Hi John, 

A few weeks ago, I found a raccoon who had been hit by a car and was lying on the road. If you had found them, would you have known what to do?

Many would turn away from this raccoon, thinking there was nothing that could be done. But as animal rights activists, we know there's something we can do to help. So I sent out an alert to my local DxE chapter and soon fellow activists were on their way with a carrier to take the injured raccoon to wildlife care. 

Here are three tips to help orphaned and injured wildlife, courtesy of our friends at WildCare:

1. Use the 5 C’s to determine if an animal is in trouble: Are they crying? Are they coming to you? Are they covered in blood or insects? Were they caught by a cat or dog? Are they cold? If you answer ‘yes’ to any of these questions, call your local wildlife rehab.
2. Some people have been told that touching a baby bird will cause their parents not to want their baby. This is a myth! Learn more about helping baby birds here.
3. Be prepared! Where do you most often see wildlife? Whether it’s driving in your car or walking near your home, take 15 minutes to put a rescue kit together. Preparing now could help you save a life later. This checklist includes everything you need to keep both you and them safe. 

After 3 weeks of care, this raccoon was released back in the area where we found him. It was only thanks to the kindness of people like you. Until there are social services for wildlife, it’s up to all of us to help animals when we find them in need. 

I hope you’ll share this information with a friend! It’s all posted in this blog on our website. 

Priya