Found a Wild Animal?
Call Before You Act
If you have found what you think is an injured or orphaned wild animal in Rhode Island, please call us at 401-294-6363 before taking action so we can assess the situation with you in real time. Not all circumstances require intervention.
Wildlife Clinic of Rhode Island
(401) 294-6363
RI DEM Fish & Wildlife
(401) 789-0281
RI DEM Enforcement
(401) 222-3070
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife
(508) 389-6300
Rhode Island law prohibits the keeping of wild animals as pets and it is illegal to take a wild animal into your home to care for and release it unless you are a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. It is also illegal to transport wild animals across state lines.
Please note: the RI Department of Environmental Management strictly prohibits the rehabilitation of mute swans, bears, and moose. If you need assistance with any of these species, please contact: RI DEM at 401-789-0281.
Please Do Not Touch Rabies Vector Species
In Rhode Island, all species of bats, woodchucks, and all members of the order Carnivora (which includes (but is not limited to) skunks, foxes, raccoons, bobcats, coyotes, weasels, mink, bear and seals) are considered to be Rabies Vector Species (RVS). If you come across an individual of any of these species that you think may be in need of assistance, please do not touch them with bare hands. Any bare-handed contact may be considered an "exposure" by the RI Department of Health and the animal would be required by law to be euthanized and submitted for rabies testing. BEFORE you handle, please contact us for instructions at 401-294-6363 or contact the RI DEM at 401-222-3070. For marine mammals including seals, contact Mystic Aquarium at 860-572-5955 x 107.
Found a Fawn?
Rhode Island does not permit the rehabilitation of adult white-tailed deer, but the Wildlife Clinic is able to provide care to fawns.
If you have found a white-tailed deer fawn and believe it may need help, please contact us before intervening. A lone fawn is not necessarily orphaned. Mother deer often leave their young tucked safely in one place for several hours while they feed nearby. Fawns are naturally well-camouflaged and have very little scent, which helps protect them from predators. Even if a fawn is vocalizing or walking around, please do not assume it needs help unless it is visibly injured or in immediate danger. Call us first so we can help determine whether intervention is truly needed.
Please do not attempt to raise a fawn on your own. It is illegal, and commercially available formulas are not appropriate for deer. Improper feeding can quickly cause severe diarrhea, dehydration, and death. Even a few days of incorrect care can make the difference between a fawn that can be saved and one that cannot. Each year, we receive fawns that are critically ill because they were fed incorrectly before reaching licensed rehabilitators. Some do not survive, and others require intensive treatment to recover.
There are also few, if any, permanent placement options for older deer that have become tame or habituated to people. The Wildlife Clinic cannot provide placement for deer raised by unlicensed individuals, and RI DEM may require those animals to be euthanized.
When in doubt, please call before touching, moving, feeding, or containing a fawn.
Wildlife Resources
Wildlife in your home, yard, chimney, attic, shed, or garden can be stressful. Especially when you are not sure what is safe, legal, or humane. This resource offers practical guidance for resolving common wildlife conflicts without trapping, poisoning, or separating mothers from their young.
Use it to learn how to prevent animals from getting in, encourage them to move along safely, and protect your home while respecting the wild animals we share our neighborhoods with.
For injured, orphaned, or sick wildlife in Rhode Island, please contact the Wildlife Clinic directly. Your support of the Wildlife Clinic keeps local wildlife care available right here in Rhode Island.
When in Doubt, Call.
Not every wild animal needs help, but the right guidance can make all the difference. Before touching, moving, feeding, or containing an animal, please call the Wildlife Clinic so we can help you determine the safest next step.
A quick call can prevent unnecessary intervention, reduce stress for the animal, and give injured or orphaned wildlife the best chance at survival.