Marley's Castle Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation

Home
United States
Holly, MI
Marley's Castle Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation

Call Directions Website

Our mission at Marley’s Castle is to promote a world where people love raccoons as much as we do.

Marley’s Castle Wildlife Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to rehabilitating injured and/or orphaned wildlife, and to educating the public on both native wildlife and on how to peacefully coexist with wildlife. Our mission is to promote a world where people have more compassion and awareness of the wild animals we share our land with.

11/03/2026

Sometimes, helping wildlife begins with noticing something most people would miss. ❤️‍🩹🦝

Yesterday, Olivia spotted a raccoon beneath a storm drain grate near her home, barely visible among the leaves.

When he was still there today, making no apparent attempt to escape, she and her neighbor Bonnie grew concerned and sought help.

Fellow rehabilitator Ashtin contacted one of our volunteers who happened to be nearby, and together with Olivia and Bonnie, they coordinated his rescue.

Getting him out wasn’t simple.

Although alert and aware, he remained on his back, repeatedly returning to that position when repositioned. He was understandably resistant to handling, and our volunteer had to carefully lift and maneuver him through the narrow opening.

We’re calling him Grady. 🦝

An initial assessment revealed severe swelling in his right hind leg. The limb was unusually cold and showed little apparent response to touch. His body temperature was also low.

We’re concerned about significant trauma, possibly a fracture, but X-rays and further assessment are needed.

We don’t know how long Grady was down there or what happened to him. Given the depth of the drain and lack of anything to climb, escaping without assistance would have been difficult even without an injury.

Grady is now at our clinic for stabilization and further evaluation. His prognosis remains uncertain.

A tremendous thank-you to Olivia for noticing him in the first place, Bonnie for helping, our volunteers for responding quickly, and Ashtin for connecting everyone.

This rescue demonstrates how much direct collaboration between the public, volunteers, and wildlife rehabilitators can accomplish. 🩶
⸻
Marley’s Castle Wildlife Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of Michigan wildlife.

Ways to help are available in our pinned post.

Every recovery begins with someone deciding their life matters. ♡

11/02/2026

This is Dottie, a young female raccoon who recently arrived at our clinic from Dearborn after spending some time in the backyard of a concerned resident. ❤️‍🩹🦝

Although Dottie is alert and responsive, she’s having significant difficulty moving normally and has been dragging herself rather than walking.

We’re concerned about a possible spinal injury, although the underlying cause and extent of her condition remain unknown.

She also has visible wounds that require medical attention.

Dottie has received her preliminary assessment and has been started on medication, with X-rays and further evaluation planned to help us better understand her injuries.

Cases like Dottie’s are an important reminder that an animal’s level of alertness doesn’t necessarily reflect the severity of its condition. Wildlife can remain responsive, interested in their surroundings, and even attempt to move despite significant injuries.

A huge thank-you to Madison in Dearborn, who spent time monitoring and feeding Dottie in her backyard, keeping an eye on her condition and ultimately reaching out to us for guidance.

And a special thank-you to our volunteers Amanda, Ashley, and Jesse, whose combined efforts helped coordinate Dottie’s safe containment and transportation to our clinic.

We don’t yet know what recovery may look like for Dottie, but she’s now receiving the care and evaluation she needs.

⸻
Marley’s Castle Wildlife Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of Michigan wildlife.

Ways to help are available in our pinned post.

Every recovery begins with someone deciding their life matters. ♡

11/01/2026

Three weeks with Deli Select. ❤️‍🩹🦝

When Deli Select arrived at our clinic on October 10, he was in critical condition.

Severely emaciated, dehydrated, and struggling with significant respiratory and neurological symptoms, he had a long list of medical concerns that made his prognosis uncertain.

For a while, even basic functions like eating and drinking were a struggle.

Today, we’re happy to share that Deli Select is now eating and drinking completely on his own!

It might not seem like a particularly exciting milestone, but for an animal who was once too compromised to reliably meet his own basic needs, it’s an important step forward.

And it’s a good reminder that wildlife rehabilitation isn’t always about dramatic transformations.

Sometimes, progress is measured in much smaller ways: an animal beginning to eat independently, maintaining hydration, regaining strength, or simply becoming more capable of doing the things a healthy wild animal should be able to do.

Of course, eating and drinking independently doesn’t mean Deli Select has fully recovered. His overall condition and neurological function still need to be evaluated as his rehabilitation continues.

But after three weeks of intensive care, we’re grateful to see him making progress.

And to everyone who has followed his story since that first video from the Kroger parking lot, thank you for caring about this little guy. 🩶
⸻
Marley’s Castle Wildlife Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of Michigan wildlife.

Ways to help are available in our pinned post.

Every recovery begins with someone deciding their life matters. ♡

10/31/2026

Meet Bunny. 🐰🦝

This young male raccoon recently arrived at our clinic with a pronounced head tilt to the left.

