Wildlife Emergency

Our Wildlife Intake Center (WIC) is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Our hours fluctuate through the year so always check our website or our phone line for our current hours.

Our current hours are:
8am – 5pm | 7 days a week

We are located at:
11251 B Ave., Auburn, CA 95603

During our open hours, please transport directly to our Wildlife Intake Center, where the animal will receive prompt care. If you take it to a veterinarian, they may not be able to treat the animal and we may not get the animal for hours. Time is of the essence, and you can help by bringing the animal directly to us.

When our Wildlife Intake Center is closed, please keep the animal warm, dark and quiet – do not offer food or water. Please DO NOT leave it at our WIC when we are closed – there are many wild and domestic predators that could kill the animal. Many veterinary clinics will accept animals, as does Placer County Animal Services. We will get the animal from them as
soon as possible.

Does this animal need to be rescued?

  • Is there a serious injury apparent (unable to walk, run, climb or fly)? If yes, please transport the animal to us as soon as possible.
  • Has the animal been caught by a cat or dog? If yes, please transport to us ASAP. You may not see a puncture wound, and we will examine closely for any injuries. Puncture wounds require antibiotics or the animal will die.
  • If no injury is apparent and it’s a baby, has the parent had an opportunity to reclaim its young? A wild baby’s best chance of survival is with its mother.

Gold Country Wildlife Rescue (Placer County) Wildlife Emergency Phone System:

530-885-0862

Organizations Supporting
Placer County

Bats | NorCal Bats:
530-902-1918

Domestic Animals/Pets/Livestock |
Placer County Animal Services:
530-886-5500

Fawns | Sierra Wildlife Rescue:
530-885-0862 (GCWR Phone System)
530-621-4661 (SWR Phone System)

General Wildlife | Gold Country
Wildlife Rescue:

530-885-0862

Organizations Supporting
Northern California Region

Amador, Calaveras & San Joaquin
Counties – Tri County Wildlife Care:
209-283-3245

Butte County – Bidwell Wildlife Rehabilitation

Eastern El Dorado County – Lake
Tahoe Wildlife Care:
530-577-2273

El Dorado County | Sierra Wildlife
Rescue
:
530-621-4661

Nevada & Yuba Counties | Wildlife
Rescue & Release
:
530-432-5522

Sacramento County – Wildlife Care
Association
:
916-965-9453

Shasta County – Shasta Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation

Organizations Supporting
All of California

CA Dept of Fish & Wildlife (Bears,
Mountain Lions, Adult Deer, Other
Wildlife Concerns):
916-653-6420

CalTIP (CDFW Tip Line – Report
Illegal Activity):
1-888-334-CalTIP (888-334-2258)

Wildlife Disaster Network (Use during
CA disasters – Fires, Floods,
Mudslides, Etc.):
1-800-942-6459

To Find Local Resources Across the U.S.

Help Animals Now
(You may also be interested in their
AnimalHelpNow! app, available for iOS

To transport an animal:

  • Keep the animal in a secure container (cardboard box, pet carrier) lined with paper towels or smooth fabric that won’t catch toenails.
  • Note exact location of rescued animal – this is important information when we return the animal to the wild.
  • DO NOT offer food or water.
  • Keep the animal warm and the container away from drafts. If the animal is very young (eyes still closed, hairless, featherless) put the container on a heating pad set to LOW. If the animal is older, set only half the container on the heating pad, thereby allowing the animal to move farther away or closer to the heat source.
  • Keep the animal quiet and resist the temptation to open container to check on it.
  • Stress kills, and we humans are stressful to wild animals.
  • Transport the animal as quickly as possible to our WIC.

Songbird Information

Hummingbird Information

Rabbit Information

Mammal Information

Raptor (Hawks, Owls) Information

Waterfowl, Turkey, Game Bird Information

WARNING!

Handling a wild animal can be dangerous to you and harmful for the animal.

To protect yourself from disease and injury (1) never approach or attempt to rescue an animal who is behaving abnormally (circling, staggering, etc.) or shows signs of disease (salivating, discharge from the eyes or nose, etc.) and (2) always wear thick gloves if you choose to handle wildlife.

Not all wild animals who appear to be orphaned actually are orphaned. Please exercise caution and good judgment and consult with the experts before deciding to handle, transport, or otherwise disturb a wild animal. 

Finally, remember that it is illegal to keep native wildlife in the state of California without proper permits. 

Because of our small staff that helps over 4,500 animals a year we are unable to answer initial calls.  Please leave a message on our phone system and wait for a call back from one of our volunteers. We will call you back as soon as we are able to do so.

By clicking OK you indicate you understand this warning.