Giving wildlife a second chance to roam free!
WILD NATURE RESCUE
Wild Nature Rescue’s team graciously welcomes sick, inured, and abandoned wildlife into our rehabilitative care year round.
Saving wildlife; one rescue at a time
“We started with little fanfare and even fewer resources, but we hold a belief that every animal deserves the chance to run wild.”
Wild Nature Rescue was founded by wildlife enthusiasts who saw the need for a dedicated wildlife rescue in the local area. Since then, we have evolved into a growing rehabilitation center that has successfully rescued and rehabilitated an abundance of local Louisiana wildlife in need.
Our team is dedicated to honoring the importance of all native wildlife.
Serving area that includes Ascension, East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Livingston, and other surrounding parishes, we are deeply committed to fostering hope, and respect for all walks of life.
Without the continued support of local wildlife lovers like you, Wild Nature Rescue would not be able to continue our mission. No donation is too small. We constantly are in urgent need of many different types of supplies including food, new housing, animal bedding and vaccines.
Often some of the animals that we take in are in need of prescription medicine and supportive veterinary care.
Your donation today immediately helps us to insure the survival of wildlife here in Louisiana, every penny makes a big difference. You can impact the lives of our native wildlife by giving today.
Thank you for considering making us your favorite local wildlife rescue charity!
We are driven to rescue, rehabilitate, and re-wild native species back into their natural habitats while providing individualized care, and providing a voice for wild animals in need.
We are serious about wildlife conservation, promoting the preservation of natural wildlife habitat, and we strive to heighten public awareness through education to of how to live peacefully with our local native wildlife.
Partnerships are in place with area animal shelters, veterinary offices, legally permitted state wildlife rehabbers, other permitted wildlife sub permittees, and additional wildlife rescue locations to find a proper space for every type of animal.
We can only legally accept certain types of small mammals at this wildlife rescue center.
Our commitment to providing the highest level of care to every animal that we accept helps to ensure that each intake receives the level of attention and the supportive care necessary to thrive for eventual re-entry back into their wild habitat.
Your gift of support today provides us with the resources necessary to continue our live saving work and expand our wildlife rescue center.
JOIN US; Save Louisiana‘s wildlife.
Please consider setting up a monthly or quarterly donation of support for wildlife rehabilitation.
YOU can help keep them wild.
You can help save Louisiana’s native wildlife!
Keeping the wild
Join us in protecting and conserving local wildlife!
Your gift immediately goes to work helping sick, injured, and abandoned wild animals in local Louisiana parishes.
We operate strictly through charitable donations and our own pockets to feed, house, and vaccinate these animals who otherwise have nowhere else to go.
We can’t reach our goals without friends like you!
Saving Wildlife with Wild Nature Rescue
Our team of enthusiastic wildlife rehabilitation professionals is dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating injured and orphaned native wildlife. With expert care, we continually strive to ensure the best possible outcome for each wildlife rescue.
Help us to make a difference in the lives of these amazing creatures!
Frequently Asked Questions
Please reach reach out to us at: hello@wildnaturerescue.org if you cannot find an answer here to your question or if you need help with any orphaned wildlife.
If you have found an animal, please immediately text us a photo to our phone number. We will get back to you as soon as possible!
Sometimes babies fall/are blown out of nests, or are dropped as the mother is moving her nest, or a whole nest is blown down during high winds. (Normally a mother squirrel builds several nests and will move the babies if she feels threatened or there are fleas in the nest.)
The mother will generally come back and check to make sure she has all the babies, however she may miss some and leave them behind. A mother squirrel will not retrieve a baby that is very cold or injured.
How can I help this baby squirrel?
