New Jersey Association Of Wildlife Rehabilitators - N.J.A.W.R.

04/27/2026

Found a baby bird? Call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator! If you find an animal that appears to be injured or in distress, contact your local licensed wildlife rehabilitator BEFORE you handle it.

Licensed wildlife rehabilitators are trained to properly handle and care for wildlife. Many wild young animals are left alone while their mothers feed elsewhere. A licensed wildlife rehabilitator can help determine whether the animal truly needs assistance and, if so, provide the proper care.

It may need help if it has:
Presence of insects (e.g., flies or ants) on the animal
Signs of hypothermia, such as being cold or lethargic
Visible injuries or wounds
Evidence of an attack by another animal

***You may be asked to send a picture to help the rehabilitator decide the best course of action***

REMEMBER: wild young do best when left in the wild with their parents. Full listing of NJ licensed wildlife rehabilitators can be found athttps://dep.nj.gov/wp-content/uploads/njfw/rehab-list.pdf

04/21/2026

To Apply: To download an application and full job description: woodlandswildlife.org/careers.

04/20/2026

Found a baby duckling or gosling?

Call a licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator! They can walk you through the next best steps for your particular situation.

Ducklings and goslings are classified as "precocial" young. This means that shortly after hatching, they can independently walk, swim, and feed. As they grow, their parents safeguard them from predators, teach them, and provide warmth.

WHEN YOU MAY NEED TO INTERVENE:
-If they are injured, unwell, or if you know they have been attacked.
-If the baby is lying on its side and unable to right itself.
-If the baby is unable to stand, walk, or keep up with its family.
-If they are alone and you don’t see their parents in the area.

To find your closest NJ Wildlife Rehabilitator visit https://njawr.com/nj-wildlife-rehabilitators/

**You may be asked to provide a picture to the Wildlife Rehabilitator to verify the species before bringing it in for care.

04/16/2026

LOOK OUT!! TURTLES ARE ON THE MOVE!

Here are some useful tips for saving lives!

Your safety comes first. Be aware of your surroundings and traffic. Double-check to make sure the road is clear. If the road is too busy, don’t risk it. Before you even leave your vehicle to help, make sure you are pulled well off the road and put your hazard lights on.
Move the turtle in the same direction it was heading. Don’t turn them around. The turtle obviously wants to go in the direction it is facing. Placing it in the opposite direction will just cause the turtle to try crossing the road again.

Don’t take the turtle home with you or relocate it. Turtles thrive in the territories they call home, and removing them can lead to confusion and may cause them to stop eating. They may also wander around and be at an even greater risk of getting struck by a vehicle.
If you find an injured turtle, please contact your closest Wildlife Rehabilitator. You can find your closest New Jersey Wildlife
Rehabilitator by visiting https://njawr.com/nj-wildlife-rehabilitators/

04/13/2026

Found a baby raccoon?

Call a licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator! They can walk you through the next best steps for your particular situation.

At night, raccoon mothers will oftentimes move their young to another nest. If they become separated from their mothers, the baby will stay where it is until the mother returns, which may not be until the next night.

When you may be asked to intervene:
If the mother does not return overnight.
The mother has been trapped and relocated.
There are flies around the baby.
If they are injured or you know they have been attacked.
If their eyes are still closed.
They appear to be in very poor body condition.
They are crying continuously.

Raccoons smaller than a football are not old enough to be on their own. If there are obvious injuries, flies, or the infant appears to be in very poor body condition, please call the wildlife rehabilitator closest to you.

For more information, please visit https://njawr.com/i-found-an-animal/
To find your closest NJ Wildlife Rehabilitator visit https://njawr.com/nj-wildlife-rehabilitators/

04/07/2026

04/05/2026

Found a baby Eastern Cottontail?

If the rabbit's eyes are open, ears are up, and it is larger than a tennis ball, they do NOT need rescuing.

Mother rabbits only visit the nest at dusk and dawn to feed their young. They do this to not attract predators. If you think a nest has been abandoned, please call the Wildlife Rehabilitator closest to you.

If you mow over a nest and the rabbits are not injured, simply place them back in the nest and use the “string test” to make sure the mother is coming back to feed them. The “string test” can be done by placing a thin string in an “X” formation over the top of the nest. Check the nest the next morning and if the string has been disturbed then mom has been coming back to feed the babies. If the rabbit has obvious injuries, please contact the Wildlife Rehabilitator closest to you.

If your cat brought home a rabbit in its mouth, please contact the Wildlife Rehabilitator closest to you.

For more information, please visit https://njawr.com/i-found-an-animal/

** To find your closest NJ Wildlife Rehabilitator visit https://njawr.com/nj-wildlife-rehabilitators/

03/31/2026

We were thrilled to host some of our friends from The Raptor Trust at Cedar Run last week! 🦉

Amanda, Nikki, and Sam from The Raptor Trust joined our team for a behind-the-scenes tour and an afternoon of idea sharing. Our team collaborates with wildlife rehabilitators across New Jersey and beyond to ensure the absolute best care to the wildlife that is counting on us.

Thank you Amanda, Nikki, and Sam for joining us!

03/29/2026

What is a Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator? A trained, experienced wildlife caretaker who strives for the highest standard of care! CWRs are committed to ethical, evidence-based practices and have independently verified academic achievements and hands-on experience.

Sound like something you want to be a part of? Show the world you're serious about wildlife rehabilitation, and get Certified! Learn more at cwrexam.org

03/26/2026

CALLING ALL WILDLIFE REHABILITATORS!

Get ready to dive into all things baby prep with the 2026 OWRA Roundtable—let’s make baby season a breeze!

The first topic of this series is baby season preparation. Baby season is coming soon, so get ready for the busiest time of the year. Bring your tips and tricks, and/or questions. We will exchange ideas and share knowledge! Active participation is encouraged. Great opportunity to network with wildlife rehab community in and outside of Oregon.

Get ready to dive into all things baby prep with the 2026 OWRA Roundtable—let’s make baby season a breeze!