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Monday 9am - 2pm Tuesday 9am - 2pm Wednesday 9am - 2pm Thursday 9am - 2pm Friday 9am - 2pm Saturday 9am - 2pm Sunday 9am - 2pm

West Sound Wildlife Shelter

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West Sound Wildlife Shelter

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West Sound Wildlife is a wildlife rehabilitation and education center serving the western Puget Sound region.

West Sound Wildlife is a nonprofit wildlife hospital and education center serving the western Puget Sound. Last year we cared for over 1,500 wildlife patients and provided live-animal education programs to more than 12,000 children and adults.

10/28/2026

Let’s get spooky!

Have you ever wondered if there’s a better way to dispose of your pumpkins after Halloween is over? Look no further than West Sound Wildlife Shelter! Seasonal squash is a fantastic diet addition for our squirrel patients, and can even make fantastic enrichment for our education animals! As long as the pumpkins do not have any mold inside or out, we are happy to take them. This includes jack-o-lanterns!

We are also currently seeking donations of wild birdseed for our feathered friends! Any style/brand will do. All donations can be dropped by the shelter during open hours- 7 days a week from 9-3pm. Our patients thank you!

West Sound Wildlife Shelter Wild Bird Mercantile

10/21/2026

Leave the leaves!

As we’re entering late October, the leaves outside are starting to fall in earnest. Did you know that (besides a beautiful fall landscape) there are ecological benefits to not bagging up your leaves?

By leaving leaf litter where you found it, you can help the food chain from the ground up. Many insects use leaf cover as a safe place to spend the winter, some even choosing it as a place to pupate. Not only will leaving their habitat assist pollinators in making through until spring, it continues up the food chain by providing songbirds, amphibians, and reptiles with food. And guess who may snack on salamanders- oppossums, foxes, and more! Many burrowing species also use these leaves to help insulate their den for the winter. Lend a hand to wildlife this autumn and leave the leaves!

10/16/2026

West Sound Wildlife Shelter will be closing at 12:00 PM on Saturday, October 17 as our team prepares for our annual Call to the Wild Gala & Auction!

Thank you for your understanding and support as we get ready for this special evening celebrating wildlife and the people who make our work possible.

We’ll resume normal hours on Sunday!

10/09/2026

Another successful release!

In September, we received several calls about this juvenile Great Blue Heron being grounded in the Port Gamble Reservation. By the time he was successfully captured and brought into our care, it is likely he had been downed for several weeks, eating anything he could to survive. Upon examination, the bird luckily had no injuries but was extremely thin and weak from lack of proper nutrition. During this season, it is unfortunately common for us to see young birds that have left their parents and are struggling to learn the ropes. With a few weeks of hydration, nutrition, and space to build his flight muscles up, we were able to successfully release him back into the wild! Thank you to the Port Gamble S’klallam tribe for their assistance on getting this gorgeous bird back out there!

West Sound Wildlife Shelter Wild Bird Mercantile

09/29/2026

Bon voyage!

Fall migration is well underway! Every year from mid-September through mid-October, millions upon millions of birds pass through our state under the cover of night. Relying on biological clocks and internal navigation systems, migratory species pass through our state in droves to reach their warmer wintertime destination. While migratory birds are built to be able to completely this journey, it is not without its hardships. When passing through more urban environments, bright artificial lights can confuse the birds, causing them to veer off course. These causes an uptick in harmful situations such as window strikes and car collisions, as well as the bird becoming lost and exhausted. In order to help our feathered friends safely complete their journey, consider turning off all indoor and outdoor lights at night until migration season is over. Included are some photos of our favorite migratory species we see come through West Sound Wildlife Shelter!

Species pictured: Northern saw-whet owl, American goldfinch, Osprey, Black-headed grosbeak, Rufous hummingbird, Cedar waxwing

Photos by Jay Wiggs

09/23/2026

We’re so grateful for the community behind the 22nd Annual Call to the Wild Gala & Auction!

A heartfelt thank-you to Puget Sound Energy, a longtime supporter of West Sound Wildlife Shelter, and Forefront Dermatology in Bremerton and Dr. Kevin Fajardo for sponsoring this year’s event. The Fajardo family’s support goes beyond sponsorship as they’ve also donated many hours volunteering at the shelter. That kind of commitment means so much!

Join us Saturday, October 17, for a wonderful evening that does more than bring people together, it helps give wildlife a second chance. Every ticket supports the lifesaving work of WSWS.

Get your tickets and be part of something wild! Link in comments.

09/22/2026

So berry sweet!

Meet patient 26-1248. This juvenile Cedar Waxwing was admitted to our hospital in late August after being found on the ground with a consistent head tilt. After a thorough examination to insure no other injuries were found, he was given medication and we began hand-feeding him around the clock. We were very pleased to watch his condition improve vastly over the next few days, his head tilt completely correcting itself! After learning to self feed and spending some time in an outdoor enclosure for flight conditioning, our little friend was able to be released back into the wild!

Did you know Cedar Waxwings are frugivores? These birds exist almost exclusively off of native berries such as blueberries, dogwood berries, wild cherries, and more! This being said, they are known to occasionally supplement their diet with small, flying insects for extra protein. Keep your eye out for these beautiful passerines nearby your local berry patch!

09/12/2026

This quilt, Bird Nerd: A Modern Avian Quilt, was on display today at the Bainbridge Island Modern Quilt Guild Show. The next viewing will be at West Sound Wildlife Shelter’s 22nd Annual Call to the Wild Gala and Auction on October 17th. Don’t miss your opportunity to bid on it! Gala tickets on sell now. See link in comments.

09/09/2026

The Call to the Wild Gala & Auction is getting closer!

Join us Saturday, October 17 for an unforgettable evening supporting the wildlife of West Sound Wildlife Shelter. Enjoy dinner, drinks, friends—and an incredible lineup of auction treasures!

Just a few things up for grabs:
• Private barrel tasting & winery tour for 8 at Eleven Winery
• Oktoberfest Week in Leavenworth
• 4 tickets to the Seattle Space Needle
• Golf for two at White Horse Golf Course
• One-month membership to Pickleball Kingdom
• An entire section dedicated to ART!

And that’s just the beginning! Every ticket helps provide food, medical care, shelter, and rehabilitation for wildlife in need.

Get your tickets today and join us for a night that does good—and is a whole lot of fun! Link in comments.

Address

7501 NE Dolphin Drive
Bainbridge Island, WA
98110

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 2pm
Tuesday	9am - 2pm
Wednesday	9am - 2pm
Thursday	9am - 2pm
Friday	9am - 2pm
Saturday	9am - 2pm
Sunday	9am - 2pm

Website

https://westsoundwildlife.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/2026CalltotheWildGalaAuction2/tabid/1597496/Default.aspx, https://westsou

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