Although he’s an exceptionally sweet little guy (and quite possibly the cutest thing we’ve seen in a while), his head tilt is a medical concern that we’re taking seriously.

A persistent head tilt can be a sign of dysfunction involving the vestibular system, which helps animals maintain their balance and orientation.

There are several possible causes, including ear infections, trauma, and neurological conditions. Determining the underlying cause is important because treatment and prognosis can vary considerably.

We’re working closely with our veterinarian to investigate what’s causing Bunny’s symptoms and determine the most appropriate course of treatment.

In the meantime, he’s receiving attentive care while we continue to monitor his condition.

A very special thank-you to Jen from Fox’s Journey Sanctuary for rescuing Bunny, safely containing him, and transporting him to our clinic.

Her willingness to coordinate every step of his rescue ensured that this little guy could receive the medical attention he needs. 🩶

⸻
Marley’s Castle Wildlife Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of Michigan wildlife.

Ways to help are available in our pinned post.

Every recovery begins with someone deciding their life matters. ♡

10/29/2026

This beautiful girl is Thomasina, an adult raccoon rescued by our team a couple of days ago from Flint. 🩶🦝

If you look closely, you’ll notice swelling around her eyes and across her nose. She’s also experiencing significant congestion and noisy breathing.

We’re concerned about possible facial trauma and an associated infection, although we don’t yet know what’s causing her symptoms.

Swelling and inflammation in the nasal passages can interfere with normal airflow, which may explain some of the unusual sounds we’re hearing.

Thomasina has completed her initial assessment and has been started on antibiotics.

Because sedation carries additional risks for animals who are ill or experiencing respiratory difficulties, we don’t always perform a complete sedated examination immediately upon intake.

When a patient is stable enough to wait safely, we often provide supportive care and allow time for stabilization before proceeding with more extensive diagnostics.

Thomasina is currently stable. We anticipate conducting a more thorough examination and diagnostic workup in the coming days.

A huge thank-you to Cynthia, who first contacted us last week after noticing that Thomasina needed help.

Thomasina continued coming and going over the following days, but Cynthia never stopped watching for her. She kept us updated on Thomasina’s whereabouts until our volunteer team was able to coordinate her rescue.

Having someone remain involved, communicate consistently, and help coordinate a rescue makes an enormous difference.

Thank you, Cynthia, and to our wonderful volunteers who traveled to Flint to bring this girl to safety. 🩶

⸻
Marley’s Castle Wildlife Rescue is a 501( c )(3) nonprofit dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of Michigan wildlife.

Ways to help are available in our pinned post.

Every recovery begins with someone deciding their life matters. ♡

10/28/2026

This is Parker, a male raccoon rescued late last night after someone reported that he had been in the same area for several days.

The finder wasn’t comfortable attempting to handle him, so one of our volunteers made the trip out late last night and searched until Parker was located.

His condition is critical, and we don’t yet know whether he will survive.

We share rescues like Parker’s and Rhoda’s because recognizing an animal in distress and reaching out for help can change what happens next.

You do not have to be comfortable capturing or transporting wildlife to make that first call.

We understand that not everyone feels comfortable handling an injured or sick wild animal. And that’s perfectly okay.

If you’re unable to assist beyond reporting the animal, please tell us. We can discuss what options are available, although volunteer response isn’t always possible.

The important thing is not to let that hesitation prevent you from reaching out altogether.

A special thank-you to the person who reported Parker and to our volunteer who went searching for him late into the night.

Whatever his outcome, he now has an opportunity to receive care that he otherwise may never have had.
⸻
Marley’s Castle Wildlife Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of Michigan wildlife.

Ways to help are available in our pinned post.

Every recovery begins with someone deciding their life matters. ♡

10/27/2026

Sometimes, the difference between life and death begins with someone taking a second look.

Earlier today, our volunteer team responded to Goodrich after receiving a call about an elderly female raccoon found lying along the roadside, still alive, but barely responsive.

At first glance, it would have been easy to assume she was already gone.

Thankfully, Becky and her daughter Clay took the time to check and realized she was still alive.

They immediately reached out for help and went above and beyond by remaining nearby, keeping an eye on her, and helping prevent another vehicle from striking her while our rescue team was on its way.

Fortunately, our volunteers were able to reach her quickly and bring her to safety.

We’re calling her Rhoda, after Rhodes Road near where she was found.

She’s only just arrived in our care, so we don’t yet know the extent of her injuries or what her prognosis will be.

But we do know that she’s alive, she’s no longer lying helplessly beside a road, and she now has the opportunity to receive medical care.

An important reminder: animals who are severely injured, in shock, or experiencing a medical emergency may appear deceased even when they’re still alive.

If you encounter wildlife in this condition, please contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Keep yourself safely out of traffic, avoid direct handling, and follow professional guidance.

