Who do I contact if I encounter injured or orphaned wildlife?
OWF does not work directly with injured or orphaned wildlife. If you see an injured or baby animal, the best thing to do is leave it alone - human intervention often worsens the situation.
Young animals are rarely orphaned, so leave them where you find them. Chances are good mom is nearby, just waiting for you to go before she returns to her baby. Leaving young wildlife where they are is the right thing to do. Picking it up and taking it home is illegal. For more information on encounters with possibly orphaned or young wildlife, visit the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife.
Oregon Bird Alliance
If you see injured birds or small mammals in the greater Portland, Oregon, area, you can contact the Oregon Bird Alliance’s Wildlife Care Center Hotline at 503-292-0304. If you see an animal that is a threat to your safety, please contact local law enforcement. The Wildlife Care Center accepts injured and orphaned birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians found in Oregon. They operate their Injured Wildlife Hotline from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., 365 days a year. They cannot accept any injured or sick ADULT ducks or geese, and have limited ability to accept ducklings and goslings (see their avian flu intake policy on their website at Wildlife Care Center - Bird Alliance of Oregon).
OCCRA
On-Call Community Rescue for Animals (OCCRA) is a volunteer group committed to transporting injured or sick wildlife in the North Willamette Watershed district. Serving members of the community who do not have means of transportation or do not feel safe handling wildlife, in six counties—Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington, Columbia, Yamhill, and most of Marion—their team works tirelessly to ensure small mammals and birds in need are safely delivered to licensed wildlife rehabilitators within the district (mainly Bird Alliance of Oregon). While they do not handle larger animals like coyotes, deer, or bear, the demand for OCCRA’s services continues to grow, and they are actively recruiting volunteers to join us in this vital mission to protect and support our local wildlife.
You can reach OCCRA 24 hours a day by calling or texting 971-645-3450 or emailing them at occra.pdx@gmail.com. Whether you’re looking to volunteer, donate, or explore other ways to help, visit their website at www.occrapdx.org for more information.
Extended Areas
For wildlife issues outside the Portland metropolitan area, please review the information at ODFW Wildlife Rehabilitation to find a licensed wildlife rehabilitator in your area.
For more information on Wildlife Encounters, visit ODFW FAQ About Injured and Young Wildlife.
