- It’s illegal. You are breaking the law if you take birds or mammals out of the wild.
- It’s dangerous. Wild animals can transmit serious viruses, bacteria, and parasites to humans. And if they bite or scratch you, you can become very sick.
- It’s bad for the animal. A baby animal that grows up with people does not learn the skills it needs to survive in the wild. It becomes used to being around people. If that animal is set free, it will not be able to care for itself or know to avoid danger.
- It’s against the rules at MIT. If you live in an MIT building, animals are not allowed without special permission — not even domesticated animals, like cats and dogs.
What to do if you find…
- Baby birds
- Baby squirrels
- Baby opossums
- Baby rabbits
- Baby foxes
- Baby raccoons
- Baby skunks
- Baby woodchucks
- Baby bats
- A wild animal that has entered an MIT building — please contact Facilities
All about wildlife rehabilitators
Wildlife rehabilitators are people who have special training to care for injured, ill, and orphaned animals and help them become ready to be released back into the wild. Wildlife rehabilitators have state and federal permits to care for wild animals.
If you find an animal that needs help, you can find a wildlife rehabilitor by calling MassWildlife at 508-389-6300 or by visiting the MassWildlife webpage. You can find more useful information on the Wildlife Rehabilitators’ Association of Massachusetts website.
What if I’m scratched or bitten?
Rabies is a fatal disease that humans can get from an animal's bite or scratch. The animals most likely to carry rabies are:
- Bats
- Raccoons
- Skunks
- Foxes
In Massachusetts, about a third of sick-looking raccoons, skunks, and foxes test positive for rabies. Bats with rabies almost never appear to be sick, so you should seek medical attention after any contact with a bat. Woodchucks and stray cats don't often have rabies — there are only about five every year in all of Massachusetts. Wild animals like mice, rats, chipmunks, squirrels, rabbits, and opossums have not been found with rabies, and no dogs with rabies have been found in Massachusetts for at least 10 years.
But remember: All animal bites can cause dangerous bacterial infections, and you should seek medical attention immediately if you are bitten.
If you are bitten or scratched by an animal that may have rabies:
- Wash the wound immediately with lots of soap and water for at least 10 minutes. If you are near a sink or faucet, let the water run over the wound.
- Call your healthcare provider right away. You will need to get a rabies vaccine. If you get the vaccine, you will not get sick, even if the animal had rabies. If you do not get the vaccine, you could get sick and die.
- If the animal is still nearby, call the police department immediately. Someone can come and try to capture the animal. To determine if the animal has rabies, it must be euthanized, so its brain can be examined.
- If the animal is already dead or captured, avoid all contact with it. You could get rabies from contact with the animal’s saliva or blood, even if the animal is already dead.
If you are bitten by an animal that probably does not have rabies:
- Clean the wound well. Wash the wound with water and soap for at least 10 minutes, and scrub the wound enough to make it bleed a little.
- Go to Urgent Care at MIT Health or to another healthcare facility. A healthcare provider can make sure the wound is completely cleaned. They may prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection.
If you get a minor scrape from an animal that probably does not have rabies, you should clean the scrape well. Even if it’s a very small scrape, it can still become infected. To prevent infection, you should wash the area with water and soap for at least 10 minutes and use an antibiotic ointment twice a day. You don’t need to cover it with a Band-Aid, unless it is on your hand or another part of your body that gets dirty easily.