Re-nesting should always be attempted if the whole nest has been blown down or is found in an appropriate place. If the babies are warm, furred, and uninjured, follow these re-nesting procedures:
Place it in a basket or box (shoebox) near where found, out of the reach of cats and dogs. The box should be lined with soft materials to make a warm nest and be a size that is high enough to prevent the baby from climbing out, but low enough to allow the mother to enter and depart with the baby. If the location of the nest is known, the box can be tied as far up the tree trunk as can be managed, out of direct sunlight in hot weather. If the baby is chilled, or the weather is cool, place a jar or a ziplock bag filled with warm water wrapped in several socks inside the box.
Keep dogs and cats indoors and try to minimize human activity around the tree. LEAVE IT ALONE.
Watch from inside the house if possible. The mother will not show herself if she can detect anyone’s presence within a fairly wide radius of the tree.
Check every hour. If the baby is still in the box after 2 hours or as darkness approaches, please call us!
An orphaned animal has been separated from its mother and cannot survive on its own. An injured animal has apparent physical injuries that require immediate medical attention.
We unfortunately cannot legally allow public visits to our facility in order to protect the animals in our care. However, we do occasionally offer virtual tours and educational outreach programs for the public.
We ALWAYS need lots of things! Please check out our current Amazon wishlist for wildlife, we keep it updated regularly.
Additionally, we want to recommend items such as extra pans for our existing cages, big bags of cedar shavings, 40lb bags of chicken and vegetables, or puppy dog kibble, jugs of bleach, kennel sanitizing supplies, animal safe disinfectant spray cleaner, paper towels, strong laundry detergent with oxy, Tractor supply gift cards for animal food and supplies... need more help? Just ask!
Give us a call and we will be happy to help you with this answer!
You can also go online to check the LDWF website for more information explaining how to become a legally permitted wildlife rehabilitator. There is a legal mentorship program in place here in Louisiana.
The answer to this question is a mixed bag. We are not a nuisance control company, and we do not provide nuisance control services at all. If you find a baby animal in your yard such as a baby squirrel for instance, and you do live close by, it is quite possible that we may be able to come and pick it up from you. Be aware that this is not always the case, most of the time you will need to bring the animal to us or to another rehab or that we have connected you with Depending upon the type of animal that you have found and what the situation is. On occasion, we can find a transport person, but this is not always the case.
YES! We can always use things like leftover pet medicine, bath towels, dog blankets, baby blankets, pet beds and carriers, dog houses, animal cages and dog shelters, your left over antibiotics, left over pet meds and flea medicine, bed or puppy pads, we can use SO many things!
The rule of thumb is to rescue a baby opossum if it is less than 8 inches from nose to butt. Use a 6-inch dollar bill as a handy ruler. They are extremely vulnerable to predators.
Often, they will fall off of the mom while traveling. Mother opossums rarely if EVER return for the baby. If you find one place it into a box with a blanket and keep it warm in a very quiet location. Do NOT attempt to feed it.
If the baby opossum is:
- longer than the dollar bill by two inches, appears to be healthy, has no injuries, has no visible parasites, is not attracting ants or flies, then the opossum does not need rescuing.
- If you must chase an opossum to catch him and he is 8 inches long, he does not need to be rescued!
- If the opossum is without a mother and appears to be thin and lethargic even though it is 8 inches or longer, please consult with us at Wild Nature Rescue or contact a local wildlife rehabilitator. .
- Opossums are susceptible to flea anemia and the opossum you found might need a helping hand.
Sometimes a baby possum falls off of its mother and she may not be aware. Sadly, she just keeps on walking and doesn’t realize that one of her babies is missing.
The opossum I found is pink and is only a few inches in length. What should I do? Sadly there isn’t much you can do to help pink baby opossums. Pink baby opossums have a very low odds of surviving in a rehab center. To understand why you have to understand how an opossum’s life begins. An opossum is born after a 12-19 day gestation period. A newborn opossum is the size of a jellybean and will crawl into the pouch where it will then attach to the mother’s teats for 24/7 nourishment for the next two months. Inside the pouch they are kept a consistent temperature, as if in an incubator.
