SPECIES SPECIFIC WILDLIFE HOTLINE INFORMATION

Call our Wildlife Hotline at 707-526-9453

Animal Drop Off: Seven days a week 9 AM - 5:30 PM 

Please contact our Wildlife Hotline prior to arrival.

403 Mecham Rd, Petaluma, CA 94952

Wildlife Hotline Hours: 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM

If you are calling after hours, please leave a message.

Photos and videos of the animal in need are extremely helpful to our hotline staff in determining if an animal needs care.

While you are waiting for a call back from a volunteer, click here for proper housing directions.

Please note that Sonoma County Wildlife rescue does not assist in the rescue and rehabilitation of deer. If you need assistance with a sick, injured or orphaned deer please click here.

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​Do NOT feed or give water to the animal. It could make things worse or kill them!

If you've found a baby mammal, please click here.

Please Note: DO NOT attempt to raise baby wildlife on your own. They require special diets and need to have minimal human contact in order to be prepared for life in the wild. Although they are cute when they are young and they appear to be very sweet, they grow up to be vicious and more importantly, scared and unhappy in captivity. They never lose their natural instincts!

Warning: DO NOT handle ANY wild animal with your bare hands. Any animal that bites a human must be euthanized and tested for rabies even if it shows no signs of being sick. They MUST be handled with gloves or towels!

Animal Regulations 

It is illegal to keep wildlife longer than 48 hours if you are not a volunteer or a staff member of a licensed wildlife rescue. This helps protect wildlife from unnecessary stress caused by untrained members of the public and ensures that they receive the most appropriate care for their individual needs. Members of a licensed wildlife center are required to take 2 hours of continuing education to make sure they are refreshed on all the latest care techniques.

Please do not try to care for wildlife. They require very special care so they are releasable back into the wild.

To read about California Trapping Regulations click here.

​How Can You Tell if an Animal Needs Help?

Here are some general signs to look for:

• The wild animal is presented to you by a cat or dog
• Bleeding
• An apparent or obvious broken limb
• A featherless or nearly featherless bird (nestling) on the ground
• Shivering
• Evidence of a dead parent nearby
• If a wild animal exhibits any of the above signs, you should immediately call our Hotline 707-526-WILD (9453).

Important Steps if You Have Captured a Wild Animal 

If you have an animal that needs to be rescued call the Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue Hotline: 707-526-WILD (9453). 

While you are waiting:

Never handle an adult animal without first consulting with a wildlife professional. Even small animals can injure you.

Do not give the animal food or water! It could choke, develop digestive problems, or drown. Many injured animals are in shock, and eating or drinking can make any existing problems worse.

Keep animals warm, dark, and quiet. Keep the animal warm. This is especially important in winter months. We recommend a hot water bottle or heating pad on the lowest heat setting. Make sure the animal can move off the pad if desired. Do not allow the animal to be disturbed. STRESS KILLLS. Humans looking at a sick or injured wild animal is stressful for the animal. Click here for housing instructions. Put the animal in proper housing and don't check on it unless asked to by SCWR staff or volunteers. 

Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue does not assist in the rescue or rehabilitation of deer. While there are other agencies that can offer assistance, each agency has limited resources and scope of what they are able to assist with. Please read the below resources carefully if you have encountered a sick, injured or orphaned deer. 

Fawn Rescue - If you have encountered a sick, injured or orphaned fawn, please visit Fawn Rescue at https://fawnrescue.org/.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife - If you have encountered a sick or injured adult deer, please call the California Department of Wildlife's Cal-Tip Hotline at (888) 334-2258, (ext 0).

Many wildlife parents leave their young alone during the day, sometimes for long periods. The parent is usually nearby and quite conscious of her young. Also, keep in mind that despite their small size, many young animals are actually independent enough to fend for themselves. Many animals who appear to be orphaned are not. 

Remember we are the ultimate predator. A mother will hide if we are near and will not come back for her babies until she feels it is safe. If you find babies and there are no clear signs that the mother has been killed, leave the babies and check on them in a day to see if she has come back for them. If they are warm and fat a mother is most likely around and there is no reason to rescue them.

