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How to Find a Wildlife Rehabilitator Near You

Finding a licensed wildlife rehabilitator near you is the best way to help a baby bird who's fallen out of the nest, a squirrel who's been hit by a car, a crow who seems unable to fly, or any other form of wildlife. In some cases, the animal might not need help at all, and a rehabilitator can guide you in assessing the situation. If the animal does need help, often time is of the essence in making that call. Many of the animals whom wildlife rehabilitators rescue are suffering from shock, exposure, dehydration, and/or malnourishment, and a delay of even a few hours can decrease their chance of survival. 

Most licensed wildlife rehabilitators are available 24 hours a day. And it's ideal to find a wildlife rehabilitator near you before you actually need them; then you will feel a lot more comfortable calling them in the middle of the night if necessary.

2 out of 3 US shelters are now no-kill graphic

See how your community is doing

We've seen tremendous momentum and success so far, and we are so close to achieving no-kill around the entire country. Knowing where each shelter and community stands not only helps determine the best way to move forward, but it also helps track the progress we’re making together.
Is your community no-kill?

How do I find a wildlife rehabilitator near me?

The following resources can help you find a wildlife rehabilitator in your area:

  • Animal Help Now leverages digital technologies to immediately connect people involved with animal emergencies with the most appropriate time- and location-specific resources and services. Animal Help Now provides immediate and appropriate assistance for any wildlife emergency, coast to coast. 
  • The International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council provides many helpful wildlife resources, including a directory of wildlife rehabilitators by location. It also will help you find emergency assistance under its Resources tab.
  • The National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association also provides many resources both for people who find wild animals in distress and for wildlife rehabilitators (as well as those who are aspiring to become rehabilitators). Plus, it includes a map under its Resources tab that has compiled licensed wildlife rehabilitators by state.
  • Your state wildlife department — often called the Game and Fish Department, the Department of Natural Resources, or the Department of Wildlife Resources — can help with injured or sick wildlife situations. 
  • You can contact Best Friends Animal Society’s Wild Friends department at 435-274-2198, after hours at 559-MED-WILD, or by text at 435-689-0855.

Remember, if you have found a wild animal in distress, contact a wildlife rehabilitator immediately. Even just a half hour can make a difference between life and death in some cases. And the rehabilitator can make sure everyone stays safe while handling the situation.

Issues:
Wildlife
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Wildlife
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About Best Friends Animal Society

Best Friends is working to end the killing of dogs and cats in U.S. shelters in part by getting more pets out of shelters and into loving homes.

We’ve come a long way since the first known city reached no-kill in 1994, and now we’re closer than ever to making the entire country no-kill. Of the roughly 3,900 shelters operating in America today, 1,300 of them are not yet no-kill, but nearly half are close with 100 or fewer additional pets to be saved, and we know what to do to get them there.

Best Friends is committed to working with passionate people like you to save homeless pets through adoption, volunteering, fostering, and advocacy. In addition to our lifesaving centers around the U.S, we also founded and run the nation's largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals.

Working together, we can save homeless pets in our communities and secure a better future for our best friends. Together, we will bring the whole country to no-kill.