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Safety first: never endanger yourself or others in an attempt to save an injured animal. If a live animal is creating an immediate hazard on the road dial 911 or *THP.
Have you ever seen an injured wild animal and wished you had a way to help? People often encounter injured wild animals and ask us how to catch it. One technique is to cover the animal's head and body with a towel to minimize stress and prevent injury, then place it in a secure container. This works for many small animals; do not attempt with large animals like adult raccoons. When in doubt, call or text (615) 266-5701 and ask for guidance.
This basic wildlife rescue kit comes in handy in many situations:
Start with a sturdy cardboard box or plastic travel crate to contain injured animals. Seriously, never, ever transport an uncontained wild animal in your vehicle. Stunned animals can wake up.
Use a sheet or towel to cover the animal to capture it and move it into the box or crate. It's also handy to cover the box or crate once the animal is inside. However, make sure there is some ventilation so the animal can breathe. You can also put a soft towel at the bottom of the crate or box to make it more comfortable for the animal.
Protective gloves. We recommend heavy leather gloves because all animals can bite and scratch. Be especially careful with "rabies vector" species like bats, skunks, and raccoons. If you are accidentally bitten you must seek immediate treatment at an emergency room. Plus, the animal must be killed and tested for rabies (even if it does not appear to be sick).
Pro tip: wear eyeglasses or sunglasses to protect your eyes. This is especially important for animals like great blue herons; their beaks are basically spears. Safety glasses or goggles are even better.
One of our animal care team staff shared this photo of their own rescue kit.
Bonus Items:
A heavy long-sleeve shirt or jacket to protect your arms
Flashlight and/or head lamp
Strong tape, like duct tape
Wire cutters or scissors
Goggles or safety glasses
Once you have the animal contained find a licensed rehabber
Once you have the animal contained find a licensed rehabber
Call or text Harmony Wildlife: (615) 266-5701. We return calls, texts, and emails as quickly as we can, but don’t wait!
Find other rehabbers by visiting the TWRA website or Animal Help Now.
Keep the animal in a quiet, dark, warm place and don't offer any food or water. Here are instructions for keeping the animal safe until it can be brought to a rehab.
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