Wild Hearts Rehab

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South Mills, NC
Wild Hearts Rehab

Wild Hearts Rehab is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to rehabilitating injured and orphaned wildlife native to North Carolina.

We are a licensed wildlife rehab in NE North Carolina specializing in reptiles and nonrabies vector small mammals. Mission Statement:
The mission of Wild Hearts Rehab is to protect and conserve North Carolina’s native wildlife through rehabilitation, public education, networking, and professional training with the goal of release back to the wild.

10/30/2026

This young male Eastern Grey Squirrel was surrendered into care after an unsuccessful attempt at release. He had been raised in captivity by someone without the proper wildlife rehabilitation license and training, and unfortunately, his early human interactions have left him overly comfortable and dependent on people.

Although the person who raised him may have had good intentions, raising wildlife in captivity without the proper training and then releasing an animal directly into the wild without a gradual, supported transition does not set that animal up for success. Most wild animals need the opportunity to develop the natural instincts and survival skills necessary to thrive on their own.

Thankfully, his story isn't over. ❤️ He now has the opportunity to spend the winter in an outdoor soft-release enclosure, surrounded by the sights, sounds, and rhythms of nature. With time, patience, and minimal human interaction, we hope he will begin to reconnect with his wild instincts, build confidence, and learn what it means to be a squirrel in the wild.

Our hope is that this winter will be a turning point in his journey — helping him trade human dependency for independence and giving him the best possible chance to one day live the wild life he was always meant to have. 🌿🐿️

10/22/2026

♥️Come Learn, Connect & Support Local Wildlife at Dismal Swamp State Park's Dismal Day This Saturday ♥️

We’re excited to be part of the upcoming Dismal Day, and we’d love for you to stop by, say hello, and learn more about the work we do to help orphaned and injured local wildlife. 🐢

You don’t have to be a wildlife expert to make a difference. Sometimes the most helpful thing you can do is simply know who to call, what not to do, and how to safely coexist with the wildlife around us. Sharing what you learn with your family, friends, and neighbors can make an even bigger impact.🐿️

And if you’d like to support our work, our fundraiser will help provide the food, medical care, rehabilitation supplies, and other necessities needed to care for the animals who depend on us.

🎉 Come enjoy the fun at Dismal Day, meet our team and ambassador turtle Chomper, ask questions, learn something new, and help us give local wildlife a second chance!

Your support can make a difference, one life at a time. 🐾

We can’t wait to see you there!

10/21/2026

🐍🦎 Happy National Reptile Awareness Day! 🐢

Today is a great reminder of the important role reptiles play in our ecosystems. Snakes, turtles, lizards, and other reptiles help maintain nature’s balance and deserve our respect and protection. 💚

If you encounter an injured or distressed reptile, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for guidance and assistance.

🌿 Wildlife belongs in the wild! Please don’t take reptiles from their natural habitats to keep as pets. Removing them from the wild can harm their health, disrupt local ecosystems, and impact wild populations. Admire them in their natural environment and let them stay where they belong!

💚 A little awareness can make a big difference in protecting our native wildlife!

10/21/2026

More flying squirrel feeding footage!🐿️

This is the tail end of the video from the other day, and she’s making such wonderful progress! She’s almost taking a full 2 mL of formula. Every little sip is a big step forward, and watching her grow stronger one feeding at a time is so heartwarming! 🥰

If you're interested in supporting wildlife in need, please visit the links below. Every contribution, no matter the size, is appreciated as it goes directly towards the care of the animals.

🐢Amazon Wishlist:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/Z37Y3UVJF7T8?ref_=wl_share

🐿️Chewy Wishlist:
https://www.chewy.com/g/wild-hearts-rehab_b129945322 -list

🐀Opossum Formula:
http://xfkkeq.littleregistry.com/mi34vg2g

🦎Paypal:
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=93ZYNKQAPNBJW

🐍Venmo:
https://www.venmo.com/u/WildHeartsRehab

🐇Walmart Registry:
https://www.walmart.com/registry/RR/86eb7b84-1224-4cae-990f-bfda6c4fcefa

🐸Walmart Round-Up:
https://www.walmart.com/nonprofits/dc9bf106-6e2c-4620-8d9d-06ed5229e85d/profile

10/20/2026

🤎 A tiny fighter with a big appetite and an even bigger journey ahead! 🐿️

We took in this very young female southern flying squirrel just a few days ago. She arrived extremely thin and dehydrated, weighed only 18g, likely having been without her mom for some time. Thankfully, she has an amazing appetite and took to formula right away!

She’s still learning how to properly suckle on the small ni***es, and let’s just say she gets very enthusiastic at mealtime! 😅 She even does little spins while eating, so we have to carefully control the flow of formula and take things slowly to help prevent aspiration and keep her safe.

Now that she’s beginning to stabilize, we’re moving on to the next important step: reaching out to fellow wildlife rehabilitators in hopes of finding her buddies to grow and overwinter with! ❤️

Every tiny life deserves a chance, and we’re doing everything we can to give this little girl the best possible start. One feeding, one milestone, and one hopeful connection at a time. 🌿🐿️

If you're interested in supporting wildlife in need, please visit the links below. Every contribution, no matter the size, is appreciated as it goes directly towards the care of the animals.

