What to do when you find injured or abandoned wildlife.
The Northwest Raptor & Wildlife Center is the universally respected institution that law enforcement, local government and veterinarians rely on to deal with injured, orphaned, abandoned, or endangered wildlife on the Olympic Peninsula.
Though the Northwest Raptor & Wildlife Center is qualified and licensed to handle any species of wildlife, not just raptors, we advise that local residents and visitors exercise restraint before contacting the Center to report a wildlife emergency.
If proper caution is not shown, well-meaning residents may actually injure or harm local wildlife while attempting to assist it.
Mother deer intentionally leave their fawns alone for hours at a time for their own protection and education — they only “abandon” them once humans take them.
Leave deer fawns alone unless they are visibly injured or bleeding, and call us if you have any questions before interceding.
Before Contacting Us
Before contacting the Northwest Raptor & Wildlife Center, please consult our Wildlife Emergency Checklist below:
1. Baby Bird or Raptor Outside its Nest
If you discover a baby bird or raptor outside of its nest, wait to see if it is actually abandoned, not merely spending time outside of its nest while learning how to fly.
If the bird appears to be abandoned, make no attempt to approach it or feed it. Immediately call us at 360-681-2283.
3. Injured Wild Animal
If you see any wild animal injured or bleeding, immediately call us at 360-681-2283.
Do not take any independent action without consulting with the experts first as approaching the animal may be dangerous to you or the animal’s health — or illegal under wildlife protection laws.
2. Wild Baby Animal
If you encounter a wild baby animal such as a deer fawn, leave it alone to allow it be reunited with its mother. It is rare for mammals to be orphaned in the wild without human interference. It is not unusual for a baby mammal to be left alone for hours at a time to learn independence before being reunited with its mother.
If the baby has been separated from its mother by human interference or the death of its mother,
call us at 360-681-2283.
4. Practice Prevention
Practice Prevention: Protect and nourish your surrounding natural habitat so that wild animals can easily find food, shelter, and water.
Call us at 360-681-2283.