If you have an orphaned animal or if you are still unsure if an animal is orphaned after reading all information, please call our wildlife hotline. Photos and videos of the animal in need are extremely helpful to our hotline staff in determining if an animal needs care. 

Wildlife Hotline: 707-526-9453

Animal Drop Off: Seven days a week 9 AM - 5:30 PM 

Please contact our Wildlife Hotline prior to arrival.

403 Mecham Rd, Petaluma, CA 94952

Wildlife Hotline Hours: 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM

If you are calling after hours, please leave a message. 

 Click here to see a useful flowchart of what to do. For more specifics, please see below.  

Do not attempt to rescue animals in any of the following circumstances: 

FAWN 

A spotted fawn (baby deer) who is curled up in the grass and appears approachable. The mother is most likely out of sight, but nearby and watching you. Deer leave their babies when they go to forage for their own food and come back to the babies throughout the day. 

If you have any questions or concerns about a fawn, please call Fawn Rescue at 707-931-4550. They are the fawn experts.

BUNNY 

Most likely the baby is not orphaned. Rabbits leave their young and come back to feed them and check on them at dawn and dusk. Put the baby back where you found it, and the mother will take care of it. If you are uncertain if the mother is there, you can put a ring of flour around the baby bunny and look for footprints. Wild rabbits have a very low survival rate in captivity, and it is best for them to stay with their mother. 

If it is four inches long with open eyes and erect ears, it is independent from its mother and able to fend for itself.

BABY BIRD

A bird who is fully feathered on his body with evidence of tail feathers, hopping on the ground, but unable to fly. This is a fledgling (adolescent bird), and his parents are probably nearby. This is how baby birds learn to fly.

SQUIRREL

A squirrel who is nearly full sized, has a full and fluffy tail, and is able to run, jump, and climb. It is independent. Sometimes they fall from the nest and can be placed back up in the tree and the mother will take it back.

OPOSSUM 

An opossum who is nine to ten inches or longer, not including the tail and has all of its teeth. It is independent.

FOX 

Baby foxes seen without their parents: 

• If the foxes are energetic and playful, the parents are away hunting and the kits are having fun. 
• If they appear sick or lethargic, call the hotline.

For Songbirds, all the little guys, click here. For larger birds such as pigeons, doves, crows, ravens and all raptors (hawks and owls) please continue to read. 

Call our Wildlife Hotline at 707-526-9453

Animal Drop Off: Seven days a week 9 AM - 5:30 PM 

Please contact our Wildlife Hotline prior to arrival.

403 Mecham Rd, Petaluma, CA 94952

Wildlife Hotline Hours: 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM

If you are calling after hours, please leave a message.

While you are waiting for a call back from a volunteer, click here for proper housing directions. 

Do Not feed or give water to the animal. It could make things worse.

A hawk trapped in a building is serious. Call the hotline right away. While you are waiting for a call back, open all windows and skylights. Cover glass on windows, skylights, or doors that do not open. Turn off inside lights. Clear people from the building if possible.

Animal Regulations 

It is illegal to keep wildlife longer than 48 hours if you are not a volunteer or a staff member of a licensed wildlife rescue.

This helps protect wildlife from unnecessary stress caused by untrained members of the public and ensures that they receive the most appropriate care for their individual needs. Members of a licensed wildlife center are required to take 2 hours of continuing education to make sure they are refreshed on all the latest care techniques.

Please do not try to care for wildlife. They require very special care so they are releasable back into the wild.

All native birds are Federally Protected. It is illegal to shoot or injure, tear down the nest of, or relocate any native raptor or songbird.

How You Can Tell if a Bird Needs Help 

Here are some general signs to look for:

• The bird is presented to you by a cat or dog
• It's bleeding
• An apparent or obvious broken limb
• A featherless or nearly featherless bird (nestling) on the ground. 
• If the bird has some feathers, is grounded, and it is spring or summer, please call the hotline to determine if it is a fledgling, and how to proceed. 
• An adult raptor on the ground in the same place for hours
• Shivering
• Evidence of a dead parent nearby
• Spotting a baby bird by itself doesn't necessarily mean it's an orphan. If you are concerned, please call 707-526-WILD (9453).

