In general the less intervention that is done with mammals, the better. Left alone, mammal mothers will retrieve and take care of their babies. Exceptions to this would be when the baby is too cold, sick or injured for the mother to care for; when the mother has been trapped or killed; or when human intervention has so terrified the mother that she has abandoned the nest. If you are not sure the mother is gone, wait and see if the mother returns to reclaim the babies.

Most incidents occur when humans disturb a nest. Raccoons like to nest in chimneys, attics and crawl spaces, while squirrels prefer attics and skunks under decks. The species specific sections below contain information that describes instances when babies should be rescued and when they should be returned to the nest.

Rescue Phone Numbers in Southern California

Badgers: Simi Valley: 805-428-7105
Bats: Poway Wildlife Center: 858-705-4949
Malibu: 818-222-2658
Chris/Ojai: 805-646-2496
South Bay: 310-365-5656
Bobcats: Simi Valley: 805-428-7105
Coyotes: Malibu: 818-222-2658
Simi Valley: 805-428-7105
Opossums: Bellflower: (562) 804-3038
Los Angeles: 323- 395-3328
Malibu: 310-480-1760 / 818-222-2658
Dora/Santa Clarita: 443-955-2963
Moorpark: 805-551 -2328
Simi Valley: 805-428-7105
Rabbits: Malibu: 818-222-2658
Simi Valley: 805-428-7105
Raccoons: Camarillo: 805-482-4127
Simi Valley: 805- 428-7105
Dora / Santa Clarita: 443-955-2963
Woodland Hills: 818-347-6021
Skunks: Simi Valley: 805-428-7105
Camarillo: 805-482-4127
Squirrels: Thousand Oaks: 805-338-0481
Simi Valley: 805-210-6431
Sunland: 818-402-6216
Malibu: 310-480-1760 / 818-222-2658