Sick or Injured Wildlife --
Things You Should Know
Sick or injured wildlife can pose a danger to you or others. Rabies is one potential danger from wildlife. Rabies is a virus that attacks nerves and brain tissue of most animals.When an animal is sick with rabies, it can be spread to other animals or people through a bite or scratch. Most rabies is found in wildlife such as skunks and raccoons.
If You Encounter Sick or Injured Wildlife
- First, make sure you are safely away from the animal.
- Do not approach the animal. When you approach an injured animal, it must decide to fight or run. If the animal is unable to run away, it may choose to fight—causing a danger to you or others.
- Leave the animal alone if possible. If left alone, the animal will usually leave the area or eventually die.
Animal Threats
If an animal poses an immediate threat to pets or people, call the Columbus Public Health veterinarian at (614) 645-6748 or call 3-1-1 (645-3111).
Reporting Animal Bites or Scratches
To report an animal bite or scratch, call:
Columbus Public Health at (614) 645-7288 - or -
Franklin County Board of Health at (614) 462-3160
Wildlife on Private Property
In Columbus, a property owner has the right to remove or kill wildlife that is on their property, as long as it does not violate federal or state laws concerning those animals. You cannot, however, fire a weapon to kill an animal in the City of Columbus. If you are unsure, call 3-1-1 or the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife at (614) 644-3925.
When the animal is on public property, the police or sheriff may dispatch (kill) a suffering animal. Trapping or moving an animal may be an option. Raccoons, skunks, opossums, beavers, coyotes, and foxes, however, cannot be moved in Ohio unless they are then taken to an approved (state certified) wildlife rehabilitator, such as the Ohio Wildlife Center at (614) 793-9453.
Again, call 3-1-1 if you have questions or contact a local pest control/removal company.
Dead Animals
Do not handle dead animals. If there is a dead animal in a City street, contact the City’s Refuse Department at 3-1-1 (645-3111) for removal.
More on Injured Wildlife
Ohio Department of Natural Resources