France is home to an amazing variety of wildlife thanks to its range of landscapes and climates. There is also a significant stray animal population here too.
If you come across injured wildlife or a stray, or perhaps have hit an animal while driving, it is important to know how to get help.
Fortunately, there are several different organisations providing care for wildlife throughout the country.
The Réseau Centres de Soins Faune Sauvage (Network of Wildlife Care Centres) says that though you may have the right intentions, it is essential to get advice first before trying to help sick or injured wildlife yourself, whatever size it might be.
Animal care centres
Keeping an animal in conditions it is not used to may cause it even greater stress and lead to significant harm.
Check the Network website to find the closest care centre to you and contact them about the injured or sick animal you have found.
They will explain what you need to do next and where to take the animal for proper care. If you are unable to transport it yourself, they sometimes have trained volunteers available to take the animal to a care centre for you.
It may also be worth checking the UFCS website (French Union of Wildlife Rescue Centres) in case one of their centres is closer to you.
The LPO (Society for the Protection of Birds) runs a further seven centres, providing care for wild mammals as well as injured birds. Either call the main contact number for help (05 46 82 12 34) or go online to look up the nearest care centre and call this directly.
All the organisations say you must phone first before taking an animal to them. This is to make sure they have room to look after them and also to direct you to the best place for care as different centres focus on different types of animal.
Read more: Letters: 'We cannot treat an injured fox due to French wildlife rules’, claims vet
Ban on wild animals at home
For the safety and protection of both animals and people, in France it is illegal to capture, keep or treat wild animals at home unless you have authorisation.
Taking an injured animal to a care centre would be permitted though, and there are exceptions to the rule for certain kinds of animal.
An official domestic animal list has been drawn up and any animal not included is classed as a wild or non-domestic animal. To keep a wild animal at home as a hobby, or for amateur breeding only, you may need to follow a specific procedure depending on the type of animal concerned.
Check the official wild animals list, which is divided into three categories with different regulations for each. Wild animals in the ‘a’ category can be kept without having to complete any formalities up to a maximum number. Animals such as American rabbits and veiled chameleons come into this group.
For keeping up to a set number of category ‘b’ animals, including Hermann’s tortoises and green iguanas, you will first have to declare the animal and receive a déclaration de détention (declaration of ownership).
This can be done online through the ServicePublic.fr website and signing in with a FranceConnect account. If you prefer paper, print and complete the Cerfa n° 15967*01 form and send it to your prefecture (contact details are also provided on this webpage).
Breeding animals
Keeping wild animals at home that come under the final ‘c’ category, for example a cobra or bird of paradise, means you are automatically considered a breeder even if you just keep a single animal for a hobby.
In this case, a certificat de capacité (certificate of competency) and autorisation d’ouverture (authorisation to open a breeding establishment) must be applied for.
For category ‘c’ animals, you will need to contact your local prefecture about the application procedure, information and documents needed. The process and details vary depending on the department where you live.
Read more: Help! I feel sorry for all the stray cats in my French village
Dealing with stray cats
There is a real issue with stray cats in many French towns and the LPO estimates the total population to be around 10 million. An unsterilised female can have two to three litters each year throughout her life, starting from as young as four months old.
The commune is responsible for stray animals and many run a cat sterilisation programme. If you own pet cats yourself, consider having them sterilised to further help reduce the number of unwanted strays.
Once sterilised and marked with an identification number, stray cats are then classed as free animals belonging to the commune.
These cats may be fed, whereas feeding non-sterilised strays is prohibited and you could risk a fine. The idea here is to discourage colonies of strays which would only add to the problem.
If you do notice a stray cat or dog, you can help by reporting it to the local mairie. It usually has an agreement in place with an animal pound or vet who will come and pick up the animal.
The mairie should have an out-of-hours contact number if needed, or you can call the police or gendarmes to report the stray. As above, there may also be animal rescue associations in your area who can advise and help if necessary.
After it is collected, the animal will be checked for an identification tattoo or electronic chip. The owners will then be contacted if it does belong to someone.
If the stray is not claimed within an eight-day period, it will be taken to an animal welfare organisation or may be put down.
National pet register
It is possible to declare the stray yourself as long as you can see its identification tattoo. Use the I-CAD online service (national pet register) to enter the animal’s number and your contact details and these will be passed to the animal’s owner.
With wildlife roaming freely, it is inevitable that they end up crossing roads. If you are in the unfortunate position of having hit a wild animal such as a deer or boar, the accident must be reported to the gendarmes or police as soon as you can.
If it was a stray cat or dog you hit, inform the local mairie instead. You are also required to report the accident to your car insurer within five working days.
Read more: What to do in case of a road accident in France
Where possible try to collect evidence, such as photos and videos plus witness reports and details, as this may be needed for both the police and your insurance company. Contact the local mairie so that they can arrange for the animal to be collected.
If you hit a pet animal with your car, you will need to fill in a constat amiable (accident report) with the pet owner and send this to your insurer.
If the owner is not there, complete as much as you can yourself and gather evidence to send to your insurers. Let the mairie know so they can arrange safe keeping of the animal or, if urgent veterinary care is needed, a local vet should be able to help.
