From burrowing owls to domestic ducks and entanglements to car strikes, Urban Bird Foundation responds to emergencies when agencies and wildlife hospitals are unable to make field visits. As most wildlife rehabilitation centers and hospitals are primarily volunteer-based, they simply do not have the resources to respond to calls for help or transport injured, orphaned, or sick wildlife. Thus, we have filled a much-needed niche – providing rescue expertise and call responses when concerned people find or encounter birds and wildlife in need, but are ill-equipped to handle the sensitive situations.
Urban Bird Foundation receives more than 1,000 calls and emails per year requesting wildlife help and rescues. We partner with Northern California wildlife rehabilitation and hospitals to directly transport and safely deliver rescued animals for veterinary care. Although our hands-on services are only available in Northern California at this time, we also respond and assist people from across the country who have found and rescued wildlife – providing temporary care instructions and the location of the nearest wildlife rescue facility.
Please help us ensure the animal’s safety and return to the wild!
did you find a young burrowing owl on the ground
Make sure birds need your help before “rescuing” them
It's not uncommon for people to witness young birds hopping on the ground and begging for food. Typically, these fledglings do not require any help. Sometimes young birds leave the nest before they are fully ready to fly. Parents will continue to feed their young for a few days until they can fly and look for food on their own. Please observe carefully before you try to “rescue” a bird. If the bird is in immediate danger, please place it under nearby plants. Again, it is important to avoid unnecessary handling or moving young birds from where it was found.
Click the links below to locate your nearest wildlife rehabilitation center and hospital
Alabama
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Alaska
Contact the Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Arizona
Arizona Game and Fish Department
Arkansas
Migratory birds: Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Animals: Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
California
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Colorado
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (PDF)
Connecticut
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Delaware
Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife
District of Columbia
City Wildlife
Florida
South Florida: South Florida Wildlife Center at 954-524-4302 or 866-SOS-WILD.
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (PDF)
Georgia
Department of Natural Resources
Hawaii
Call the local Division of Forestry and Wildlife office
Idaho
Call the Idaho Fish and Game Regional Office
Illinois
Illinois Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Rehabilitation (PDF)
University of Illinois Extension (PDF)
Indiana
Indiana Department of Natural Resources wildlife rehabilitators list (PDF)
Iowa
Iowa Department of Natural Resources (PDF)
Kansas
Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism
Kentucky
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
Louisiana
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Maine
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (PDF)
Maryland
Maryland Wildlife Rehabilitators Association
Massachusetts
Wildlife Rehabilitators’ Association of Massachusetts
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife rehabilitators list
Michigan
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Minnesota
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife rehabilitation Center of Minnesota
Mississippi
Mississippi Wildlife Rehabilitation
Missouri
Call the Missouri Department of Conservation Regional Office
Montana
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
Nebraska
Call the Game and Parks Commission Conservation Officer
Nevada
Nevada Department of Wildlife (PDF)
New Hampshire
New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
New Jersey
New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife (PDF)
New Mexico
Call the Game and Fish office
New York
New York Department of Environmental Conservation
North Carolina
Wildlife Resources Commission
North Dakota
Call the Game and Fish District Office
Ohio
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (PDF)
Oregon
DFW list of wildlife rehabilitators (PDF)
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Association of Wildlife Rehabilitators
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
South Carolina
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
South Dakota
Call the Game, Fish & Parks Wildlife Division office
Tennessee
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
Texas
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Utah
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Vermont
Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department Wildlife Rehabilitator (PDF)
Virginia
Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
Washington
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation
West Virginia
Call the Department of Natural Resources District Office
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Wyoming
Call the Game & Fish Department Regional Office