Baby season is here and things are literally hopping at the center! Please give generously to help us keep pace with our busiest season in our 42-year history. From life-saving surgeries to long-term treatment for lead toxicity, we're one of the oldest and busiest wildlife hospitals in the nation. If animal is in the street, please note the exact location it was found, look for parents, then contain it in a box and call us.
If orphaned animal is a lone duckling, or a group of them, wandering without mom, just bring them in. No need to call first. Please keep them dry - no water for them to swim in!. Drop us a note (status@wrcmn.org) with the person's name who admitted it, the approximate date and the species. We'll get back to you within 7-10 days.
If orphaned animal is a lone duckling, or a group of them, wandering without mom, just bring them in. No need to call first. Please keep them dry - no water for them to swim in!. Drop us a note (status@wrcmn.org) with the person's name who admitted it, the approximate date and the species. We'll get back to you within 7-10 days.
Services
WRC was founded at the University of Minnesota in 1979 as a student club of the Veterinary College. From those humble beginnings of just a few dozen animals a year, the WRC has grown into one of the nation's busiest wildlife hospitals, admitting approximately 15,000 patients annually. We are known for our work with Trumpeter Swans and lead toxicity; consulting worldwide on these beautiful birds.
Most of our visitors have animal-related questions. If that bat is in your home and it's not winter, close any interior doors to the room, open the windows (and any exterior exiting doors) and the bat will eventually fly out. If it's not strong enough to fly and falls to the floor, the bat needs medical care.
Working with our patients is incredibly hard work but it's wonderfully rewarding. The opportunity to help care for a wild animal, giving it a second chance at life, is something you'll remember forever. We also offer special wildlife medicine internships for students enrolled in veterinary school. If you're interested in volunteering with us, please choose the primary area in which you're interested for your application.
Reviews (10)
Stephanie Maldonado
Nov 19, 2021
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Christine, Laura, and Carrie. I witnessed a Flock of geese get plowed down by a car who carelessly drive away as if they didn't know that they had just hit 5 beautiful wild birds. Sadly 2 didn't make it. 1 just a hurt wing. 2 badly hurt. These ladies made such an effort to get all the way to edina for these injured geese. I called so many people and they made no effort.. I am so relieved that these ladies took the time to volunteer and get these beautiful creatures the help they need to heal or not suffer. Thank you. People please take your time and respect wildlife. They are just as important
Eve
Sep 03, 2021
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Steph MacPhail
Aug 29, 2021
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Kari Moon
Aug 21, 2021
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I have no beef with this Hospital and I DO UNDERSTAND EXPENSES because I feed hungry animals,Anyhow I read the sad
🐰bunny🐇story & the woman whom brought in an injured Fox, Now if your able to home the Fox & other recovered animals in a "Protective Refuge" w/others,Why couldn't those previous baby bunny's do as well? The fact is, Your promising them something you cannot control,that mother MIGHT return yet she MIGHT have been dinner or something else happened.As a child we were given a newborn squirrel my mother bottle fed carnation Eva.milk to and at 8 weeks and ANIMAL REFUGE picked him
🐰bunny🐇story & the woman whom brought in an injured Fox, Now if your able to home the Fox & other recovered animals in a "Protective Refuge" w/others,Why couldn't those previous baby bunny's do as well? The fact is, Your promising them something you cannot control,that mother MIGHT return yet she MIGHT have been dinner or something else happened.As a child we were given a newborn squirrel my mother bottle fed carnation Eva.milk to and at 8 weeks and ANIMAL REFUGE picked him
Jennifer W.
Jun 29, 2021
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These people are doing the work of saints, to anyone who is blaming an animals death on them in these comments, understand that anyone in the vet industry is here because they care AND to do the best they can! Don’t take your frustration out on people who are volunteering or working and doing their best! It’s already often a thankless job with wildlife & intensely difficult traumas. BE KIND!!!!! The reward is seeing a recovery! Cynicism just makes the world more bitter- do good for living creatures with your resources and leave it at that unless you have a medical license and want to jump in
Josephine Ramirez
Jun 27, 2021
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Do not bring injured wildlife here, especially birds! If you actually read through their website, you will find that barely over 30% of the animals brought there will actually survive. They kill nearly 50% straight away. I made the mistake of bringing in a minorly injured woodpecker, which could still fly. The only injury was a scrape on the lower side of the wing. They choose to kill it instantly upon inspection. I am sure I could have cared for it and released it using online resources as a guide. Please don't make the same mistake I did, do whatever you can to avoid bringing your injured bird
Alex C.
Jun 20, 2021
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Brought in baby rabbits. Drove 40 minutes to get there and they tell use they cannot take them. We told them how dangerous our backyard is and that the mother isn't coming back. They told us she is coming back even though they haven't seen what we have been seeing. These baby rabbits will now die because they won't take them and even try to save them.
Kimberly Taylor
Jun 02, 2021
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I found a little baby fox today who was all alone in a farm field along side a road today. He looked so frail, dehydrated, malnourished but not injured. Called the sheriffs to see if they had any suggestions on where to bring him. The Sheriff was very helpful although thought it would be best to leave it for “nature to take its course”. Well.... that was not going to fly with me so I ended up taking it to the
Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota in Roseville. It is a non-profit organization who take animals like bunnies, squirrels to foxes. They were really nice people and let me know
Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota in Roseville. It is a non-profit organization who take animals like bunnies, squirrels to foxes. They were really nice people and let me know
Betty Vanderhooven-SchmaaSchmaa
Oct 25, 2020
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Please don't take every abandoned & injured bunny and birdie to be rehabilitated. Think about this. Sadly but truthfully, these animals are at the bottom of the food chain. They serve as food and keep less numerous, upper order animals alive.
When you read that and EXPERT refers to bunnies as the popcorn of the animal kingdom, it should give you pause. Save WRC's precious resources.
Dropping off bunnies, birdies & squirrels takes resources away from less common animals that need more care.
Spay and neuter and LEASE your pets!
And if you drop off an animal, DONATE!
Thank you for everything
When you read that and EXPERT refers to bunnies as the popcorn of the animal kingdom, it should give you pause. Save WRC's precious resources.
Dropping off bunnies, birdies & squirrels takes resources away from less common animals that need more care.
Spay and neuter and LEASE your pets!
And if you drop off an animal, DONATE!
Thank you for everything
Karen Gustafson
Sep 10, 2020
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