What to do if You Find a Sick, Injured or Orphaned Wild Animal If you see what you think may be sick, injured or orphaned wildlife, don't remove it from its natural habitat. The bird or animal may not need assistance and you could actually do more harm in your attempt to help. Where an animal is in need of help, it requires specialized care to recover and return to the wild. You cannot keep wildlife in captivity without approval from the Ministry of Natural Resources. However, a person may possess a wild animal for up to 24 hours to transport it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian. Determining if Wildlife is Orphaned Some species leave their offspring alone temporarily, especially during the day. For example, deer and cottontail rabbits spend much of the day away from their well-camouflaged offspring to minimize the chance of predators finding them. To determine if young wildlife is truly orphaned, check the animal periodically for 24 to 48 hours to see if it is still around. Keep your distance. Keep cats and dogs away from the area inhabited by the young animal; the adult may not return if it is noisy or if predators or people are close by. Figuring out what to do Contact your local Ministry of Natural Resources office for help in assessing the situation and on what action you should take. If you must handle the animal, take care to minimize the risk of injury to yourself and to the