http://www.nutmegacreswildlife.com/

Nutmeg Acres Wildlife Rehabilitation, Serving all of Connecticut, specifically Northeastern, Moosup, CT (2026)

Q: What is the address?

Serving All Of Connecticut, Specifically Northeastern

06/07/2026

24 Years.

On June 7, 2002, I received my Connecticut wildlife rehabilitation permit and officially became a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

At the time, I was young, excited, and honestly had no idea where that piece of paper would take me.

Today marks 24 years.

When I started, I never imagined where this journey would lead. Over the years, thousands of animals have passed through my care. Some were returned to the wild; some became ambassadors. Other animals taught hard lessons and so many have broke my heart.

Wildlife rehabilitation is not always the feel-good work people see in photos. It is long days, late nights, difficult decisions, constant learning, and an unwavering commitment to putting the animal's needs first.

There have been incredible releases, heartbreaking losses, sleepless nights, impossible cases, and moments I will never forget. Through it all, one thing has never changed: every animal matters.

Over the past 24 years, I've had the privilege of helping countless finders, working alongside dedicated veterinarians, mentoring new rehabilitators, educating the public, and advocating for Connecticut's wildlife. I've also had the opportunity to watch an incredible community of rehabilitators grow, support one another, and work together for the benefit of the animals we serve.

None of this happens alone.

To every veterinarian, fellow rehabilitator, volunteer, transporter, donor, supporter, and finder who cared enough to make a phone call or lend a hand, thank you. You have been part of every success story along the way.

Twenty-four years later, I am still learning, still answering the phone, still cleaning cages, still celebrating releases, and still honored to do this work.

I am grateful for the animals that changed me, the people who stood beside me, and the community that has supported Nutmeg Acres Wildlife Rehabilitation through the years.

Here's to the next chapter!

— Sherry
Nutmeg Acres Wildlife Rehabilitation

06/06/2026

June is here, and for wildlife rehabilitators, that means we've entered the busiest time of the entire year.

Nearly every species is raising young right now. Every day brings orphaned animals, injured wildlife and countless phone calls from people trying to help.

Yesterday, my phone started ringing at 7:00 AM. As I'm writing this at 8:58 PM, I've received 58 phone calls and 23 direct text messages.

I'm one person (a volunteer) doing the best I can.

My voicemail explains what species I currently accept and provides guidance for species I cannot legally take. I know that isn't always the answer people want to hear. I have to deliver heartbreaking news. Regulations prevent me from helping in the way people think I should; those decisions aren't mine to make.

What I can tell you is that wildlife rehabilitators everywhere are overwhelmed right now.

We're operating on little sleep, limited funding, and a constant stream of emergencies. We spend our days caring for injured and orphaned animals and our nights worrying about the ones we couldn't save. Euthanasia is hard. Loss is hard. Compassion fatigue is real.

In between all of that, many rehabilitators are also working full-time jobs, raising families, caring for their own animals, and trying to keep their organizations running.

Please remember that when you call.

Yelling, swearing, or being rude doesn't help the animal and doesn't help the rehabilitator. We understand that finding an injured or orphaned animal is stressful. We understand that you want immediate answers and immediate help. We want that too.

Please be patient. Please be kind.

We're doing the best we can.

06/05/2026

Flies Don't Wait. Neither Should You.

This time of year, one of the most urgent emergencies we encounter is flystrike: when flies lay eggs on a sick, injured, weak, orphaned, or otherwise compromised animal.

Many people don't realize how quickly this can happen. Under the right conditions, fly eggs can hatch in as little as 8–24 hours. Once they hatch, the maggots begin feeding on the animal, causing pain, infection, shock, and often death if help doesn't arrive quickly.

Fly eggs are usually small white or cream-colored grains that are clustered together in groups. They have a similar in appearance to tiny grains of rice. They are generally found around wounds, the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, rear end, or anywhere fur or feathers are damp or soiled.

Maggots are small white, cream, or tan worm-like larvae that you can see moving. They are found on the animal's body, in wounds, or hidden beneath fur and feathers. Sometimes you'll find only a few; other times there may be hundreds even THOUSANDS.

If you find fly eggs or maggots on a wild animal, contact a wildlife rehabilitator immediately. Stick with normal protocol: place the animals in a secure box, bring it inside and keep the animal warm, dark, and quiet. Do not offer any food or water.

Fly eggs and maggots are not simply a sign that an animal needs help. They are a sign that an animal needs help RIGHT NOW. Every moment matters. The sooner the animal reaches a rehabilitator, the better the chance of survival.

If you're unsure whether what you're seeing is fly eggs or maggots, take clear photos and contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator immediately. Waiting can be the difference between life and death.