🐢Amazon Wishlist:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/Z37Y3UVJF7T8?ref_=wl_share

🐿️Chewy Wishlist:
https://www.chewy.com/g/wild-hearts-rehab_b129945322 -list

🐀Opossum Formula:
http://xfkkeq.littleregistry.com/mi34vg2g

🦎Paypal:
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=93ZYNKQAPNBJW

🐍Venmo:
https://www.venmo.com/u/WildHeartsRehab

🐇Walmart Registry:
https://www.walmart.com/registry/RR/86eb7b84-1224-4cae-990f-bfda6c4fcefa

🐸Walmart Round-Up:
https://www.walmart.com/nonprofits/dc9bf106-6e2c-4620-8d9d-06ed5229e85d/profile

10/07/2026

🎉Amazon Prime Day is a great time to support wildlife rehabilitation!🎉

October 6 through 7

Many needed supplies are on sale, and purchasing an item from a our Amazon Wish List helps provide food, medical care, and essentials for injured and orphaned wildlife.

Every item donated makes a difference and helps give wild animals a second chance. 💚

🐢🐿️🌿

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/Z37Y3UVJF7T8?ref_=wl_share

10/05/2026

🌸October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month 🌸

Did you know that the venom of copperhead snakes is being studied and used in promising treatments for breast cancer? These often-feared creatures are contributing to the fight for human life — including the lives of mothers, daughters, and friends.

Instead of responding with fear, let’s choose respect and understanding. Snakes play a vital role in our ecosystem, and some even contribute to life-saving medical research.

🐍 If you find a snake near your home or garden, consider these humane ways to encourage it to move along:

Gently guide it away using a long stick, broom, or rake (never with your hands).

Lightly spray water near it with a garden hose to encourage it to leave the area.

Let’s work toward peaceful coexistence — protecting both wildlife and the potential they hold to heal and help humanity.

10/03/2026

♥️Come Learn, Connect & Support Local Wildlife at Dismal Swamp State Park's Dismal Day♥️

We’re excited to be part of the upcoming Dismal Day, and we’d love for you to stop by, say hello, and learn more about the work we do to help orphaned and injured local wildlife. 🐢

You don’t have to be a wildlife expert to make a difference. Sometimes the most helpful thing you can do is simply know who to call, what not to do, and how to safely coexist with the wildlife around us. Sharing what you learn with your family, friends, and neighbors can make an even bigger impact.🐿️

And if you’d like to support our work, our fundraiser will help provide the food, medical care, rehabilitation supplies, and other necessities needed to care for the animals who depend on us.

🎉 Come enjoy the fun at Dismal Day, meet our team and ambassador turtle Chomper, ask questions, learn something new, and help us give local wildlife a second chance!

Your support can make a difference, one life at a time. 🐾

We can’t wait to see you there!

10/02/2026

These eastern grey squirrels, are with our apprentice Kelli, and are happily enjoying their blocks and veggies as they prepare for their next big step! 🐿️🤎Kelli is putting the finishing touches on their soft-release pen, and once it’s ready, they’ll be moved outside to overwinter there until spring. 🌿

A few weeks ago, we had an influx of orphaned squirrels, so they were thoughtfully divided among Lisa, Kelli, and myself (Brandi). Thankfully, everyone is doing wonderfully! They’re eating their veggies and blocks, growing stronger every day, and slowly transitioning off formula as they prepare for life back in the wild. We also have a few younger orphaned squirrels who arrived more recently and are being cared for in separate age-appropriate groups. Rehabbing squirrels in groups is so important. After release, they often continue to rely on one another for a period of time as they adjust to life on their own before eventually venturing off independently. 🐿️🌳

Just like these squirrels need one another, we rehabbers do too. We’re fortunate to have a wonderful network where we support each other, share the workload, and help other local rehabilitators when needed. When one person suddenly receives an overwhelming number of calls, we step in and help spread the responsibility.

Wildlife rehabilitation truly is a team effort—from the finders who call and get help for the animal, to the volunteer transporters, to the rehabbers supporting each other, and to every person who helps make their journey back to the wild possible via donations and support. ❤️

If you're interested in supporting wildlife in need, please visit the links below. Every contribution, no matter the size, is appreciated as it goes directly towards the care of the animals.

🐢Amazon Wishlist:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/Z37Y3UVJF7T8?ref_=wl_share

🐿️Chewy Wishlist:
https://www.chewy.com/g/wild-hearts-rehab_b129945322 -list

🐀Opossum Formula:
http://xfkkeq.littleregistry.com/mi34vg2g

🦎Paypal:
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=93ZYNKQAPNBJW

🐍Venmo:
https://www.venmo.com/u/WildHeartsRehab

🐇Walmart Registry:
https://www.walmart.com/registry/RR/86eb7b84-1224-4cae-990f-bfda6c4fcefa

🐸Walmart Round-Up:
https://www.walmart.com/nonprofits/dc9bf106-6e2c-4620-8d9d-06ed5229e85d/profile

Address

South Mills, NC

Telephone

+12526798055

Website

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/Z37Y3UVJF7T8?ref_=wl_share, https://www.chewy.com/g/wild-hearts-rehab_b129945322#w

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