Center for Wildlife

Center for Wildlife We are dedicated to a sustainable future for our wildlife, community and environment. Stories can be powerful.
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Center for Wildlife's page is a place to connect the public to the local wildlife in their backyards, and inspire stewardship of both wildlife and their habitats. We aim to share wonder, curiosities, adaptations, current and real-time challenges, and how we can mitigate those challenges by slight changes in daily activities. It is also a place where we can share the daily activities of ou

r medical clinic, the lives of our non-releasable ambassadors, what it is like to be an intern or volunteer, opportunities to get involved, partnerships in our community, and so much more. For example, it is stressful and unsafe for patients to enter our Intensive Care Room, much like we wouldn't walk around a hospital room and stare or talk to the patients lying in their beds trying to recover. Through our page we can share their stories and recovery without adding any stress to their healing process. For example, seeing the sweet face of a big brown bat can dispel fears and open our minds to understanding how local bat populations impact human health, agriculture, and forestry by consuming up to ~1,000 insects in an hour while foraging each night. Our page is also a place where we can learn that we are not separate from ecosystems, rather we live in and depend on wildlife and habitat health for our own lives; though that connection is often invisible until you learn to see it. We hope that you enjoy our page, and please note that it is for educational purposes only. If you have found an injured or orphaned animal, you should call our Wildlife Assistance Hotline immediately at 207-361-1400 so that the animal has the best chance at immediate care. Just like we would call the doctor or hospital if we found an injured person rather than sending an email or Facebook message. Enjoy our page, and we hope you go out and explore and connect with the wildlife in your backyards!

This Pileated Woodpecker is currently healing in our medical clinic after being struck by a car. Her rescuer found her a...
06/06/2026

This Pileated Woodpecker is currently healing in our medical clinic after being struck by a car. Her rescuer found her and thankfully immediately transported her to CFW for care. When she arrived, our clinic team found that she had blood in both eyes, one of her wings was badly injured - to the point of the bone showing through, and they suspected a potential shoulder fracture as well.

Our clinic team cleaned her up, wrapped her injuries, and started her on anti-inflammatory and antibacterial medication. They also put her on a homeopathic remedy to draw the blood back from her eyes, which was successful! After she was able to rest and decompress for 24hrs, she was stable enough to go under for x-rays. They weren't able to confirm a fracture, but they did note that her coracoid seemed displaced (coracoid: the bone connecting a bird's sternum to its shoulder). They wrapped her wing to keep it in the correct position and prevent further injury, and moved her to a larger, isolated enclosure so she could continue to rest.

Our clinic team is continuing to keep a close eye on her. They do daily cleanings and dressings of her wounds, and are monitoring her nutrition and hydration levels. We hope she continues making great progress on her healing journey!

Did you know? CFW has admitted over 630 patients so far this year - 402 of them being birds! We do all this without any funding from the government, just the incredible support from our community! If you'd like to help support the care of this Woodpecker, and hundreds of other New England animals, please consider donating at: www.thecenterforwildlife.org/donate

NOW HIRING! Center for Wildlife is looking for a hard-working, public-friendly, wildlife-loving human to join our educat...
06/06/2026

NOW HIRING!

Center for Wildlife is looking for a hard-working, public-friendly, wildlife-loving human to join our education team. Our Nature-Based Educators are the face of Center for Wildlife...and they have a job that never gets boring...and includes:

-Engaging the public with educational programs at CFW and throughout the region
-Providing quality ambassador animal care & enrichment each day at CFW
-Supervising interns and volunteers to help us achieve our mission

Finally, this position includes training to enable you to work with birds of prey (owls, hawks and falcons), reptiles and amphibians!

Interested?? Learn more here: https://www.thecenterforwildlife.org/internships-apprenticeships-careers

Happy Friday and Happy World Environment Day! We have admitted 134 birds, 60 mammals, and 8 reptiles & amphibians in the...
06/05/2026

Happy Friday and Happy World Environment Day! We have admitted 134 birds, 60 mammals, and 8 reptiles & amphibians in the past two weeks for a total of 622 patients so far in 2026!!

