Wildlife Emergency

Help! I found a baby goose!

Baby geese are called goslings and the first step is identification. Goslings are yellow with grey and are taller than ducklings. It is important to identify the species that you have found since geese and ducks exhibit different parental behavior. See the photo example listed here to help you identify a gosling. Please remember that safety is the #1 priority and if you do not feel safe capturing a wild animal, you should not do it.

We recommend securing the animal in a cardboard box or other solid-sided container with air holes. DO NOT hold, play with, or cuddle the bird. This habituates them to human care and reduces their chances of being reunited with their family, being fostered by another goose family, and being released back to the wild. Canada geese are federally protected species and it is illegal to hold them for longer than 24 hours without the intention of bringing them into a permitted facility.

Please note: This information is meant to supplement or support you before/after hours or when we have not answered the phone. The BEST way to get your situation assessed by our wildlife professionals is to call or text us at 801-800-1776.

• When you call the center (801-800-1776) we will ask you to send a photo so that we can identify the bird to ensure we are giving accurate advice.

• We will ask if the bird is injured or ill - if it is injured (blood present, limping, wounds, etc.) we recommend that they come into us for care (please call us 801-800-1776 or see after hours instructions). If the bird is not injured, our first recommendation will be to reunite the bird with it’s family. This is something you can get started on your own if it is before/after hours and the bird is not injured.

  • Try reunification if:

    • The bird is alert and/or vocalizing

    • The bird can stand and walk

    • The bird does not appear injured

  • Do NOT try reunification if:

    • The bird looks tired or has a “hanging head”

    • The bird is ataxtic (wobbly, can’t walk normally)

    • You witnessed an interaction with another animal (dog, cat, predator), even if the animal appears “okay”

    • The bird is bleeding or has wounds

• To reunite a baby gosling with it’s family, look for bodies of water that are close by or a field for the family. The family will most likely have 2 parents present (male and female adult bird) and up to 9 (but usually around 5) goslings that are the same size as the individual you have found.

• While we do not recommend feeding wildlife on an ongoing basis, this is the time where you can attract the family to you by tossing out waterfowl pellets, chopped lettuce, corn, peas, or seeds out to the family (do not toss out bread or dog food). Urban waterfowl are used to being fed, so this might attract the family to you. When the family gets close, place the gosling in with the group, and walk away - this ensures that the baby does not return or follow you. When you have created distance from the group, stick around and make sure that the baby has integrated with the family and, if possible, that it has adequate waterproofing (is not sinking when in the water).

• Congrats! You have reunited a gosling with it’s family. If the effort fails, please call us (801-800-1776) to make an appointment to bring the bird in to us for care.

Help! I found a baby duckling!

Baby ducks are called ducklings and the first step is identification. The Mallard duckling or hybrid mallard duckling are the most common to find, but there are feral domestic species that may be found as well. Mallard ducklings are yellow with a dark brown back with an eye stripe and are usually found by people on days 1-3 of life. Mallard moms typically nest near but not next to a body of water. This enables them to be safe while incubating their clutch and not bothered by other animals that spend time near water sources. See the photo example listed here to help you identify a Mallard duckling. A hybrid duckling will be the same general size and shape of a Mallard duckling but will have inconsistent coloration and may be nearly all black or dark brown, may look similar to a Mallard duckling or may be nearly all yellow. Domestic ducklings may be entirely yellow or a variety of colors. Please remember that safety is the #1 priority and if you do not feel safe capturing a wild animal, you should not do it.

We recommend securing the animal in a cardboard box or other solid-sided container with air holes. DO NOT hold, play with, or cuddle the bird. This habituates them to human care and reduces their chances of being reunited with their family and being released back to the wild. Mallards are federally protected species and it is illegal to hold them for longer than 24 hours without the intention of bringing them into a permitted facility.

Please note: This information to supplement or support you before/after hours or when we have not answered the phone. The BEST way to get your situation assessed by our wildlife professionals is to call or text us at 801-800-1776.

