Have you ever had this dilemma?

[purehatred89]

I was just walking my dog in the wooded area behind my house, when I came upon an injured Green Woodpecker [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Woodpecker]. It was hobbling along the floor, wings unfurled, but it appeared unable to fly away, despite our proximity. I remorsefully decided to leave it be, as I had no useful equipment with which to bring it home, bare hands aside, nor could I bring myself to "put it out of it's misery".

Have any of you ever come across an injured wild animal? What did you do?

 

[PixelKing]

I was going to help a injured baby chick, but then some prick crushed its skull with a brick and threw its corpse at me.

 

[BanicRhys]

I was going to help a injured baby chick, but then some prick crushed its skull with a brick and threw its corpse at me.

If you're making up the throwing the corpse bit, that may have been me.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

When I was a kid, there was an injured bird in my garden, so I picked it up and placed it in a shoe box in the shed.

My mum phoned the RSPCA to see if there was anything we should do. They said if it survived the night, to ring them back.

It didn't.

 

[Capt. Crankypants]

Yes, same deal, small injured bird out the front of a house with a cat on the prowl. Tried to bring it inside and make it as warm and safe and snug as possible (shoebox, teatowel, tiny bowl of water), then call the RSPCA the next day. Birds however are EXTREMELY susceptible to shock, and, as you can imagine, it was dead by the next morning. Just let the poor thing be, nature'll run it's course.

EDIT: god f-ing dammit

When I was a kid, there was an injured bird in my garden, so I picked it up and placed it in a shoe box in the shed.

My mum phoned the RSPCA to see if there was anything we should do. They said if it survived the night, to ring them back.

It didn't.

How can I possibly be ninja'd on a thread like this?!?

 

[PixelKing]

I was going to help a injured baby chick, but then some prick crushed its skull with a brick and threw its corpse at me.

If you're making up the throwing the corpse bit, that may have been me.

I'm not, so I highly doubt it was you, unless your small, fat and was 9 at the time.

 

[Dan Comber]

You shouldn't directly handle it unless you know what you're doing. Call the RSPB or equal wherever you are, if you really want to save it, and they'll advise you. Otherwise, leave it be and don't interfere. Remember, first, do no harm.

 

[purehatred89]

You shouldn't directly handle it unless you know what you're doing. Call the RSPB or equal wherever you are, if you really want to save it, and they'll advise you. Otherwise, leave it be and don't interfere. Remember, first, do no harm.

I considered calling them, but unless I physically showed them where I found it, all I'd be able to give is a vague description. Not to mention it could be anywhere by now, blending in with the foliage. I almost stepped on it before I saw it.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Yes, same deal, small injured bird out the front of a house with a cat on the prowl. Tried to bring it inside and make it as warm and safe and snug as possible (shoebox, teatowel, tiny bowl of water), then call the RSPCA the next day. Birds however are EXTREMELY susceptible to shock, and, as you can imagine, it was dead by the next morning. Just let the poor thing be, nature'll run it's course.

EDIT: god f-ing dammit

When I was a kid, there was an injured bird in my garden, so I picked it up and placed it in a shoe box in the shed.

My mum phoned the RSPCA to see if there was anything we should do. They said if it survived the night, to ring them back.

It didn't.

How can I possibly be ninja'd on a thread like this?!?

My powers of ninja are ranked 'legendary' on the International Scale of Internet Ninjadom.

 

[StBishop]

I saved a whale once, it was beached and I single handedly pushed it back into the water, then high fived everyone.

Nah, but I've never been in a situation like that.

 

[Hellz_Barz]

yep almost exact same thing except with a parrot the thing was just standing on the foot path as me and my dog walked up to it. my dog went right up and just sniffed it for 5 seconds, the look on it's face was pure panic. My dog wasn't even concerned with eating it though, just wanted to stop to sniff it. Then we just walked off and let it be.

 

[Esotera]

A petrified pigeon. We took it into our garage and fed it on cornflakes and milk for two days, and it looked as if it was starting to do better. Then it died.

It's best just to leave it alone and let nature take its course; it may be strong enough to survive, or it might not be.

 

[commiedic]

I probably would of just ignored it. Eh, its injured for a reason I suppose. Probably some other animals dinner, or a defective bird. I went dove hunting one time and shot a bird that was flying very awkwardly. When I looked at it, it had a huge growth on its neck. Weird.

 

[Guffe]

Don't think so, not wild animals. I've had pets (rodents) and when they grow old they just stop eating when they reach their end, so in both cases my dad put them out of their missery. I was too young to do it back then and even now I'd most likely take it to a vet, I doubt I'd be able to kill something I've grown that attached to.

 

[Davey Woo]

Wow, your dog's got some restraint.
I came across a squirrel in the woods once (not injured) and my dog savaged the poor thing.

Other than that I've not come across any injured animals anywhere.

 

[spartan231490]

I put them out of their misery as a rule. I have not the time nor money nor ambition to care for an injured animal, and I won't leave one to suffer, so I don't have many other options.

 

[purehatred89]

Wow, your dog's got some restraint.
I came across a squirrel in the woods once (not injured) and my dog savaged the poor thing.

Other than that I've not come across any injured animals anywhere.

My dog's a diamond, all he did was sniff it, but I called him off just in case he loves chasing squirrels and stuff, but that's because they set off his "If it runs, chase it" instinct.

 

[Brandon237]

My parents being vets save many small birds and what-not that would never survive in the wild. Gets annoying though as pigeons breed like rabbits, at least they are tamer than doves. I could never put an animal out of its misery, I will always either try to help it or leave it be, I could never kill one.

 

[Grospoliner]

I always try to help an injured animal. Not always successful though. The best thing to do is take it to the vet.

 

[Doctor Gonzo]

I was at a camp a couple of weeks ago, and there was a squirrel there with two broken legs (both hind). He also had a network of scars not dissimilar to the London Underground on its right side. I had to leave it, (you know, car of children, and whatnot) but we did call animal control to see if they would take it to a vet. They agreed.