Wildlife Rehabilitation Resources and Directory
Wildlife rehabilitation is a licensed activity in Wisconsin. It is defined as providing care or treatment to an orphaned, sick or injured wild animal for the purpose of releasing it back into the wild. Under state law, no person may rehabilitate any wild animal except as authorized under a rehabilitation license.
You can help reserve space for wild animals truly in need by always calling a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before assuming a wild animal needs help. In some cases, wildlife rehabilitators may temporarily modify how they can assist injured, orphaned, or sick wildlife to protect human and wildlife health and safety.
Most wild animals are protected under state and federal laws and cannot be taken from the wild or possessed by unauthorized citizens. Raising a wild animal as a pet is not only against laws and regulations but is not doing the right thing for the animal. Wisconsin's captive wildlife regulations allow a citizen to possess a wild animal for up to 24 hours to transfer that animal to an appropriately licensed individual, such as a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian. Even though wild animals are cute, they should not be viewed as pets.
Note: Due to concerns about highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), licensed wildlife rehabilitators may have limits or restrictions on admissions of some species. For more information, please visit the Avian influenza webpage.
Wildlife Rehabilitation Directory
The blue counties on the map represent the locations of licensed wildlife rehabilitators. Select a county name in the table below for a list of wildlife rehabilitators and their contact information.
| County |
|---|
| Barron |
| Dunn |
| Oconto |
| Sauk |
| Washington |
| Brown |
| Eau Claire |
| Oneida |
| Shawano |
| Waukesha |
| Burnett |
| La Crosse |
| Ozaukee |
| Vernon |
| Waupaca |
| Columbia |
| Langlade |
| Portage |
| Walworth |
| Winnebago |
| Crawford |
| Manitowoc |
| Rock |
| Washburn |
| Dane |
| Milwaukee |
Determine if a Wild Animal Needs Help
Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator immediately if you have determined that a wild animal is sick, injured or truly orphaned. Never attempt to rehabilitate wildlife on your own. Wisconsin's licensed wildlife rehabilitators are specially trained to provide temporary care and treatment to wild animals to release them back into the wild.
Consult Keep Wildlife Wild for detailed resources to help determine if a wild animal is truly orphaned and choose an appropriate course of action. We have printable resources for some of the most frequently found animals, including birds, mammals and fawns.
Many young wild animal species spend most of their day without their mother, who may be away feeding or keeping her distance to protect her young.
Do not provide food or water; this can do more harm than good.
Rehabilitation and SARS-CoV-2
Changes To Wildlife Rehabilitation Procedures
It remains a concern whether SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 in people, can become established in wild animal populations. Beyond the potential threat to wildlife, this could also threaten human health should the virus become established in the wild and a reservoir.
To protect against the potential introduction of SARS-CoV-2 into wild animal populations in Wisconsin, the DNR has temporarily modified rehabilitation procedures to protect the health of Wisconsinites and wildlife.
This year, there are increased biosecurity requirements for all bat, felid (bobcat), mustelid (weasel species, mink, fisher, otter), red fox and white-tailed deer rehabilitation, and space may be limited. This spring, call a licensed rehabilitator before handling any of these species.
For more information about SARS-CoV-2 in animals, visit USDA APHIS One Health – SARS-CoV-2 in Animals.