Frequently asked questions

First observe from a safe distance, avoid noise and keep people and pets away. Assess whether there is immediate danger and contact a specialist centre, environmental officers or emergency services if you do not know how to act.

No. In many cases, helping means observing, reducing risks, notifying the appropriate service or leaving the animal where it is. Picking it up unnecessarily may separate it from its parents, increase its stress or hinder its recovery.

It may need help if it has wounds, is bleeding, is markedly weak, has difficulty moving, is trapped, is at risk from traffic or has been attacked by another animal. If you have reasonable concerns, seek guidance before handling it.

Do not automatically pick it up. Observe whether it is injured, in danger or exposed. Many young animals are being cared for by their parents even if they appear alone. If there is a real risk or you are unsure, contact a wildlife rescue centre or the responsible service.

A nestling usually has few feathers or visible down and should normally be in the nest. A fledgling is more fully feathered, can hop or move along the ground, and its parents usually continue feeding it while it learns. There are exceptions in some species, so seek guidance if you are unsure.

The following advice on handling, freeing animals, containers and transport excludes all snakes, including non-venomous snakes and vipers, and any animal that could be a snake. In those cases, do not try to pick it up, capture it, handle it, free it or transport it, even if you think you have identified the species; keep your distance and contact a specialist centre if it needs help or poses a danger. For other animals: Only if there is immediate danger, such as traffic, domestic predators or an unsafe area. Whenever possible, keep it close to where it was found so as not to break the connection with the adults. If you are unsure whether to move it, seek guidance before acting.

This should only be done by following the exact instructions of a specialist centre or professional. Do not put water directly into its beak or mouth, or force it to drink. If the instructions are unclear, make contact again before acting.

The following advice on handling, freeing animals, containers and transport excludes all snakes, including non-venomous snakes and vipers, and any animal that could be a snake. In those cases, do not try to pick it up, capture it, handle it, free it or transport it, even if you think you have identified the species; keep your distance and contact a specialist centre if it needs help or poses a danger. For other animals: Avoid handling it unless necessary to move it out of immediate danger. Keep people and pets away, reduce noise and do not give food or water. Contact a wildlife rescue centre, Agentes Forestales or emergency services according to the situation.

The following advice on handling, freeing animals, containers and transport excludes all snakes, including non-venomous snakes and vipers, and any animal that could be a snake. In those cases, do not try to pick it up, capture it, handle it, free it or transport it, even if you think you have identified the species; keep your distance and contact a specialist centre if it needs help or poses a danger. For other animals: Do not pull the animal or force its wings, legs, neck or tail. Observe how it is trapped, consider your safety and seek specialist help. Photographs or videos taken without disturbing it may help assess the intervention.

It may be a fledgling, a weakened animal or an injured individual. Look for wounds, danger or unusual behaviour, and do not throw the animal into the air to see whether it can fly. If unsure, seek guidance before handling it.

Do not handle it unnecessarily. If it is on a road or poses a risk, notify the responsible service. For protected species, road casualties, poisoning or suspected wildlife crime, contact environmental officers, SEPRONA or emergency services.

This does not always mean it is injured: it may be a fledgling. Observe its plumage, posture, whether the parents are present and any visible signs of injury before intervening. Do not throw it into the air to see whether it can fly.

The following advice on handling, freeing animals, containers and transport excludes all snakes, including non-venomous snakes and vipers, and any animal that could be a snake. In those cases, do not try to pick it up, capture it, handle it, free it or transport it, even if you think you have identified the species; keep your distance and contact a specialist centre if it needs help or poses a danger. For other animals: Only if specialists instruct you to, or if it is essential to move it out of immediate danger and you can do so safely. Use gloves or a cloth where necessary, avoid direct contact and handle it as little as possible. Some species may bite, scratch or experience greater stress when held.

Do not give food or water without specialist instructions. Incorrect feeding, forced fluids or certain foods can worsen its condition.

