A Helping Hand: Assisting Injured Cranes and Other Wildlife

At the International Crane Foundation’s global headquarters in Wisconsin, we have all 15 species of crane, many for purposes of breeding and maintaining the valuable genetic lines of several endangered species. That responsibility, however, prevents us from taking in any injured cranes. Wild birds have the potential to carry a variety of diseases, such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), which could cause significant harm to the population in our care. That is a risk we cannot take.
If you’ve identified an injured or sick Sandhill or Whooping Crane, avoid contact with the bird. Aside from the possible transmission of infectious diseases, the untrained capture or handling of a sick or injured bird could cause elevated stress to the crane and exacerbate the issue.
For an injured or sick Sandhill Crane, the best thing you can do is contact a licensed avian rehabilitator. If you observe an injured Whooping Crane, please report your sighting here. Our Whooping Crane monitoring team will receive your report.
In Wisconsin, you can view a list of local rehabilitators on the Department of Natural Resources website. Our team is available to answer questions or recommend rehabilitators in the state who have the expertise and facilities to work with cranes. If in another state or location, we recommend contacting your local natural resources or wildlife agency for assistance.
Saving cranes truly takes a flock! We thank you for your continued support and love of cranes and the places where they dance.
Photo: Sandhill Crane by Ted Thousand