10/14/2026
⛈️Do you know what to do if you find an animal during or after a bad storm?⛈️
Heavy rain and winds can cause a lot of animals to need rescuing, whether they are knocked from their nests, stranded from flood water, or their nests in the ground are flooded. 🪹🐾
In general, if you find an animal in need of rescue during a storm, follow these rescue tips to keep them safe until the conditions clear:
-Keep them dry and warm, but not hot.
-Keep them in a quiet, enclosed area away from pets and people.
-Avoid unnecessary handling. They are not pets.
-Do not offer food and water. This can cause more harm than good, and can lead to aspiration (fluid in the lungs) or other sickness.
-If the animal is injured (blood, ants, exposed bones), bring it to a licensed wildlife rehabbar as soon as possible. Remember, wildlife rehab at home is illegal without the proper permitting.
For some species, what you can do after the storm looks a little different.
🐿️For squirrels, who are often knocked from their nests, follow the tips to keep them safe and comfortable, and attempt to renest them once the weather clears. If you cannot find or reach the nest, contact a licensed wildlife rehabber.
🐇For rabbits, whose nests often flood during heavy rain, you may find an entire nest of babies that need help. Follow the tips to keep them safe, but once the weather clears, bring them in to a licensed wildlife rehabber. Do not attempt to renest rabbits if their nest is flooded, as the mom will not have a scent trail to follow to find them and care for them.
🐦For birds, who may get blown from their nests, follow the general tips to keep them comfortable. Sometimes the entire nest may blow out of the tree as well. If this is the case, keep the nest and keep the birds comfortable, and when the weather clears, try to replace the nest. If the nest is still there, renest the birds. If you cannot reach the nest, find the nest, or replace it, contact a licensed wildlife rehabber.
Thanks for helping us keep wildlife safe during stormy days! ❤
