City Wildlife

City Wildlife Washington DC's first and only Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. Our plan is to care for about 1,900 sick, injured, and orphaned wild animals annually.

City Wildlife’s major programs include:

City Wildlife is Washington’s first Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. Lights Out DC aims to reduce fatal bird/glass collisions during migratory bird seasons by encouraging downtown building owners to turn off unnecessary lights at night during spring and fall migrations. Volunteers inspect downtown buildings and collect dead or injured migratory birds that ha

ve collided with glass. Quack FAQ’s educates residents and building managers as to how they can make unsuitable nesting sites less appealing to mother Mallard ducks and helps duck families when newly hatched ducklings are stranded on roofs, by traffic, or other barriers that prevent them from reaching a source of open water. In the fall of 2012, City Wildlife offered a Wildlife 911 course which trained volunteers in basic wildlife behavior and how to advise people who want to help wild animals and prevent conflicts humanely. Over 300 volunteers attended and now are certified to aide injured DC wildlife.

Yesterday was National Intern Appreciation Day! 🦆❤️ City Wildlife hosts several animal care interns each spring, summer,...
07/31/2026

Yesterday was National Intern Appreciation Day! 🦆❤️

City Wildlife hosts several animal care interns each spring, summer, and fall. These driven students are instrumental to our ability to provide high quality care to the seasonal influx of patients we receive. We are endlessly grateful for their dedication and curiosity. ❤️‍🩹

Over several weeks, interns develop skills an in areas such as safe capture and handling, species identification, husbandry, enrichment, veterinary medicine, public communication, and so much more! As sad as we are to see them go, we are so excited for them to take the next step in their academic and professional journeys equipped with all they learned at City Wildlife!
Please join us in expressing thanks to these amazing individuals! 🥹👏

If you know someone (18+) who would be interested in our internship program, please check out citywildlife.org/volunteer/summer-internship-program/

07/29/2026

🤩We are a small but mighty team!

At our facility at 15 Oglethorpe St NW, Washington, DC, wild animals are brought in every day for life-saving treatments from a compassionate team. 💚

As we don’t often host tours in an effort to keep the environment as stress-free as possible for the animals while they are healing, we thought we would give you all a little peek at some of the rooms at our center! 🐿️🌳

This handsome Eastern Box Turtle returned home yesterday after 44 days in care. ❤️‍🩹Like the majority of our box turtle ...
07/26/2026

This handsome Eastern Box Turtle returned home yesterday after 44 days in care. ❤️‍🩹

Like the majority of our box turtle patients, he sustained shell fractures from a vehicle collision. With medications for pain and infection, careful stabilization of the shell pieces using epoxy and steel bridges, and routine topical wound care, his shell healed beautifully.

⚠️ The DMV is forecasted to have a rainy, hot week ahead. These are prime conditions for turtles to be on the move in search of food, mates, and nesting sites. Please keep an eye out for our slow-going friends!

If you find a turtle in the road and it is SAFE for you to do so, move them across the road in the direction they were headed. Never relocate a turtle, they know exactly where they are going! 🗺️ Lastly, turtles can survive horrendous injuries. Please do not assume a hit by car turtle is dead. Check for signs of life. For box turtles, a firmly boxed up shell means they are still alive!

Learn about new initiatives that threaten our night skies!
07/20/2026

Learn about new initiatives that threaten our night skies!

Meet one of two Barred Owls currently in our care. 🦉💚On Thursday, this adult was found grounded and weak beside a road, ...
07/20/2026

Meet one of two Barred Owls currently in our care. 🦉💚

On Thursday, this adult was found grounded and weak beside a road, possibly hit by a car. On intake, she was depressed, pale, and keeping her left eye shut. While a winking owl may sound cute, that asymmetry is an immediate red flag for ocular trauma. An eye exam confirmed injuries to both eyes, with the left being significantly worse than the right. She also presented with a right wing droop, but luckily no fractures or luxations were found.

We started her on oral medications for pain/inflammation, as well as medicated eye drops. In her depressed state, we delayed drawing blood to test for rodenticide and just began treatment for exposure. After all, our own in-house study of over 100 DC raptors showed that 85% tested positive for rodenticide (and the treatment would not have hurt her if she was rodenticide-free). With her debilitation, she was and continues to be housed in an oxygen chamber. We are carefully hand-feeding her twice daily until she begins eating on her own.

Four days into treatment, she is up in weight and spirits. But she is still quieter than she should be, and her eyes still have a ways to go in healing. She's not out of the metaphorical woods yet, but we will continue doing all we can to get her back home to the DC woods where she truly belongs.

Just like our Virginia Opossums, owls are common vehicle collision victims. Please slow down and lookout when driving, especially in low-visibility conditions like at night. 🌙

In the span of two days, we admitted 18 Virginia Opossum joeys orphaned by vehicle collisions. 💔As nocturnal animals, op...
07/18/2026

In the span of two days, we admitted 18 Virginia Opossum joeys orphaned by vehicle collisions. 💔

As nocturnal animals, opossums are most active when us humans have the least visibility. Please, always pay attention behind the wheel and obey speed limits to help reduce the risk of vehicle collisions with wildlife.

From about February to September, female opossums are likely to have joeys in their pouches. If you see a deceased opossum on the side of the road, and it is safe for you to do so, please check that pouch. You could save up to 13 tiny lives! ❤️‍🩹

If you find joeys in a deceased mom's pouch, please do not attempt to remove them. Bring mom and babies to your nearest wildlife rehabber, such as City Wildlife, who can safely remove them from the pouch.

