Below is what to expect if you find a wild animal in need of care:

1. Most importantly, please be sure to CALL FIRST to schedule an appointment. Please do not come to the Wildlife Center without calling first. We can be reached at (608) 287-3235 from approximately 9:00 am until 5:00 pm. Please leave a message if we do not answer, and we will call you back as soon as we are able. Please be patient as we are busy caring for the hundreds of patients we already have in care. If you already have an animal contained, please do not feed or handle the animal, and keep it in a quiet location until we call you back.

2. We may request a photo to be e-mailed or texted to us to help determine if the animal needs to come into care. Our e-mail address is wildlife@giveshelter.org and our text number is (608) 960-8328 (this number does not accept calls). During baby season, this is more important so that no one makes a trip for a healthy baby that does not need help.

How to reunite healthy orphans

3. If we determine the animal should come in for care, we will gather all the information we need from you to complete our admission form over the phone, and then give you an appointment time to arrive at the Wildlife Center with the animal.

4. Please secure the animal for transportation in a ventilated container that you do not need returned. We will be unable to return transportation containers at this time.

How to safely contain an injured wild animal

5. When you arrive at the Wildlife Center, ring the doorbell outside of the door to let our staff know you've arrived with the animal.

7. Wildlife staff will come out to pick up the animal.

Thank you for your cooperation and for continuing to care about the well-being of the wild animals that we share the earth with.