Important Questions to Consider Before You Call:

Can the bird fly? We cannot catch a bird that can fly away from us. 

Can you safely catch it without using your bare hands? If not, keep an eye on the bird and call our wildlife hotline.

Do you have a place to put the bird until you are able to transfer it to the center?

Is it a baby with a nest nearby?

*This information will be important to the volunteer who returns your call.

DO NOT FEED THE ANIMAL.

Feeding an animal can potentially kill it. It is best to put them in a dark quiet place and wait for a professional to evaluate the condition of the animal.

STRESS KILLS.

Many animals can die from stress. To avoid this, leave the animal alone, do not handle it, check on it or look at it unless absolutely necessary. Click here for proper housing instructions.

How to Tell if a Baby is Orphaned 

For baby birds it is best to call the Rescue Hotline to describe the situation to a volunteer to determine if the baby is truly orphaned

Rescue Hotline: (707) 526-WILD (9453)

For all little birds such as sparrows, woodpeckers, finches, swallows, etc. please contact
Native Songbird Care and Conservation at: 707-484-6502 or click here. 

Click here for proper housing instructions while you wait. 

For birds such as pigeons, doves, crows, ravens and raptors (hawks and owls) click here.

Call our Wildlife Hotline at 707-526-9453

Animal Drop Off: Seven days a week 9 AM - 5:30 PM 

Please contact our Wildlife Hotline prior to arrival.

403 Mecham Rd, Petaluma, CA 94952

Wildlife Hotline Hours: 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM

If you are calling after hours, please leave a message.

While you are waiting for a call back from a volunteer, click here for proper housing directions. 

Waterbird Care 

Waterbirds require very specialized care. At our center we specialize in the stabilization of waterbirds to prepare them for transfer to a center set up just for them. International Bird Rescue in Cordelia has enclosures with pools designed for waterbirds.

Almost all waterbirds that find their way to SCWR are transferred to International Bird Rescue and a small donation would be greatly appreciated to transport or help fund the drive to Cordelia. Click here to visit International Bird Rescue's website.

DO NOT FEED THE ANIMAL!

Feeding an animal can potentially kill it. It is best to put them in a dark quiet place and wait for a professional to evaluate the condition of the animal.

STRESS KILLS.

Many animals can die from stress. To avoid this, leave the animal alone, do not handle it, check on it or look at it unless absolutely necessary.

DO NOT SEPARATE DUCKLINGS FROM A MOTHER DUCK!

If the ducklings are stuck in a pool, they must be provided a ramp in the corner to get out- anything sturdy to form a gentle slope they can climb.

Once they are out, they can be herded away and blocked from re-entering.

Animal Regulations 

It is illegal to keep wildlife longer than 48 hours if you are not a volunteer or a staff member of a licensed wildlife rescue.

This helps protect wildlife from unnecessary stress caused by untrained members of the public and ensures that they receive the most appropriate care for their individual needs. Members of a licensed wildlife center are required to take 2 hours of continuing education to make sure they are refreshed on all the latest care techniques.

Please do not try to care for wildlife. They require very special care so they are releasable back into the wild.

How You Can Tell if an Animal Needs Help 

Here are some general signs to look for:

• The wild animal is presented to you by a cat or dog
• Bleeding
• An apparent or obvious broken limb
• A featherless or nearly featherless bird (nestling) on the ground
• Shivering
• Evidence of a dead parent nearby
• Spotting a baby animal by itself doesn't necessarily mean it's an orphan. If a wild animal exhibits any of the above signs, you should immediately call our hotline 707-526-WILD (9453).

Important Questions to Consider Before You Call 
Can the bird fly? We would like to be prepared to catch a bird that can fly away from us.

Can you safely catch it without using your bare hands? If not, keep an eye on the animal and wait for help.

Do you have a place to put the bird until you are able to transfer it to the center?

Is it a baby with a nest nearby?

*This information will be important to the volunteer who returns your call.*