The state Grants to Wildlife Rehabilitators Project helps support licensed wildlife rehabilitators by compensating them for care of sick and injured wildlife.
About the program
Expenditures permitted under this program must relate specifically to wildlife rehabilitation, and may provide reimbursement for:
- Diagnostic and lab support services.
- Purchase and maintenance of proper restraints and equipment used in the capture, transportation, temporary housing, and release of wildlife.
- Contracted veterinary services.
- Food, medication and other consumables.
- Construction costs and continuing education.
Grant funding may not be used to rehabilitate either non-native species or nuisance animals, and may not be used for salaries and wages.
Applying for a grant
The Grants to Wildlife Rehabilitators Project is administered by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and is funded by a portion of the revenue from personalized license plate sales.
Requests for proposals will be announced on this webpage. Funding is granted on a fiscal biennium basis and the contracts are for a term of two years. There is no matching funds requirement. Applicants may submit only one request every two years and must reside in the WDFW administrative region for which they have applied.
Eligible grant recipients include Washington residents properly licensed in wildlife rehabilitation under Washington state and federal law. A 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit status is not a requirement. Grants to Wildlife Rehabilitators is a direct application, therefore no letter of inquiry is required for initial contact.
WDFW grant contact: wildliferehabilitation@dfw.wa.gov
See WDFW ALEA grants for additional grant opportunities.
Applications and forms
- 2025-2027 Grant Application Guidelines (PDF)
- 2025-2027 Wildlife Rehabilitator Grant Application (XLSX)
- Quarterly Report Form: Adobe PDF (PDF) / MS Word (DOC)
- Annual/Final Report Form: Adobe PDF (PDF) / MS Word (DOC)
Funded projects
2019-2021 Wildlife rehabilitation grants funding summary
| Project | Funded amount |
|---|---|
| A Soft Place to Land Deer formula, hay, and pellets Graham | $12,090 |
| Blue Mountain Wildlife Raptor food, lead test kits, medications Benton City | $21,000 |
| Center Valley Animal Rescue Multi-species enclosure Quilcene | $23,275 |
| Discovery Bay Wild Bird Rescue Raptor and seabird food, washing machine Port Townsend | $4650 |
| Featherhaven Songbird and raptor food, veterinary care, incubator Enumclaw | $9000 |
| Kettle River Raptor Center Operating expenses, office insulation, travel for rescues and veterinary services, National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association Symposium Scholarships Kettle Falls | $9000 |
| Ogaard Bat Rehabilitation Bat food and new barn Bothell | $9950 |
| Ponti Veterinary Hospital New small mammal enclosures, operational costs Otis Orchards | $6475 |
| Raindancer Wild Bird Rescue New raptor flight enclosures, raptor food Olympia | $10,000 |
| Sarvey Wildlife Care Center Multi-species food and formula Arlington | $9600 |
| Squirrel Refuge National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association Symposium Scholarships, euthanasia supplies Vancouver | $3500 |
| Twin Harbors Wildlife Center New raptor flight enclosures Montesano | $30,000 |
| Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association Symposium scholarships, update or replace wildlife enclosures, raptor and deer food Friday Harbor | $8400 |
| TOTAL | $156,940 |
2017-2019 Wildlife rehabilitation grants funding summary
| Project | Funded amount |
|---|---|
| A Soft Place to Land Deer fawn enclosure Graham | $9500 |
| Center Valley Animal Rescue New free-standing rehabilitation building Quilcene | $19,380 |
| Discovery Bay Wild Bird Rescue Veterinary wet table, on-demand water system, lead analyzer, raptor, songbird, and seabird food Port Townsend | $10,000 |
| Featherhaven Songbird food and veterinary care Enumclaw | $12,500 |
| Happy Valley Bats North American Society for Bat Research Conference scholarship, bat food Stanwood | $4000 |
| Kettle River Raptor Center Raptor flight pen improvements, operational expenses, raptor food and medications Kettle Falls | $12,700 |