Because it is impossible for a rehabilitator to match the perfect conditions found in a mother’s pouch, a baby opossum that is pink has low odds of surviving in a rehab center. We do not accept them this small at Wild Nature Rescue. You will have to take them to a neonatal rescue center but we are happy to refer you to one.
I always recommend that if it is a safe place to stop, that you pull over to check out the animal. Always make sure to check and see if the animal is still breathing. If an animal is still breathing, contact a wildlife rehabilitator immediately.
When a female animal is dead always check the area surroundings to see if there are any babies present that are now orphaned. It’s possible that they were with the mother or that she was moving them to a new place.
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Caution: Rabies vector species. (RVS)
DO NOT try to handle any hurt adult raccoons. these animals may become agitated when stress and could bite you. Contact a permitted wildlife rehabber right away! If you are trying to help an orphaned baby, do wear thick gloves.
We don’t recommend trying to capture raccoons yourself.
Orphan Alert: Be very careful not to create orphan raccoons by accident. When a baby raccoon is separated from its mother during the night, the baby will stay where it is until the mother returns, which may not be until the next night. People often find a sleeping baby raccoon and will assume it needs to be rescued.
However, it is likely that the mother will be back after dark. If the baby raccoon is not in imminent danger, it’s best to observe the baby for another 24 hours without disturbing it.
Unnecessarily removing an animal from its environment – particularly a baby – can cause more harm than simply leaving it be. It is important to recognize signs of distress.
There are a few cases where you might need to intervene:
- The baby raccoon has been crying continuously.
- The baby raccoon remains in the same spot for 24 hours.
- The eyes are closed, and the baby raccoon is alone. (No mother)
- The baby raccoon is lying stretched out and is cold to the touch.
- The mother has been removed, relocated or is dead.
- The baby raccoon is injured or has been attacked.
- The baby raccoon walks up to humans non-aggressively.
- There are flies around the baby raccoon.
If you know of an animal who needs help, please contact a permitted wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible.
Don‘t keep it overnight and do not attempt to feed it ANYTHING.
Fast and agile, chipmunks can be a fun backyard critter to watch scurrying across the yard, but sometimes they need our help!
Chipmunks love a fully covered home, whether it’s in a log or under a rock. Unlike squirrels, chipmunks like to build complex burrows under ground. They also communicate using sharp, loud chirps, so you can see where they got their name.
Remember: It is illegal to keep and raise any type of wildlife unless you are a legally licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
Myth: Chipmunks will abandon their babies because you touched them, this is not true.
If You Find a Chipmunk That:
- Is not fully furred, and its eyes are sealed shut
- Appears sick or injured
- Is lethargic, disoriented or has difficulty moving/balancing
- Is approaching humans
- Has been in a dog or cat’s mouth
- Has parasites, including fly eggs (look like little grains of rice)
This is an emergency!
Contact Wild Nature Rescue right away!
Our licensed team is standing by to assist you.
If You Find a Chipmunk That:
- Looks like a miniature adult and can evade humans
- Had its den excavated and the den location is known
This is absolutely normal! Chipmunks are independent between six and nine weeks and will explore outside their dens starting at five weeks. We’d recommend that you leave that cute little chipmunk right where it is. It doesn’t need any help, and it’s not injured.
How To Save Baby and Juvenile Chipmunks
Chipmunks are born pink and furless with their eyes closed. During their infancy, they should remain in their dens with their mother and are rarely seen outside of their homes.
After about two weeks, they begin to grow fur and show off their characteristic striped pattern, and their eyes will open after four weeks. It’s not until their fifth to seventh week that chipmunk kits will begin to emerge from their dens to forage for food.
Mother chipmunks typically have two litters of kits each year. The first litter is born in early spring, usually in April. Often they may hear a second litter during the Summer.
How To Renest Chipmunk Kits
If you find a chipmunk kit walking around with closed eyes and no mother or adult chipmunk nearby, renesting may be necessary. Kits are rarely found outside the den unless they are of age, which is about eight weeks, and their eyes and ears are open.
