Wildlife In Need PA

Wildlife In Need PA WIN is a statewide network of volunteers helping with wildlife concerns. We capture sick, injured & orphaned wildlife.
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(Availability may be limited in some counties.) We also educate finders & can help connect them with the closest wildlife rehab center.

05/30/2026

Sometimes rescues begin with a strange sound in the dark. 💚

This baby raccoon was found hanging from a second-story soffit, desperately trying to climb back to where her mother’s den was believed to be hidden in the eaves of the home.

Wendi, the animal-loving homeowner, shares:
“We went outside and could hear her little nails scratching on the siding trying to pull herself back up. We tried to use a leaf rake to help her get back up, but weren’t able to. Once she was on the ground by the house we left her alone hoping her mom would get her overnight, but she was still there the next day-that’s when I started trying to find somewhere for her to go.”

The family did exactly the right thing by giving mom time to return and attempting a reunite. Sadly, she never came back. We may never know what happened-whether mom was relocating the babies and became separated, was frightened away, or something else entirely.

At this time of year, finding placement for baby raccoons can be especially difficult because so many wildlife rehabbers are already at capacity. We are incredibly grateful the homeowner was willing to drive from Northeast Erie to Slippery Rock to meet our volunteer to get this little one to safety.

This baby is now thriving in the hands of Forest Friends subpermittee Christine, where she’ll continue to receive the specialized care she needs until ready for release.

Thank you to Wendi and her family for giving this little one a second chance. 💚

On 5/12/26, WIN volunteers Jane & Mike Pierzga rushed to help a screech owl hanging by a wing 20+ feet up in a tree, as ...
05/25/2026

On 5/12/26, WIN volunteers Jane & Mike Pierzga rushed to help a screech owl hanging by a wing 20+ feet up in a tree, as reported by finder David K. near State College, PA. When they arrived, one finder was already on a ladder freeing the owl’s wing from a splintered snag (yellow circle). The owl was in rough shape, bloody and non-responsive. It would occasionally blink its eyes slowly. Jane gently placed the owl into a cushioned carrier, and one of the finders rushed the bird to Centre Wildlife Care (CWC). Meanwhile, Mike used a fiber optic camera to explore a small hole that David indicated near the snag in the same tree (red circle). Eyes bordered by fluff stared back into the camera. The camera showed at least two owlets. Mike and a finder steadied the ladder as Jane climbed to the top. After carefully anchoring a leg over the top rung and bracing against the tree, she discovered she could squeeze an ungloved hand, barely, into the tiny hole. She very slowly and carefully extracted 4 owlets safely from the nest cavity. She could only fit an owlet and several fingers in the opening at the same time. She placed each owlet into a shopping bag attached to a rope. After a final sweep of the cavity, she lowered the babies to those waiting below. Then Mike and Jane transported the babies to CWC. The intake exam at CWC did not find any broken bones in the adult’s wing, which they stabilized to aid healing. With excellent care, the adult survived its initial ordeal and gained strength. Evaluation of the wing is ongoing. The owlets were quite hungry upon arrival at CWC. The smallest was especially voracious. The babies are doing well and growing. Hopefully, the owlets can reunite with their parent in the CWC clinic soon. Photos used by permission: Bobbie Roth (on site action), Celia C. (CWC), Jane Pierzga (tree locations).
Thank you to everyone involved in this rescue💚

05/24/2026

WIN recently received a call that tiny ducklings were seen the night before trapped in a reservoir with slick sides and no way to climb out. Our volunteers arrived to find three exhausted ducklings tipping onto their sides—they were just minutes from drowning (baby duck feathers aren’t waterproof yet, so once they become waterlogged, they can quickly lose the ability to stay afloat).

WIN volunteer Leigh carefully paddled out by SUP while fellow volunteer Julia assisted from shore, helping to bring the stranded ducklings to safety. Because the ducklings had been struggling for some time, it was determined that they could not be returned to their mother, and they were transported to Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh for care.