A very special thank-you to Becky and Clay for taking a second look to see that Rhoda was still alive, recognizing that this girl needed help, refusing to leave her behind, and remaining with her until our volunteers arrived.

Regardless of what happens next, their compassion made a difference today. 🩶
⸻
Marley’s Castle Wildlife Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of Michigan wildlife.

Ways to help are available in our pinned post.

Every recovery begins with someone deciding their life matters. ♡

10/26/2026

This beautiful little girl is Junie, one of our newest patients, with some of the more severe injuries we’ve seen.

Junie has suffered severe facial trauma, tissue damage, and infection. Strangely, she’s also missing several toe tips. We have no idea what happened to her.

Despite everything, she is moving around normally and eating and drinking well.

But we want to be candid: we don’t know yet if we can save her.

Cases like Junie’s are among the most difficult we face.

We believe every animal deserves the opportunity to show us what they’re capable of overcoming, and Junie is no exception.

But sometimes, injuries are so extensive that difficult questions arise before recovery even begins.

The Michigan DNR also places strict limits on what we can do for animals who cannot return to the wild.

These are not decisions we take lightly or make based on appearance alone.

For now, Junie is receiving antibiotics, strong pain medication, and supportive care. She already seems far more comfortable.

We owe an enormous thank-you to Janet, who saw Junie near the party store where she works and immediately reached out. Determined to help, Janet spent a week working to safely trap her.

Even if Junie’s story doesn’t have a happy ending, we’re grateful to Janet for helping us give Junie a chance.

Helping wildlife doesn’t begin with a rehabilitation permit. It begins with someone caring enough to act. Thank you, Janet, for being that person.

The sad reality of wildlife rehabilitation is that not every injury can be fixed, and not every rescue has a happy ending.

Our veterinarian will conduct a thorough examination, including X-rays, and consult with a surgical specialist. We’ll share more when we know what options Junie has.

📷 Junie’s photo was taken by Janet last week. Her injuries were far more graphic by the time she arrived at our clinic, so we’ve chosen not to share those images.
⸻
Marley’s Castle Wildlife Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of Michigan wildlife.

Ways to help are available in our pinned post.

Every recovery begins with someone deciding their life matters. ♡

10/25/2026

Another very late season baby… say hi to handsome baby Tread 👋🦝

Tread was recently found living on his own around a busy warehouse, where forklifts and other heavy equipment made for a particularly dangerous environment.

A kind employee noticed him and reached out for help.

When Tread arrived, we noticed significant facial swelling. Given where he was found, we’re concerned he may have sustained an injury involving machinery, although we don’t yet know what happened.

Fortunately, he’s stable and showing interest in food.

For now, we’re giving him a little time to acclimate to his new surroundings while keeping a close eye on his condition. Once he’s had an opportunity to settle in, we’ll investigate the swelling further.

Given his size/age, Tread will have to remain with us over winter for release early next Spring.

A special thank-you to the warehouse employee who recognized that this little guy needed help, and to volunteer Lisa, who transported him safely to our clinic.

We don’t know exactly what happened to Tread, but we’re glad he’s somewhere safe while we work to figure it out.

Welcome to Marley’s, Tread. 🩶🦝
⸻
Marley’s Castle Wildlife Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of Michigan wildlife.

Ways to help are available in our pinned post.

Every recovery begins with someone deciding their life matters. ♡

10/24/2026

This precious little face belongs to one of our newest patients, and unfortunately, he’s in pretty rough shape.

Despite his young age, he’s already battling a severe case of mange, significant emaciation, dehydration, and hypoglycemia (dangerously low blood sugar).

He’s eating and drinking independently, which is encouraging, but unfortunately, not nearly enough to meet his body’s needs in his current condition.

So, we’re stepping in to help.

He’s receiving treatment for his mange, antibiotics, and intensive supportive care to address his dehydration, nutritional deficits, and low blood sugar.

And while we understand that none of this is particularly enjoyable for him, we’d appreciate it if he could stop expressing his dissatisfaction with the medical staff. 😂

In all seriousness, this little guy has a lot working against him.

Severe mange is not simply a cosmetic condition. By the time an animal reaches this level of debilitation, there may be multiple medical problems requiring attention beyond the skin itself.

His condition remains concerning, and we’re taking things one day at a time.

A very special thank-you to volunteer Dan, who went above and beyond to safely contain this little guy and transport him to our clinic.

Because of Dan’s efforts, he now has a chance.

And as always, we’ll do everything we can to make that chance count. 🩶🦝
⸻
Marley’s Castle Wildlife Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of Michigan wildlife.

Ways to help are available in our pinned post.

Every recovery begins with someone deciding their life matters. ♡

Address

Holly, MI
48442

Telephone

+12488607444

Website

http://marleyscastle.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Marley's Castle Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.