Found an injured owl or bird in Puerto Rico? What to do

Step 1: confirm the bird needs help

Not every bird on the ground is injured. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), a chick that is featherless or has its eyes closed is a nestling that still needs the nest; if you can find and reach the nest, simply put it back: your scent will not make the parents reject it. A fledgling has more developed feathers and can hop and flutter on its own; often its parents are still nearby feeding it.

Mass Audubon suggests watching a young bird for a couple of hours: if it can walk, hop, and flap, or if adults are nearby, leave it alone. A bird that hit a window may recover on its own if you protect it from predators in a closed box. Get help right away if you see blood, a drooping wing, a leg at a bad angle, a bird caught by a cat, or a bird that cannot stand.

Step 2: call the DRNA

In Puerto Rico the agency that handles injured wildlife is the DRNA, through its Ranger Corps. In its releases, the DRNA asks that if you see an owl or other species in danger you call the Ranger Corps at 787-724-5700 or bring the animal to any of its regional stations. The DRNA's main line is 787-999-2200, with office hours Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; a 2025 Ciencia Puerto Rico article gives extension 2911 for the Ranger Corps.

Call before moving the bird a long distance. The USFWS advises always coordinating with professionals before transporting an animal, because every case is different and you may be asked to take it to a specific place. Have the exact location, time, species if you know it, and a photo ready: that information helps the rangers decide how to respond.

Step 3: contain the bird without stressing it

Injured birds go into shock easily, so the goal is to reduce stress. Mass Audubon recommends placing the bird in a small box ventilated at the top and putting it in a dark, quiet place away from drafts, noise, children, and pets. Handle it as little as possible and do not keep opening the box to check on it.

With owls and hawks, protect your hands: the Puerto Rican Owl has sharp claws and a pointed bill that it uses as precise tools. The USFWS warns against trying to trap an injured bird before consulting a professional, so call first. If you are asked to contain it, use thick gloves or a towel to lift it gently; if the bird runs off or is large, do not chase it and wait for the rangers.

What not to do

Do not give it food, milk, bread, or water. Mass Audubon advises against force-feeding and says to remove water before transport, and the USFWS warns that improper food is especially dangerous for young animals. Besides, the Puerto Rican Owl's diet is entirely animal, large insects and small vertebrates, so household food is no use to it.

Do not take the bird home to nurse it, and do not release it somewhere else on your own. The USFWS notes that it is illegal to take a wild animal home to care for it or keep it as a pet. In Puerto Rico, rescued owls are also released near where they were found to keep the population cohesive, something only the DRNA can coordinate.

Why the law does not let you keep it

Puerto Rico's Wildlife Act (Law 241-1999) declares wildlife the property of Puerto Rico. Its Article 6 makes it illegal to possess or keep in captivity any wild animal species, native or migratory, except for scientific, educational, or recovery purposes with written authorization from the DRNA Secretary. It also prohibits possessing, transporting, taking, or destroying individuals, nests, eggs, or young without prior authorization.

At the federal level, the Puerto Rican Owl, Short-eared Owl, Barn Owl, and many other native birds are on the Migratory Bird Treaty Act list, which applies in Puerto Rico. The USFWS explains that rehabilitating most birds requires federal permits, along with training and approved facilities. That is why legal, effective help always ends with the DRNA.

What happens next: the Cambalache center

The DRNA rehabilitates native wildlife at its Native Species Rehabilitation and Exotic Species Management Center in Cambalache Forest, Arecibo. In February 2026 it was caring for seven native birds, including a Peregrine Falcon, a Red-tailed Hawk, and three woodpeckers. In 2019 the DRNA released a rehabilitated Puerto Rican Owl there, along with Puerto Rican Woodpeckers, a Red-tailed Hawk, and American Kestrels.

Owl cases show why reporting matters. In 2015 a citizen brought the rangers a Barn Owl chick with a broken leg; checking the site, they found a nest with more chicks and adults, the first documented for the species in Puerto Rico. Vehicle strikes and cat attacks are among the Puerto Rican Owl's threats, so keeping cats indoors and driving slowly at night near wooded areas are also ways to help.

Who do I call about an injured bird in Puerto Rico?

The DRNA Ranger Corps at 787-724-5700, the number the DRNA publishes for reporting wildlife in danger, or the DRNA at 787-999-2200. You can also bring the bird to a regional Ranger Corps station. Call before transporting it.

What do I do if I find a baby owl on the ground?

If it is featherless or its eyes are closed and you can see the nest, put it back: your scent will not make the parents reject it. If it is feathered and hopping, watch from a distance for a couple of hours, because the parents are often nearby. If it is injured or in danger, call the DRNA.

What should I feed an injured owl?

Nothing. Do not give food or water: it can make things worse. Put it in a ventilated box in a dark, quiet place and call the DRNA, which handles feeding and rehabilitation.

Is it legal to keep a Puerto Rican Owl at home?

No. Law 241-1999 prohibits keeping native or migratory wildlife in captivity without written DRNA authorization, and the Puerto Rican Owl is also protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Even if you mean to care for it, hand it over to the DRNA.

Where does the DRNA rehabilitate injured birds?

At its Native Species Rehabilitation and Exotic Species Management Center in Cambalache Forest, Arecibo. It has cared for Puerto Rican Owls, Red-tailed Hawks, falcons, and woodpeckers, which are released once they are ready.

What do I do if a bird hit my window?

Place it in a closed, ventilated box in a quiet spot safe from cats, and watch it. Many stunned birds recover on their own; if it does not recover or is bleeding, call the DRNA.