06/03/2026

If you touch a baby animal, the mother will reject it.

How many of us grew up hearing that? *raises hand slowly*

The truth is wild animals do not reject their babies because a human touched them. While there are exceptions in nature, this myth has been applied far more broadly than the science supports.

Biologists and wildlife rehabilitators have been returning baby animals to nests, dens, and their mothers for decades. If mothers routinely abandoned their young because of human scent, those reunions wouldn't work.

Think about it from a biological standpoint. A mother has already invested significant time and energy into producing and raising her young. Abandoning them because they briefly smelled like a human would make little sense from a survival perspective. A mother's biological drive to care for her young is immensely strong, and a human's temporary scent is not enough to override it.

Can animals smell that you've been there? Absolutely! Many mammals can easily detect human scent. Recognizing a scent and rejecting a baby, however, are two completely different things.

Birds are an even better example. Most species rely far more on sight and sound than smell to identify and care for their young. A healthy nestling that falls from the nest can often be safely placed right back where it belongs.

This doesn't mean wildlife should be handled unnecessarily.

If a baby animal needs to be returned to its nest or moved out of immediate danger, don't assume you've doomed it.

The things that cause far more harm are:

• Removing healthy babies that didn't need rescuing.
• Keeping them overnight "just to make sure."
• Feeding them.
• Waiting too long to contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

Every year, healthy baby animals end up in rehabilitation because someone believed a myth instead of understanding how wildlife actually behaves.

Found a baby animal? Take a photo and contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before intervening.

06/02/2026

One of the things I hear most often when someone contacts me about an injured animal is "Please don't kill it."

I understand. Nobody wants an animal to die; but I think it's important for people to understand that death is not always the worst outcome for a wild animal.

Animals don't come to rehabilitators because they're healthy. They come to us because something has gone wrong. They've been hit by cars, attacked by predators, poisoned, caught in traps, struck by lawn equipment, or suffered other serious injuries.

Sometimes those injuries can be treated and the animal can be released. Sometimes they can't.

The word euthanasia means "good death." It is the ending of suffering when there is no reasonable chance for recovery or release.

Do I like euthanizing animals? Absolutely not.

Would I rather release every animal that comes through my door? Of course.

After more than two decades in wildlife rehabilitation, I have learned that keeping an animal alive at all costs is not always the kindest option.

A wild animal that cannot walk, cannot see, cannot escape predators, cannot find food, or is living in constant pain is not experiencing a good quality of life.

When euthanasia is recommended, it is not because we don't care. It is because we have looked at the injuries, considered the prognosis, and determined that continued suffering is not in that animal's best interest.

Wildlife rehabilitation is not just about saving lives.

It's also about preventing suffering. Sometimes that means treatment and release.
Sometimes that means providing a peaceful end to an animal that has no chance of recovery. Neither decision is easy, but both are part of the responsibility we accept as rehabilitators.

06/01/2026

Ask Us Anything Wildlife!

Do you a wildlife question you've always wanted answered? Maybe it's a question you thought was "stupid." Fun fact! There are no stupid questions!

Maybe it's an old wives' tale you've heard your whole life and wondered if it's actually true.

Maybe you found an animal once and weren't sure if you did the right thing. Maybe you're curious about why certain animals behave the way they do.

Or maybe you've always wanted to know more about wildlife rehabilitation: how rehabilitators get started, what permits are required, what happens behind the scenes, or what it's really like caring for injured and orphaned wildlife.

Whatever you're curious about, we want to hear it! You ask the questions, and I'll do our best to provide the answers. Chances are if you've wondered about it, someone else has too! Let's have some fun and learn together.

What would you like to know? Drop your questions in the comments below. 👇

05/31/2026

Fawn season is here!

People are starting to find tiny fawns tucked away alone in yards, gardens, wood lines, and along roadsides. Before assuming a fawn has been abandoned or orphaned, remember that mother deer often leave their babies hidden while they go off to feed for long periods of time. Staying quiet and still is one of a fawn's best defenses.

When deciding if a fawn may need help, remember the 3 B's:

🦌 BEHAVIOR
A healthy fawn should generally be quiet, calm, and bedded down. If it is running around frantically, crying constantly, following people, or unable to settle, laying on its side, that may indicate a problem.

🦌 BUTT
A dirty bottom, diarrhea, or caked-on f***s is not normal and can be a sign the fawn is sick, dehydrated, or not receiving proper care from mom.

🦌 BUGS
Flies landing on or swarming a fawn are a major red flag. If flies are actively bothering a fawn, it needs help.

