Am I allowed to keep it? NO: It is illegal to possess a native wild bird for more than 24 hours without a license.
Am I allowed to help it? YES: Members of the public are allowed to secure injured wild birds in order to transport them to a veterinarian or licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
Is the bird bleeding?Has the bird been in a cat or dog’s mouth? Did the bird get hit by a vehicle? Did the bird hit a window and cannot fly away?
YES: Before we give advice, please know that handling wild birds is at your own risk!Depending on the size of the bird, carefully and gently place a towel, jacket, or bedsheet over the bird and scoop it (towel and all) into a cardboard box. If the bird is a raptor (hawk, owl, or falcon) be careful of the bird’s talons (feet). Do not allow the bird to grab you with its talons. Wearing heavy gloves can help but may not offer adequate protection. If the bird is a heron or another waterbird, be careful of its sharp beak. Just to repeat, handling wild birds is at your own risk!
Secure the box and take the bird to Cheat Lake Animal Hospital, 286 Fairchance Road, Morgantown, WV. The hospital’s emergency department is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. There is no need to call first. Bring the box to the emergency reception desk and give it to the receptionist. They will ask you to fill out a form but there is no charge. Due to the number of birds that we admit, we are unable to give regular updates about our patients, but we will attempt to contact you when a bird is ready to be released.
If NO, the bird is not bleeding, has not been in the mouth of another animal, was not hit by a car, or did not fly into a window...
Is the bird mostly feathered and hopping on the ground? Is it summer?
YES:Young birds (called fledglings) leave the nest before they can fly. Their parents support them during this time. Unless injured or in immediate danger, fledglings should be left alone.
NO, the bird has no feathers: Baby birds with no feathers (called nestlings or hatchlings) should still be in their nests. If you find an uninjured baby bird with no feathers on the ground, look up. The nest is likely right above you. An uninjured baby bird with no feathers can be picked up and placed into its nest. This gives the baby bird its best chance of survival.
If an entire nest of baby birds has fallen, try to put the nest back close to where you found it. You can also build a surrogate nest by placing the old nest and baby birds into a small Tupperware (or similar) container with small holes poked in the bottom. Zip-tie or otherwise fasten the container with nest inside to a branch or other nearby object. Parents should continue to care for the babies.
Something else? In general, if you can approach an adult wild bird and pick it up, it is likely in need of help. Bring it in!
If you have questions or want to speak with someone, call us: (304) 906-5438. This is a cell phone that is passed between volunteers, interns, and staff. The phone accepts text messages, as well. Please be aware that we do not have office personnel monitoring this phone every time it rings. Cheat Lake Animal Hospital is always open and can accept injured wild bird drop-offs any time of the day or night. There is no need to call them ahead. Thank you for helping wild birds!