World Environment Day reminds us just how vital it is that we keep our wildlife and environment healthy. For 40 years now, Center for Wildlife has been striving to not only rehabilitate local animals, but to connect our community to the natural world around us. We are so grateful to be here for animals and humans alike, and we couldn't do it without your support!

In order to continue serving wildlife and our community, we ask that you consider donating help us reach our Spring Fundraising Goal of $150,000 by the end of June. And thanks to our amazing community, and a very generous donor who gave us a $50,000 match, we are on our way to meeting our goal!

Will you help support our wildlife clinic and education team? Funding will go directly towards the staff time, food, medication, housing, & husbandry needed to support our conservation medicine and environmental education programs to meet current and growing demands. Center for Wildlife has been proud to serve our community for 40 years now - all without government funding! It's largely thanks to individual donations from our community that have kept our doors open for the last 40 years, and with your continued support, we look forward to another 40+ years!

Donate now at www.thecenterforwildlife.org/donate đź’š

🦋 Kids Visit Free Day at Center for Wildlife is Back, and This Time We’re Celebrating The World of Bugs & Pollinators !J...
06/05/2026

🦋 Kids Visit Free Day at Center for Wildlife is Back, and This Time We’re Celebrating The World of Bugs & Pollinators !

Join us on Saturday, June 13 from 11:00 AM–3:00 PM at Center for Wildlife in Cape Neddick for a family-friendly day filled with hands-on activities, wildlife encounters, ambassador meet & greets, and exploration of the tiny creatures that make a big impact on our ecosystems.

Families can enjoy an insect investigation program, guided invertebrate explorations, pollinator-themed activities, bug-inspired discovery stations, hands-on crafts, and opportunities to meet CFW Ambassador animals throughout the day.

From pollinators and decomposers to soil builders and food sources for wildlife, bugs and other small creatures help support the larger web of life. This is a great way to kick off summer, get outside, reconnect with the community, and learn more about CFW’s summer programs and offerings.

🎟 Kids visit free with the purchase of an adult admission ticket, ages 18+. Tickets are limited and advance registration is strongly encouraged.

đź”— Learn more and reserve your spot through our Upcoming Events Calendar or using this direct link: https://113050.blackbaudhosting.com/113050/Wild-About-Bugs-A-CFW-Discovery-Day

Whatever your plans are for next spring... wouldn't they be better if you were exploring the magic of the Azores?! Join ...
06/04/2026

Whatever your plans are for next spring... wouldn't they be better if you were exploring the magic of the Azores?! Join Center for Wildlife on this incredible 12 day tour of the Azores - with an optional extra 3-nights in Lisbon!

Enter an untouched paradise on an adventure through the Azores, the archipelago gems of Portugal. From thermal pools and lush craters to local farms and volcanic cuisine, delve into the culture of Portuguese island life!

Check out some of the highlights:
đź’š SĂŁo Miguel Island
đź’š Lagoa das Sete Cidades "Blue & Green Lagoons"
đź’š Furnas Valley
đź’š Home-Hosted Meals
đź’š Faial Island
đź’š Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Centre
đź’š Terceira Island
đź’š Angra do Heroismo
đź’š Natural Volcanic Pools
đź’š Lisbon

$500 from every international Eco Tour trip booked goes to support Center for Wildlife’s work for wildlife and community!

To learn more or to reserve your spot today, visit www.thecenterforwildlife.org/eco-tours, or email our board member, Kim, at Posh Travel: [email protected].

🕵️ Can You Name This New England Summer Resident?Already know the name? Then here are some next-level questions for our ...
06/04/2026

🕵️ Can You Name This New England Summer Resident?

