PULLMAN, Wash.-Washington State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital is expecting to care for record numbers of injured and orphaned wildlife this spring and summer.
According to WSU, its wildlife rehabilitation service takes in more than 600 animals in a year from owls, hawks and other birds to squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, foxes and deer and donations from the public will help WSU continue to care for animals.
Those numbers are expected to increase even more in 2024 after Blue Mountain Wildlife, a rehabilitation center in Pendleton, Oregon announced it will no longer operate its location in Central Washington and will no longer be able to care for animals rescued in Washington, according to Devyn Rokyta of WSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
“Even before the announcement, we were spending more on wildlife rehabilitation than we were getting on donations,” said WSU wildlife veterinarian Dr. Marcie Logsdon. “We will really need the public’s help for us to continue to provide the best care for these animals so they can be released back into the wild.”
WSU’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital has outgrown its current facilities and has long-range plans for a wildlife-specific hospital and rehab center.
In areas such as the Tri-Cities and Spokane, help with the transportation of injured or orphaned wildlife is urgently needed. Anyone interested in helping is encouraged to contact Dr. Logsdon at mlogsdon@wsu.edu for more information.
