Frequently Asked Questions

Iowa Wildlife Center only treats injured, sick, or orphaned wild animals. We do not rehabilitate pets, domesticated animals, or unwanted pests. We do not currently rescue raccoons. Please contact the Iowa DNR for a list of local rehabilitators who may be able to help.

  • If an animal is obviously injured, or you know for certain that it has been orphaned, by all means, contact us at 515-233-1379. If we are unavailable, please contact another rehabilitator in your local area.

    For the closest state-licensed wildlife rehabilitator to you, please go to www.iowadnr.gov/portals/idnr/uploads/files/wildliferehab.pdf

  • No. It is illegal in the state of Iowa to rehabilitate a wild animal unless you hold official state and federal license.

    Wildlife care without the proper food, shelter, lighting, etc, can end up hurting the animal more. Please contact a fully licensed rehabilitator in your area.

  • If you’ve found a nest of baby bunnies, it is important that you leave them be. The mother rabbit does not stick around during the day and will only visit the nest around dusk and dawn.

    Try to keep pets and children away from the nest.

    If your dog or cat has found the nest, only contact us if there is an injured bunny. Leave the nest be and continue to try to keep pets away.

    Bunnies grow quickly and will leave the nest within about 3 weeks.

  • If the baby opossum is smaller than 7” (not including their tail), they are too young to be without their mother. Please contact us at (515) 233-1379 or another local rehabilitator.

    If the baby is larger than 7”, they are old enough to be on their own and no human intervention is needed.

  • If there has been a recent storm or tree work, and the baby is uninjured, leave it where it is by the tree. Give the mother a chance to find and move the baby. It may take all day for that to happen. Try to keep dogs and cats away from the squirrel as much as possible.

    If the squirrel is injured or the mother does not retrieve by dusk, please give us or another local rehabilitator a call.

  • Below is a wonderful graphic by artist Rosemary Mosco at birdandmoon.com explaining what to do if you find a baby bird out of the nest.

  • After we determine if an animal needs our care, we quickly make an assessment on the type of intervention they need. Some animals stay at our office clinic or at Wildway while they heal. Some are transferred to other facilities, which can better care for them.

    Once an animal is well enough, they will be released to the same area they originally came from if practicable.

  • Please do not bring any animals to our office. We are not open to the public and may not be available. Please call us at (515) 233-1379. We also encourage you to contact other local rehabilitators in order for the animal to get the quickest support it needs.

A flowchart titled 'If You Find A Baby Songbird Out Of The Nest' with steps to identify and respond to a baby bird found outside its nest, including questions about injuries, how long it has been out, and the bird's appearance, with illustrations of different bird types.