Already know the name? Then here are some next-level questions for our fellow bird enthusiasts out there:

#1) This species is famous for its flute-like song. How is it able to sing two notes at the same time?

#2) This species needs an unusually high amount of calcium to lay its eggs. Why might calcium-rich foods like snail shells be important for successful nesting?

#3) Many songbirds respond to rivals by matching their song, but this species usually answers with a different one. Why might having a variety of songs be helpful?

Comment below with your guesses! The answers will be revealed later today 👇

Meet the 494th patient admitted to us this year... a newborn North American Porcupine!This tiny baby was deemed to be on...
06/03/2026

Meet the 494th patient admitted to us this year... a newborn North American Porcupine!

This tiny baby was deemed to be only a few days old when she arrived at our clinic for care. Her rescuers found her alone in their backyard, not even hidden away, but sitting right out in the open! She was left there overnight, and trail cameras on the property showed no signs of mom returning. However, they did show some potential predators nearby, so they knew they needed to get that baby to safety.

That morning they were able to drop her off at CFW, where our clinic team began their initial examination. Though the baby was found orphaned, and especially at such a young age, our clinic team was surprised and pleased to discover that she was actually fairly healthy. However, she definitely wasn't in perfect condition... She was quite thin and COVERED in ticks! Our clinic team got to work removing every tick off the baby, and syringe fed her some formula to start getting her back to a healthier weight. She wasn't making any sounds yet, but they could tell she was quite angry! Although this was actually a good sign to our team. We want to keep her wild instincts as unchanged as possible, so that she has the best chance of making it back out on her own. Her feisty demeanor was a positive sign that she was feeling well enough to maintain her natural distrust of humans.

She is currently set up with a heating pad and daily formula feedings. Since she's not even a week old yet, our clinic team is doing their best to limit interaction with her - no talking to her (as hard as it is!) - in order to leave her wild instincts undisturbed. We're very happy to let you all know that she has been doing a great job at eating over the last few days, and is overall healthy and growing! She hasn't had much of an interest in solid food yet, but she'll get there soon! We can't wait to update you with more photos of this little baby, thank you for following her story!

If you'd like to help support the care for this baby, and hundreds of other local wild animals, you can donate now at www.thecenterforwildlife.org/donate đź’š
Thank you for all your support, we wouldn't be here without you!

06/03/2026

Did you know Center for Wildlife offers regional ecotours?.
We just got back from our Spring Birds & Nature Immersion on Monhegan Island. It was a fabulous four days of early morning walks, moments of awe and a renewal of our sense of wonder..
Monhegan is a special place...home to a diverse group of lobstermen, artists, small business owners and families making a living 12 miles out to sea..
It's also a very special place for migrating songbirds - and it has the distinction of having the most species of birds detected in any place in the State of Maine. .
On our ecotours, we guide particpants to help them understand the ecology, habitats and wildlife that utilize this magical island - from it's protected wildlands to it's charming, down-to-earth village..
To learn more about our eco-tours, check out the link in the comments below:.

Warning… difficult content (truths) in this post. The human footprint… often extends beyond clearing ecosystems for resi...
06/03/2026

Warning… difficult content (truths) in this post.

The human footprint… often extends beyond clearing ecosystems for residential and commercial development. It includes what we use on the land once we settle there; including pesticides, rodenticides, glue traps. These two tufted titmice were caught in a glue trap at an apartment building. Glue traps are used and sold to trap rodents, and you can see by the peanut as bait that is likely who they were intended for in this case. But any wild animal is susceptible to them, and we have admitted many songbirds and even Northern saw whet owls stuck in these traps. Regardless of who they are intended for, they are one of the most inhumane methods of “pest” control. The animal becomes stuck, often for hours or even days, and in thrashing around trying to free themselves they tear tendons, fracture their own bones, and tear skin, fur and feathers. They can then starve to death in that state depending on when the person checks them. We have even had animals who have chewed off their own limbs attempting to free themselves. What are more humane ways of preventing rodents in your home?

