Unfortunately, birds sometimes get in trouble and need our help. It's important to know when to intervene. In fact, most young birds that are "rescued" by well-meaning people do not need help and should have been left alone. So how do you know when to step in and when to leave well enough alone? Read What to Do When You Find a Baby Bird by Peggi Rodgers, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, and A Guide to Assisting Wildlife Babies: What to Do When You Find Them by Ronda De Vold, B.S., L.V.T.

You will find some very helpful information about caring for injured birds on the page. Another excellent resource, containinTri-State Bird Rescue & Researchg a wealth of information in all areas of wildlife rehabilitation, is the Wildlife Rehabilitation Information Directory. You may even become inspired to become involved in wildlife rehabilitation yourself—our area needs more people helping wildlife in this way.

Where to Call

Please understand that in all cases, these kind and generous individuals are swamped with calls and cannot take in every animal, as their facilities are limited. Quite often, just getting advice over the phone will be enough for you to get the animal back on its feet (or or on the wing or into its nest). At other times, you will need more hands-on assistance.

2/4/03 Check the New York State Wildlife Rehabilitators website for a list of rehabilitators (when you get to the website, look at Region 3).  In addition, the following have given us permission to list them here: