Agents Rurals in Central Catalonia managed 620 wild animal collections in 2025, according to Francesc Coll, a rural agent and regional head for the area. This figure included 439 birds, 112 mammals, and 69 reptiles. Coll stated these numbers show a rising trend in rescue operations, both locally and across Catalonia, especially in urban areas where human interaction and infrastructure are more common.
“More people are aware that when they find an injured animal or one in difficulty, they should call 112,” Coll explained. He noted that in the past, many people did not know where to go for help with injured wild animals. Now, with 112 centralising all environmental emergencies, the process is much simpler. The system has expanded over recent years to cope with the increasing number of rescues and is working well, he added.
When an alert reaches the central office, Agents Rurals dispatch the nearest available unit. A network of collaborating veterinary clinics also helps manage cases during busy periods, particularly from late spring to early summer, and when fire prevention tasks are intensified. Rescued animals are then taken to wildlife centres (CFS). Catalonia has nine of its own facilities, including one in Bagà, and seven external collaborating centres.
Peak Rescue Periods and Causes
The period between late spring and early summer sees the most collections. “Young animals start to become independent, and this is a critical time. Birds must learn to fly, and mammals and other animals need to start interacting with their environment,” Coll said. During these months, there is also an increase in animal road accidents, many of which are fatal.
Most rescues are related to young animals, but accidents involving infrastructure are also a significant cause. “A large part of the collections are due to collisions with electricity poles and lines, glass, or vehicles,” the regional head confirmed. Data from 2025 across Catalonia shows that falling from nests was the main reason for admission to CFS, accounting for 11,235 rescues. This was followed by trauma cases, with 2,668, and illegal possession or capture, with 2,161. Other collections last year, around 7,000, were due to accidental causes such as electrocution, illness, weakness, or malnutrition.
Once an animal arrives at a CFS, it undergoes a veterinary examination and various medical tests. The ultimate goal is for the animal to enter rehabilitation cages, where it exercises before being returned to nature. “We always try to return them to the area where we collected them, unless it is a very specific species that can help reinforce the population in a particular location,” Coll explained. If an animal cannot be returned to its natural habitat, the centres provide environmental education and ensure the protection and care of the animals that remain.
Common Species Rescued
Birds made up over 70% of wild animal collections in Central Catalonia in 2025. Among these, swifts are one of the most common species rescued. “They have very long wings and very short legs. So, if they fall to the ground, the young often cannot take flight again,” Francesc Coll explained. Swift rescues are frequent and often have a simple, quick solution: placing them in an elevated spot so they can fly again. In many cases, the young birds “have their parents nearby watching over them.”
Roe deer often cause confusion. “When they detect human presence, they do not flee; instead, they rely on their camouflage in the forest and remain motionless,” Coll noted. This behaviour can lead people to mistakenly believe that young deer are abandoned, prompting calls for rescue. Another common situation involves nocturnal birds of prey, such as tawny owls, which are nidifugous species. “They leave the nest before they can fly, so when we see them on the ground, it might seem like they are in danger, but it is a natural process.” However, Coll clarified that it can be problematic if the animal is in an exposed location or where predators are present.
Mammals accounted for nearly 20% of rescues in Central Catalonia last year, with roe deer and hedgehogs being the most common species. Reptiles made up just over 10% of collections. The most frequent species in this group is the tortoise, an animal that “can give the impression it cannot escape, with a way of moving that humans often misinterpret.” In summer, alerts related to snakes also increase, mainly because they cause fear. “People do not really know how to act around them,” the agent said, reminding the public that most snakes are not venomous.
