Wildlife Assistance
Wildlife includes our native songbirds, birds of prey, waterfowl, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. The United States Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS) along with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) require state and federal permits for rehabilitating injured, sick, and orphaned wildlife. We are not permitted wildlife rehabbers and are unable to take in wildlife. Please use the resources below to find a permitted rehabber or assistance with a wildlife issue.
Animal Help Now provides a comprehensive and updated directory of local wildlife rehabbers. However, there are very few in our area. And the few that are active are inundated with requests for help and may be at capacity at any time. East TN Wildlife Rehabilitation Council is a nonprofit that can advise and may have additional contacts.
Wildlife rehabbers have to abide by strict regulations and guidelines issued by the USFWS and TWRA. They do not receive any government funding and are not paid for their services. Most rely on donations from the public in order to provide this ongoing and essential public service. Please give them time to respond as they are handling multiple emergencies daily while caring for their in-house patients.
Wildlife rehabbers will only take in (if not at capacity) wildlife that is truly in need of help. Often young wild animals are mistaken for being orphaned, and wildlife rehabbers will advise on how to determine if mom or the parents are still around. The goal of wildlife rehabilitation is to do what is best for the wild animal which may mean leaving the animal in their habitat. Rehabbers and the following sites below can give you tips of how to coexist with wildlife and prevent potential conflicts.
Bats
https://totalwildlifecontrol.com/critter-facts-control/#bats
https://www.humaneworld.org/en/resources/how-protect-bats-or-get-rid-bats-your-house
https://wildlifecenter.org/help-advice/managing-wildlife-conflicts-and-habitats/bats-neighbors
Beavers
https://www.humaneworld.org/en/resources/benefits-beavers-and-how-safely-keep-them-away
Black Bears
https://wildlifecenter.org/help-advice/managing-wildlife-conflicts-and-habitats/bears-neighbors
https://www.humaneworld.org/en/resources/what-do-about-black-bears
Chipmunks
https://www.humaneworld.org/en/resources/what-do-about-chipmunks
Coyotes
https://www.humaneworld.org/en/resources/what-do-about-coyotes
https://projectcoyote.org/act/downloadable-resources/
Crows
https://www.humaneworld.org/en/resources/benefits-beavers-and-how-safely-keep-them-away
Deer - Conflict
https://wildlifecenter.org/help-advice/managing-wildlife-conflicts-and-habitats/deer-neighbors
Deer - Fawns
https://wildlifecenter.org/help-advice/healthy-young-wildlife/if-you-find-baby-deer
https://swvawildlifecenter.org/fawn-faqs/
https://spca.bc.ca/news/prevent-fawn-napping/
https://www.humaneworld.org/en/resources/how-help-orphaned-or-injured-baby-wild-animals#deer
Foxes
https://www.humaneworld.org/en/resources/what-do-about-foxes
Geese
https://projectcoyote.org/act/downloadable-resources/
Groundhogs
https://www.humaneworld.org/en/resources/what-do-about-groundhogs-woodchucks
https://wildlifecenter.org/help-advice/managing-wildlife-conflicts-and-habitats/woodchucks-neighbors
Mice
https://www.humaneworld.org/en/resources/what-do-about-wild-mice
Opossum
https://totalwildlifecontrol.com/critter-facts-control/opossums/
https://www.humaneworld.org/en/resources/what-do-about-opossums
Rabbits
https://www.humaneworld.org/en/resources/what-do-about-wild-rabbits
Raccoons
https://totalwildlifecontrol.com/critter-facts-control/#raccoons
https://www.humaneworld.org/en/resources/what-do-about-raccoons
https://www.facebook.com/411WildlifeSolutions/
https://wildlifecenter.org/help-advice/managing-wildlife-conflicts-and-habitats/raccoons-neighbors
Rats
https://totalwildlifecontrol.com/critter-facts-control/#rodents
https://www.humaneworld.org/en/resources/what-do-about-rats-living-walls-or-yards
https://raptorsarethesolution.org/
Skunks
https://wildlifecenter.org/help-advice/managing-wildlife-conflicts-and-habitats/skunks-neighbors
https://www.humaneworld.org/en/resources/what-do-about-skunks
https://totalwildlifecontrol.com/critter-facts-control/skunks/
Snakes
https://totalwildlifecontrol.com/critter-facts-control/snakes/
https://www.humaneworld.org/en/resources/what-do-about-snakes
https://wildlifecenter.org/help-advice/managing-wildlife-conflicts-and-habitats/snakes-neighbors
Squirrels
https://wildlifecenter.org/help-advice/managing-wildlife-conflicts-and-habitats/squirrels-neighbors
https://www.humaneworld.org/en/resources/safely-get-rid-squirrels-attic-keep-them-away
Other Species
https://www.humaneworld.org/en/humane-solutions-wildlife-problems
https://totalwildlifecontrol.com/
https://www.mspca.org/programs-resources/wildlife-resources/
https://ahnow.org/resources.php#wildlifeconflict2
How to prevent birds from colliding into windows
https://abcbirds.org/get-involved/bird-smart-%20glass/
https://www.humaneworld.org/en/resources/protect-birds-stopping-them-flying-windows
https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/reducing-bird-collisions-with-buildings.pdf
Other sources
Additional resources for wildlife assistance
Report a wildlife crime to USFWS