How to find a permitted wildlife rehabilitator

If you have found a wild animal in need of care, call a permitted wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible and follow their instructions.

Do not attempt to treat or raise a wild animal yourself – it’s illegal. Wildlife species differ widely in terms of their capture, care and handling requirements. If you are not properly trained, you could make an animal’s situation worse or kill it. If kept improperly, animals may lose their natural fear of humans and become more vulnerable to predation or injury. Euthanasia is often the only option for wild animals that become habituated to humans.

Things to remember when contacting a rehabilitator

Please keep the following points in mind when you contact a wildlife rehabilitator:

  • Make sure the person you contact has a wildlife rehabilitation permit. Those who are not properly trained and permitted often do more harm than good and it is illegal to rehabilitate wildlife without a permit.
  • Wildlife rehabilitators are volunteers. Most pay expenses out of their own pockets. Typically, their finances and time are limited and the demand is great. Many rehabilitators have their facilities at home and are not on call 24 hours a day.
  • Wildlife rehabilitators are limited by their state and federal permits as to how many and what species of animals they may admit to their facility.
  • Most wildlife rehabilitators are unable to provide services to pick up wildlife.
  • You may not be able to reach a wildlife rehabilitator immediately especially during spring and summer when they are swamped. You may be able to find a veterinary clinic willing to give immediate care, but many veterinarians are not comfortable treating wildlife.
  • You may also visit Washington Wildlife Rehabilitation Association’s web page for a map of permitted Washington State wildlife rehabilitators.

Please do not kidnap baby animals! Many young animals removed from the wild by well-intentioned people do not need to be “rescued” at all. See when not to “rescue” a wild animal.

Find a permitted wildlife rehabilitator

Wildlife rehabilitators in Clark county
Name Address Phone Alt phone Specialty
Squirrel Refuge Vancouver, WA 98668 360-836-0955 Small mammals only; no raccoons
Wildlife rehabilitators in Grant county
Name Address Phone Alt phone Specialty
Central Washington Wildlife Hospital Ephrata, WA 509-450-7016 Small mammals, porcupine, and opossum
Wildlife rehabilitators in Grays Harbor county
Name Address Phone Alt phone Specialty
Twin Harbors Wildlife Center 4 Old Beacon Rd
Montesano, WA 98563 		360-861-4556 Birds of prey; other birds; some small mammals; no raccoons
Wildlife rehabilitators in Island county
Name Address Phone Alt phone Specialty
Sarvey Wildlife Care Center 13106 148th St NE
Arlington, WA 98223 		360-435-4817 All species except large carnivores; coyote, fox, and bobcat okay - Also accepting deer fawns.
Wildlife rehabilitators in Jefferson county
Name Address Phone Alt phone Specialty
Center Valley Animal Rescue 11900 Center Rd
Quilcene, WA 98376 		360-765-0598 Most mammals and birds
Discovery Bay Wild Bird Rescue Port Townsend, WA 98368 360-379-0802 360-643-0056 Birds of prey, other birds including seabirds
Wildlife rehabilitators in King county
Name Address Phone Alt phone Specialty
PAWS Wildlife Center 13508 WA-9
Snohomish, WA 98296 		425-412-4040 All species including large carnivores - as of 6/8/2023 No longer accepting deer fawns to focus their resources on other species.
SR3 Sealife Response, Rehabilitation and Research 206-947-4253 Marine mammals
Wildlife rehabilitators in Kitsap county
Name Address Phone Alt phone Specialty
West Sound Wildlife Shelter 7501 NE Dolphin Dr
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 		206-855-9057 All species
Wildlife rehabilitators in Klickitat county
Name Address Phone Alt phone Specialty
Mountain Top Wildlife White Salmon, WA 541-615-1565 All species
Wildlife rehabilitators in Pacific county
Name Address Phone Alt phone Specialty
Peninsula Wild Care Ocean Park, WA 360-947-3188 Squirrels, chipmunks, opossums, cottontails, raccoons, songbirds, waterfowl, seabirds
Wildlife rehabilitators in Skagit county
Name Address Phone Alt phone Specialty
Fidalgo Animal Medical Center 3303 Commercial Ave
Anacortes, WA 98221 		360-293-2186 STABILIZATION CARE ONLY
Sarvey Wildlife Care Center 13106 148th St NE
Arlington, WA 98223 		360-435-4817 All species except large carnivores; coyote, fox, and bobcat okay - Also accepting deer fawns.
Wildlife rehabilitators in Snohomish county
Name Address Phone Alt phone Specialty
Bat Rehabilitation Bothell, WA 98012 425-481-7446 Bats only
Happy Valley Bats Stanwood, WA 98292 360-652-7690 360-631-0668 Bats only
PAWS Wildlife Center 13508 WA-9
Snohomish, WA 98296 		425-412-4040 All species including large carnivores - as of 6/8/2023 No longer accepting deer fawns to focus their resources on other species.
Sarvey Wildlife Care Center 13106 148th St NE
Arlington, WA 98223 		360-435-4817 All species except large carnivores; coyote, fox, and bobcat okay - Also accepting deer fawns.
Wisp of Hope Bat Rescue and Rehabilitation Arlington, WA 425-293-2708 Bats only
Wildlife rehabilitators in Spokane county
Name Address Phone Alt phone Specialty
Hunter Veterinary Clinic 301 W Indiana Ave
Spokane, 99205 		509-327-9354 Birds of prey only
Wildlife rehabilitators in Thurston county
Name Address Phone Alt phone Specialty
Raindancer Wild Bird Rescue Olympia, WA 98502 360-970-5402 Birds of prey
Wildlife rehabilitators in Whatcom county
Name Address Phone Alt phone Specialty
WHS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center 5602 Mission Road
Bellingham, WA 98226 		360-966-8845 All species
Wildlife rehabilitators in Whitman county
Name Address Phone Alt phone Specialty
WSU Exotics and Wildlife Ward 100 Grimes Way
Pullman, WA 99164 		509-335-0711 All species including large carnivores

Or call a WDFW Regional Office