Cape Wildlife Center

Cape Wildlife Center 🦉 Nonprofit veterinarians and educators
🫶 Kindness to people and animals
đź“Ť Barnstable, MA We operate two non-profit wildlife hospitals and education Centers.
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The Birdsey Cape Wildlife Center is the Cape Cod branch of New England Wildlife Centers. Each year we provide free veterinary care to over 5000 sick, injured, and orphaned wild animals. In the process of caring for these patients we work to educate members of the public and spread the message of environmental conservation. Each day we work to preserve the rich natural history of Cape Cod and Sout

heastern Massachusetts — one animal, and one person at a time. If you have found a wild animal in need of help, or have questions about wildlife, natural history, or habitat please call our wildlife Hotline at (508) 362-0111.

05/31/2026

This might just look like lunch, but we see a major milestone!

Not long ago, this opossum was recovering from major surgery performed by our medical team at the Cape Wildlife Center to repair a fractured jaw - with a feeding tube put in place to make sure he could receive nutrition while he healed.

But this patient had plans for a speedier recovery.

He started eating a liquid diet on his own the very next day, and continued doing so consistently enough that we never actually needed to use the feeding tube! After several days of eating independently, it was removed.

Since then, we’ve slowly progressed his menu to include wet cat food, scrambled eggs, and mashed fruits. Today he’s enjoying soaked dry cat food and other more solid foods now that he can chew comfortably again.

The wire stabilizing his jaw will remain in place for another 8–10 weeks while the bone continues to heal, but so far he has been an absolute champ!

Not every turtle struck on the road gets a second chance like this one.This snapping turtle arrived at our weymouth hosp...
05/27/2026

Not every turtle struck on the road gets a second chance like this one.

This snapping turtle arrived at our weymouth hospital with thanks to Duxbury Animal Control with significant shell trauma. He sustained two fractures to his shell and a shearing injuring, which is when the top layer of shell is removed. He was stabilized with fluids, pain meds, and antibiotics and then transferred to our cape hospital for a shell repair surgery.

Our veterinary team surgically wired the loose shell fragments together and then applied beeswax to the area of shell that had gotten sheared off. Using wires and a specialized beeswax technique developed by our Medical Director, Dr. Patel, the team was able to repair the shell while still allowing the turtle to safely submerge in water - something that’s critically important for hydration, comfort, and normal behavior during the healing process.

This time of year, we begin seeing more and more turtles injured while crossing roads in search of nesting habitat. They are awakening from the brumating (hibernating) spots and navigating over to their mating/ nesting sites. Please slow down when traveling and if you see a turtle trying to cross the road, if it is safe to pull over, you can help it by moving it across the road in the same direction it is traveling. If it happens to be a snapping turtle please give us a call first so we can give you the best advice of how to assist it across the road without getting hurt.

05/24/2026

Tick season is in full swing - so let’s clear a few things up.

Barnstable County's Extension Educator in Entomology & Horticulture, Escher Cattle, walks us through some of the biggest misconceptions people still have about ticks, from whether they can coordinate aerial attacks to the best ways to remove one. If you're planning on spending any time outdoors, this is worth a watch. Knowledge (and preparation) really does make a difference!

And if you want to add even more tools to your toolbox this season, check out Barnstable County’s helpful “Make a Tick Kit” resource, with practical tips and prevention must-haves to keep at home, in the car, or in your backpack this season: https://www.capecod.gov/departments/cooperative-extension/programs/ticks-bugs/make-a-tick-kit

Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment Barnstable County Government Town of Barnstable

This adult male Virginia Opossum was found severely injured along a busy road in Yarmouth after being struck by a car. T...
05/20/2026

This adult male Virginia Opossum was found severely injured along a busy road in Yarmouth after being struck by a car. Thankfully, Yarmouth Animal Control safely captured him and transported him to our hospital for care!

On arrival, it was clear this guy had been through a lot. He suffered a fractured jaw along with multiple lacerations to his face and tongue. After carefully assessing the injury, our veterinary team was able to wire the jaw back together to stabilize the fracture and give it a chance to heal properly. His tongue also required sutures, and because eating normally would have further aggravated the injuries, we temporarily placed a feeding tube so he could safely receive nutrition while everything healed.

We are very happy to report that he has been doing exceptionally well. The jaw has remained stable and healed enough for us to remove the feeding tube. He is now on strict cage rest while enjoying daily meals of his favorite soft foods (which he has been quite excited about). He remains on antibiotics along with medications for pain and inflammation, and if everything continues progressing as planned, the wires will eventually come out and he’ll transition to an outdoor enclosure for the remainder of his rehabilitation before release.

Possums really are amazing animals. They are incredibly tough, surprisingly gentle, and far more beneficial than many people realize. They help clean up carrion, consume large numbers of insects, and generally spend most of their lives quietly minding their own business. Unfortunately… they are also not exactly built for speed. Vehicle strikes are one of the most common injuries we see in opossums this time of year.

It is also officially opossum baby season. While this patient was a male, if you ever encounter a recently deceased female opossum, it is always worth checking for surviving joeys when safe to do so. The best thing to do is call our hospital for guidance. In many cases, it is actually safest to transport the entire mother rather than trying to remove potentially injured babies yourself.

We’ll keep everyone updated as this tough little guy continues his recovery!

Yarmouth Division of Natural Resources

We are absolutely overwhelmed by your kindness! đź’šđź’šđź’šAfter putting out the call for help with the growing number of babies...
05/19/2026

We are absolutely overwhelmed by your kindness! đź’šđź’šđź’š

After putting out the call for help with the growing number of babies in our care, our community showed up in the most incredible way. Packages have been arriving nonstop, our shelves have been restocked, and our team has felt so supported during one of the busiest times of year at our hospitals.

