Injured Wildlife:
Who to Call
What to do if you find an animal.
If you find a wild animal and you believe they need help, please do your research before intervening!
The New Jersey Association of Wildlife Rehabilitators provides a thorough series of flowcharts to help you understand what to if you find a wild animal. Please consult these flowcharts before doing anything! Most of the time, the right thing to do for the animal will be to call the appropriate licensed wildlife rehabilitator (see list below).
Thank you for protecting New Jersey’s wildlife!
Dr. Wilson is not a wildlife rehabilitator.
If you find an animal that appears to be injured or in distress, please call one of the following licensed wildlife rehabilitators BEFORE you handle the animal:
The Raptor Trust
Any Native Wild Bird
Phone: 908-647-2353
The Raptor Trust is one of the premier wild bird rehabilitation centers in the United States. Located in Millington New Jersey, the Trust includes a hospital with state-of-the-art medical facilities, quality exterior housing for several hundred birds, and an education building. A stalwart advocate for birds of prey for three decades, it is now recognized as a national leader in the fields of raptor conservation and avian rehabilitation.
The Raptor Trust is open to the public seven days a week. Visitors are afforded a unique opportunity to view at close range the many hawks, eagles, falcons and owls that are permanent residents at the facility. There is no charge to visit, but a modest donation of $2.00 per person is encouraged.
Wild Baby Rescue Center
Mammals
Phone: 908-362-WILD
Wild Baby Rescue Center is a New Jersey-based non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of native wildlife through education, rehabilitation and release. Located in Blairstown New Jersey the Center is run by a wildlife rehabilitator who is licensed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Fish and Wildlife.
Woodlands Wildlife Refuge, Inc.
Mammals
Phone: 908-730-8300
Woodlands Wildlife Refuge, Inc. based out of Pittstown, New Jersey cares for various mammals including raccoons, skunks, opossums, rabbits, woodchucks, foxes, squirrels, coyotes, fawns, bats, otters, porcupines, bears, and even the occasional bobcat. Woodlands also cares for native turtles and native snakes. Woodlands does NOT currently have the facilities to care for deer.
Woodlands has a staff of highly trained volunteers who care for the animals until their release. All animals are maintained until they are healthy enough to survive in the wild.
Antler Ridge Wildlife Sanctuary
Mammals
Phone: 973-800-2420
Antler Ridge Wildlife Sanctuary specializing in fawns is, a 120-acre preserved farm located in Warren County, New Jersey, is a wildlife rehabilitation center that provides vital care and treatment to sick, injured or orphaned wildlife. Licensed by the state of New Jersey to care for fawns, raccoon, skunks, opossums, squirrels, rabbits, woodchucks, and other small mammals the Sanctuary is dedicated to rehabilitating these animals back to health so they can be returned to the wild where they belong.