create a “ramp” on your pool stairs.

Get a towel or a blanket and put half in the pool and half on land. 

Weigh down both with a heavy object, like a rock, so that the towel stays in place.

The ducklings will use this ramp to get out of the pool and onto dry land! If your pool has a gate around it, open the gate to let the ducklings out. Keep any pets indoors while the mother leads the ducklings out.

Channel Islands Marine and Wildlife Institute (CIMWI) is the local organization who rescues and rehabilitates marine mammals. If you find a marine mammal:

1. Do not touch or harass the injured or stranded animal
2. Stay 50 feet away from the animal at all times
3. Determine the exact location of the animal. Being accurate is important and making note of prominent landmarks is helpful
4. Call the CIMWI Hotline (805) 567-1505

This is not an indication that the animal is unwell, it could be a mother taking a break from her babies to find food or rest a little. Winter and Spring represent mating months for animals, meaning an increase in activity during the day. If an animal appears alert and active, it is best to leave them alone.

Many seemingly nocturnal animals, like skunks, opossums, and coyotes, are crepuscular, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk. It is completely normal to see them at these times.

If you believe animal is sick or injured, call the SBWCN Helpline.

No. Unless you are a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, it is illegal to keep a wild animal and attempt to rehabilitate it yourself, even if you plan to release the animal. This animal may need medication, special food, and specific enclosures that we are able to provide.

Some rescuers will attempt to rehabilitate an animal themselves, discover the animal’s health is declining, and bring the animal to a rescue center days later. It is very hard for wildlife professionals to undo the damage done by improper diet and care. The best thing you can do to help a distressed animal is to bring it to a licensed wildlife rehabilitation facility. 

It also goes without saying that you may not keep a wild animal as a pet. Not only is it cruel to the animal, but it disrupts the natural balance of the ecosystem.

Live-trapping and relocation is inhumane. If animals are introduced into areas they are unfamiliar with, they do not know where food, water, or shelter sources are. There may be other animals in the area that have diseases to which the introduced animal has never been exposed. The introduced animal may be encroaching on another's territory. 

Trapping is only a temporary solution. The reasons animals are visiting your property must be addressed before they stop visiting. If you get rid of one, another will simply take its place.

Traps often do not catch the intended targets. Other animals, including pets, are just as likely to enter traps. Animals caught in traps often injure themselves trying to escape.