How to make a safe rescue box for a bird or small animal
Rescue guide · Last reviewed
Short answer
Almost every rescue call ends with the same instruction: put it in a box. It sounds trivial, and the details are where rescues quietly go wrong — a wire cage that shreds tail feathers, a towel that snags a claw, a lid left open so the bird escapes into the room.
Two minutes spent making the box properly is worth more than anything else a member of the public can do for a rescued bird.
How to make a rescue box
You will need: A cardboard box slightly larger than the animal · A pen, skewer or scissors for air holes · A soft cloth, cotton t-shirt or paper towel · Tape for the lid
- 1
Pick the right size box
Slightly larger than the animal is ideal. Too small and it cannot settle; too large and it thrashes about and injures itself in transit. Cardboard is better than plastic because it breathes, and much better than a wire cage, which breaks tail and wing feathers within minutes.
- 2
Punch air holes from the inside out
Push the pen or skewer outward through the walls so the ragged edges face outside the box. Holes punched inward leave sharp cardboard points aimed at the animal. Put a dozen or so around the upper sides, not only in the lid.
- 3
Line it with the right fabric
Use a smooth cotton cloth, an old t-shirt or a few sheets of paper towel. Avoid terry towelling and anything knitted or looped — claws and beaks catch in loops, and a bird can dislocate a toe struggling to get free. For a chick, shape the cloth into a shallow cup.
- 4
Close the lid and secure it
Tape the lid or fold the flaps closed. A recovering bird becomes lively very suddenly, and one loose in a room is far harder and more dangerous to catch than one that never got out. Never transport an open box on a lap or a bike.
- 5
Keep it dark, quiet and stable
Put the box somewhere indoors at normal room temperature, out of direct sun and away from fans and air conditioning. In a vehicle, place it in the footwell or wedged on a seat so it cannot slide, keep the music off and the windows up, and drive smoothly.
Do
- Label the box with the date, exactly where you found the animal, and what you saw.
- Add a covered warm-water bottle beside a cold or very small bird — beside the box, not inside it.
- Keep the box closed the entire time, including during handover.
- Keep it away from pets, children, cooking smoke and loud television.
Do not
- Do not use a wire cage, a plastic bag, or a sealed container.
- Do not put food or a water bowl inside — a spilled bowl leaves a wet, chilled bird.
- Do not use terry towelling, netting, or anything with loops and loose threads.
- Do not open the box to show people, or to photograph what is inside.
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Mumbai bird and animal rescue helpline numbers, listed area by area.
Open the rescue helplineFrequently asked
What kind of box should I put a rescued bird in?
A cardboard box slightly larger than the bird, with air holes punched from the inside outward, lined with a smooth cloth or paper towel, and with the lid closed. Cardboard breathes and is safe; wire cages break tail and wing feathers within minutes.
Should I put food or water in the rescue box?
No. A shocked or injured bird cannot swallow reliably, and a spilled water bowl leaves it wet and chilled — a serious problem on top of its injury. Leave feeding and fluids to the rescuer or vet.
How do I transport a rescued bird in a car or on public transport?
Keep the box closed and wedged where it cannot slide — a footwell is ideal. Keep music off and windows up, avoid air conditioning blowing directly on it, and drive smoothly. Never carry an open box on your lap or on a two-wheeler.
Should I keep the rescue box warm?
Room temperature is right for most birds. If the bird is cold, wet or very small, put a covered warm-water bottle beside the box rather than inside it, so it can move away from the heat. Never use a direct heat source or place the box in the sun.
This guide covers containment and transport first aid only — the same advice rescue groups give over the phone. It is not veterinary treatment and does not replace a vet. Any injured, sick or orphaned wild animal should be handed to a registered rescue group or a veterinarian as soon as possible.