Report an emergency
Found a bird or wild animal that is injured or in distress? Here’s what to do.
NOTE that we are unable to treat domestic animals or pets. Please contact your veterinarian or local pet hospital for assistance.
Birds
With recent developments regarding the Avian Influenza Virus (AIV), the federal government is advising the public not to handle sick wildlife at this time. You can find additional government guidance regarding AIV here.
Before intervening, STOP and observe! People often mistake normal bird and wildlife behaviour for an emergency. It’s important to assess the situation to avoid inadvertently disturbing birds and wildlife.
If you see any of the following signs, then the bird needs help:
- Is the bird injured? Can you see exposed bone or blood?
- Is the bird drooping a wing?
- Is it naked?
- Do you see predators or have you witnessed a predator attack?
- Is it covered in bugs or insects?
- Does it look sleepy?
- Did the bird hit your window?
If the answer to any of these questions is yes, you should contact us as soon as possible using the web form below. This is the fastest way to reach us for assistance. Please submit this form only once per question or emergency. If you need to follow up on a case or provide more information, please reply directly to the email that you receive after submitting this form.
After submitting the form
Once you have submitted the form, you should receive a confirmation email immediately. Any further information can be sent to us by replying to that email. We’ll also send you instructions for what to do next and how to transport the bird to us for treatment. Note that staff cannot follow up outside of normal hours, daily from 9 am - 3 pm PST.
- If you can, take photos of the bird and the scene and send them to us by replying to your confirmation email
You may have to capture the bird for transport. If this is the case, follow the instructions below and then keep the bird in a warm, dark place away from human voices and other pets or noises until a helpline volunteer can call you back.
- Find a cardboard box that is large enough for the bird. A shoe box works well for songbirds.
- Poke small air holes in the box.
- Take a towel, sheet or t-shirt and place it quickly on top of the bird. Make sure the head is covered, this will help to calm the bird down.
- Gently scoop the bird up and place it in the box.
- Loosen the towel to uncover the bird.
- Take a picture. We often ask for a picture when talking to you. It helps to know what the bird looks like and the circumstances it is in.
- Close the box securely and leave it in a dark, warm and quiet place to minimize stress on the bird.
Don’ts
- Do not handle or look at the bird. It’s best to minimize stress at this time.
- Do not feed or give water unless specifically instructed by Wildlife Rescue staff.
- Do not hold the bird in your bare hands.
- Do not keep for longer than 24 hours.
- Do not try to care for or fix injuries on your own.
- Do not place the bird on a heating pad if the bird hit your window.
The best ambulance is the one already there – you. Once the bird is contained bring it to our wildlife hospital ASAP. If you feel this case is more complicated or out of your comfort zone, please wait for a response from the Support Centre after submitting the form.
If the animal is a larger bird with a pointy beak or a bird of prey with dangerous talons such as a hawk or owl, please contact our Support Centre for advice on how to proceed. Each situation can be different and many larger wild birds can be dangerous if approached.
Once we’ve confirmed that the bird needs to come to our centre for treatment, we ask that you follow these instructions to transport the bird safely and minimize the risk of further injury. Our drop-off hours vary seasonally, but our Support Centre is available to answer questions from 9:00-3:00 pm daily, 7 days a week (including holidays).
- Proceed to 5216 Glencarin Drive, on the south shore of Burnaby Lake.
- Park in any of the parking spots in either parking lot.
- Follow the signage to our Admissions Centre where Wildlife Rescue personnel will guide you on next steps.
After hours drop-offs: afteroperating hours, please follow these instructions:
- You will notice the Administration Building on your left with the clearly marked Intake Shed to the left of the stairs.
- Place the bird in a secured and ventilated box on the shelf inside the Intake Shed.
- Completely fill out the front side of the white intake form (located on the clipboard) so we know where the bird was found and what happened to it.
- Place the form under the box.
- Ensure the door to the Intake Shed is securely closed when you depart.
- Please consider donating to help care for the patient you have found here.
We understand how urgent wildlife emergencies can be. Our web report is the fastest way to get in touch with a dedicated member of our Support Centre team, who will assess the situation and provide the assistance you need. This method allows us to respond more swiftly and efficiently, given the large number of inquiries we receive each day. To help us assist you as quickly as possible, please submit the report only once for each emergency or question. If you need to follow up or provide additional information, please reply to the email you receive from us.
While you’re welcome to call us if you prefer (1-604-526-7275), please keep in mind this will not guarantee a faster response and instead can increase response times. If you’re unable to use the web report, you’re welcome to leave a voicemail. Depending on your situation, we may follow up with your web report submission by phone to ensure you receive the support you need.
Response time varies according to the number of inquiries we are receiving in addition to the volunteer and staff support we have at any given time. Much like a human hospital, we triage the cases we are receiving. So, if we are receiving multiple emails or calls about highly urgent situations response times will increase. Due to the nature of the work we do it can be difficult to predict. Know that we do our best to respond to wildlife emergencies as quickly as we possibly can.
