Please choose from one of these four options:

Before you do anything it is important you establish whether the bird is a fledgling or a nestling. 

Fledglings have feathers and are often seen out of the nest particularly when they are learning to fly. It’s really important that you do not disturb the young bird during this developmental stage. 

However, if you are concerned for its safety, you can gently move the bird to a nearby covered area off the ground, such as a bush, where its parents will find it and continue to feed it.

If you have found a baby bird with little or no feathers, this is a nestling, and at this stage, the bird needs to be returned to its nest so that it can continue to thrive under the care of its parents. 

If you know where the nest is, you can carefully put the bird back in and the parents will continue to care for it. If the nest location is not obvious, you can create a replacement nest using a small cardboard box or Tupperware container, lining it with tissue and grass, and placing this in a bush or tree nearby to where the nestling was found. Monitor the nest from a distance to see if the parents returns. 

By following this advice you are helping baby birds stay in the wild with their parents and you are also enabling our teams to rescue and rehabilitate the animals who need us the most.

Read more about baby birds and how to tell the difference between fledglings and nestlings.

Thank you so much for caring about Scotland’s animals. We really appreciate your help.

During breeding season, we receive a high volume of calls about young seals, called pups.

Please do not approach a seal that has come ashore or try to put back in the water, keep a safe distance away, and keep dogs on a lead.

It is normal for seals to spend time on shore and seal pups will often be left alone by the mother while she feeds out at sea. A healthy seal pup will look plump, with a clean nose and eyes, and will be alert and aware. If you see a seal with a white long haired coat then it is probably still suckling from its mother and we would advise you to monitor and check regularly for sign of the mother over a 24 hour period.

Please be aware that the mother will not return to the pup if you stand next to or close to the seal pup.

By following this advice you are helping young seals stay in the wild with their mothers and you are also enabling our teams to rescue and rehabilitate the animals who need us the most.

Find out more about seals.  

Thank you so much for caring about Scotland’s animals. We really appreciate your help. 

Hedgehogs are most active at night and if you have come across a hedgehog out during the day, there may be a problem. However, if the hedgehog is busy gathering nesting material or foraging for food, this could mean the hedgehog is pregnant or has a nest of baby hedgehogs nearby, and in this case, the hedgehog is best being left alone. 

If you have accidentally disturbed a nest of baby hedgehogs, called hoglets, but there are no injuries, cover the nest over again and monitor from a distance. If you are unable to return the nest to the same spot, carefully move it to another secure area as close by as possible. If the mother doesn’t return within two hours, please call us on 03000 999 999. 

By following this advice you are helping hedgehogs stay in the wild and you are also enabling our teams to rescue and rehabilitate the animals who need us the most.

Read more about hedgehogs. 

Thank you so much for caring about Scotland’s animals. We really appreciate your help.
 

It is normal for baby deer, called fawns, to shelter alone in long grass or undergrowth whilst their mother feeds nearby. The mother might leave her fawn unattended for up to 24 hours, usually returning to feed the fawn at dusk. This is normal behaviour and if you have come across a fawn alone, this does not mean the fawn has been abandoned.

Please do not touch or cover the fawn, as this may affect how the mother responds to it.

However, if the fawn is in immediate danger, such as immediately next to a road, the fawn can be moved quietly and carefully to a nearby safe location and then should be left alone for the mother to return. Deer are incredibly shy animals and the mother will not return if you are close to the fawn. If you can, go back after 24 hours and if the fawn is still there and appears distressed, please call us on 03000 999 999. We are now using what3words. Download the app to get the unique three word code for your location and make it easier for our team to respond to your call.

By following this advice you are helping fawns stay in the wild with their mothers, and you are also enabling our teams to rescue and rehabilitate the animals who need us the most.

Read more about deer.

Thank you so much for caring about Scotland’s animals. We really appreciate your help.

We receive a large number of calls about swans. 

In summer, swans can become very territorial and may fight with other birds, or prevent other birds from sharing the same body of water. Adult swans will also chase off their own young once they are old enough. Eventually, the youngsters will fly off to a new area and establish their own new territory. Although this can be distressing to witness, this is natural behaviour for swans and they should be left alone.

For your own safety, never attempt to approach or separate fighting swans.

In winter, if temperatures are low enough, swans may become stuck in ice. Swans are incredibly powerful birds and can usually break any ice that forms around themselves. Do not attempt to free the bird yourself as this could cause serious injury to the bird and put your own safety at risk. If you can, return after 24 hours and if the swan is still stuck, please call us on 03000 999 999. We are now using what3words. Download the app to get the unique three word code for your location and make it easier for our team to respond to your call.

By following this advice you are helping swans stay in the wild, and you are also enabling our teams to rescue and rehabilitate the animals who need us the most.

Read more about swans and other waterfowl.

Thank you so much for caring about Scotland’s animals. We really appreciate your help.

It is normal for ducks to nest high up, often on a window ledge or balcony. When ducklings are ready to leave their nest, their fluffy feathers help protect them against the fall. 

Once out the nest, the mother duck will lead her ducklings to water. Make sure to give them plenty of space and don’t interfere as this could scare off the adult. If the mother duck has been scared off, give the ducklings plenty of space and monitor from a distance - the adult should return once she feels it’s safe to do so. 

If the ducklings are in an enclosed area, leave gates or doors open, or create a ramp over any obstacles such as low walls. Sometimes the ducks can be carefully guided out. If this is not possible, and the area has grass or other vegetation, provide a shallow dish of water, and the adult duck and her ducklings are best being left to stay in the area until the ducklings are old enough to fly. 

