Guardians of Rescue and Rehabilitation

12/05/2025

Here is vital information regarding appropriate responses when encountering an animal in extreme cold. While these guidelines are universally applicable, it is imperative to exercise necessary precautions when dealing with wild animals, as these tips are primarily tailored for domesticated pets.

Immediate Actions

1) Relocate to a Warm Environment: Promptly transfer the animal indoors or to a protected, warm location.
2) Dry and Insulate: Gently dry any damp fur with a towel, then swaddle (if possible) in dry blankets or towels.
3) Apply Heat (Cautiously): Position warm (not hot) water bottles or heating pads (enclosed in towels) adjacent to their body, ensuring no direct contact. For smaller pets, skin-to-skin contact can be effective.
4) Monitor Temperature: If feasible, measure re**al temperature; a reading below 98°F (36.7°C) indicates a critical condition (normal range is 99.5-102.5°F).
5) Contact Veterinary Professional or a Licensed Wildlife Rehabber: Immediately contact your veterinarian or an emergency clinic while preparing for transport or en route. A full list of rehabbers can be found on your state's DNR website or Animal Help Now website.

* Please remember to NEVER FEED A COLD ANIMAL!!!!!!, it will cause organ failure and death. 🛑🛑🛑

03/24/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/1AChxPCfMU/

Please be aware as we head into baby season: newborn foxes don’t look much like the adults you’re more familiar with. Every year, litters of kits get harmed because of mistaken identity.

This litter was rehabilitated by The Fox Project in the UK. They were initially brought to an animal shelter by someone who thought they were puppies. In a similar case here in the US, firefighters rescued a large litter of “puppies” from a storm drain, and the fox kits were so young and so weak that they passed in rehabilitation after the mistake was recognized.

In the most upsetting case we heard of, a young vixen was shot by someone who thought she was carrying a stray kitten. Only after this senseless murder, did the shooter realize that the “kitten” was her own baby.

Please never remove a newborn baby animal from the wild, especially without knowing exactly what it is. Even positively identified domestic kittens and puppies found outdoors should be taken to shelters and rescues with their mothers, not alone.

Some of the ways that you can tell fox kits apart from domestic kittens and puppies are by their feet. Foxes have delicate, kitten-like claws. A fox’s toe pad placement is also notably different than a cat’s or dog’s (but it’s easier to look up a visual description than to see it described). Fox kits also generally have white-tipped or black-tipped tails (depending on species) from birth, before the rest of their coloration is evident.

Please help keep baby animals of all kinds with their natural mothers, who can care for them better than the world’s best rehabbers and rescues.

01/12/2025

#1 is one of the most important rules with ANY animal, even one that is even slightly cold. Please do NOT feed cold/sick animals.

Dangerously low temps are approaching so please consider making an outdoor option for any animal that needs a safe and warm place to stay. These diy shelter's are life saving and easy to do. Remember to ALWAYS USE STRAW, NOT HAY OR BLANKETS. Hay gets moldy and maintains moisture, and blankets can actually pull warmth from the body which lowers the animals temperature even more.

05/21/2024

Did you know Raccoons are more intelligent than domestic animals? In fact they're proven to be almost as emotionally and mentally intelligent as monkeys. Did you also know it's Illegal to trap and relocate wildlife, even with a furbearers license? And it should go without saying that Spring is baby season for ALL animals! Yet everyday people are trapping these Raccoon Mom's and then days later realizing "oops, we didn't know any of that". It's a serious issue and it needs to stop. If you want Raccoons, Squirrels, Opossums etc.to leave your premises then please do it the natural way by playing music, using bright lights, or sprinkle cayenne pepper in the area. They will relocate on their own and you definitely don't want dead animals in your attic or underneath your porch etc.

05/13/2024

THE REAL REASON WILDLIFE
REHABBERS ASK YOU NOT TO FEED THAT BABY…

It’s not because we want to hog all the fun for ourselves, I promise. It’s because wild orphans aren’t typically healthy enough to digest food, when they are found.

Many are hypothermic. The body can’t even handle water when its temperature is too low. All energy is going to crucial body functions in that state. If the body has to divert energy to digesting, it will likely be fatal.

Many are very dehydrated. Animals can’t digest properly when they are dehydrated. The body pulls water into the intestines to aid with digestion. If there isn’t any water to pull from, this could cause a domino affect of problems.