- Using snap traps (we realize some people are not ready or able to rodent proof their homes or yards and will use some form of pest control. This is the quickest, non poison lethal method)
- Buttoning up your home from points of entry
- Clearing seed and trash from your home’s perimeter

Our team immediately got to work removing the birds from the glue, using warm oil on each feather to remove them first from the trap, then to remove the sticky adhesive from their feathers. Each feather broken can mean the birds have to stay in captivity until molting, which typically occurs in the summer than goodness. If this were the fall, that could mean an entire year. We cannot pluck feathers for them to regrow, because that can damage the shaft and cause permanent damage. Primary flight feathers, secondaries, insulating, and tail feathers all serve different functions for getting lift, sustaining flight, steering, and protecting from the elements and if even a few are not functioning properly it can mean starvation, predation, or succumbing to the elements.

Thankfully and miraculously, these birds made it through the stress of being stuck, and the oil procedure. They also have no fractures though one has a suspected luxation. They will next endure a series of baths to remove the oil and restore their feather functioning. Stay tuned for their updates, and spread the word to help people better understand how our choices impact wildlife and our own ecosystems.

Did you know? We are currently caring for over 160 patients and are admitted 20-30 new patients in a day. We are in the middle of our Spring Appeal, needing to raise $150,000 by the end of our fiscal year (June 30th). A donor has generously offer to match $50,000 dollar for dollar towards our appeal! Thanks to this gift and donations so far, we have $72,000 left to raise. Please consider a donation towards our work, we have never received government funding and wouldn’t be here for patients like this if it weren’t for individuals, local businesses and family foundations!

To donate today:
Donate on our website (About us)
Donate on this post
Via Phone: 207-361-1400 ext 107
Via Mail: Center for Wildlife, PO Box 620, Cape Neddick ME 03902

The first 9 years of our inception were busy ones. Center for Wildlife was founded by a local veterinarian and state sen...
06/02/2026

The first 9 years of our inception were busy ones. Center for Wildlife was founded by a local veterinarian and state senator who found not only was there no place to bring an injured or orphaned wild animal, but that the community wasn’t okay just driving by the barred owl struggling on the side of the road, or leaving a nest of squirrels who became orphaned due to clear cutting for residential development. Dr. Gerry Beekman, a veterinarian in York, ME, was treating animals at his home as he could, and quickly saw he did not have the space or funding to keep up with the need. He and his wife recently visited and can recall stories like having a seal in the bathtub! Together with State Senator, Dawn Hill, they formed Center for Wildlife as a 501c3, building a board of directors, creating by-laws, and securing a trailer on leased property.

In 1991, the trailer moved from Cape Neddick Park to leasing the York Water District land at 385 Mountain Road. It still had no electricity or running water, which is a real challenge when treating injured and orphaned wild animals with injury and disease. In 1995, a couple donated the ranch house they had purchased near the famous Nubble lighthouse. This 1,200 square foot house was relocated via flatbed truck and crane, and positioned at 385 Mountain Road. The kitchen became the food preparation area, a bedroom became the ICU, a walk-in closet became the turtle and amphibian recovery, and a bathroom was the examination room. Beyond a small addition for a baby bird room, and a trailer as a “baby mammal overflow unit”, this would be our only expansion for the next 25 years…

Stay tuned for more to the CFW story!

CFW is so proud to be celebrating our 40th anniversary serving local wildlife and over 120 New England communities! Since our founding, CFW has never been government funded, and we are only here today because of your supportđź’š We have a big fundraising goal of $150,000 to reach by the end of June, and we'd really appreciate if you could help us reach this goal and continue to treat over 2,500 animals this year! Donate now at: www.thecenterforwildlife.org/donate

Address

375 Mountain Road
Cape Neddick, ME
03902

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+12073611400

Website

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