Injured/Abandoned Animals

Injured or ABANDONED raptors

The Jay C. Hormel Nature Center takes in ONLY raptors—hawks, eagles, falcons, and owls—found in Mower County. The JCHNC staff will triage the raptor. Next, with input from the University of Minnesota Raptor Center and veterinarian Dr. Mike Williams, we establish a care plan for the bird.

The Nature Center assists many birds of prey annually. If you find an injured hawk, owl, or eagle in Mower County, call Nature Center staff at 507-437-7519 for assistance.

The raptors are often transported to the Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota. We are always looking for volunteer drivers who are willing to transport an injured bird of prey to the Raptor Center. Contact the Nature Center staff for more information (507-437-7519 or info@hormelnaturecenter.org).

other INJURED OR ABANDONED animals

Have you found a critter that looks like it needs help that's not a bird of prey? Maybe a baby bird or bunny? We have some quick tips to make sure your interactions with baby wildlife are done the right way!
The Hormel nature center doesn't have permitting to work with any animal except birds of prey, so all other animals in need have to go to wildlife rehabilitation centers.

Quick Tips:

If the baby doesn't look injured the best thing to do is LEAVE IT BE! Mom's probably around somewhere (even if you can't see her, they always have great camouflage) and a lot of animal parents, like rabbits and deer, only visit their young for brief periods to help keep their scent off of them.
If it looks like the baby animal is not where it should be i.e. fallen out of a nest or left its grassy hole/home you may gently place the baby back where it came from. You can wear gloves if that makes you more comfortable but the mom will NOT abandon its offspring just because you touched it, we promise!
If the critter looks injured you can call the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota at 651-486-9453. This center is located up in Roseville MN but takes every native animal and should be able to help with questions. Their website can be found [here].

Other Helpful Tips:

If you have pets that roam your yard and you find a bunny nest have no fear! We have a solution for you. Take a clothes basket and tent stake it upside down over the nest while your pet is outside. Just be sure to remove it when your pet isn't outside so that the mom can visit her young still!
If a whole nest has fallen out of the tree you can secure a basket in the tree it fell out of and replace all the little ones and the parents will take it from there
If you have found a fawn laying down GIVE IT SPACE! It's mom has placed it there specifically thinking its a safe space for her baby and she will be back for it in the evening. If you get to close to the fawn you might spook it and it'll run, making it hard for mom and baby to reunite. So if this happens in your yard feel proud that you have a "safe space" deemed good enough by a protective mom-deer.

Reminder that the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center only has permitting to deal with raptors (birds of prey). All other animals will have to be dealt with via a wildlife rehabilitation center. The closest free one being: Wildlife Rehabilitation Center is in Roseville, Minnesota. You can transport the injured animal to 2530 Dale Street North, Roseville, MN, or contact them at 651-486-9453. The Nature Center does not offer transportation to this facility.

Thanks for caring for our native wildlife!!