Hybrid and domestic ducks are not protected and we will refer you to a domestic or exotic animal rescue, or you may keep them to raise yourself. We will take in these animals as a last resort if you are not able to get ahold of a domestic/exotic animal rescue service. Identification is important, so we do recommend sending us a photo so we can determine species.

• When you call the center (801-800-1776) we will ask you to send a photo so that we can identify the bird to ensure we are giving accurate advice.

• We will ask if the bird is injured or ill - if it is injured (blood present, limping, wounds, etc.) we recommend that they come into us for care (please call us 801-800-1776 or see after hours instructions). If the bird is not injured our first recommendation will be to reunite the bird with it’s family. This is something you can get started on your own if it is before/after hours and the bird is not injured.

• To reunite a baby duck with it’s family, look for bodies of water that are close by. A Mallard may return to the chicks if she has lost her entire clutch; however she is not going to “come back to get the baby” if it is a single, or 2-3 birds, or sometimes, even if the entire clutch is left. Leaving a single or few chicks out in a box for the mom to “come and get them” does not work for Mallards that have only lost a partial clutch. You can attempt this if you are sure she has left the entire clutch. The family will consist of only the mother Mallard and babies, the male may be in the general area, but will likely not be with the family. The family should have chicks that are the same size and coloring of the bird you have in your possession. If you find a family of Mallards and the chicks do not look and/or are not the same size as the bird you have found, do not attempt reunification. This is likely not the family, and in general, a Mallard will not accept offspring of another female.

• Try reunification if:

  • The bird is alert and/or vocalizing

  • The bird can stand and walk

  • The bird does not appear injured

• Do NOT try reunification if:

  • The bird looks tired or has a “hanging head”

  • The bird is ataxtic (wobbly, can’t walk normally)

  • You witnessed an interaction with another animal (dog, cat, predator), even if the animal appears “okay”

  • The bird is bleeding or has wounds

  • You have witnessed or know for a a fact the the maternal parent is dead or injured

• While we do not recommend feeding wildlife on an ongoing basis, this is the time where you can attract the family to you by tossing out waterfowl pellets, chopped lettuce, corn, peas, or seeds out to the family (do not toss out bread or dog food). Urban waterfowl are used to being fed, so this might attract the family to you. When the family gets close, place the duckling in with the group, and walk away - this ensures that the baby does not return or follow you. When you have created distance from the group, stick around and make sure that the baby has integrated with the family and, if possible, that it has adequate waterproofing (is not sinking if it goes into the water). You will know right away if the Mallard mom does not accept the chick, she may attempt to kill or drown the bird. If this is the case and the effort fails, please call us (801-800-1776) to make an appointment to bring the bird in to us for care.

• Otherwise - Congrats! You have reunited a duckling with it’s family.
  
  

Help! I found an adult goose or duck with a fishing line/hook!

Unfortunately there is a fishing line crisis at our urban ponds in Utah. Waterfowl, shorebirds, and sometimes birds of prey become entangled in fishing lines or embedded with fishing hooks. The hooks do not easily come out as they often have a barb at the end and fishing lines wrap around legs and wings causing constriction and loss of blood flow to the limb. This will eventually lead to death of the animal if medical care is not initiated.

Please remember that safety is the #1 priority and if you do not feel safe capturing a wild animal, you should not do it.

• A bird with a fishing line entanglement or fishing hook always needs to come in for care.

• Do not attempt to remove these items yourself.

• Sometimes our fishing line cases can return to the wild the next day, sometimes in 5-7 days, and sometimes they need extensive care, and other times they are euthanized due to the severity of injuries. With our on-site veterinary staff we are able to remove these items gently and under anesthesia to avoid discomfort and pain, and evaluate if the animal needs antibiotics or other medications to help with limb blood flow.

• If you are able to capture a bird that has suffered from fishing line entanglement, please follow the capture and containment instructions here or watch the video below for how to capture and contain the animal.

• After it is captured, please call or text us at 801-800-1776 letting us know you have a fishing line entangled bird and that you would like to make an appointment to bring them in.