The initial response you receive is automated, but it’s designed to give you the essential information applicable to your situation right away. Rest assured, a dedicated team member will review your submission and will be in touch should they need to provide any additional guidance and support for your specific situation.
If you submitted a web report please check your email for instructions. If we couldn’t reach you by phone, we likely sent you an email asking for more information. If you contacted us by phone, please call us back and include your case number if you have been given one.
The fastest and easiest way to follow up about a patient is by responding to the email you receive after submitting the web report. When following up about your case or asking for an update on the patient, please always provide the case number that we share with you in that initial email. We appreciate your patience and will get back to you as soon as we are able to do so.
We genuinely care about providing timely help to every animal in need. With nearly 40,000 inquiries each year, we’ve realized that relying solely on phone calls often caused delays, as we weren’t always able to answer every call live. This change helps us respond faster to your emergency and ensure that both you and the wildlife you’re concerned about receive the attention you deserve as quickly as possible. Here’s how these changes benefit you and the animals:
- Immediate Information Gathering: We can gather essential details right away, allowing us to start working on your case sooner.
- Efficient Processing: Our Support Centre team can focus on addressing your needs without spending extra time writing down or confirming information, which helps us assist you more swiftly.
- Faster Preliminary Advice: Our system can provide immediate advice on common issues, ensuring you get helpful information right away and can assist wildlife in distress sooner.
- After-Hours Support: We can still send important information even outside of our operational hours.
- Improved Record-Keeping: Accurate information from the web form helps us maintain better records and secure more grants, ultimately allowing us to assist even more wildlife in need.
Bats and other mammals
Bats
While only a small percentage of bats in BC carry the rabies virus, it is a fatal disease. For this reason, DO NOT ALLOW BATS TO COME INTO CONTACT WITH ANY BARE SKIN. If you have already come into direct contact with the bat you need to reach out immediately to your local health authority or family physician.
Before intervening, STOP and observe! Normal wildlife behaviour may sometimes be mistaken for an emergency. It’s important to assess the situation to avoid inadvertently disturbing wildlife.
Submit a web form below for advice on how to best assist this animal. The web form is the fastest way to reach us for assistance.
Grounded bats
Some bat species have a difficult time taking flight from the ground, so bats on the ground aresometimes uninjured and just need a helping hand to get to a height desirable for take-off. Grounded bats can be carefully helped by using a soft-bristled broom. Without touching the bat, allow the bat to climb onto the bristles, and then slowly lean the broom, bristles pointing upwards, against a fence, building or tree. Bats often won’t take off until after dark so don’t panic if the bat sticks around for a while. However, if it is still in the same place in the morning, please contact us. If you are unsure if the bat is injured or simply grounded, please reply with photos or video footage to the confirmation email that you get after submitting our report form.
Injured bat info
A bat with an obvious injury such as blood, exposed bone, or torn webbing will need to be seen by a rehabilitator. To safely get the bat into a box please follow these instructions:
- When containing a bat, be sure to wear
- Thick gloves
- A mask
- A face shield or goggles
- Thick clothing that completely covers your skin
- Gently scoop the bat using a dustpan to place it inside a box. This works well on soft surfaces like grass, where it is easy to slide something under the bat. Be sure to allow the bat to climb on to the structure because bats’ feet are very delicate.
OR
Using a clean, soft-bristled broom, gently encourage the bat into a box that’s lying on its side. Be sure to allow the bat to climb on to the structure because bats’ feet are very delicate.
- Be sure to tape all seams of the box shut. Bats are very good escape artists, so be sure to double box the bat. Start by poking pencil-sized holes in both boxes. Once the bat is inside the smaller box, tape all seams shut. Then place the smaller box inside the larger box and tape those seams shut. Once you arrive at our centre, alert WRA staff that you are dropping off a bat.
Nobody wants a bat loose in their car! So carefully follow our instructions for double-boxing prior to transporting. If you have any questions, please reply to the confirmation email you receive after submitting the form.
Do not touch the bat!
Do not remove the bat if it’s stuck in a sticky trap. Using tongs, stick paper towel or tissue to any exposed part of the trap to prevent further injury. Then, place the bat and the trap in the box together.
Land mammals
If you’ve found a mammal that is injured or in distress, please contact our friends at Critter Care Wildlife Society or call them at (604) 530-2064 to assist you.
After contact
Once you’ve contacted Critter Care, you can contain the mammal by placing a container or sturdy box over the animal. Put a weight on top (such as a brick) to prevent escape.
Remember, mammals can be unpredictable and dangerous so don’t handle them yourself. Wait for a qualified team member to arrive and assist you.
Marine mammals
If you have found a seal or other marine mammal on the beach or rocks and you believe it is in distress, do not touch the animal and call Marine Mammal Rescue: 604-258-SEAL (7325).
Reptiles or amphibians
If you have found an animal that is not a bird, mammal or marine mammal (i.e. it has scales or a shell or moist skin), please contact our support centre by filling out the form below.
