Practical guides
What to do if you find a wild animal
Articles written with the help of wildlife vets and CRAS operators. Verified information, no myths.
Injured fallow deer: the right way to respond
Fallow deer are common in many Italian reserves and parks. Road collisions, apparently abandoned fawns: here's who to call, what to do, and why you must not approach alone.
Found a weasel? How to identify it and whether it needs help
The weasel is the smallest carnivore in Italy — it can weigh less than 70 grams. If you find one injured or apparently in trouble, this guide helps you understand what to do (and what to avoid).
Found a stone marten? How to identify it and what to do
The stone marten lives in attics, barns and garages. Noisy at night, invisible by day. If you find one injured or in trouble, this guide tells you how to handle it safely.
Injured seagull or gull on the ground in the city: what to do
Gulls are often found on the ground in coastal and inland cities. A practical guide: how to tell if it really needs help, how to pick it up without getting bitten, and where to take it.
Found an injured porcupine? Quills, behaviour and what to do
The crested porcupine is Italy's largest rodent. It looks frightening but is shy. If you find one injured or hit by a car, here's how to handle it without hurting yourself — or the animal.
Eagle owl found injured: Europe's largest bird requires maximum caution
The eagle owl is the largest nocturnal raptor in Europe. With a wingspan up to 188 cm and talons 7 cm long, even when injured it's a potentially dangerous animal. A guide to safe rescue.
Roe deer or deer hit by a car: what to do (and what not to do)
Spring and summer are peak season for road collisions with deer. Practical guide on how to behave, who to call, and why you must not approach the animal.
Injured wild boar: don't approach — here's who to call
An injured wild boar is a dangerous animal. It's not within the scope of a standard wildlife rescue centre and can't be handled alone. A guide on who to call, what to do while waiting, and what happens next.
Little owl or tawny owl found on the ground: what to do (and why good intentions aren't enough)
A nocturnal raptor on the ground during the day is almost always in trouble. Practical guide: how to collect it safely, the most common causes, and why rat poison kills owls too.
Found a crow on the ground? Read this before picking it up
In spring, young corvids leave the nest before they can fly properly. They usually don't need rescuing. A guide to telling a healthy fledgling from one in genuine trouble — and what to do in each case.
Found an injured kestrel or raptor? How to help without getting hurt
The kestrel is Italy's most common urban raptor. After a collision with a car or window, it may look stunned but have serious internal injuries. A guide to safe rescue.
Found an injured hare? The biggest danger isn't the injury
Hares die of fright during capture. A practical guide: how to tell if it really needs help, how to move it without killing it, and why leverets found alone should usually be left where they are.
Found a bat on the ground? Don't touch it with bare hands — here's why
A bat out in daylight is always in trouble. Practical rescue guide: how to pick it up safely, the real risks (and the exaggerated ones), and where to take it.
Found a hedgehog during the day? Here's what to do (and what never to feed it)
A hedgehog out in daylight is almost always in trouble. Practical rescue guide: how to pick it up safely, where to keep it, and the most common mistake that unfortunately kills them.
Swallow or house martin fallen from the nest: summer rescue guide
Between May and August thousands of swallows and house martins fall from nests. Here's how to tell if one really needs help, how to keep it before reaching a rescue centre, and the feeding mistake that causes permanent damage.
Found a swift on the ground? Here's what to do (and why you can't wait)
Swifts physically cannot take off from flat ground — it's anatomy, not illness. But that means every swift found on the ground needs help. A quick summer rescue guide.
Snake in the garden: how to identify it, why not to kill it, and what to actually do
Italy has around 20 snake species and almost all are harmless. Only vipers are venomous — and even they're protected by law. A guide to identification and the right response.
Injured tortoise found on the road: what to do immediately
Shell cracked by a lawnmower, hit on the road, flipped over in the sun. A practical first aid guide for land tortoises — including the mistakes you must avoid.
Injured fox or fox cubs found alone: when to step in (and when to leave them)
In spring, fox cubs come out of the den and look abandoned. They almost never are. A guide to what to do — covering the difference between injured adults and cubs found alone.