What it takes to care for wildlife

This is how much it costs from rescue to release to care for wildlife. For basic medical treatment, appropriate food/formula, and bedding:
Fawns
​​$500 or more to raise a baby deer
​Photo credit: Emily Case
Foxes​
​$75 per week
Hawks and owls
​​$50 per week
Photo credit: Chet Gottfried, Ron Crandall, and Sue DeArment
​Your donations go directly to the care of our wild patients and non-releasable educational ambassadors.” ​– Raven Ridge Wildlife Center, Schuylkill County
Raccoons
​​$200-500 per kit
​
Rabbits
​$150 in formula to nurture baby rabbits for 60 to 90 days
Squirrels
​$150-200 for formula to nourish a baby squirrel to release

Breakdown of how much it costs to nurture a bird

  • $12,000 – average food costs per year
  • $1,000 – veterinary care for the year
  • $500 – food costs per WEEK from May–September
  • $90 – average amount it costs to care for an insectivore (chimney swift, barn swallow, tree swallow, etc)
  • $45 – amount it costs to raise a neonate into adulthood
If an animal is injured, the veterinary and medicinal costs can be much higher.
​
For example, curing an owl of West Nile Virus can cost up to $500. Repairing and rehabilitating a broken bone on a bird of prey can run upwards of $1,000. Enclosures for mammals and birds can cost in the range of $5,000.
​Every penny that we receive helps to buy food, medications, and shelter for our animal patients. Please spread the word to your friends and family!”
​– Diamond Rock Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic, Chester County

Food, cleaning, and medical supplies needed by wildlife rehabs

 Here are the kinds of supplies needed by wildlife rehabilitation centers on a daily basis throughout the year:​
Food
  • Dry puppy, dog, or kitten chow
    (not senior, indoor, or special diets)
  • Unsalted peanuts in the shell
  • Fresh fruits and vegetables
  • Fox Valley Raccoon Formula
  • Fruit/vegetables/chicken baby foods
  • Bird Seed
  • Black Oil Sunflower
  • Shelled Corn
  • Scratch Feed
Housing
  • Newspapers
  • Heating pads
  • Surgical drapes
  • Bales of straw or hay
  • Animal carriers and cages
  • Rubbermaid storage containers
Enrichment
  • Educational baby and toddler toys
  • Cat climbing trees
  • Dog and cat toys
Medical supplies
  • Lactated ringers
  • Syringes
  • Needles (all gauges)
  • Latex exam gloves
  • Sterile saline solution
  • Vet wrap, cling wrap
  • Cotton balls
  • Q-tips
Cleaning supplies
  • Plain white paper towels
  • Unscented liquid laundry detergent
  • Clorox brand bleach
  • Clorox Clean-Up liquid
  • Dawn dish detergent
  • Plain white Kleenex
  • Clorox wipes
  • Trash bags
​Miscellaneous
  • Unscented baby wipes (alcohol free)
  • Wood bark mulch
We’re a non-profit, statewide telephone dispatch system for capturing injured and orphaned wildlife in the state of Pennsylvania. It is solely run by volunteers and we rely on the generosity of our donors and sponsors to cover the expenses incurred for our operations. These include the annual cost of the dispatch system, and training and supply costs for our volunteers.” ​
​– Wildlife In Need of Emergency Response of Pennsylvania, Crawford County
Taking in over 3,000 animals annually, from the tiniest hummingbird to the largest eagle, from chipmunks to deer, Red Creek is helping others become wildlife rehabilitators through classes, seminars, and online training, expanding this service to new areas in Pennsylvania and nationally.
​Your donation supports the treatment of over 800 injured and orphaned wildlife patients a year, working towards release back into the wild; the care and training of wild educational ambassador animals who inspire thousands of people every year; and educational and outreach work, including live-animal programs, to inspire the community to appreciate our wildlife.” ​
​– Tamarack Wildlife Center, Crawford County

How to support wildlife rehabs in Pennsylvania

Give directly to a Pennsylvania wildlife rehabilitation center in your area. Browse featured PA wildlife rehabs below.
You can also purchase our annual Pennsylvania Wildlife Samaritans calendar - 100% of the Proceeds go to the featured PA wildlife rehabs! 

Not in Pennsylvania?
​Find out where your local wildlife rescue and rehab is and be sure to keep their phone number handy in case you ever have a wildlife encounter (e.g., orphaned, injured wildlife in need).