HOUSTON — Hundreds of injured and abandoned animals are currently being treated at the Wildlife Center of Texasfollowing Thursday’s destructive storms, but even more are out there.

Typically, little owlets rely on their mother to get them the food they need, but after storms swept through, many are left to fend for themselves and at that size, they can’t do it.

“I’m a self-professed Mrs. Dolittle. I love all animals,” Patricia Martin, who rescued a sparrow, said.

Martin found the bird in the driveway. She believes it may have been in a nest inside a tree that came down during the recent storm.

“I put it in a little box with a little rice, warmer sock and just prayed it made it to today, so it did,” Martin said.

In just one day, people like Martin have delivered a menagerie of animals to the Wildlife Center of Texas.

“But the best thing that we can do is get them to a licensed rehabilitator. One of the things we worry about most is hypothermia just low body temperature,” Dr. Roberta Westbrook, chief veterinarian, said.

Wildlife staff and volunteers have already been caring for several hundred animals. Since it’s springtime, a lot more animals are having babies.

Due to the storm, chances are you’ll see a lot more little ones out there who need help.

Director of the Wildlife Center of Texas Brook Yardley said she was staying in one of the hardest-hit areas.

“There were trees down everywhere pretty much every house had a tree on the ground. And there’s going to be animals underneath those branches,” Yarley said.

There are a few things to keep in mind if you find an injured or abandoned animal. 

You should gather the animal into a towel or blanket-lined box and include a rice warmer or hot water bottle. Keep them away from family pets and do not feed them.

“Often times we have people who want to give them food and liquids right away, but their body temperatures are too low to be able to handle that nutrition,” Westbrook said.

For many of these animals, this is their second chance at survival and Martin said that’s an easy gift to give.

“I think it’s very important that we do take time out not just for wildlife, with people as a whole,” Martin said.

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