Help for Injured or Orphaned Wildlife

First, and foremost, remember most reported "orphans" are not orphans and well intentioned people often risk the lives of wildlife babies by taking them from their habitat (see Please, Keep The Wild in Wildlife on this site's featured articles).

For help in assessing the situation, see these links: NY or NJ

If the animal needs help, contacting a LICENSED wildlife rehabilitator is not just the only legal option you have but it is the only one that is in the best interest of the animal.

Please, call rather than simply e-mailing rehabbers. Rehabbers don't necessarily spend a lot of time at a computer during the day. They may be at their jobs or on the road rescuing animals. Listen closely to their message as it may include other numbers that you can text and instructions on what to do until they can get back to you. Leave a message regardless, don't assume that because they can't answer immediately that they are not there.

For Raptors, see How to Rescue A Raptor. Put the bird in an empty, closed up cardboard box with no food or water and bring the box inside to a quiet place. If you are unable to get it in a box, place a box over the bird and weight it down to prevent the bird from wandering onto a road or back into the woods where it can hide without the help that it needs. If you cannot contain it, try to stay with it. You may be able to get someone nearby to come with a box or officials may came to help get it contained and then get it to a rehabber.

To Find a Rehabber try the following information:

In Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Association of Wildlife Rehabilitators website Or call the PA Game Commission, the Northeast Regional Office phone number is 570-675-1143

In New York: DEC website of licensed rehabbers or call Department of Environmental Conservation 877-457-5680
In New Jersey: DEP website of licensed rehabbers or call Department of Environmental Protection 609-292-2965

Their lists may not always be up to date. Call the next closest rehabber, even for a different type of animal, as they are likely to know who is currently licensed and able to help.