Found a wild animal in distress?
Call the clinic: (609) 303-0552
Found a wild animal in distress?
The animal may not need help, and moving it could cause harm. We’ll guide you on whether it needs care and how to safely bring it to us.
Keep the animal warm, quiet, and away from pets or children. Handle it minimally, and do not feed or give it water, as this can cause serious harm.
Bringing patients to the center
The Mercer County Wildlife Center cares for more than 3,100 animals each year, keeping our small team very busy. Because of this, we are unable to provide a pick-up service for wildlife in need of care. If you encounter an animal that may need assistance, our staff will gladly guide you on how to safely contain and transport it to the center or provide a referral when appropriate.
Hours
The Mercer County Wildlife Center accepts wildlife patients seven days a week by appointment only.
Please call the clinic at (609)303-0552 to schedule an appointment.
If we are unable to answer, please leave a message. Our staff may be caring for patients but will return your call as soon as possible.
Seasonal Hours
May through September
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
October through April
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
When you bring an animal for treatment, a staff member will log the animal into our computer system and assign it a case number. If you would like to follow the animal's progress, make sure you have the case number handy when you call so we can locate the animal's patient history.
A Note About Domestic Animals
We do not accept domestic animals for treatment. If you find a domestic animal in need of care, we will be happy to provide local referral information.
Do All Animals Need Our Help?
When you call the Center, we can help you determine whether a wild animal truly needs assistance. For example, an owl injured after flying into a car’s path should receive help. In contrast, many young animals that appear abandoned are usually being cared for by their parents nearby.
For general guidance, you can visit our Birds, Mammals, and Reptiles pages. However, whenever possible, your first step should always be to call us for advice on whether and how to safely handle an injured or seemingly abandoned animal.