The following advice on handling, freeing animals, containers and transport excludes all snakes, including non-venomous snakes and vipers, and any animal that could be a snake. In those cases, do not try to pick it up, capture it, handle it, free it or transport it, even if you think you have identified the species; keep your distance and contact a specialist centre if it needs help or poses a danger. For other animals: If instructed to transport it, follow the instructions you receive, as the container and method of transport depend on its species, size and condition. A well-ventilated, securely closed cardboard box can be used for many birds and small animals, but is not suitable for every case. Do not attempt to transport large or dangerous animals yourself, or animals you cannot contain safely.

Wildlife should not be kept at home except temporarily on instructions from a responsible service. Contact professionals or authorities who can take charge of the case as soon as possible.

The following advice on handling, freeing animals, containers and transport excludes all snakes, including non-venomous snakes and vipers, and any animal that could be a snake. In those cases, do not try to pick it up, capture it, handle it, free it or transport it, even if you think you have identified the species; keep your distance and contact a specialist centre if it needs help or poses a danger. For other animals: For temporary transport, a sturdy, ventilated, closed cardboard box suited to the animal's size is usually preferable. A cage may lead to collisions, entanglement or repeated escape attempts. This depends on the species and the instructions received.

The following advice on handling, freeing animals, containers and transport excludes all snakes, including non-venomous snakes and vipers, and any animal that could be a snake. In those cases, do not try to pick it up, capture it, handle it, free it or transport it, even if you think you have identified the species; keep your distance and contact a specialist centre if it needs help or poses a danger. For other animals: It should allow the animal to maintain a natural posture and settle comfortably, but should not be so large that it moves around or collides with the sides during transport. It must be well ventilated and securely closed.

The following advice on handling, freeing animals, containers and transport excludes all snakes, including non-venomous snakes and vipers, and any animal that could be a snake. In those cases, do not try to pick it up, capture it, handle it, free it or transport it, even if you think you have identified the species; keep your distance and contact a specialist centre if it needs help or poses a danger. For other animals: Reduce noise, light, handling, people nearby and contact with pets. Keep the animal somewhere quiet, safe, dark or dimly lit and at a moderate temperature while following the instructions received. If a professional tells you to partly cover the animal, use a light cloth and make sure you do not restrict its breathing or raise its temperature. Do not try this with large or dangerous animals, or animals you cannot handle safely.

Needs vary according to the animal's species, age and condition. Incorrect feeding or improperly administered fluids can worsen the situation.

Call 112 if there is danger to people, traffic, fire, a health risk, a large animal in an urban area or on a road, or if you do not know which organisation is responsible in your area.

Depending on the case and area, this may be a wildlife rescue centre, forest or environmental officers, local police, SEPRONA or emergency services. Prepare the basic information about the case so you can communicate it clearly.

State the species or type of animal if known, its apparent condition, observed signs, precise location, nearby risks and whether you have photographs or videos. Also explain what you have already done and whether the animal is still there.

Remain at a safe distance from which you can locate the animal and report its position, provided doing so poses no risk. Keep it in sight until you receive instructions or the dispatched services arrive.

The location helps assess urgency, find the animal and refer the report to the appropriate service. Coordinates are usually more precise than a verbal description of the place.

No. SOS Fauna España is an independent guidance project. It does not represent public authorities, emergency services, police forces or wildlife rescue centres.

No. The app provides guidance and helps prepare a report, but does not replace professional assessment or intervention by official or emergency services.

Some features and content may remain available offline if previously loaded or if SOS Fauna España is installed on the device. Maps, sending information and some external resources may require a connection.

Report data is stored locally on your device when needed to resume a report, keep a history or prepare the summary. It is not automatically sent to SOS Fauna España's own servers.

Photographs and videos are used to prepare the report and may be saved locally or to the gallery if you choose. They are not attached to messages automatically: share them manually if you consider it necessary.

Yes. The app can retain unfinished reports on your device so you can resume them later, provided you do not delete the local data or corresponding history.

Yes. The History section lets you view recently saved reports and copy their summaries again. Reports are kept on the device used and may disappear if browser or app data is deleted.