What to do when you find an injured bird

• Observe - Watch from a safe distance to make sure the bird has an injury. It may be eating or investigating something to eat.

• Approach Cautiously - If the bird flies away, great! If it doesn’t and it’s not too weak yet from a recent injury, it may still try to run. Stop!! Don’t chase it!! Doing so may worsen the injury or cause other injuries. Call the Juneau Raptor Center to recover the bird.

• Cover - If you are able to get close to the bird, cover it with a towel, blanket, coat, etc., including the head. Wrap snugly, securing wings at it’s sides, leaving head loosely wrapped for breathing. Keeping the head covered helps reduce the stress on the bird.

• Quiet and Warm - Hold the wrapped bird securely until you are able to place it in a box. Place the box in a warm, quiet, dark place. Do not feed the bird. Birds often require unusual or special diets.

• Call the Juneau Raptor Center (907-790-5424)-to pick up the bird. It is illegal to keep any wild animal without a permit.

!! CAUTION !!

Beaks and talons are sharp!!!

Always protect your face and hands.

If the bird is large, such as an owl, eagle, or a hawk, or you’re not sure you will be able to catch and hold the bird without injury to yourself, please call the Juneau Raptor Center. We are experienced at handling injured birds and difficult rescues!