Animals in trouble

Before you take action, you need to know the following:

Depending on which animal you come across, there are several options to seek help and / or advice, given the species you have found:

• Protected species
• Hunting object
• Farm animals
• Dogs, cats

In the case of PROTECTED SPECIES included in Annexes 3 and 4 of the Biodiversity Act:
In these cases you should contact the relevant Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water (RIEW), in whose territory you are, and you can use the telephone number 112 as an intermediary. RIEW experts assess the condition of the animal. In case he can survive without intervention, he is left on the spot, otherwise he is sent for treatment and breeding to a rescue center.

You can contact:
Ministry of Environment and Water
Green Phone RIEW in the territory where you are;

Cases in which there is no need or human intervention is dangerous:

Before taking action, please make sure that the animal you have found is actually in distress, ie has visible physical damage or is in life-threatening conditions.
In many cases of animals found in an urban environment, for which assistance is sought from the relevant competent institution, you can take care of yourself without having to seek other help. Of course, it is good to seek a second opinion, in the face of the RIEW or the Wildlife Rescue Center of the Green Balkans.
The care of injured animals is also a matter of ethical treatment of animals, not only by people in the field of nature protection.

• In the case of HUNTING SITES:

Competent authority: the Regional Directorate of Forestry (RDF) or the State Forestry (SFS) in the territory where you are located.

• In the case of AGRICULTURAL ANIMALS:

Competent authority: The Regional Directorate for Food Safety (RFSD), on whose territory you are located.

• In the case of a DOG OR CAT:

You can look for the municipal kennel, the municipality or non-governmental organizations in the region, whose activities are aimed at these animals.

You can get the green phones of these institutions from the operators of 112.

• What to do when we find a young bird?

Not always, when you find a young bird outside its nest, it means that it is in distress. After hatching the chicks begin a long period of rearing.
Two types of offspring are observed in birds:
In the first type (songbirds - Kos, Titmouse, Zelenika, Goldfinch) the chicks hatch naked and helpless. They cannot procure their own food and rely entirely on their parents to leave the nest to provide it;
The second type of newly hatched (crows - Raven, Sokeritsa, Gray Crow, Magpie, Jackdaw, Sowing Crow, and Owls - Forest Eared Owl, Owl, Owl, Veiled Owl) are species in which the young leave the nest early and the adults feed them on from the branches of the tree.
When it comes to rescuing baby birds, you should first keep in mind that not every case is a disaster species. Call the relevant competent authority for advice before taking any action, unless an urgent response is required.

• If you find: a little songbird (blackbird, titmouse, periwinkle, goldfinch)

Look for the nest in the branches of the nearest tree, bush or in the surrounding buildings. If you find it and it is available to you, return the little one to it.
a young crow bird (crow, crow, gray crow, magpie, jackdaw, crow, jay), as well as a young owl (forest-eared owl, barn owl, owl, veiled owl, etc.) fallen to the ground, climb it on a high branch of a a nearby tree in the area where you found it.
young swallow fallen from the nest - find any swallow nest of the same species available to you and place the little one (s) there.
swift, including an adult - if the bird is without visible injuries, pick it up and place it on a vertical surface, or lightly toss it several times in the air. (The reason the bird is unable to fly off the ground is its short legs and wing position. Because these birds are rock species, they spend most of their time flying or landing on steep surfaces, where they are easily repelled. )
bat on the ground - if during the day - store the bat in a quiet and dark place, preferably in a box. Release it in the evening, leaving it high, on a vertical surface - terrace, other building. (Bats, like swifts, are rock species and cannot fly off horizontal surfaces).
a bit of a stork in downy plumage, probably pushed by other storks. In case the socket is on an electric pole, seek help from the local electricity distribution company through the mayor of the settlement to return it to the socket to his parents. (This does not apply to semi-feathered adults, as it is possible for the others to fall out of the nest, due to the stress of approaching the nest).
Storks in winter - often one or more birds stay longer in Bulgaria in places where there is enough food - usually near rivers and dams. If a place has a sufficient supply of food, it is possible for the birds to stay longer there, and sometimes all winter.

• What should we do if we find some mammals?

In cases where the young allow themselves to be caught, they are often still very young and often even blind. If you find the nest or hollow from which the baby fell, it is best to try to return it.
If it's big enough, but still catch it, put it in a safe place.
If you find a little wild bunny, deer or fox in the field or forest DO NOT TAKE IT, it is not abandoned. This is common behavior for these species. The little ones stay hidden while the parents look for food.

• What should we do if we find a tortoise?

If it is found on a road or other busy place, move it to a safe distance from it, in the direction it is headed, and leave it there. Land turtles are a protected species and should not be kept as pets.
Small and newly hatched turtles are just as capable of surviving on their own as adults, although they seem more vulnerable. As a rule - do not take a turtle if you are not absolutely sure that it is in trouble - visibly injured, found in a populated area or private property. If such a situation occurs - report to the competent authorities.
When finding eggs - put them in a suitable size box, a little soil from where they were found. Under no circumstances should you rotate or turn them, they must maintain their position.

• IN CASES WHEN A WOUNDED WILD ANIMAL HAS TO BE COLLECTED:

First and foremost, take care of your own safety - always wear gloves or handy materials to protect yourself.
Store the animal in a quiet place in a cardboard box, pre-lined with newspapers, old rags or grass and with sufficient access to air.
If the animal is still naked (without fur or down) put in the box a small bottle of hot water, but wrapped in a piece of cloth so that the little one does not come into direct contact with it and burn. This will mimic the warmth of the mother's body. Replace the bottle periodically, taking care not to pinch the baby, and notify the competent authorities immediately.