Whether you’ve found an injured animal on the side of the road or your pet has brought home a wild animal, it’s important to know how to find a wildlife rehabilitator near you.
Rehabilitators can help nurse animals back to health and release them back into the wild. Here are some tips on how to locate one in your area.
Tips To Find A Wildlife Rehabilitator:
Look online:
A quick Google search will pull up a list of rehabilitators in your area. Be sure to check the reviews before selecting one.
Contact your local zoo:
Zoos often have relationships with wildlife rehabilitators and can provide you with a list of contacts.
Contact your state wildlife agency:
Each state has its own wildlife agency that can help you find a rehabilitator.
Contact a national wildlife rehabilitation organization:
There are several national organizations, such as the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association, that can help connect you with a local rehabilitator.
When contacting a rehabilitator, be sure to ask about their experience and licensing. Also, find out what kind of animals they are able to care for and whether they have the capacity to take in more animals.
If you’re not sure where to start, the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association has a directory of rehabilitators on its website.
Does the Animal Really Need Saving?
Before you go out of your way to find a wildlife rehabilitator, take a moment to ask yourself if the animal really needs saving. In some cases, it may be best to leave the animal alone.
If the animal is injured, try to provide first aid until you can get it to a rehabilitator. If the animal is orphaned, see if you can find its mother before intervening.
If you’re unsure whether or not to intervene, you can always contact a wildlife rehabilitator for advice.
When in doubt, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and get the animal to a rehabilitator as soon as possible.
What to Do with Injured Wildlife?
If you find an injured animal, the first thing you should do is call a wildlife rehabilitator. They will be able to give you instructions on how to safely transport the animal.
In some cases, it may be best to leave the animal where it is and wait for the rehabilitator to come to you. This is especially true if the animal is large or dangerous.
If you must move the animal, be sure to wear gloves and use a blanket or towel to pick it up. Place the animal in a box or carrier and cover it with a towel to keep it calm.
Do not give the animal food or water unless instructed to do so by a wildlife rehabilitator.
What to Do with Orphaned Wildlife?
The best thing you can do for an orphaned animal is to find its mother and reunite them. If you’re unable to find the mother, call a wildlife rehabilitator for instructions on how to care for the animal.
If you find an orphaned animal, the best thing you can do is to reunite them with their mother. If you’re unable to find the mother, contact a wildlife rehabilitator for instructions on how to care for the animal.
Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers Near Me
Wildlife rehabilitation centers provide a crucial service to injured and orphaned animals. By offering medical care, food, and shelter, these facilities work to ensure that these creatures can be released back into the wild.
There are many wildlife rehabilitation centers located across the United States, so if you find an injured or orphaned animal, there’s a good chance that there’s a nearby center that can help.
Here is a list of some of the most well-known wildlife rehabilitation centers in the country:
Alabama
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources wildlife rehabilitators list
Alaska
Contact the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for assistance.
Arizona
Arizona Game and Fish Department list of wildlife rehabilitators.
Arkansas
For migratory birds: Arkansas Game and Fish Commission rehabilitators list.
Animals other than birds: Arkansas Game and Fish Commission list of wildlife rehabilitators.
California
If you are in San Diego with native predatory wildlife in need of help, call The Fund for Animals Wildlife Center at 760-789-2324.
Otherwise, use the California Department of Fish and Wildlife list of wildlife rehabilitators.
Colorado
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (PDF) list of wildlife rehabilitators.
Connecticut
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection list of wildlife rehabilitators.
Delaware
Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife list of wildlife rehabilitators.
District of Columbia
Florida
If you are in south Florida, call the South Florida Wildlife Center at 954-524-4302 or 866-SOS-WILD.
Elsewhere, check the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (PDF) list of wildlife rehabilitators.
Hawaii
No online listing of rehabilitators. Call your local Division of Forestry and Wildlife office for assistance.
Idaho
No online listing of rehabilitators. Contact your Idaho Fish and Game Regional Office.
Illinois
Illinois Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Rehabilitation (PDF) list.
University of Illinois Extension (PDF) wildlife rehabilitators by county.
Indiana
Indiana Department of Natural Resources wildlife rehabilitators list (PDF). If you are unable to locate a rehabilitator, call your DNR law enforcement district or regional headquarters.
Iowa
Iowa Department of Natural Resources (PDF)list of wildlife rehabilitators.
Kansas
Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism list of wildlife rehabilitators.
Kentucky
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources list of wildlife rehabilitators.
Louisiana
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries list of wildlife rehabilitators.
Maine
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (PDF) list of wildlife rehabilitators by county.
Maryland
The Maryland Wildlife Rehabilitators Association list of wildlife rehabilitators by county.
Massachusetts
Wildlife Rehabilitators’ Association of Massachusetts or the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife rehabilitators list (Click your district on the right side of the page).
Michigan
Michigan Department of Natural Resources list of wildlife rehabilitators.
Minnesota
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife rehabilitation Center of Minnesota
Mississippi
Mississippi Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc. list of wildlife rehabilitators.
Missouri
No online listing of rehabilitators. Call your Missouri Department of Conservation Regional Office to locate a licensed rehabilitator.
Nebraska
No online listing of wildlife rehabilitators. Call your local Game and Parks Commission Conservation Officer to locate a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. You can also try contacting Nebraska Wildlife Rehab or Wildlife Rescue Team.
Nevada
Nevada Department of Wildlife (PDF) list of wildlife rehabilitators.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire Fish and Game Department list of wildlife rehabilitators.
New Jersey
New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife (PDF) list of wildlife rehabilitators.
New Mexico
No online listing of wildlife rehabilitators. Call your local Game and Fish office to locate a licensed rehabilitator. You can also consult Animal Protection of New Mexico’s list of wildlife rehabilitators.
New York
New York Department of Environmental Conservation list of wildlife rehabilitators.
North Dakota
No online listing of wildlife rehabilitators. Call your local Game and Fish District Office or a veterinarian for assistance.
Ohio
Ohio Department of Natural Resources wildlife rehabilitators registry by county.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (PDF) list of wildlife rehabilitators.
Oregon
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
DFW list of wildlife rehabilitators (PDF)
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Association of Wildlife Rehabilitators listing by county.
If you are unable to find a wildlife rehabilitator, call your local Pennsylvania Game Commission Regional Office.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
If you are unable to find a wildlife rehabilitator, call the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management at 401-789-3094 or 401-789-0281.
South Carolina
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources wildlife rehabilitators registry by animal.
South Dakota
No online listing of wildlife rehabilitators. Call your Game, Fish & Parks Wildlife Division office to locate a licensed rehabilitator.
Tennessee
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency list of wildlife rehabilitators.
Texas
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department wildlife rehabilitators by county.
Utah
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources list of wildlife rehabilitators.
Vermont
Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department Wildlife Rehabilitator (PDF) locator map.
Virginia
Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries list of wildlife rehabilitators.
Washington
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation wildlife rehabilitators registry by county.
West Virginia
Does not permit rehabilitation of state wildlife. Call your local Department of Natural Resources District Office for assistance.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources list of wildlife rehabilitators.
If you are unable to find a wildlife rehabilitator, call the DNR’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Liaison at 715-359-5508.
Wyoming
Teton Raptor Center: Permitted facility caring for injured birds of prey.
5450 West Hwy. 22
Wilson, WY 83001
307-203-2551