- Wear thick gardening gloves. Chipmunks are rodents and have strong teeth and powerful bites.
- Check the kits carefully for injuries. Purple or red spots under the skin are a common sign of bruising. If the kits appear injured, or are bleeding. Immediate call and turn it over to a licensed wildlife rehabilitation expert. Wild animals are not pets.
- Do not give the kits any food, water or formula — we want them to be hungry and call for mom!
- Gather the kits and place them in a box that they cannot crawl out of. Make sure the box is also accessible for the adult chipmunk to reach in and collect the kits.
- Keep the kits warm. This is a priority! Fill a bottle with hot water and wrap it in a towel. Place the wrapped water bottle securely in the box next to the kits. You may need to reheat the water bottle throughout the reunion process. You can also use heating pads, rice-filled socks or hand warmers. Note: If the kits can be returned directly to the original nest, no heat source is required.
- Place the kits in a safe location as close as possible to where they were found.
- Leave the area and watch from a distance. Mom will not come back if she senses danger (humans, pets, etc.).
- Allow time from when they were found. Allow several daylight hours for mom to return and retrieve her kits.
- If the mom does not retrieve her kits by the next morning. Keep those babies warm and secure, but do NOT offer them any food, water, or formula.
- Call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator to assist you.
- Be aware: Those cute little chipmunks can be aggressive and will bite hard if you try to approach them.
How To Save Adult Chipmunks
Chipmunks are independent at about nine weeks and should look and act like adults. Healthy chipmunks should be fast and agile, and should try to avoid humans. Adult chipmunks are also often mistaken as babies due to their small size, but as long as they retain their high energy and fear of humans, there’s no need for you to intervene! We recommend that you please DONT try to save them!
It’s fun to watch wildlife, but let’s try not to needlessly bring it home.
Wild Nature Rescue is in need of approved release locations that are 10+ acres on privately owned property to release rescued-and rehabilitated wildlife.
We are looking for a variety of habitats to include woodland areas and preferably with streams, or a pond, near a river, and with tall grasses or native Louisiana foliage.
*These must be posted as NO-hunting sites.*
If you are interested in having an abundance of any type wildlife on your property, please contact us at:
reference RELEASE SITES
Well, the quickest answer is “leave them alone”.
If you’re able to observe the nest from a safe place, such as from inside your home, keep an eye out at dusk or dawn. You might just get to see the mother make a quick visit to her young. If you’ve gone several days without seeing her, make a tic-tac-toe grid of string or flour around the nest and see if it ends up being disturbed; if so, she’s likely just being very sneaky about her visits.
If a nest has been truly abandoned, apart from the lack of disturbance around the site, you may notice the babies are looking thinner or dehydrated. They may also be crying or otherwise obviously distressed.
If you find a single baby rabbit that is still very small all by itself, it may have gotten lost; see if you can relocate the rest of the babies and return it to the nest, and check their condition quickly before you go. Not every lone bunny is an orphan, though. Remember that they can be independent as early as three weeks of age. If the baby you find is fully furred with open eyes, can hop around on its own, and is at least the size of a baseball, it’s likely old enough to be on its own.
It is incredibly important that you NOT remove a baby rabbit from the nest unless you are absolutely certain it has been abandoned. Most baby rabbits that end up in rehab will die, even with the best professional care. Formula is not a good substitute for their mother’s milk, and they also need the antibodies they get from her while nursing. The stress from captivity also frequently leads to capture myopathy, in which the rabbit’s muscles are so flooded by lactic acid that they don’t receive enough oxygen and the tissues die. It’s a pretty horrible way to die, quite honestly, and even a baby rabbit that is simply picked up and handled before being put back in the nest can suffer from it.
In the event the baby or entire nest truly has been abandoned, or if one of the bunnies is injured or ill, call your closest wildlife rehabilitation facility.
Do not try to care for the rabbits on your own; as mentioned, they have very specific dietary needs, and they are incredibly fragile.
sometimes it really is best to just put the bunny back!
