Second Chance Wildlife Center in Clarksburg, MD

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Second Chance Wildlife Center in Clarksburg, MD SCWC does NOT currently admit the following Rabies Vector Species: Raccoons, Foxes, & Skunks The average cost to rehabilitate a single wild animal is $100.00.

A 501 (c)(3) non-profit providing compassionate, rehabilitative care to injured, ill and orphaned wild animals, and educating the public on how to help wildlife. SCWC is housed in an old Gaithersburg farmhouse surrounded by fields, woods, a marsh, and a stream. Several spacious flight cages, small mammal enclosures, and waterfowl pens are located on the adjacent lawns. Many recently released songbirds share the grounds with the permanent wild residents before moving on to establish their own niches in the surrounding fields and woods. Other animals are released back into their home territories or at special sites such as nature centers and animal sanctuaries that are protected for wildlife. Each year, concerned citizens bring thousands of native wildlife for medical treatment, attentive care, and release. Founded by Christine Montuori, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator since 1986, who trained as a volunteer at a wildlife center in Bowie and obtained her State and Federal wildlife rehabilitation permits in 1986 and 1988, respectively. Working out of her home, she cared for as many as 1,200 animals per year and incorporated as Second Chance Wildlife Center in 1995. In June of 1996, she moved the operation to its present location in Gaithersburg. The facility, owned by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, now treats an average 3,500 animals annually. SCWC rehabilitates orphaned, injured, and ill songbirds, raptors, waterfowl, squirrels, groundhogs, chipmunks, bats, rabbits, turtles, and a host of other native species. Our volunteer staff veterinarian performs surgical procedures on site as needed. We thoroughly test the animals before they are released to ensure that they have sufficient skills to survive in the wild. As a relatively new science, wildlife rehabilitation is a growing field. Innovations and advancements in care and treatment are constantly being made, and the staff and volunteers of SCWC keep abreast of these developments through networking with other rehabilitators; membership in state, national and international wildlife rehabilitation organizations; and attending conferences and training seminars. SCWC accepts admissions from 10:00AM to 4:00PM every day of the year. Staff, interns, and volunteers work 10 to 14 hours per day caring for patients during the busy spring and summer months. SCWC was accredited by the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council in 1997 and was awarded the Governor's Citation in October 1998. SCWC is a 501(c) non-profit organization and relies on public donations to continue its work. Take some time to explore our web site to learn about what we do and how you can help us make a difference. NOTE: SCWC does not deal with domestic animals; for example feral/stray cats, domestic ducks, or "egg hatching projects". Please call your local Humane Society for issues concerning domestic animals.

Meet American Bullfrog patient #26-2626! This large bullfrog came to Second Chance Wildlife Center after being hit by a...
10/13/2026

Meet American Bullfrog patient #26-2626! This large bullfrog came to Second Chance Wildlife Center after being hit by a car, leaving them with a broken back leg. Because of the location of the fracture, the frog's size, and their overall stability, our veterinary team determined that surgery was an option.

The team performed leg-pinning surgery to stabilize the fracture and give this patient the best chance at healing. Surgery in amphibians is relatively uncommon, making this a particularly unique case for our veterinary team.

#26-2626 is still in our care with a guarded prognosis. Amphibians can be surprisingly hardy, but they are also incredibly sensitive, so there is still a long road ahead for this little fighter.

And since Halloween is right around the corner, let's clear up one of the most famous frog myths: Frogs do NOT give you warts! This old myth likely comes from the appearance of certain toads and frogs, whose skin can have bumps and wart-like glands. People historically assumed that touching these animals could cause similar bumps to appear on human skin. In reality, human warts are caused by viruses that infect human skin, not by frogs or toads.

So, no, picking up a frog won't give you warts! But remember that wild amphibians are delicate animals, and handling them unnecessarily can stress them and potentially expose them to harmful substances on our hands.

For now, we're keeping our fingers crossed for #26-2626 as they continue their recovery. We'll be rooting for this little not-so-little frog every hop of the way!

10/11/2026

BARRED OWL – PT. 4
This is what 5 months in care, planning, teamwork, therapy, and veterinary medicine look like.

After spending time in Maryland's largest pre-release flight enclosure, healing, regaining strength after surgery, and growing back some of her molted feathers, Barred Owl #26-119 showed strong, controlled flight and a full range of motion, everything she needed to survive in the wild.

Just one small piece of wire brought this bird into our care. Her recovery required medication, staffing, X-rays, physical therapy, food, specialized housing, and months of rehabilitation. She also missed breeding season while recovering.

She was released back where she was found at night to limit being mobbed by Crows and Blue Jays. Wild animals know their home ranges. They know where to hunt, where to shelter, and what food is available to them. Moving them somewhere unfamiliar can cause unnecessary stress and, for territorial animals like owls, can lead to conflicts with animals already living there.
Barred Owls are also incredibly versatile hunters. Along with mice, moles, voles, shrews, and small birds, they also hunt crayfish, fish, frogs, and toads.

Please pick up after yourself and properly dispose of or recycle trash whenever possible. Every piece of litter has the potential to cause an injury like this one, and what may seem small or harmless can result in months of rehabilitation and thousands of dollars in veterinary care.

Thank you for following along with #26-119's journey!

10/09/2026

BARRED OWL – PT. 3
Once the wound on Barred Owl #26-119’s wing had fully healed, she was moved into a smaller flight enclosure to rebuild her strength and mobility.

