State grants available to wildlife rehabilitators

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: Patricia Thompson (email)

See WDFW ALEA grants for additional grant opportunities.

Applications and forms

2021-2023 Grant Application Guidelines
Wildlife Rehabilitator Grant Application: Adobe PDF / MS Word
Quarterly Report Form: Adobe PDF / MS Word
Annual/Final Report Form: Adobe PDF / MS Word

Funded projects

2019-2021 Wildlife rehabilitation grants funding summary

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

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

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

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

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