Ducks, Geese and Swans

*ATTENTION*

These species can be symptomatically or asymptomatically infected with the H5N1 viral strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Do not handle these species without gloves or until speaking to a permitted wildlife rehabilitator. If a bird needs medical attention it must be brought to a rehabilitator that has an HPAI quarantine facility.

If you would like more information on HPAI please click this link.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the Agricultural Community | Blogs | CDC

Please read this page for information on what to do if you found a bird that might need help.

For injured or ill birds please scroll to the bottom.

Orphaned?

Below is a list of signs to determine if the young are orphaned and need to be assessed by a permitted wildlife rehabilitator:

  • If a bird is covered in mites, flies, fly eggs (they look like tiny grains of rice), etc. they need medical attention.

  • Known trauma, wound, drooping wing, severe limp, nasal/ocular discharge or crusts, etc. Do not approach if ill until you speak with us.

  • If the baby is otherwise uninjured and reuniting is an option, then warm it and contact us immediately.

  • These species should be with their mother/parents until they are full grown. If you see healthy, unijnured, alert babies without a mother please try to reunite them with her immediately. Contact us if you are unsure which species they are or you have other questions.

  • Cats create lacerations as well as tiny punctures that can seal over and create pockets that become infected.

    Dogs create crushing injuries when they bite. Internal injuries may not present for a couple of days.

  • If any young bird has been under human care or fed anything from a human caretaker a permitted wildlife rehabilitator needs to be contacted.

Don’t Be A Kidnapper!

Accidentally taking babies that are not true orphans can be a death sentence. These species are very high stress and do not do well in captivity. They also are HPAI species, which means that there may not be a facility for them to go to. Wild animals always do best with their parents. Please be 100% sure that the birds you found are orphans and speak to a permitted wildlife rehabilitator BEFORE you intervene!

Reunification

If the babies do not meet the orphan criteria previously discussed, please try to reunite them with their mother/parents. When you put the babies with the parents they should eagerly accept them. If they are being picked on remove the babies immediately.

If the mother/parents are dead and you are trying to introduce them to a new family ALL of the babies MUST be exactly the same size. Otherwise, whichever babies are smaller will likely get bullied or left behind. Do not do this unless you have been instructed to do so by a permitted wildlife rehabilitator. This will only work with certain species.

Canada Geese

Orphaned, healthy goslings do not get brought into wildlife rehabilitation centers. Geese imprint on humans very easily. It is extremely important that you do not handle, talk to or let the gosling see you after you contain it. Get it into a box with paper towels on the bottom and a heat source (see “Containing the Bird” below). Geese are generally very accepting of orphaned goslings joining their family. Because of these two facts you will need to find a family for the gosling. We will help you with this if you’d like.

  1. Contain the gosling and make sure it is healthy, alert and uninjured.

  2. Confirm that you found a gosling and not a duckling. Goslings will be about the size of your hand. Ducklings will be about the length of your finger.

  3. Find a family of geese with goslings the same size. To prevent the spread of HPAI we recommend staying as close to where you found the gosling as possible.

  4. Slowly open the box and let the gosling approach the new family. Sometimes it helps if the parents are distracted and the baby approaches from behind. Try to be as still as you can and do not talk to the animals during this process.

    If the parents or siblings bite/attack the orphan please remove it and try again with a different family. You may need to watch for 20 minutes or so. If they accept it, congratulations! You have successfully created a new family. Please do not disturb them anymore.

Ducks

We prefer you contact us before intervening with ducklings. Unless in a perilous situation, watch from a distance to see if mom finds them before you interfere.

Certain species of duck are extremely high stress. Please do not handle, talk to or let the ducklings see you after you contain them. Get them into a box with paper towels on the bottom and a heat source (see “Containing The Bird” below).

  • If you have wood ducks, please make sure that they are in a tall box or soft container. They will jump continuously trying to escape and will fracture their skulls.

  • Hooded Merganser chicks will sometimes be alone. This is okay.

If you know for a fact where the ducklings’ mother is follow these steps to reunite them. If you are unsure about which species they are or do not know where their mother is contact us.

  1. Contain the ducklings and make sure they are healthy, alert and uninjured.

  2. Confirm that you found a duckling and not a gosling. Goslings will be about the size of your hand. Ducklings will be about the length of your finger. Determine which species you have. This is imperative if you are trying to reunite with their mom. Some species will not accept new babies.

  3. Make sure she can hear them peeping in the box. Once they have her attention slowly open the box and let the ducklings out. Try not to move or speak until they are reunited.

    If the mother or other siblings bite/attack the orphans please remove them and contact an HPAI quarantine facility for further advice. If the mother and other ducklings accept them, congratulations! You have created a new family (you will need to monitor them for 20 minutes or so). Please do not disturb them anymore.

Swans

If you find cygnets without their parents please observe from a distance for several hours to allow their parents to find them. If you do not see any parents contact us before you contain them unless they are in immediate danger.

Cygnets imprint on humans very easily. It is extremely important that you do not handle, talk to or let the cygnet see you after you contain it. Get it into a box with paper towels on the bottom and a heat source (see “Containing the Bird” below).

If you know who/where the parents are follow these steps to reunite them:

  1. Make sure it is healthy, alert and uninjured. Contain the cygnet.

  2. Confirm that you found a swan and not a gosling. Goslings are more yellow/gray in color. Cygnets are white/gray.

  3. Find the cygnet’s biological family.

  4. Make sure you have the parents’ attention with their peeping young. Slowly open the box and let the cygnet approach its family. Try to be as still as you can and do not talk to the animals during this process. You will need to monitor them for 20 minutes or so.

    If the parents or siblings bite/attack the orphan please remove it. If they accept it, congratulations! You have reunited a family. Please do not disturb them anymore.

Containing the Bird(s)

If you believe that the bird(s) needs help, please contact us so we can discuss the situation with you and walk you through safely containing it/them. Your safety should be your top priority. If it is safe for you to do so, please follow these steps to contain the animal(s):

  1. Get an appropriately sized box for the animal. You may also use a small plastic container as long as there are air holes poked in it before the animal is inside.

  2. Put a pillowcase or thin fleece on the bottom of the box. Do not use fabric that little toenails can get caught in.

  3. You should wear gloves, a mask, a face shield and a covering over your clothes.

    Babies: Use a hand towel to very gently pick up the bird and set it into the box. Do not leave the towel on the bird.

    Adults: Assume that it will try to bite you and hit you with their wings. Smoothly toss a towel over the bird, gain control of the wings and gently pick it up and place it into the box. Do not leave the towel on the bird.

  4. Secure the lid well.

  5. Put a heating pad on low underneath 1/3-1/2 of the box so the bird can move if it gets too hot. Make sure that it is on the lowest setting to prevent burns. Warm water bottles, Hot Hands packs and warmed rice socks also work if you don’t have a heating pad. Do not place these items inside the box with the animal.

  6. Wash your hands.

  7. It is imperative that the bird(s) is brought to an HPAI quarantine facility as soon as possible. If this is not an option, please try to find it a ride. In the meantime, put the box in a warm, dark, quiet area of your garage that is away from pets, children and noise.

  8. DO NOT GIVE ANY FOODS OR LIQUIDS TO THE BIRD(S)!

  9. DO NOT cuddle, hold or talk to the animal!

Note: The information contained in this text regarding health and/or safety precautions may not be adequate for all individuals and/or situations. It is the reader’s obligation to comply with all applicable laws and regulations. We are not responsible for injuries or illnesses occurred from you handling wild animals. Do so at your own risk. If you do not feel comfortable handling the animal do not handle it.