Ashley Hunter: Greene Publishing, Inc.
We all know what to do if our pet is feeling sick, is limping or needs any other sort of medical attention; but what should we do if the animal in need of aid is not our own, but is feral or wild?
An injured animal, particularly a wild or feral one, can be dangerous, as they are in pain and are less likely to allow human hands to come near them, even if it is for their own benefit. But at the same time, leaving an injured animal alone without getting help for it seems heartless.
So what should you do?
In the past, Madison County's Animal Control Department would have been the place to call, but since the rules and regulations regarding injured wild animals have changed, and many animal control departments now lack the resources and manpower to come for every animal problem, the responsibility has passed to another. “We just can't come out and get every animal,” said Madison County's Animal and Mosquito Control Director Jamie Willoughby.
In theory, it is the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) that handles injured animal reports, but the FWC also faces not having enough manpower to send their personnel all over the state to pick up injured animals; instead they are more likely to direct the caller to a local wildlife rehabilitation center.
To cut out the middle man, individuals who find themselves facing an injured animal on their property can instead directly contact a local rehabilitation center, as the FWC has provided a list of trusted and certified centers on their website, www.myfwc.com.
A few of the rehabilitation centers and facilities near Madison County are the Huston Veterinary Clinic in Hamilton County, which can be reached at (386) 792-3134 and the Mystic Jungle Educational Facility, Inc., in Suwannee County, which can be contacted at (386) 330-0176.
The FWC has other specific guidelines for injured, sick or dead birds, black bears, fish or manatees.
Should anyone on the water come upon a manatee that is in distress or dead, the FWC encourages them to contact the toll free Wildlife Alert Hotline at 1-(888)-404-3922 and be prepared to answer questions about the exact location of the animal, whether it is alive or dead, how long the individual has been observing the animal, the size of the manatee, the location of the closest boat ramp and a contact number for the caller.
Individuals who discover fish kills, fish with parasites or any other fishy abnormalities are encouraged to call the fish kill hotline at (800) 636-0511 or to submit a report online at www.public.myfwc.com/FWRI/FishKillReport.
Along with the Florida Department of Health, the FWC works to monitor wild bird mortality, as this surveillance can prove crucial in keeping a watch for flare ups of Avian Influenza and West Nile Virus. The FWC asks individuals who discover dead birds to refrain from touching or handling them, especially if they are waterfowl, shorebirds or crows. Instead, they encourage the individual to fill out the surveillance form at: www.legacy.myfwc.com/bird.
If you discover a sick, injured, orphaned or dead black bear, contact the FWC Regional Office for Madison County at (386) 758-0525 if it is between the hours of 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. If the discovery is made after business hours, call the FWC Wildlife Alert hotline at 1-(888)-404-3922. Be prepared to answer questions about the location and size of the bear, whether it is dead or alive, whether it is blocking a roadway and to leave a contact number.
If a rabid animal is discovered, it is best to contact the local Department of Health directly. The number for the Madison County Department of Health is (850) 973-5000.
Finally, if you discover an apparently abandoned baby animal, the FWC begs you to not be so quick to pick it up and 'rescue' it. Many animal mothers leave their young hidden and removing it from the place you discovered it could pose a danger to yourself or to the baby animal. Instead, quietly observe it from a distance (so you do not frighten the mother into not returning) and if the mother does not return, contact the FWC Regional Office for Madison County at (386) 758-0525.