Things You'll Need
- Towel
- Fish tank
- Heating pad
- Rubber gloves
- Chlorhexidine or betadine
- Gauze pad
- Antibiotic ointment
- Cotton ball
- Medical tape
- 3 tbsp. sugar
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 qt. water
- Small bowl
- Eyedropper
Instructions
Lay a towel at the bottom of a large, empty fish tank. Put a heating pad on the lowest setting underneath the fish tank.
Put on rubber gloves, and place the injured woodpecker inside the fish tank. Examine the broken wing for wounds.
Clean wounds using chlorhexidine or betadine with a gauze pad, and rinse with water. Rub antibiotic ointment on the wounds with a cotton ball.
Cut 10 inches of medical tape. Hold the wing against the woodpecker's body in its natural position. Wrap the medical tape around the body and the outside of the broken wing, so the entire midsection is wrapped except the uninjured wing.
Examine the woodpecker for signs of dehydration such as weakness and listlessness. Mix 3 tbsp. sugar, 1 tsp. salt and 1 qt. warm water in a small bowl. Give the woodpecker one or two drops of the warm mixture from a sterile eyedropper.
Contact the local Animal Control Office or State Fish and Game Office to find a suitable rehabilitation center for the woodpecker. Keep the woodpecker in the fish tank, and provide water every 30 minutes until you can place it into professional care.