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Injured Wildlife

**Please note that Carrie Murray Nature Center is not a licensed wildlife rehabilitation facility and legally cannot accept injured, ill or orphaned animals for any reason. Please, do not bring injured, ill or orphaned wildlife to the Nature Center. This can endanger our animal ambassadors' health.**

I’ve found injured, sick or orphaned wildlife. What should I do?

First steps:

  • Attempt to visually identify the species of the animal from a distance

  • Attempt to ascertain whether the animal is truly in need of assistance

  • Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or public wildlife authority for further instruction


Do not:

  • Touch or approach the animal

  • Bring the animal into your home

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Be aware!

Infant or juvenile animals may appear "orphaned" but have in fact been temporarily left unsupervised by parents which will return to care for their offspring. Taking such baby animals into human care actually decreases their chance of survival, which is highest with their mother/parents. If you are unsure whether the animal you are concerned about may be orphaned, please review these documents on commonly-reported "orphan baby" species.​

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If the animal is indeed injured or in need of help:

  • Visit https://ahnow.org/ and input your zip code.

  • Select ‘Wildlife Emergency: Injured, orphaned, distressed wildlife.’

  • Read the pop-up instructions carefully and click ‘OK.’

  • On the left sidebar, select the animal in need in the dropdown menu labeled SEARCH BY ANIMAL.

  • Review the list of wildlife rehabilitators below the menu, and what animals they can and cannot accept at this time.

  • Click on the rehabilitator of your choice to view their phone number.

  • Call the rehabilitator and give a detailed description of the animal and its behavior for advice on further steps.

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If you cannot reach a rehabber:

  • To report nuisance, injured or sick wildlife, call the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Wildlife Services Office toll-free, for callers in Maryland at 1-877-463-6497 (for phone numbers outside of Maryland, please call: 410-349-8055​), operators are available from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, except for State and Federal holidays.

  • For emergencies only, call Maryland Natural Resources Police 24 hr emergency number: (410) 260-8888.

Thank you for doing the right thing for our local wildlife!

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