ReWilding explains how to care for injured animal
- WISH-TV Indianapolis
- 12 minutes ago
- 1 min read
“Pet Pals TV" host Patty sat down with Stephanie Baker and Dr. Crystal Matt from Rewilding Indiana to discuss wildlife rehabilitation and what to do if you find an injured or orphaned animal.
ReWilding Indiana, based in Fortville, provides wildlife rehabilitation, rescue, education and hospital care. The organization is currently caring for numerous animals during baby season, including groundhogs, skunks, squirrels and raccoons.
Baker has been fostering a prairie dog named koa after someone found him walking in circles on a road. The animal was sick and dehydrated when he arrived.
“There are a lot of animals that, you know, the moms get hit and then you end up with the young ones and you try to rehab them so you can let them go,” Baker said.
Dr. Matt works at the wildlife hospital through the Avon Exotic Animal Clinic of Indianapolis, located northwest of Indianapolis near the pyramids. She says treating wildlife differs from treating domestic animals because the primary goal is to return them to their natural habitat.
Dr. Matt advised people who encounter animals in distress to call a wildlife rehabilitator before attempting a rescue. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources website lists rehabilitators by county, including the animals they accept and contact information.
To learn more, watch the video and meet little Koa!