All wild baby animals require a specific diet and that diet generally isn’t available in local stores. Feeding the wrong milk could cause an upset stomach or worse. And please, NEVER cow's milk.

All baby animals need specific amounts of formula calculated by their body weight. The percentage differs depending on the species.

Not every animal can drink from a bottle. The correct instrument must be used to prevent aspiration and over feeding.

Bring me a thin, dehydrated, hypothermic animal and I can probably save it. Feed that same animal before you bring it to me…there’s likely nothing I can do to bring it back.

So please, don’t feed any wild orphans that you have found this baby season. Keeping them warm is a huge help until you find a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. And please be honest when we ask what you've provided. We NEED to know if they've been fed or given anything.

05/02/2024

If you see flystrike on any animal, contact a rehabber ASAP, And do NOT attempt to give the animal a bath. Water will cause the eggs to hatch. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/6YA6rZUMD8asj7T3/?mibextid=xfxF2i

04/11/2024

For those wondering, we are still licensed 😊🦝🦊🐿🦨🦇🐾

11/26/2023

With Winter here we feel it's essential to know what to do if you find an animal with hypothermia (body temperature is dangerously low).

1) Bring the Animal inside and dry them off with a towel. This will help them warm up and get their circulation going.
2) Place them on a heating pad set on low, if you not have a heating pad you can use hand warmers, warm water bottles etc
3) DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FEED! We understand our first instincts are to feed an animal that needs help. However, this can cause serious damage and even death. Never feed a cold animal.
4) Once they've warmed up give them Karo syrup or sugar water a little bit at a time (a few drops every couple of minutes) to slowly raise their blood sugar until their gums return to a nice pink color. Once their gums are pink you can add some warmed up plain pedialyte
5) Contact A Vet or Rescue ASAP for further instruction

Critical Care for Kittens–Hypothermia: Part 1 of 4 Share this resource or email it to a friend!Medical emergencies involving pets commonly involve trauma (hit by a car, sustained in a fall), poisoning, heat stroke, choking and seizures. When it comes to kittens, especially orphaned neonates, commo...

09/19/2023

Due to a serious lack of funds, as well as a hectic work schedule we will be closed for the remainder of the year. We apologize for the inconvenience. If you have a Wildlife emergency please contact other local rehabbers, a full list can be found on the IA DNR'S website or the Animal Help Now website.

Please note: that also means we will not be taking in domestic animals either. If you have a kitten emergency please keep him/her warm with a heating pad (a blanket is not enough because they cannot produce their own body heat) and contact local rescues and humane societies. Also try to keep their blood sugar up by giving plain pedialyte or kitten formula. Until you have found someone to take them in.

If you have any questions please message us. Thank you

09/08/2023

Update: Thank you Maggie Stafford!
This baby along with her adoptive family will be looking for their forever families through Maggie Stafford ❤️😻

She was just brought to us and will be warmed up, fed and assessed. She's more like 2 days old and not even close to 1 week as originally thought.
Need Help Please! We need either someone with a nursing Mom cat or an experienced bottle feeder that can help with an approximately 2 day old kitten.

08/14/2023

Thank you so much to those that have donated, shared the post, and that support us. We couldn't do any of this without you.

1 of the Foxes caught...quite a few more to go. Thank you to the citizen that caught it in their trap and called me immediately this morning. It will be treated and brought back to a healthy weight, then released. If you're willing to donate to help with treatment and supplies we ARE a 501c3 Nonprofit. Meaning your donation is tax deductible. We accept: [email protected]
Venmo-.
Supplies are always appreciated as well. 🙏❤️🦊

08/01/2023

This sweet lil one came in yesterday after having quite a hard fall when Mom was attempting to move it up a porch roof. Witnesses believe the baby was knocked out for a little bit but seemed unharmed. After finders checked to make sure it was OK an attempt to reunite with Mom was made, and sadly she didn't return. We've thoroughly checked the baby for signs of internal bleeding, concussion, or anything broken and miraculously she was not seriously injured. She's still not 100% recovered from her fall but we have high hopes she'll be alright. If you would please consider donating or sharing this post so we can help her and the others in our care.
Our PayPal is [email protected]
Venmo is
We also accept cash or check donations sent to 224 3rd Avenue Dewitt IA 52742.

*We are a registered 501c3 Nonprofit meaning your donation is tax deductible *