Encountering Wildlife
Frequently Asked Questions
 

What should I do if I see a wild animal in my neighborhood or a public area?

Injured or not, if the animal is not posing a threat to people or property, you should leave it alone. Enjoy your chance to observe wildlife! Don’t feed wild animals. Federal, State, and often local laws as well prohibit the capture, possession, translocation, injury, and killing of most kinds of wildlife

 

What should I do if a wild animal poses a health threat?

If there is a risk of an emergency or injury to others, dial 911.

Don’t touch a wild animal that is obviously sick or is posing an immediate threat to people or pets. Call your local animal control warden. Also, report the animal to APHIS (the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) at 908/735 5654. Avoid any mammal that appears confused, sick, vicious, or overly friendly. It might have rabies, and a bite can cause serious illness. Raccoons are the most likely to be infected. Skunks, foxes, bats, and coyotes may also fall victim to the disease. Rats, squirrels, chipmunks, and rabbits rarely develop rabies. Domestic dogs and cats may be infected. In some areas of the United States, large rodents such as beavers and groundhogs are susceptible.

 

What should I do if I find an injured animal?

If a wild animal is injured, it is already under stress and will be even more stressed by your attempt at help. Also, animals that think they’re under attack are likely to strike back. If you want to help, contact a State-approved wildlife rehabilitator. Go to http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/rehablst.htm and click on 2006 Wildlife Rehabilitators List by Species about halfway down the page. While you’re at it read the rest of the page, which has helpful advice.

 

What should I do if I find a dead animal?

Don’t touch it unless it’s causing some conflict or problem. If you find dead waterfowl (a duck or a goose), a gull, tern, or a shorebird (such as a sandpiper or piping plover), call the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service at 908/735 5654, menu option 2. If you come across more than 5 birds in one area with no obvious cause of death, also call the U.S. Fish & Willdlife Service’s Law Enforcement Office at (South Jersey @ 856/327 0821) (Northern Jersey @ 908/645 5910). Even when no laws have been infringed, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Law Enforcement keeps track of bird kills (more than five birds in one area).

 

What can I do about nuisance animals?

The U. S. Department of Agriculture has a very informative fact sheet called “Living with Wildlife” at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ws/statereports/newjersey.html that should help you deal with animals that are not imminent threats but cause property damage or other problems.

 

What can I do about birds colliding with windows in my house?

If birds frequently collide with windows in your home, try some of the suggestions from the Fatal Light Awareness Program at http://www.flap.org/

 

Links for Further Information:

Avian Flu: 
http://www.fws.gov/home/avianflu/

West Nile: 
http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/issues/WNVirus/wnv.html

Rabies: 
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ws/rabies/index.html

Avian Influenza in wild birds: 
http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/issues/AvianFlu/WBAvianFlu.htm

U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Home: 
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/

U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/

U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service,
Wildlife Services State Reports (New Jersey):
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ws/statereports/newjersey.html

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Last updated: August 8, 2007
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