Meet Our Vet!

BTN currentlydoes not have the resources to pick up injured wildlife. If you can safely transport the animal, without putting your safety at risk, place it in a carrier or a box, and bring it to us; we'll be happy to care for it, with intentions of releasing it back to nature. If you cannot, call your local animal services department and give them the location of the injured animal. Be sure to ask about their policies on wildlife. If you are an *Orange County  resident, the animal services department will pick up most injured or orphaned wild animals and deliver it to us EXCLUDING: raccoons, foxes, bats, otters and bobcats. They are required by law to euthanize these rabies vector species. Back to Nature DOES NOT euthanize these animals upon arrival by private citizen. We will first evaluate the animal for signs of rabies and take necessary precautions. Infant/newborn wildlife are also at risk of being euthanized unless brought to BTN by a private citizen.
 
 
IF YOU CHOOSE TO UTILIZE THIS SERVICE(Orange County residents only) keep in mind that it may take a few hours before the animal(s) can be picked up, and possibly longer until the animal is received by Back to Nature.
Follow these steps to ensure the animal's safety and health:

1. Keep the animal in a quiet, dark, holding container with plenty of ventilation.
2. If there are babies(with fur/feathers), they will need to be kept warm by use of bedding, rice sock, or water bottle warmers.
3.Offer little or no food, but water is ok.(for injured ADULT wild animals).
4. Newborn ("pinkies") wildlife are best to be brought immediately by private citizens, as OCAS may choose to euthanize these animals and/or the animal may not survive the transport process. (due to possible lengthy waiting time).
    Contact Orange County Animal Services:
 
  (407) 836-3111 or dial 311 from your local area phone
  www.orangecountyfl.net
  2769 Conroy Road
  Orlando, FL 32839-2162
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RAISE OR CARE FOR ANY WILD ANIMAL. IT IS ILLEGAL AND YOU MUST HAVE A REHABILITATION PERMIT TO DO SO!!!!
*If the animal(s) is in need of immediate care
(first 12-24hrs only)......

Newborn wildlife cannot go through the night without being fed or hydrated. Follow these tips
to assist in their survival:
PLEASE DO NOT USE FORMULA(Infant, Puppy, Goat's Milk or Kitten) For the first 12-24 hours, children's unflavored  PEDIALYTE can be used as the safest method of supplementation. Do not use a bottle, you will put the animal at risk for aspiration pneumonia. A dropper is the safest method. for small mammals. KEEP THEM WARM!!! We recommend a heating pad on LOW, under(not in direct contact) the box or carrier. A sock filled with dry rice and microwaved for 1 minute can serve as a temporary heating pad and will last about 2 hours(do place in direct contact).
RACCOONS are the highest RABIES carriers in Florida. Do not handle. If necessary and it is an infant with it's eyes closed(less than 3 weeks of age), handle with gloves only. and keep AWAY from children and pregnant women. They may need fed from every 2-4 hours by use of a dropper or small baby bottle.
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OPOSSUMS, COTTONTAIL and MARSH HARE and SQUIRRELS can die quickly from aspiration pneumonia, keep them warm and only use a pedialyte filled dropper. Depending on their age, they will need fed atleast 1/2-1 dropper full of pedialyte every 2-4 hours.

SONG BIRDS can roost at night and will only need drops of water or pedialyte during the first 12 hours. KEEP THEM WARM, dark AND QUIET. Adult song birds can die from stress very quickly if not given a safe, dark, quiet place also.