Thank you to everyone involved in getting these little ones the help they needed. 💚

05/18/2026

Sometimes, wildlife rescues come down to creativity, teamwork… and a whole lot of patience. 💚

Yesterday around 1:30 PM, WIN received a call from a young woman named Shealyn, who was walking home from the store in Sunbury when she heard peeping sounds coming from beneath a sewer grate. She spotted a mother duck nearby with only one duckling, and realized more babies were trapped below the road.

When WIN volunteers Mark and Kelly arrived, they discovered at least 6 ducklings moving through the sewer line underneath the street. They quickly reached out for additional help, and several members of the Upper Augusta Volunteer Fire Co. responded to assist.

Together, everyone tried just about everything imaginable. The grates in the roadway couldn’t be removed because asphalt covered the edges, so another grate in the grass was opened instead. The road was temporarily closed to traffic while rescuers attempted to guide the ducklings toward the opening. Water was pushed through the pipes to try to float them out — even a leaf blower was used to create waves underground! The fire company emptied their truck’s water supply in the effort, while volunteers and rescuers ran back and forth between grates trying to redirect the constantly moving ducklings.

Another WIN volunteer, William, arrived to help after the original finder had to leave, and Carl W. Yoder Jr., foreman for the City of Sunbury Parks & Recreation Department, worked tirelessly with our team for the duration of the rescue efforts.

In the end, after FIVE hours, patience won.

One duckling was carefully lifted through a road grate, while the others eventually began poking their tiny heads through the open grate in the grass, where Mark and Kelly were able to safely catch them one by one.

Because mama Duck was no longer in the area, once all EIGHT ducklings were safely rescued, they were immediately taken to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. 💚

A huge thank you to Shealyn for stopping and making the call, to the members of the Upper Augusta Fire Company, Carl W Yoder Jr. and to each of the WIN volunteers who worked together for hours to make this rescue possible.

05/11/2026

Remember the four baby red squirrels found inside the wheel well of an F-150 at Washington Ford?

We recently received an updated video plus some photos (posted below in the comments) from HARP and the little ones are clearly thriving!

We don’t often get updates — between our volunteers responding to new calls and the rehabilitators caring for countless animals each day, everyone is usually moving nonstop from one rescue to the next. That makes an update like this extra special💚

A few weeks ago, these 4 tiny red squirrels got quite the unexpected ride when they were discovered tucked inside the wh...
05/09/2026

A few weeks ago, these 4 tiny red squirrels got quite the unexpected ride when they were discovered tucked inside the wheel well of an F-150 being serviced at Washington Ford in Washington, PA. 💚

Technician Austin discovered the babies during the service appointment, while fellow technician Anthony documented the rescue with pics/video. Unsure of what to do next, they reached out to their colleague Kelly in the accounting department, who quickly contacted Wildlife In Need PA for help.

WIN volunteer Michelle met Kelly halfway from the dealership to transport the babies to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. One of the squirrels had nesting material tightly wrapped around its wrist, causing significant swelling in the paw, which Michelle was able to carefully remove. We’re happy to report that all four squirrels made it safely to Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh, where their prognosis was considered very good.

Huge thank you to Austin, Anthony, Kelly, and everyone at Washington Ford for taking the time to stop, care, and make sure these babies got the help they needed. Teamwork like this saves lives every single day. 💚

05/06/2026

A few weeks ago, volunteer Leigh responded to a call about a bird trapped high on a home in a leaf guard. The situation was out of reach for the homeowner—and not something a standard ladder could safely handle.

So, teamwork kicked in.

Leigh and her husband Kevin brought out a 30-foot ladder, while the finder also reached out to the Butler Township Fire District 3 for assistance. Together, everyone worked to safely access the roof and reach the trapped bird.

It was a delicate and urgent situation—the bird was entangled and hanging by its head🥺. But thanks to quick thinking, collaboration, and a shared commitment to helping wildlife, the team was able to free it.

The bird was then transported to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for care.

Moments like this are a powerful reminder: when people come together, lives are saved 💚

Address

8553 Pettis Road
Meadville, PA
16335

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 6pm
Tuesday 8am - 6pm
Wednesday 8am - 6pm
Thursday 8am - 6pm
Friday 8am - 6pm
Saturday 8am - 6pm
Sunday 8am - 6pm

Telephone

+18144144224

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