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When you find an injured wild animal, it is best to call an expert for advice on the particular situation. Some veterinarians specialize in wild animal rehabilitation or in particular species. The Animal Control Officer in your town will be able to assess the safety of approaching the animal and the likelihood of being able to cure it. If the animal is likely to survive its injury but unlikely to be able to live in the wild-for example, a bird with a broken wing that will never fly again-many experts will recommend allowing it to die.

Not every injured animal can be saved. Each species reacts differently to injury, infection, and illness. For example, a foot injury that appears mild to a human can be serious to a deer. Medical treatment can prolong a wild creature's agony, as it may not understand that it is being helped and it may be more frightened by the human help than by the injury. The animal may not have the "will to survive" that people can muster when told they have a fighting chance. On the other hand, giving an animal an antibiotic to cure a simple infection can be understood positively as treating it with the same respect and compassion one would show to a human.

Injured animals that can no longer defend themselves often become prey for others. But others, having wandered from their nests or been struck by cars, will never be found by predators. Some are even toyed with and left wounded by fat housecats who have no appetite for them. So not every rescued animal deprives a predator of its prey.

Of course, it makes a huge difference whether the animal in question is endangered or common. A sea turtle or eagle requires an urgent phone call to authorities, whereas a mouse or toad can be left well enough alone. You may want to consider the environmental impact of helping the animal: Can you sit and watch while a rare bluebird passes away? Do you really want to burn four gallons of gas to transport a sickly fawn that is just going to grow up to gnaw at your fruit trees?

And then, sometimes, such rational calculations are swept away by the imperative of compassion.

Learn more about this author, Tucker Lieberman.
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