Report injured or orphaned wildlife
Most baby wild animals you see outside don't need rescuing. Report an animal that's injured, or one that's truly orphaned, by calling 311 — an Animal Control Officer can pick it up.
When to call, and when to leave it alone
Injured wildlife — call 311
An Animal Control Officer can pick up an injured wild animal Monday through Friday between 9 am and 4 pm. Outside those hours, call SBARC's emergency line at 574-235-9303.
Orphaned wildlife — bring it in
Orphaned wildlife is an animal such as a raccoon, opossum, squirrel, or rabbit that is too young to survive on its own and has been abandoned by its mother for 24 hours or more. You can bring an orphaned animal in to SBARC.
Healthy wildlife — leave it be
SBARC does not remove healthy wild animals from any property. It's common to see baby wild animals outside during spring, as a new generation makes its way into the world. They might seem like they need our help, but unless the animal is truly orphaned or injured, there is no need to rescue them.
If you find baby rabbits
Rabbits at least four inches long with open eyes and erect ears who hop well are independent from their mother and should be allowed to fend for themselves. Uninjured baby rabbits in an intact nest should also be left alone — although they might look abandoned because their mom isn't around, mother rabbits visit their dependent young only a few times a day to avoid attracting predators.
If the nest has been disturbed, lightly cover it with natural materials you find around the nest, like grass, fur, or leaves, and follow these steps:
If you find baby rabbits
Keep pets away.
Keep all pets out of the area.
Don't touch the babies.
Avoid touching the babies — foreign smells may cause the mother to abandon her young.
Mark the nest.
Use yarn or string to make a tic-tac-toe pattern over the nest, so you can tell whether the mother is coming back to nurse. Check again 24 hours later.
The mother has returned.
If the yarn was moved aside but the nest is still covered with fur, grass, or leaves, the mother has returned to nurse the babies.
The mother hasn't returned.
If the pattern is still undisturbed after 24 hours, call 311.
Raccoons out during the daytime
Raccoons are nocturnal, so it's a common myth that a raccoon out during daylight hours must be rabid or very sick. SBARC will not remove healthy raccoons from any property. If a raccoon is sick or injured, SBARC will respond during normal business hours.
A sick raccoon appears disoriented or lethargic. It may walk in circles, stumble as it walks, or have paralysis in its hind legs.
Why a raccoon might be out in the day
- It has found a food source that's available at that time of day.
- It was frightened out of its den by a person or a dog and moved to another home in the area.
- A mother nursing a litter during the spring and summer birthing season may have to forage during daylight hours.
If wildlife bit a person or a pet
Report the bite — that's what starts the rabies check. Wild animals can be tested for rabies: an officer can pick the animal up or you can bring it in, and SBARC sends a specimen to the Indiana State Department of Health. Results usually come back within a few days.