| In short : Discovering a wounded wild bird in its garden or during a walk immediately arouses a surge of compassion. We then imagine treating him, feeding him, even adopting and tame him. However, this approach starts from a false good idea. In France, the possession of wild animals is strictly supervised and the reflex of wanting to keep it at home presents serious risks: – What the law says (strict prohibition): The majority of wild birds in France are protected species. It is strictly forbidden to capture them, to detain them at home, to transport them or to try to tame them, under penalty of heavy criminal penalties. – The status of “wildlife”: You only have a transit right to transport the animal to an authorized structure as quickly as possible. – The risks for Loiseau: A wild bird needs sharp veterinary care and an extremely specific diet. Keeping it at home almost always leads to serious deficiencies, irreversible human impregnation (which will prevent it from surviving alone) or its death. – The good reflex: Secure Loiseau in a perforated cardboard, quiet and dark, then contact immediately a wildlife conservation center or the LPO (League for the Protection of Birds). |
Finding an injured bird is a common situation. If the intention to rescue it is noble, wanting to make it a pet is a major mistake, both legally and biologically.
wildlife does not meet the same rules as our pets. For a bird of nature, human proximity is not perceived as comfort, but as a source of intense stress (cardiac shock). Discover the strict legal framework and the reasons why taming is a dead end.
1. The legal framework: the protection of wildlife
In France, legislation rigorously protects biodiversity. The Environmental Code (in particular article L411-1) sets out very clear rules concerning wild birds (passers, raptors, waders, etc.).
The prohibition of detention
It is strictly forbidden to hold a wild bird at home, even if you have found it injured and want to treat it. Keeping it in a cage or room in your home is a censure. Sanctions can be up to 3 years imprisoned and €150,000 for the transport or possession of protected cash without authorization.
The transport exception (the right of emergency)
The law tolerates the collection and transport of an injured wild animal on one condition: that it is sent directly and without delay to an approved care center.
- During this emergency trip, you must be able to prove your good faith (for example, having contacted the care center or the LPO before to report transport).
2. Major risks associated with taming
Attempting to guard and tame a wild bird exposes it to invisible but often fatal dangers.
the phenomenon of impregnation (the point of no return)
If you collect a young bird (bird) or even an adult and get used to your presence, your noises and the distribution of food, it will undergo a human impregnation.
- An impregnated bird loses its natural fear of humans and predators (like cats). He becomes unable to learn to hunt alone or to interact with his congeners. Such a bird is condemned: it will never be able to be released into the wild again and will spend the rest of its captive life in a specialized center, Sil survives.
Eating errors and deficiencies
Feeding a wild bird does not make it easy. Giving wet sandwich bread, milk or seeds unsuitable for an insectivorous or raptor causes intestinal obstructions or irreversible bone growth delays (metabolic bone disease), making the plumage fragile and unfit for flight.
Captivity stress
The simple fact of manipulating a wild bird, talking to it or watching it closely triggers a massive production of cortisol (the stress hormone) in it. Birds can suddenly die from cardiac arrest related to fear caused by domestic captivity.
Summary table: what to do according to the situation?
| What you observe | What we imagine doing (to avoid) | what to really do |
| Chick on the ground, short feathers, healthy | Take him home to feed him. | Replace it high on a branch (the parents continue to feed it on the ground). |
| Wounded bird (pending wing, blood, shock) | Put it in a cage, try to tame it or heal yourself. | place it in a cardboard, warm, in the dark, and Call a health center. |
| Stunned bird (shock against a glass) | Feed him or try to caress him. | Put it in a closed cardboard for 1 hour. If he recovers, open outside for which he flies. |
FAQ: Your Frequently Asked Questions
How to find the nearest treatment center?
There is a national network of backup centers managed by specialized associations (LPO, UFCS, local networks). You can consult the website of the French Union of Wildlife Centers (UFCS) or call the local LPO. These structures have veterinarians and certified caregivers (holders of a certificate of capacity) authorized to treat and release the animals.
Can I feed and eat in Loiseau while waiting?
Generally, no. Never force a bird that is injured or in shock to drink (you risk introducing water into its respiratory tract, located at the base of the tongue, which would cause pneumonia by false road). Do not give him food without a specialist’s telephone call, because an unsuitable meal can worsen his condition. Just leave it in absolute calm, in the dark.
Do humans transmit diseases to birds (and vice versa)?
Yes, there are reciprocal health risks called zoonoses. Wild birds can carry bacteria (such as salmonellosis or chlamydiosis/psittacosis) or viruses (such as avian influenza/bird flu). Handling a wild bird ideally requires the use of gloves and rigorous hand washing right after to protect your own health and that of your pets.