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Catching and transporting distressed, (wild) animals.

Main points of interest

• Minimise (additional) Stress .
• Preventing additional injuries.
• Prevent escape.
• Safety for yourself (in the first place), others and the animal.

Catching distressed, (wild) animals (general)

• If experience is missing to save an ailing animal in the field, then first get additional information from an accredited rescue centre or ask for assistance.
• Inform the nearest rescue centre while catching :
  • Deer
  • Foxes
  • Fallow deer
  • (poisonous) Snakes
  • Wild pigs
  • Badgers
• For difficult or less obvious situations take custom material with you (* see list)
• You can not expect from an ailing, wild animal to realize that the person who tries to catch them has ' good intentions '.
• An ailing, wild animal will try to escape if possible and will defend itself with its claws, beak, teeth, antlers...
• Try to estimate the situation as well as possible: if necessary, contact the rescue centre.
• The catching and handling of the animals must be done as quickly and as effectively as possible to reduce additional stress for the animal.
• Plan in advance how you will tackle the catching of the animal and whether you need any help.
• Check in advance which escape routes the injured animal can follow and evaluate for yourself the dangers (roads, wells, water lots, difficult terrain, obstacles like verandas, vehicles, etc.).
• Avoid the (long-term) chasing of animals: this can be stressful and provide additional complications and/or injuries.
• If possible, try to lure the animal into a bag or crate with food (where it would look for for example instinctively cover). In many cases this is not possible because of the stress situation in which the animal is in.
• Only grab the animals (again) if it is strictly necessary.

Mammal-specific directives

• Trapped mammals will usually try to escape.
• If escaping proves impossible, they will use their teeth, hooves, antlers or claws.
• Large meat eaters can be very dangerous and cause severe bite or claw wounds.
• In most cases, the covering of the head (obstruct the field of vision/eyes) brings calmness for the animal and also reduces the risk of seizures to the catcher.
• Keep the muzzle free for breathing and cooling (gasping) during the stress!
• Larger animals are best manipulated by several people.

Bird-specific guidelines

• Birds can be difficult to catch, especially with the bare hand. Use both hands to immobilize the bird. * Right-handed persons use their left hand first to approach (and distract) the bird and their right hand for seizing the animal. Only immediately thereafter, both hands are turned on to fixate the animal (immobilize).
• After a first unsuccessful attempt, the bird can have the intention of catching it, which can cause subsequent attempts to become even more difficult. Therefore, try to estimate the situation in advance as well as possible.
• Try to force the injured bird in a corner.
• In the absence of specialised catch material, you can possibly throw a tea towel, a towel, a blanket or a coat over the bird.
• Nets (In particular a deep landing net) are very useful.
• With most birds, covering the head brings calmness and also reduces the risk of possible attacks to the catcher.
• For catching, it is recommended to identify the main ' weapon ' of the bird and then also check it first. That depends on the kind of bird: for birds of prey are that the claws (to a lesser extent the beak), for a heron or a cormorant it is  the beak and for a swan, the wings.
• The following applies to all types:
  • First and foremost keep the head under control (to avoid bites)
  • At the same time, ensure control over the wings to prevent flaps and that the bird could not injure itself.
  • The legs must be controled to prevent scratches or other wounds
  • There is always a risk to injure the bird by careless, or unconvenient treatment. Be careful.

Holding and carrying wild animals

• When gripping or holding an ailing, wild animal it is always important to ensure that stress and risk of additional injuries are limited. Furthermore, it is necessary to minimise the escape risk as well as the risk of hurting yourself (see basic points of interest). As a general rule: a firm but cautious grip on the animal.
• It is important to be aware that you're working with  (injured) wild animals. How quietly and calm they may seem , keep vigilant. The initial shock after the original injuries can fading relatively quickly (e.g. during a drive), which can cause the animal to suddenly become very active or possible aggressive.
• Most wild animals keep themselves relatively calm and are less stressed if they can't see people around themselves. The cover of the eyes/head is thus best applied as quickly as possible in every possible situation (with a towel, blanket, jacket, sweater, T-shirt...).
• Covering the eyes also ensures that the animal does not know where to target its attacks. This also provides protection for the conveyor.
• If possible, wear gloves (see material list for info about gloves).
• Most animals will calm down to a certain extent if they are placed in a closed, dark spot. Limited space also ensures that the animal can be injured to a lesser extent.

Bird-specific guidelines

• Grabbing is usually very stressful for birds. They can be very stressed by any kind of 'handling '.
• Some birds can quickly strike (to the eyes) with their sharp beak.
• A bold but cautious approach:
  •  Avoid pressure on the body of smaller birds (this can cause breathing difficulties)
  • Small birds can be taken with one hand (head between index and middle finger andthumb around the body and legs between ring finger and pink)
  • Manipulate larger birds with two hands (the second hand supports the legs).
  • For some birds it is best to work with two people: e.g. in birds with a long neck and sharp beak. One person controls the head and the other wings and body. If available, use a safety goggles to protect the eyes.
  • Never hold the bird in front of someone's face.
  • Move the bird as quickly as possible into a transport box or cardboard box.
  • Do not look unnecessary in the box (minimize stress, additional injuries and danger).

The transport itself

• Make sure that the animals cannot escape from the box or coffin in which they sit  during the ride .
• Before you leave, check that you took all the intervention material with you .
• Ensure adequate ventilation and/or AC of the part of the car where the animals are in.
• Where it is possible, the crates are best not stacked, but better put side by side.
• Do not expose the animals to noise (e.g. car radio,...).
• Do not turn the heating too high.
• Avoid as much as possible abrupt driving or maneuvers during transport.
• Keep in mind when collecting/transporting multiple animals that some species and genders are better separated.
• Never leave the animals unguarded in the car.

Material list

• Gloves:
  • Latex: Thin gloves, reduce risk of zoonoses, offer (physically) only minimal protection, but cause loss of handling.
  • Working gloves (thick, in fabric or leather): Provide better physical protection against bites and claws. At the same time, they greatly reduce the sensitivity that can be important when handling wild animals.
• net/Landing net
• Quick release dog grasper
• Transport boxes (plastic or cardboard)
• cloth, tea towel, jacket, blanket...
• Protective Goggles
• Mouth caps (When you enter a closed space to catch birds or bats)
• pocket knife
• Flashlight
• wire cutter 
• ......