07/20/2026
This is getting really bad, y’all. We’re seeing more and more animals injured and harmed by people following the advice of AI bots.
ChatGPT is not an infallible source of information on, well, anything. It basically searches and summarizes the internet for you. It “reads” an old Facebook post, a Reddit thread, and a veterinary textbook as if they are all equally valid sources of information and it will give you bad information as a result.
One example, from today: a woman found a box turtle who was hit by a car, leaving the coelomic membrane— the paper-thin layer of delicate tissue in between the shell and internal organs— exposed. At the suggestion of ChatGPT, she poured hydrogen peroxide onto this delicate tissue. Hydrogen peroxide is cytotoxic and especially destructive to delicate tissues like the coelomic membrane. She had, however positive her intentions, essentially burned a hole in his body and penetrated to his abdomen, which will most likely result in his death.
Another example: a few weeks ago, a man in another state called us at 2:00 am wanting to know what the laws are on nuisance wildlife in another state. We explained that we’re a wildlife rehabilitation facility, not a lawyer or law enforcement, and we’re in a different state. He became agitated and angry, insisting that ChatGPT had advised him that we were the correct place to contact. He kept saying he was “confused” and asking uswhy ChatGPT directed him to us, unable to comprehend that ChatGPT was wrong.
We understand that the internet can be a valuable source of information when you encounter a wild animal experiencing an emergency. A simple search can tell you how to re-nest a baby bird, how to tell when a fawn is orphaned or simply alone, and how to keep a newborn animal safe overnight while you wait to hear from a rehabber. That’s great! We’re not trying to stop you from using your he infinite knowledge available at your fingertips to save animals. But please, please, get your information from reliable sources, like wildlife rehabilitation facilities and reputable nonprofits! When you use AI, you greatly risk running into bad advice that could have originated anywhere.
