Due to limited capacity, priority is given to wildlife from the Mount Washington Valley area. If coming from outside the area, please call ahead to check on availability.
These include small mammals, songbirds, ducks, geese, oppossums.
We accept fawns and moose calves only when known to be orphaned.
HOURS: We are open from 9-6 in the summer months, 9-5 in the winter months.
If you are calling AFTER HOURS and have found a bird or animal...
Please use gloves and secure the animal in a well-ventilated box or crate away from people and pets and do not give it any food or water.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY CRITICAL IF YOU FOUND A FAWN. FEEDING A DEER FAWN CAN DECREASE ITS CHANCES OF SURVIVAL. If you must hold any animal overnight, keep it safe in a warm, dark area and call us in the morning. Please see special note below regarding deer fawns.
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ALWAYS WEAR GLOVES WHEN HANDLING ANY WILD ANIMAL
Many wild animals, including baby wildlife in the spring and summer are needlessly killed and tested for rabies, because people handle them without protection. For your safety and the life of the animal, always wear gloves when handling wildlife.
ANIMALS THAT WE DO NOT ACCEPT FOR CARE:
** Rabies Vector Species: This includes raccoons, skunks, fox, bats and woodchucks.
** For turtle care: Call New Hampshire Turtle Rescue, Livermore, NH, 603-417-4944. They are open 24 hours a day.
** Large birds including hawks, owls and ravens: We will relay only to other centers set up to house these specialized species.
** For loon emergencies: Contact the LOON CENTER in Moultonboro, NH at 603-476-LOON.
** For further assistance: There is a list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators on the New Hampshire Fish & Game website at: www.wildlife.nh.gov/wildlife-and-habitat/rehabilitators
BABY BIRDS:
** Fledglings are older baby birds often found hopping around the ground. The chances are good that they are not injured and their parents are close by keeping watch over their youngsters as they learn to fly and fend for themselves. Do not pick up a fledgling baby bird unless you can determine that it is injured and needs assistance.
** An unfeathered baby bird found on the ground can often be placed back into the nest. It is a myth that the parent birds will not accept the baby once it is placed back in the nest.
** If you must keep a baby bird overnight, a baby bird needs heat. You can use a heating pad set on low, with a towel between the heating pad and box. If no heating pad is available, use a sock filled with rice and microwaved until warm, NOT hot. Repeat as necessary to keep the animal warm. Do not feed the baby bird. Birds do not eat at night and to feed a baby bird an improper diet can be harmful to its health. Call us in the morning to make arrangements to bring it to us.
BABY MAMMAL:
** If you have found an infant mammal, the baby will need supplemental heat. A heating pad can be used, set on low, and placed on a towel between the heating pad and box. If no heating pad is available, use a sock filled with rice and microwaved until warm, NOT hot. Wrap the baby in a loose piece of fleece or washcloth. Do not feed the baby and call us in the morning to make arrangements to bring it to us. Feeding milk products or formula designed for human babies can be especially dangerous and feeding infants without guidance can lead to the baby aspirating (ingesting liquid into the lungs) and causing pneumonia and death.
A SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT DEER FAWNS:
** Fawns are often seen alone. The mother deer leaves them for several hours while she goes off to browse. She also leaves them to protect them as her scent will attract predators. Fawns, with no newborn scent, are safer alone. They can be seen in yards, against foundations, and other places that we humans think odd. This does not mean they are orphaned or abandoned. For more information, please click here. If you are certain the fawn needs rescuing, ex. with a deceased mother, please contact the Wildlife Division of New Hampshire Fish and Game at 603-271-2461 from 8:00am-4:00pm. After-hours calls go to the dispatch number at 603-271-3361. Do not call or bring them to ECW as all fawn calls go through the state before being placed for rehabilitation care.
