Wildlife

Urban Wildlife Rehabilitation Networks

Wildlife rehabilitation networks rescue, treat, and release injured wild animals, representing a critical welfare safety net for urban and suburban wildlife populations.

Key Facts

The US has over 10,000 permitted wildlife rehabilitators
Most rehabilitators are volunteers operating on minimal or self-funded budgets
Release rates vary from 20-80% depending on species and injury type
Urban sprawl increases encounter rates between humans and injured wildlife
Illegal capture of wildlife for rehabilitation by untrained individuals causes harm

Welfare Considerations

Injured urban wildlife — birds, mammals, and reptiles — suffer from vehicle strikes, window collisions, predation, and human interference. Without access to trained rehabilitation, most injured animals die slowly from injuries or stress. Properly trained rehabilitators reduce suffering, increase survival rates, and provide data on wildlife health threats at population scale.

What You Can Do

Know your local wildlife rehabilitator contact before you need it
Never attempt to care for injured wildlife without professional guidance
Donate to local wildlife rehabilitation networks
Advocate for public funding of wildlife rehabilitation services
Participate in citizen science programs reporting wildlife health incidents