Things You'll Need:
- Cat or small dog carrier
- Old towels
- Goggles or eyewear protection
- Paper towels or rags to clean up bird mess
- Large well-ventilated cage, kennel, dog carrier or cardboard box
- Syringe, pipette or eye-dropper
- Other person to help (if possible)
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Step 1
Determine how bad the injury or illness is. If you can touch the woodpecker and it doesn't fly away, it's bad. Notice if there is any swellings, bleeding or holding a limb awkwardly.
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Step 2
Preferably, get eye protection on, a pet carrier and a towel. If you have someone with you, have someone stay with the bird and then go get the equipment.
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Step 3
Call vet or local fish and game department for the contact information on where a bird rehabilitation place is. If the woodpecker is bad off, then it really needs help from people experienced with birds.
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Step 4
Keep the bird warm. This is important. Wrap the woodpecker in a towel and place under your shirt next to your skin.
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Step 5
Do not feed the bird when it's cold. It will eat, but will not be able to digest the food. Feeding at this point could do more harm than good.
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Step 6
When warmed up, you can offer the bird warmed Pedialyte, Gatorade or a mixture to give the bird needed fluids. Do not give cold drinks. You can make a mixture of 1 tablespoon salt, 3 tablespoons sugar in one quart of warm water. Feed every 15-30 minutes with a syringe, pipette or eye-dropper. Some birds can drink from a spoon or a water bowl, but they usually splash around more fluid than they drink.
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Step 7
When the woodpecker has stabilized, wrap in towel, place in carrier and get to the bird rehabilitation center.
