How to Locate a Wildlife Rehabilitator

If you find a sick, injured or orphaned wild animal, you should find a wildlife rehabilitator to help the animal. Rehabilitators care for animals with the purpose of returning the animal to the wild if at all possible. All wild animals should be turned over to rehabilitators because they have special training and knowledge to help the animal, and keeping a wild animal often requires a special permit.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Contact your local vet's office to see if they know of a wildlife rehabilitator in the area. This can be one of the quickest ways to find information. Rehabilitators often work with local vets when they have a sick or injured animal so your vet may know of someone or have a list of resources for you. The local animal control office or humane society may be another source of information.
2. Check the websites of your particular state's wildlife agencies. You may find a link to rehabilitators near you. You can also email or call the agencies for information and resources on what you should do with the animal you've found and where you could take it for help.
3. Search the web for state wildlife rehabilitator associations. Your state may have an association for rehabilitators that lists contact people and other information. Some will include numbers and contact information for individual members or you may need to contact the organization for a referral.
4. Look in your phone book for listings. You may want to check listings under state wildlife agencies in the state government section of the blue or white pages. You may also need to make a call or two to find information on a particular rehabilitator in your area.
5. Contact the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association in the United States to see if there is a member in your area (see Resources below). If so, you'll be put into contact with the individual.