As she progressed, she was cleared for our largest flight enclosure, where we could closely monitor her flight. We were looking for full range of motion, strength, stamina, and control- everything she would need to survive in the wild.

Our flight enclosures are designed to protect patients from weather and predators while allowing us to adjust perching based on the species. They’re also equipped with 24-hour cameras, allowing us to monitor patients without entering the enclosure. The less we disturb them, the better we can observe their natural behavior. Even practical details matter, including safe access for cleaning and limiting landing areas for that final health check before release.

Getting an animal ready for the wild takes much more than simply watching them fly.

10/07/2026

Thank you all for the overwhelming support! So many of these items will go directly toward improving the care we can provide in our hospital.
If you’re shopping on Amazon today, keep SCWC in mind! Your support helps us care for orphaned, ill, and injured wildlife.

10/06/2026

Amazon Prime Day Can Help Wildlife! Our Amazon Wishlist is filled with supplies that help us care for hundreds of patients every day, from cleaning supplies and feeding equipment to enrichment items and basic medical care essentials.

While you're looking for Prime Day deals, please consider checking out our wishlist, too! Anything purchased from the list is shipped directly to SCWC, helping us keep the supplies our patients need on hand. We mark our most urgent needs as “Most Wanted.”

https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/3U5M2IWJSGYYL

This young orphaned groundhog came into our care and needed a little TLC before he was ready to head back out into the wild. Every donation, no matter the size, helps us provide for the thousands of animals we treat each year! So far, we are already at 2,700 patients treated this year. Thank you!

10/05/2026

BARRED OWL – PT. 2
After surgery to repair the torn areas of her wing, Barred Owl #26-119 needed a period of rest to allow her wing to heal.

We kept her environment as quiet as possible and limited our interactions. During this time, she sometimes refused the frozen-then-thawed mice and rats we offered. This isn't uncommon for wild animals suddenly placed in an unfamiliar, stressful environment, and monitoring appetite is an important part of rehabilitation. As you can see in the video her taking tiny bites.

Her injury also occurred during breeding season, when her hormones were elevated, which can contribute to more unpredictable, erratic behavior.
Sometimes, one of the most important things we can give a wild animal is time, quiet, and space to heal.

BARRED OWL – PT. 1Barred Owl #26-119 is the first patient we’re featuring in our October series, showing some of what i...
10/03/2026

BARRED OWL – PT. 1
Barred Owl #26-119 is the first patient we’re featuring in our October series, showing some of what it really takes to treat a single patient and determine when they are ready to return to the wild.

She was found on the ground, unable to take off. During intake, we discovered a small piece of wire tangled in her wing. It had cut into her skin and muscles and become wrapped around several of her wing feathers, requiring anesthesia, sutures, and a pain management plan to begin the healing process.

We don’t know exactly where the piece of wire came from, but it was likely lying on the ground and became caught in her feathers while she was striking at prey.
What may have looked like a small piece of wire resulted in an injury that required much more than simply removing it.

Follow along as we share #26-119’s journey from intake to release.

Happy October! This month’s theme is “Feared, Not Fearsome!”Many of the animals we share our communities with are feared...
10/01/2026

Happy October! This month’s theme is “Feared, Not Fearsome!”

Many of the animals we share our communities with are feared for all kinds of reasons. Throughout October, we’ll share real patient stories, interesting facts, and a few surprises as we debunk myths about animals people often consider “gross, creepy, scary, and spooky.”

From bats and owls to opossums, snakes, frogs, and everything icky in between, we’re taking a closer look at the wildlife that may seem frightening at first and showing you why there’s much more to these animals than meets the eye. We’ll also talk about what wildlife finds scary!

Because sometimes, what we fear is taught to us, and sometimes it’s simply what we don’t understand.

09/30/2026

Just like that, SHELLebrating Hope comes full circle!

From injured mothers and carefully recovered eggs to tiny hatchlings and, finally, their return to the wild, every turtle has a story. This season, we were able to give 80 hatchlings a Second Chance, releasing them back into the wild near where their mothers came from.

Thank you to everyone who donated, liked, shared, asked questions, joined our Turtle Lunch & Learn, and followed along with us this month. Your support helps make programs like this possible and gives Maryland’s native turtles a Second Chance!

Stay tuned for October’s “Feared, Not Fearsome,” a month of posts about animals people fear or see as creepy and mysterious.

Thank you for SHELLebrating Hope with us!

This year, SCWC treated our first-ever Striped Mud Turtle, a small species that can live 20–50 years but reaches only ab...
09/28/2026

This year, SCWC treated our first-ever Striped Mud Turtle, a small species that can live 20–50 years but reaches only about 5 inches from nose to tail. This adult was most likely struck by a vehicle and arrived with fractures to the carapace and tail, along with dehydration. Even though this turtle is tiny, providing proper care requires a great deal of time and expense. Between specialized lighting, an aquatic setup with a dock, antibiotics, pain medication, and everything else needed for recovery, his care has already cost several hundred dollars. Striped Mud Turtles are listed as “Status Uncertain,” meaning there isn't enough historical information or survey data to confidently determine their population status. Protecting clean, healthy habitats is one of the best ways we can help these little turtles thrive. Keep trash and chemicals out of their habitats, stay on designated trails, and encourage native plants whenever you can.

Address

26400 Haines Road
Clarksburg, MD
20871

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+13019269453

Website

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