Luckily, all of these babies were uninjured. They are spicy, growing well, and will be with us for a couple months until they are fit for release back to the wild. Until then, we'll keep their bellies full with formula and a variety of proteins, veggies, and fruits. 🍼🦗🥦🍓

Happy World Snake Day 🐍🌎 Snakes can bring up mixed feelings for many, but they are highly beneficial neighbors. Snakes a...
07/16/2026

Happy World Snake Day 🐍🌎

Snakes can bring up mixed feelings for many, but they are highly beneficial neighbors. Snakes are vital pest and disease control as they hunt a variety of insects and rodents such as mice and rats. Snakes are also naturally shy animals, and not aggressive by any means. If you see a healthy wild snake, please let them serve their critical ecosystem role in peace!

There are about 20 native snake species that call DC home. Snakes that we have admitted to City Wildlife include the Eastern Rat Snake, Dekay's Brownsnake, Eastern Garter Snake, Eastern Worm Snake, Northern Water Snake, and Eastern Corn Snake.

Want to help our local snakes?
🍂 Leave the leaves where possible. Leaf litter is critical overwintering and foraging habitat for snakes.
🐀 Never use inhumane "pest control" methods like glue traps and rodenticide. Snakes are common victims of these untargeted methods.
🙏 Respect their wildness. Never take a snake from the wild and give them distance when you see them.
🌱 If you must mow, look before you mow and raise the blade 4-6" to protect small animals hidden in the grass.

Comment your favorite snake species or fact!👇

💚🎉Fall volunteer applications are now open!🎉💚Do you have a passion for wildlife? Volunteering with City Wildlife provide...
07/14/2026

💚🎉Fall volunteer applications are now open!🎉💚

Do you have a passion for wildlife? 

Volunteering with City Wildlife provides you with valuable wildlife education, experience, and the reward of helping wild animals in your community. 

⭐️Email [email protected] expressing your interest! 

You will then receive an application to fill out, and the orientation dates available for this season. You must attend orientation to begin volunteering.

🚨Please read through the volunteer requirements thoroughly! 

Volunteer Requirements:

In order to volunteer at City Wildlife’s rehabilitation center, a person must:

* Be at least 18 years old.
* Commit to a weekly four-hour shift from March until August.
* Be in good health.
* Be able to lift heavy objects and stand for hours at a time.
* Be fully vaccinated for COVID (proof will be required prior to volunteering).

Animal care volunteers work closely with the City Wildlife staff as they perform daily tasks: preparing animal meals, cleaning enclosures, washing dishes, doing laundry, sweeping, mopping, and performing other general housekeeping tasks. 

Seasoned volunteers may also have the opportunity to assist staff members by handling animals for exams, weighing animals, and hand-feeding young animals. Volunteer responsibilities will increase with experience. 

If you have questions about volunteering, please direct them to [email protected]

‼️ On Monday July 13, DC council is holding a hearing on the REMY act. Show your support for responsible rat and mouse m...
07/11/2026

‼️ On Monday July 13, DC council is holding a hearing on the REMY act. Show your support for responsible rat and mouse management in DC! This bill gets at the core drivers of rat populations by clamping down on food waste and trash management. 🚮

Each testimony helps move us towards a more sustainable future of rodent control where no wildlife, pet, or child falls victim to rodenticide. The deadline for written comments closes MONDAY JULY 27. ✍️

Why should you support it? Here are some fast facts:
☠️ Each year in the US, over 10,000 children ingest dangerous levels of rodenticide.
☠️ In a survey of >100 wild animals admitted to City Wildlife, 85% tested positive for rodenticide. Predators and scavengers such as hawks, owls, eagles, vultures, foxes, and opossums are at the highest risk of poisoning.
☠️ 100+ US pets die each year from rodenticide exposure, and thousands more go through costly treatments to save their lives after exposure.

Rodenticide is a bandaid for rodent control at best. At worst, rodenticide producers and pest control companies are profiting off consumers at the expense of ecosystem, pet, and human health. Join the fight for responsible rat management today!

Submit written testimony (DEADLINE JULY 27):
https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Hearings/hearings/2375

Join the DC Responsible Rat Management Coalition: https://www.dcratsolutions.com

You may have noticed we missed a few days of posting... we're here, just neck deep caring for wildlife! Summer is our bu...
07/09/2026

You may have noticed we missed a few days of posting... we're here, just neck deep caring for wildlife!

Summer is our busiest and most expensive time of year. Our phone is ringing off the hook with wildlife emergencies, conflicts, and questions. Our clinic is brimming with patients. The majority are hungry, growing juvenile songbirds and mammals. Here's a closer look at our patients in care as of this morning:
🐦‍⬛ 100 birds across 19 species
🐿️ 5 mammals across 4 species
🐢 9 Eastern Box Turtles (the Eastern Cooter at the end was released two days ago 🎉)!

Over the last month, we have averaged ten new patient admissions daily. With so many animals in need of care, they need your support! Every engagement with our posts (especially shares) and every donation made helps give local wildlife in crisis the professional care they require.

Please stay tuned, because we have LOTS of amazing patient stories to share with you soon! ❤️‍🩹

Address

Washington D.C., DC

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+12028821000

Website

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