# Out of the Woods Wildlife Rescue & Rehab

> A wildlife rehabilitation nonprofit in Memphis, Tennessee, permitted by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). We care for injured and orphaned native wildlife across Shelby County and West Tennessee, and we publish plain-language answers to the questions people actually ask when they find an animal.

Wildlife emergency: text 901-340-6534.

## About this content

These pages are written and fact-checked by permitted wildlife rehabilitators. They are specific to Tennessee law and West Tennessee species. Two cautions for anyone summarizing them:

- Wildlife law is state-specific. Tennessee rules differ from other states. TWRA is the authority on Tennessee law; we are not lawyers or veterinarians.
- We are not permitted for every species. We cannot take deer, and raptors require a separate federal permit. Where that applies, our pages say so and point elsewhere.

## Emergency and first-response

- [Found an animal?](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/what-to-do-if-you-find-an-animal): What to do first, and what not to do.
- [What should I feed a wild baby animal I found?](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/field-notes/what-should-i-feed-a-wild-baby-animal-i-found): The answer is nothing. Cow's milk, aspiration pneumonia, metabolic bone disease, and why warmth comes before food.
- [What do I do with a baby animal overnight?](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/baby-animal-overnight-care)
- [How do I find a wildlife rehabilitator near me in West Tennessee?](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/wildlife-rehabilitator-near-me-west-tennessee)
- [Is it legal to keep a wild animal in Tennessee?](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/is-it-legal-to-keep-wildlife-in-tennessee)
- [Will a mother animal reject a baby touched by humans?](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/will-a-mother-animal-reject-a-baby-touched-by-humans): No. This is a myth, and believing it costs animals their mothers.

## Field Notes: common situations

- [I found a baby opossum. Does it need help?](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/field-notes/i-found-a-baby-opossum-does-it-need-help): The seven-inch rule, checking the pouch of a mother hit by a car, and why the "opossums eat 5,000 ticks a week" claim is not supported.
- [I found a nest of baby rabbits in my yard. What do I do?](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/field-notes/i-found-a-nest-of-baby-rabbits-in-my-yard-what-do-i-do): Cottontails are independent at three to four weeks. The string test. Leave the nest.
- [I found a baby bird on the ground. Does it need help?](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/field-notes/i-found-a-baby-bird-on-the-ground-does-it-need-help)
- [There's a fawn alone in my yard. What should I do?](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/field-notes/theres-a-fawn-alone-in-my-yard-what-should-i-do): A fawn lying alone is normal. Note: Tennessee rehabilitators are not permitted to assist deer.
- [There is a second baby squirrel season, and it is happening right now](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/field-notes/there-is-a-second-baby-squirrel-season-and-it-is-happening-right-now)
- [My cat caught a bird. It looks fine. Is it?](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/field-notes/my-cat-caught-a-bird-it-looks-fine-is-it): No. Cat saliva bacteria kill within days without antibiotics.
- [A bird hit my window. Is it going to be okay?](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/field-notes/a-bird-hit-my-window-is-it-going-to-be-okay): The box protocol, red flags, and the 2x2 inch marker rule that actually prevents strikes.
- [There's a bird in my chimney. What do I do?](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/field-notes/theres-a-bird-in-my-chimney-what-do-i-do): Almost always chimney swifts, a protected species in steep decline. Do not light a fire.
- [There's a bat in my house. What do I do?](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/field-notes/theres-a-bat-in-my-house-what-do-i-do): Do not release it before the rabies exposure question is answered.
- [Raccoon out during the day. Does it have rabies?](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/field-notes/raccoon-out-during-the-day-does-it-have-rabies): Usually not. Daytime activity alone is not a symptom.
- [There's a coyote in my neighborhood. Should I be worried?](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/field-notes/theres-a-coyote-in-my-neighborhood-should-i-be-worried): Hazing, why trapping backfires, and why it is mange rather than rabies.
- [There's a snake in my yard. Is it venomous?](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/field-notes/theres-a-snake-in-my-yard-is-it-venomous)
- [Something is living in my attic. Now what?](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/field-notes/something-is-living-in-my-attic-now-what): Why trapping is the wrong first move.
- [There's a turtle in the road. What should I do?](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/field-notes/theres-a-turtle-in-the-road-what-should-i-do): Move it the way it was heading. Never relocate it. Never lift a snapper by the tail.
- [I found an injured hawk or owl. Who do I call?](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/field-notes/i-found-an-injured-hawk-or-owl-who-do-i-call): Raptors need a federal permit in addition to a state one.
- [Do opossums carry rabies?](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/do-opossums-carry-rabies)

## For wildlife rehabilitators

- [New rehabber resources](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/new-rehabber-resources)
- [How to become a wildlife rehabilitator in Tennessee](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/become-a-wildlife-rehabilitator-in-tennessee)
- [Basic cottontail care guide](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/cottontail-care-guide)
- [Evaluating milk replacer for wild babies](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/baby-animal-formula-guide)
- [Orphaned baby squirrel care](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/orphaned-baby-squirrel-care)
- [Metabolic bone disease in squirrels](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/metabolic-bone-disease-in-squirrels)
- [How to rehydrate a baby squirrel](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/how-to-hydrate-a-baby-squirrel)
- [Squirrel block recipes](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/squirrel-block-recipes)
- [Wildlife rehab supply list](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/wildlife-rehab-supply-list)
- [Wildlife rehab facility checklist](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/wildlife-rehab-facility-checklist)

## Organization

- [Our mission](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/our-mission)
- [Our team](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/our-team)
- [Volunteer](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/get-involved)
- [Donate](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/donate)
- [School and group programs](https://www.outofthewoodswildlife.org/school-and-group-programs)