In the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav, animals and birds are at a higher risk of being injured or orphaned, according to local experts.

Wildlife rehabilitation group Born to Be Wild has increased its staff and stepped up its capabilities to rescue and rehabilitate injured or abandoned opossums, raccoons, squirrels, other mammals and birds.

“I know people’s needs are more important than wild animals,” said Cindy Ransonet, a Born to Be Wild rehabber. “But if people care enough, call us so we can help the animals. We’re just trying to help in any way we can.”

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Since the storm, Ransonet said the group has received a much higher volume of calls regarding injured mammals, mostly squirrels.

“These animals are very traumatized from the storm,” she said. “They know the storm’s coming, and they’ve been stressed for days.”

If someone comes across a wild animal, call her for information, she said. People are encouraged to bring them in to one of the local rehabbers, including Cissi Davey, Lanie Baudoin, Becky Delcambre and several others.

“We try to get people to bring the animals to us or meet us closer,” she said. “We have so many animals over here right now, but we’ll try our hardest.”

Though untrained people have good intentions when they rescue a wild animal, Ransonet said feeding them can cause the animals much harm.

“We ask that you don’t feed the animals,” she said. “They require special formula.”

If a baby squirrel or a nest of baby squirrels is found, Ransonet said people can and should pick them up and move them to a dry and warm spot.

However, if a larger mammal like a grown raccoon or opossum is found, Ransonet said residents should not try to catch them.

“Be very careful and call us,” she said. “They can have rabies, and people don’t have the right resources to catch them.”

Aside from formula, wildlife rehabbers also have the expense of syringes, bottles and other supplies. Donations are welcomed and appreciated, Ransonet said.

A member of the National Wildlife Rehabbers Associ-ation called Ransonet Wed-nesday and said people will be sending syringes, nipples and formula to local groups in the wake of Hurricane Gustav.

If a resident is in need of assistance from Born to be Wild, contact Ransonet at 339-2828.

Wildlife in Distress in Lafayette at 232-0121 and Opossum Hollow in Cecilia at 326-4122 are also available for wildlife rescue.

Dayna Perry, director of the Iberia Humane Society animal shelter, said Hurricane Gustav will probably bring a higher number of lost cats and dogs.

The Humane Society’s Web site, www.iberiahumane.com, will include a page starting today with pictures of lost and found dogs or cats.

Though the shelter has limited space because of complete destruction to one of its buildings during Gustav, Perry said they will take small dogs if they can find room for it.

“Unfortunately, we just don’t have space to keep large dogs,” she said. “But any small ones that come in that we can accept with our limited space, we will take them.”

The larger animals that appear to have an owner will be housed at the New Iberia Animal Shelter, Perry said, unless the person who finds the missing animal can keep it until the owner is found.

The animals housed at the city shelter after the storm will be held for a limited time in a separate holding facility and will not be processed immediately in with the lost dogs and cats, Perry said.

“It’s a mess here, and volunteers for cleaning would be great,” Perry said. “But other than that, all is well.”