One thing we really need to address: curled ears are NOT the only sign a fawn is in trouble. Social media has oversimplified this. Some compromised fawns may have normal ears, while some healthy fawns may temporarily show stress from heat or dehydration.

🚨 MOST IMPORTANTLY 🚨

Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator BEFORE removing a fawn from where it was found. In many cases, the best thing you can do is leave it alone.

If a rehabilitator tells you to "PUT IT BACK," please follow those instructions. Mom is often nearby and still caring for her baby.

Finding a newborn fawn near a road does not automatically mean it has been abandoned. Very young fawns are often unsteady on their feet and don't navigate pavement well. If a fawn is in immediate danger from traffic, it is okay to carefully move it a short distance to nearby cover.

Connecticut has fewer than 5 rehabilitators permitted to care for fawns. Every healthy fawn unnecessarily removed from the wild takes a space that could be needed for a true orphan or injured fawn.

When in doubt, call a rehabilitator.

05/30/2026

Your chickens are pets to you.

To a fox, raccoon, fisher, coyote, bobcat, hawk, owl, or weasel, they are simply a meal.

Wild animals do not know that you spent hundreds of dollars buying or building a coop. They do not know your chickens have names. They do not know you and your children raised them from chicks. They are trying to survive and feed themselves or their young.

As wildlife rehabilitators, we often receive calls after a predator has gotten into a coop. Unfortunately, by that point, the damage has already been done.

The best way to protect your chickens is to prevent the opportunity in the first place.

A predator-proof enclosure should include:

✔️ 1/4" hardware cloth, not chicken wire. Chicken wire keeps chickens in. It does not keep predators out.
✔️ A hardware cloth apron buried and extending outward at least 2 feet around the entire perimeter to prevent digging predators from gaining access.
✔️ A secure roof made of hardware cloth. Not deer fencing. Not bird netting. Not a tarp. Not "they've never climbed in before." Many predators can climb, squeeze, jump, or simply tear through weaker materials.
✔️ Locking doors and latches. Raccoons are incredibly intelligent and can manipulate simple closures.
✔️ Regular inspections for weak spots, gaps, loose boards, and areas where predators may be testing your defenses.
✔️ If you live in an area with bears, consider installing electric wire around the coop and run. A properly installed hot wire can be an effective deterrent and may prevent a bear from causing significant damage while attempting to access your flock.

Free-ranging chickens will always carry risk. Even if you're outside with them, a predator can take advantage of a brief distraction or an unexpected opportunity.

The goal is not to blame wildlife for doing what wildlife does. The goal is to set everyone up for success by protecting your flock before a conflict occurs.

A well-built coop protects your chickens, protects wildlife from being put into conflict situations, and saves everyone a lot of heartbreak.

05/29/2026

Well, the universe definitely heard me when I said the opossums were coming. Didn't I say that same thing earlier this week, or was that last week?

Opossums are one of those species where you can go from having just a few patients to suddenly having an extra 20 in the blink of an eye.

Yesterday, I took in 8 joeys locally after they were found scattered around the property. Babies this age should still be spending most of their time in mom's pouch, so we suspect something grabbed and shook her, sending the joeys flying.

Then this morning, Lisa made a heartbreaking but lifesaving stop. She recovered TWELVE (12) joeys from a deceased mother opossum.

The babies arrived cold, dehydrated, and jaundiced, but because someone took the time to stop and check, they now have a second chance. Right now, they're tucked safely in the incubator warming up. Once their body temperatures are stable, I can begin the process of hydration and flushing their systems.

In less than 24 hours, 20 orphaned joeys have arrived at Nutmeg Acres.

Please remember: if you find a deceased opossum, always check for a pouch. The mother's story may have ended, but her babies may still have a chance.

If you'd like to help support the care of these little ones, every comment, reaction, and share helps increase the reach of our content. Since we're part of Facebook's Content Monetization Program, your engagement acts like a tiny donation that helps us continue this work.

05/28/2026

It’s time for my annual reminder: if you have a pool, please get yourself some animal escape ramps.

Pools can be very tempting for wildlife. They may be looking for a drink, trying to cool off, or accidentally fall in while exploring. Unfortunately, once they’re in, many animals can’t get back out on their own and pools claim countless wild lives every year.

Frogs, chipmunks, squirrels, mice, snakes, turtles, birds, and even larger animals can become trapped and exhausted quickly.

Animal escape ramps are a simple, inexpensive way to give wildlife a fighting chance. I’m not sponsored, I just truly recommend having them if you own a pool.

You can find them on Amazon here: https://a.co/d/01emyQBJ

Please consider adding one (or to your pool setup, and share this reminder with your pool-owning friends. It can save lives.

Nutmeg Acres Wildlife Rehabilitation

06/07/2026

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