By following this advice you are helping ducks stay in the wild, and you are also enabling our teams to rescue and rehabilitate the animals who need us the most.

Read more about ducks and other waterfowl.

Thank you so much for caring about Scotland’s animals. We really appreciate your help.

Fox cubs are born in the spring, usually from early March until late April. When they are young, they look very similar to newborn puppies or kittens due to their dark brown fur which doesn’t fade to red until they are around six weeks old. However, the white tip on their tail is a giveaway sign that it is a fox cub. 

Mother foxes will often move cubs between den areas. During this time, cubs may be temporarily left alone whilst the move takes place. These cubs have not necessarily been abandoned and the mother will typically return to collect their cubs within a few hours.

As fox cubs get older, usually from May onwards, they will start to explore outside the den on their own, which is normal behaviour at this stage of their life. If you have come across a If you see a fox cub or cubs on their own, do not touch or move them. In all likelihood there is nothing of concern and your well-meaning intervention may in fact cause distress to the cub and the cubs mother

If the cub is in immediate danger or on a busy road,  or somewhere exposed, you can carefully movet the cub to a sheltered location nearby, handling it as little as possible. 

By following this advice you are helping fox cubs stay in the wild with their mothers, and you are also enabling our teams to rescue and rehabilitate the animals who need us the most.

Read more about foxes.

Thank you so much for caring about Scotland’s animals. We really appreciate your help.

If your cat is stuck up a tree we would suggest giving your cat time to come down on its own. An attempt to rescue them might chase them up even higher or cause them to panic.

We know that it can be worrying when your cat runs up a tree but cats will often come down when they are hungry.

However if you have a very young kitten, or if your cat has been stuck for 24 hours or more then please call our animal helpline on 03000 999 999 and someone will be able to advise.

You shouldn’t call the fire brigade before calling us. Our animal rescue officer will give them a call if they need help.

Stray dog

If you find a stray dog and it is not obviously injured, please contact your local council. Outside of working hours please call your local police station on 101.

If you find a stray dog that is injured and needs veterinary attention, please call us on 03000 999 999. We are now using what3words. Download the app to get the unique three word code for your location and make it easier for our team to respond to your call.

Stray cat

If you find an uninjured cat that you suspect is a stray, please contact Cats Protection on 03000 12 12 12 or another local cat rescue organisation. Unlike dogs, cats are free to roam and will often spend periods of time away from their home, especially if they are being fed by different people. If you are able to post on local social media groups, this can often help reunite stray animals with their owners.

If you find an injured cat that you suspect is a stray, please call us on 03000 999 999. We are now using what3words. Download the app to get the unique three word code for your location and make it easier for our team to respond to your call.

All other stray animals

All other types of stray pets (uninjured or in need of veterinary attention) should be reported to us on 03000 999 999. We are now using what3words. Download the app to get the unique three word code for your location and make it easier for our team to respond to your call.

If it is safe to do so, please contain the animal to prevent them wandering off or becoming injured. You could use an animal carrier if you have one, or try to keep them in a shed/garage or in your house.

Looking for posts or sharing a photo in local social media groups or on lost and found pet sites can help you find their owner.

More info about stray animals.

If you have concerns about another type of animal that is not injured, please visit our advice pages where you can find more information about specific animals. 

If there are no obvious injuries and the animal does not appear sick or trapped, it is usually best to leave the animal alone and monitor the animal from a distance.

It’s not uncommon for animals, particularly pigeons, to seek shelter in disused buildings. If they’ve found their way in, they can usually find their way back out.

However, if you’re concerned, you should contact the owner of the building. The local council may be able to help with this or, if the building is for sale or to let, contact the estate agent. It is the responsibility of the owner to ensure that animals are not trapped within the building. 

By following this advice you are enabling our teams to rescue and rehabilitate the animals who need us the most.

Read more about trapped animals.

Thank you so much for caring about Scotland’s animals. We really appreciate your help.

If a wild animal, including a bird or bat, has found their way into your stairwell or room of your house or workplace, most of the time the animal will be able to get back out again of their own accord. If you can, remove any obstacles and leave an external window or door open. During the day, turning off lights can help guide the animal back outside. Leave the animal alone and give it time to find its way out. After a few hours if the animal has not left and it is safe to do so, you can try to carefully move the animal outside using a towel or blanket.  

If you have an animal trapped in an inaccessible place such as a chimney, cavity wall, or under floorboards, please contact an appropriate professional such as a builder, or, you may need to ask your landlord, council or housing association to help with this. Our animal rescue officers do not have the equipment to remove walls or floorboards. Once you have removed the animal, if it appears healthy and alert, it can be released back outside, however, if it is injured, please call  us on 03000 999 999. We are now using what3words. Download the app to get the unique three word code for your location and make it easier for our team to respond to your call.

By following this advice you are enabling our teams to rescue and rehabilitate the animals who need us the most.

Read more about trapped animals. 

Thank you so much for caring about Scotland’s animals. We really appreciate your help.
 

If you are concerned about a deer who might be trapped in an enclosed area such as a field, car park, cemetery, school grounds or similar, it is best leaving the deer alone and they will often find their own way back out. Trying to catch or intervening in this situation is very risky for the deer and could lead to the deer becoming seriously injured. 

If you are concerned about an animal trapped in any other way, please call us on 03000 999 999. We are now using what3words. Download the app to get the unique three word code for your location and make it easier for our team to respond to your call.