If you’ve found an injured bird, orphaned fawn, or sick mammal in Connecticut, you don’t have to figure it out alone. There are licensed wildlife rehabilitators across the state ready to help — here’s how to find them.

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🔑 Best Starting Points

Connecticut Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (CWRA)

Website: cwrawildlife.org

The CWRA is a statewide association that connects the public with trained wildlife rehabilitators and veterinarians through a network covering all of Connecticut. They operate a public hotline and their “Find a Rehabilitator” page links directly to CT DEEP’s species-specific lists. This is usually the best first call.

CT DEEP Wildlife Division

Website: portal.ct.gov/DEEP

DEEP’s Wildlife Unit will refer callers who have encountered orphaned, injured, or sick wildlife to local rehabbers. They also provide 24-hour emergency dispatch for urgent situations — including bats in living spaces, wildlife exposure to people or pets, and animals behaving abnormally.

💡 Tip: Not sure if an animal actually needs help? DEEP’s website has excellent guidance on common situations — including why most fawns found “alone” are not actually orphaned.

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🦅 Specialty Organizations

A Place Called Hope — Raptor Rescue & Rehabilitation

Location: Weston, CT  |  Phone: 203-804-3453 or 860-575-9791

A Place Called Hope specializes in birds of prey — eagles, hawks, owls, falcons, harriers, vultures, and osprey — as well as corvids like crows and ravens. All staff hold CT Wildlife Rehabilitator licenses and federal permits. They serve much of the state.

Nutmeg Acres Wildlife Rehabilitation

Website: nutmegacreswildlife.com

A home-based organization operating since 2002, Nutmeg Acres cares for more than 400 wild patients annually with the goal of returning every animal to its natural habitat.

Mystic-Area Wildlife Rescue

Phone: 860-536-1216

Located in Mystic, this organization focuses on local wildlife rescue and rehabilitation and can assist with a range of species.

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📋 Full Statewide Directory

A town-by-town directory of licensed CT rehabilitators — with phone numbers and species specialties — is available as a PDF. Search for “2021 Connecticut Rehab Directory PDF” to find the most recent publicly available version. Note that some listings may have changed; always call ahead to confirm availability.

You can also search the Rescue Shelter Network’s CT Wildlife page for additional groups by region.

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⚠️ A Few Things to Keep in Mind

• All licensed CT wildlife rehabilitators are not-for-profit volunteers with regular day jobs. Response times can vary — please be patient and try multiple contacts if needed.
• Wild animals are not pets. Keeping a wild bird or mammal — even temporarily — is illegal without a license. Improper care can make animals unreleasable.
• When in doubt, call before you act. Moving an animal that doesn’t need intervention can do more harm than good.

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Have you had a positive experience with a CT wildlife rehabber? Share it in the comments — your recommendation could help the next person who finds an animal in need.