Animal Connection of Texas Home Page

Below is some information on ways to avoid conflict with wild animals and/or help injured, ill or orphaned wildlife.

Contact information is provided to help you find permitted wildlife rehabilitators in the DFW Metroplex. Keep in mind that some wildlife rehabilitators specialize in particular species, i.e. beaver, squirrels, raccoons, opossums, birds, reptiles - it's always best, if possible, to locate a rehabilitator that specializes in the species you have. Other rehabilitators are more "rehabilitation generalists" - and rehabilitate many different species of wildlife - but can also help and/or refer you to the best individual. Don't give up if you can't get a hold of a rehabilitator that "specializes" in your species - any of the other rehabilitators can help you locate help as well.Most of the time when people find "wildlife in need of help" - it's either in their own home or neighborhoods, at their workplace, or while driving on the highways. You can stop on the side of the road to help an injured wild animal. Keep in mind, however, most wild animals when injured are very aggressive. DO NOT put yourself in danger! If there is a safe way to contain the animal - do so - and contact a wildlife rehabilitator from your cell phone. You may want to keep the following two numbers handy (in your car, purse, or saved on your Cell phone's contact list) - 817.237.8500 WildCare Recorded Line and 214.373.1466 Audobon Recorded Hotline. These recorded lines will give you many other contact numbers for local rehabilitators - specializing in particular species.

Sometimes your municipal Animal Control Agency may be an option, however municipal animal shelters have different policies on euthanizing wildlife - some city/county animal shelters have a policy to euthanize all wildlife, some only euthanize certain species and may relocate others, and others may only euthanize those that are ill or injured. Sometimes it depends upon the time of year, how overloaded with animals the shelter is (typically overloaded in the Spring - when most wildlife come in) or which animal control officer is on shift. You may want to check on your municipalities' (city or county) wildlife policies beforehand, so you better know your options.

What should you do if you find injured, ill or orphaned wildlife? If you think they're abandoned babies - think again! Mom is probably nearby - but has gone out to hunt for food. Rehabilitators estimate that as many as 80% of babies they receive each Spring aren't truly orphaned, but were rather kidnapped by well-meaning humans who thought they were orphaned because Mom was not around. Make sure the babies aren't in danger (cats, predators, falls, construction) and watch for Mom's return for 24 hours. If Mom hasn't returned in 24 hours or if the babies are in obvious danger, rescue and contact a wildlife rehabilitator.If you find a bird on the ground, or disturb a bunnies' nest - it's okay to pick up the animal and put it back into it's nest - it's a fallacy that Mom will not accept the baby back if it has the smell of humans on it. Rub your hands in the grass first, before you pick up the baby, and then put it back in its nest.If you have wildlife in your backyard that is becoming a nuisance - remove all food sources (particularly at night) - Don't leave dog/cat food out at night, set out the trash cans in the morning. If you have a wild animal that has decided to take up residence under your deck/porch, or in your attic - particularly if it's in Spring time - before you decide to humanely trap the wild animal and relocate it - think again! Check to be sure it's not a lactating female - if so, you'll be leaving the babies abandoned, under your porch or in your attic, to die of starvation. If you do have a female preparing a den site near your home in Spring, it's best to wait 6-8 weeks and most likely she will move her litter during that time. If you must remove them sooner, contact a rehabilitator for the best advice.

Keep a list of phone numbers/websites handy - to contact wildlife rehabilitators in your area. If you call a rehabilitator. . . call 3-4-5 of them. .and leave voicemails. Keep calling until you get a "real person". Be considerate of their time. Realize many rehabilitators are inundated with animals during the Spring, can only take in a certain number, work full-time jobs, receive no state or federal monies for their wildlife work and are volunteering their own time and money to help. Be forgiving if a rehabilitator does not call you back - many get hundreds of calls just like yours during Spring baby season and may be only sleeping 2 hours at a time due to every-2-hour feedings. Just be persevering - don't give up after leaving a voicemail for one rehabilitator - keep calling and calling until you've got your wild animal placed with a rehabilitator.If babies are in danger, i.e. Mom is dead, construction site, etc. - take the babies, put them in a cardboard shoe box (punch an air hole or two), put in some soft bedding (old T-shirt), and put a heating pad on low under half of the shoebox (not under all of it). DO NOT put the heating pad on medium or high. Put the babies in a safe, dark, quiet place in your home - make sure they are secure from indoor pets you may have. Don't give the baby anything to eat or drink. . . . contact a wildlife rehabilitator immediately. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER give cow's milk!! A rehabilitator may tell you to offer clear liquids, i.e. warmed sugar water. Only offer what they tell you - giving the wrong food can cause more harm than good.

Some wildlife can be dropped off on weekdays, before noon, at the Plano Outdoor Learning Center, 3100 Shiloh Road in Plano, 469.752.1190. Call them first. They will contact the appropriate wildlife rehabilitators for the species you've brought in.Give a donation to the rehabilitator if you can. Depending on the species and condition, it can cost the rehabilitator anywhere from $50 - $300+ to rehabilitate one wild animal to the age, or health, to where it is releasable into the wild again. Remember - rehabilitators are working on their own funds and their own time - ask if they're working under a non-profit organization so that your donation is tax-deductible.

A few local 501(c)(3) non-profit wildlife rehabilitation centers located in Central North Texas:

Rascal's Retreat
www.rascalsretreat.org/ - Raccoon rehabilitation non-profit organization that Kathy Milacek works through. The phone number on the website is old, as the Center has been moved onto 80 acres located 2 hours east of Dallas. The new phone number is 903.884.3739. You can also contact her on raccoon calls, at 817.424.5537.

Recorded voicemail lines - will provide species-specific rehabilitator contact information - DO NOT leave a voicemail on these recorded lines - just take "contact" information from this recorded message and contact those rehabilitators.

North Texas Wildlife Hotline - 940.566-6350 (This recorded line may be discontinued some time in 2002)

Websites that allow you to search for wildlife rehabilitators in your city/county

Site at University of Minnesota - allows you to search for rehabilitators by State and City - has contact information. I'm not sure how well or often this site is maintained.
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contact.htm

Texas Parks & Wildlife - Search for Texas permitted rehabilitators by county www.tpwd.state.tx.usu/nature/research/rehab/main.htm/