| PAWS Wildlife Center National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association scholarships, incubators, critical care unit and cart, wildlife food Lynnwood | |
| Sarvey Wildlife Care Center Eagle flight aviary Arlington | $33,520 |
| South Sound Critter Care/Puget Sound WildCare 50' raptor flight enclosure Kent | $7600 |
| Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center Raptor medical supplies, waterfowl rehabilitation supplies, raptor and waterfowl enclosure updates, refrigerator, National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association scholarships | $14,700 |
| TOTAL | $150,000 |
2015-2017 Wildlife rehabilitation grants funding summary
| Project | Funded amount |
|---|---|
| Blue Mountain Wildlife Purchase raptor food Benton City | $20,000 |
| Center Valley Purchase food and supplies Quilcene | $3,000 |
| Discovery Bay Build new aquatic seabird pools and aviary Port Townsend | $4,000 |
| Featherhaven Build new songbird flight pens and aviaries, purchase food and equipment, travel to meetings Enumclaw | $9,000 |
| For Heaven's Sake Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Purchase deer food, fund raptor transport and daily operational costs Rochester/Tumwater | $18,000 |
| Northeast Washington Wildlife Rehabilitation Society Purchase food and veterinary services, cover animal transport, travel and attendance at NWRA conference Kettle Falls | $12,000 |
| Okanogan Wildlife League (OWL) Build new deer enclosure Oroville | $9,675.44 |
| Raindancer Build new raptor flight enclosures; purchase food Olympia | $8,330 |
| Sarvey Install medical grade flooring in main clinic area Arlington | $13,139.08 |
| Whatcom Humane Society Wildlife Services Build swan pools and enclosures, build pelagic bird pools and aviary Bellingham | $12,089.14 |
| Wolf Hollow Purchase supplies, update and improve raptor flight pen, fund operational costs, and travel to NWRA meeting Friday Harbor | $11,683 |
| TOTAL | $120,916.66 |
2013-2015 Wildlife rehabilitation grants funding summary
| Project | Funded amount |
|---|---|
| Blue Mountain Wildlife Purchase raptor food Benton City | $15,000 |
| Discovery Bay Build new raptor flight enclosures Port Townsend | $3,500 |
| For Heaven’s Sake Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Build new treatment building, purchase padding for transport trailer; fund operational costs Rochester/Tumwater | $15,000 |
| Many Gates to the Heart Build new deer enclosures and install fencing Valley | $4,200 |
| Northwest Spirit Purchase brooder and fund operating costs Chelan | $8,000 |
| Okanogan Wildlife League (OWL) Update facilities; build new enclosures; fund operating costs Oroville | $19,239 |
| Progressive Animal Welfare Society Wildlife Center (PAWS) Fund operating and medical treatment costs; staff training and conferences Lynnwood | $6,653 |
| Raindancer Build new raptor flight enclosures; staff training and education Olympia | $13,000 |
| Sarvey Improve, expand, and contruct new deer enclosures Arlington | $8,547 |
| South Sound Construct diving bird pools Kent | $5,000 |
| Wolf Hollow Update and repair facilities and enclosures Friday Harbor | $9,000 |
| TOTAL | $107,138 |
2011-2013 Wildlife rehabilitation grants funding summary
| Project | Funded amount |
|---|---|
| Many Gates to the Heart Rescue & Rehabilitation Purchase food and supplies Valley | $1,000.00 |
| Northwest Wildlife Rehabilitation Center Purchase food Everson | $1,000.00 |
| For Heaven’s Sake Animal Rescue Center Construct deer enclosure; purchase food Rochester/Tumwater | $14,700.00 |
| Kiwani Wambli Repair and reconstruct treatment and housing structures Cusick | $20,503.00 |
| Northeast Washington Wildlife Rehabilitation Society Symposium attendance; operational and contract services Collville | $9800.00 |
| Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) Renovate and improve black bear enclosures Lynnwood | $29,000.00 |
| Sarvey Wildlife Care Center Fence swan/waterfowl pond enclosure; add protected area for waterfowl Arlington | $7200.00 |
| South Sound Critter Care Replace flooring in rehabilitation room Kent | $9100.00 |
| West Sound Wildlife Shelter Electric furnace and heat pump purchase and installation Bainbridge Island | $10,000.00 |
| TOTAL | $102,303.00 |