From baby songbirds and squirrels to fox kits, owls, rabbits, and coyotes, these patients require around-the-clock specialized care - and every heating pad, feeding syringe, towel, disinfectant, and container of formula truly makes a difference. Knowing we have the supplies needed to care for them brings enormous relief to our staff and volunteers as new patients continue arriving every hour.

To everyone who purchased an item, made a donation, or shared the wishlist and amplified our call for support: thank you. Your generosity directly impacts the lives of these animals and the people working tirelessly to give them a second chance.

For now, we are in good shape on supplies - but we will absolutely share updates if our needs change again. In the meantime, if you’re still looking for ways to support wildlife and the work that goes into caring for them, monetary donations to support our hospitals and rehabilitation efforts are always deeply appreciated. https://capewildlifecenter.com/925-2

Thank you for being part of this community and for helping us care for wildlife when they need it most.

05/15/2026

This awkward teenage phase has a name: branching! 🪾

This great horned owl is in an important stage of development called branching - a unique phase young raptors go through before they fully fledge and take flight. At this age, they leave the nest and begin climbing, hopping, and exploring branches as they build strength and confidence.

Still, our Wildlife Rescue Coordinator Ava went out to make sure this youngster was truly okay. After checking for injuries and confirming everything felt normal, she helped place him safely on a nearby low branch where he could continue this next chapter of growing up.

These in-between stages can look awkward if you’ve never seen them before, but often the best thing we can do is give young wildlife a little space to let them grow and learn as nature intended, and observe from a safe distance.

We see the impacts of rodenticide poisoning firsthand in our hospitals - and now there’s a real opportunity to help prev...
05/12/2026

We see the impacts of rodenticide poisoning firsthand in our hospitals - and now there’s a real opportunity to help prevent it. Right now we have a week to get as many calls as possible to our reps to help protect wildlife.

Call your state representative by May 19 to request they ask Chair Aaron Michlewitz and the House Ways & Means Committee to strengthen Sections 74 and 75 of the Mass Ready Act by including the language from H5217, which would phase out the use of anticoagulant rodenticides statewide.

This is an important moment for wildlife advocacy in Massachusetts! We want each of the 160 state representatives to receive at least 10 phone calls from their constituents. Together we have power. Let’s use it to advocate for a ban on anticoagulant rodent poisons across Massachusetts.

Take action: bit.ly/CallYourMAReps

Mass Audubon Animal Rescue League of Boston MSPCA-Angell Animal Legal Defense Fund Sierra Club State Representative Jim Hawkins Senator Mike Moore NOFA/Mass

UPDATE: We are currently stocked up on supplies!!We just want to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Your respo...
05/11/2026

UPDATE: We are currently stocked up on supplies!!

We just want to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Your response to our wishlist has been truly overwhelming in the best possible way.

Because of your generosity, our team now has so many of the critical supplies needed to care for the hundreds of babies arriving through our doors this season. From formula and heating pads to cleaning supplies and enrichment items, every donation makes a real difference in the day-to-day care of these animals - and it means so much to know this community is standing behind them.

For now, we are in a good place with supplies! If you were still hoping to support wildlife and the work happening across our hospitals, monetary donations directly help us provide ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, food, medications, and long-term support for wildlife in need. capewildlifecenter.com/925

Thank you, truly, for showing up for these animals and for our team.

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Friends, right now we really need your help so we can keep up with all of the babies in our care!

We're fully in baby season and the number of patients is increasing by the hour at our hospitals! Baby songbirds, rabbits, squirrels, foxes, owls - and now two orphaned coyotes - are just a small snapshot of what our team is seeing every single day.

The two coyote pups were found alone on the National Seashore. Rangers had been monitoring them for several days with no signs of the parents returning and the babies were becoming increasingly lethargic. By the time they arrived here, both were thin and significantly dehydrated. Due to their condition and history, we did not feel reuniting would be safe or successful. With permission from Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, we will now be raising and rehabilitating them in care.

Cases like these take hundreds of hours of specialized care and resources. Every species has different needs. Milk replacer for orphan squirrels and rabbits. Vaccines for fox kits. Heating pads to keep tiny owlets warm through the night. Endless laundry, disinfecting, and cleaning supplies to keep everyone healthy and comfortable.

If you’d like to help these youngsters (and our care team), we’ve put together a wishlist filled with our highest priority supplies. Every item, no matter how small, directly helps these animals get a second chance!

And please, when viewing the wishlist, sort by *Priority (high to low)* to make sure you're seeing our most urgent donation needs. Thank you!!

Wishlist → https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/RQE18T2Y2UG?type=wishlist&filter=priority&viewType=list

05/08/2026

A quick rabies safety reminder!

Over the next couple weeks, you may see some unusual little “packets” around parts of the Cape. They’re actually playing an important role in protecting wildlife and public health!

As part of the USDA’s Wildlife Services and the Cape Cod & Southeast Massachusetts Rabies Task Force's annual Oral Rabies Vaccination program, wildlife vaccine baits are currently being distributed in portions of Barnstable and Plymouth Counties to help prevent the spread of raccoon variant rabies.

Our CEO, Zak Mertz, talked with Cape Cod News about how the program works, why rabies safety matters, and what to do if you come across one of the bait packets while out in your community. Watch the full video at capecodnews.org/keeping-rabies-at-bay!

Most importantly, remember: admire wildlife from a distance, never relocate wild animals, and if you ever have questions about a potentially sick or injured animal, reach out to a licensed wildlife professional, or give us a call for the safest next steps!

Address

4011 Main Street
Barnstable, MA
02630

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm
Saturday 9am - 4pm
Sunday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

(508) 362-0111

Website

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