About Wildlife in Crisis
A small songbird hits your window, and falls to the ground.
You find a nest of baby flying squirrels in a downed tree.
You see a turtle in the road with a cracked shell that has been hit by a car.
Wildlife in Crisis is a volunteer-run, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to wildlife preservation and land conservation.
Since 1988, residents of Fairfield County confronting a wildlife issue have counted on Wildlife in Crisis, the only all-species wildlife care center in the region. In that time, over one-hundred thousand wild birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians have passed through the WIC clinic, headed for a second chance at life in the wild. Our facility in provides the quite seclusion necessary for our wild patients to recover and mature.
Each year WIC receives over 5,000 compromised birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians from concerned citizens, veterinarians and law enforcement. As a key public information resource, WIC responds to more than 20,000 phone calls each year providing guidance to those seeking help with wildlife issues.
At WIC, the emphasis is on emergency medical care and temporary housing for injured and orphaned animals—not on keeping releasable animals in cages for public display. We run a nurture center—not a “nature” center. In order to give each species the specialized care they need it is imperative that we restrict the amount of human contact they receive at WIC. It is a delicate balance of nurturing and seclusion that allows us to successfully rehabilitate our patients. Wounded wildlife must be kept quite and calm throughout their recovery. Each orphaned baby must be raised with others of their own species for proper socialization and receive minimal human contact during their stay at WIC. We achieve this through our resident intern program. WIC interns are assigned specific species to care for in order to provide necessary continuity of care. And our local volunteers assist with our permanent resident animals who require careful care, monitoring and enrichment.
WIC cares for debilitated wildlife and seeks to protect threatened ecosystems. WIC’s care center, land trust and environmental education programs share the goal of protecting wildlife while improving the quality of life in our communities.
State and Federally Licensed
Wildlife in Crisis, Inc. is licensed by the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection and the United States Fish & Wildlife Service to care for injured and orphaned wild animals. The goal of our Wildlife Rehabilitation Program is to care for debilitated wildlife so these animals can be returned to live independently in their natural environment.
WIC cares for all species of indigenous wildlife, from tiny hummingbirds to white-tailed deer. WIC responds to more than 20,000 calls a year regarding distressed wildlife.
The wild animals at WIC come into contact with no more than two human caretakers during their stay in order to prevent imprinting, and baby wild animals are raised with their peers to ensure proper socialization.