Wildlife Rehabilitators Association of Rhode Island

09/06/2026

🍂 Fall & Winter Hours Are Here! 🍂

As we transition into the fall and winter season, the Wildlife Clinic of Rhode Island is returning to our seasonal hours:

Monday–Friday: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Saturday & Sunday: 9:00 AM–2:00 PM

It’s hard to believe how much this year has already brought. Peak season was incredibly busy, and our team cared for more wildlife than ever before. At one point, we reached a record-breaking 104 patient intakes in a single day! 🐾

And we’re not slowing down—we’ve now welcomed more than 6,500 patients into our care this year.

Every one of those animals represents a story, a second chance, and a community coming together to help Rhode Island’s wildlife. We are incredibly grateful to our dedicated staff, volunteers, interns, home rehabilitators, donors, and everyone who took time out of their day to bring an injured or orphaned animal to us. We truly couldn’t do this work without you.

Thank you for helping us keep Rhode Island’s wildlife wild. 💚

09/05/2026

VOICES FOR THE WILD | WildFest 2026

WildFest is about more than celebrating wildlife- it’s about creating a space for our community to connect with some of the people and organizations working to protect animals, habitats, and the natural world around us.

For our inaugural WildFest, we’re excited to welcome an incredible group of organizations as our first Voices for the Wild!

Throughout the day, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with these organizations, learn more about the work they’re doing, and discover ways we can all make a difference for wildlife, animals, and the places we share.

Because we all have a role to play in protecting what is wild.

WILDFEST 2026
📅 Saturday, October 3 | 11 AM–3 PM
📍 YMCA Camp Fuller, South Kingstown

09/04/2026

09/02/2026

🌊 Back to the wind, back to the sea.

This juvenile Common Tern was found grounded on a beach in Narragansett, underweight and weak.

Once at the Wildlife Clinic of Rhode Island he was given an appropriate diet, supportive care, and time to regain the strength he needed. He then moved into a pre-release enclosure where he could safely build his stamina and conditioning before returning to the wild.

When the time finally came, he was ready.

Back into the wind he went, coasting over the water and doing what a Common Tern is meant to do. ❤️

But getting to that point isn’t always easy. Common Terns depend on small schooling fish such as sand lance, and changes in Rhode Island’s coastal waters are affecting the availability and distribution of these important prey species. Warming ocean temperatures, shifting fish populations, and other changes in the marine environment can make it increasingly difficult for seabirds to find the food they need.

For a young tern already struggling to survive, having enough food can make all the difference.
We’re happy this little guy got a second chance!

08/29/2026

YCAP Foundations next session is coming up and this time we’re teaming up with the Rhode Island SPCA!

Our next session brings together wildlife rehabilitation, humane education, and responsible pet ownership for a morning designed especially for teens ages 13–17.

We’ll be joined by the Rhode Island SPCA and Matt the Cat to explore responsible pet ownership, learn what it’s like to work as a Humane Educator and discover how caring for our pets can make a difference for the animals around us.

Then, we’ll shift our focus to native songbirds, taking a closer look at the challenges they face and giving participants the chance to explore wildlife rehabilitation through hands-on activities.

Saturday, September 19
10:00 AM–12:00 PM
Wildlife Clinic of Rhode Island
Ages 13–17 | 2-hour drop-off session
$30 per participant

Space is limited and registration will close once all spots are filled.

To register, email [email protected]

We can’t wait to welcome RISPCA and Matt for this special YCAP- Foundations collaboration!

08/25/2026

After months in care, our two juvenile fishers are back in the wild!

This brother and sister pair came to us in early May after being found orphaned and in critical condition at the base of a tree. With supportive care, they soon returned to normal but were still much too young to survive on their own. With careful rehabilitation over many weeks, these two fishers grew quickly and gained the skills needed to be successful out in the wild while still remaining feisty and wary of us.

While typically referred to by the misnomer ‘fisher cat’, these carnivores are instead part of the weasel family along with minks and otters. Fishers stay with their mother for roughly five months, learning basic hunting and survival skills, and then disperse to lead a relatively solitary life.

As these two neared five months old, it was clear they were ready and excited to go! With the help of Rhode Island DEM Division of Fish & Wildlife, our fishers were released in a safe area near where they were originally found, and took off without looking back.

08/23/2026

FEATURED ARTISANS | WildFest 2026

WildFest is about celebrating wildlife, conservation, and community and that includes some incredibly talented local artists and makers!

We’re excited to welcome this year’s Featured Artisans, bringing everything from nature-inspired art and needlepoint to handmade candles, ceramics, apparel, mugs, totes, and more.

Take some time during WildFest to explore their work, meet the makers behind it, and shop local while enjoying everything the day has to offer.

A huge thank you to each of our artisans for being part of our inaugural WildFest and helping us bring together creativity, community, and a shared appreciation for the natural world.

🍂WILDFEST 2026
📅 Saturday, October 3 | 11 AM–3 PM
📍 YMCA Camp Fuller, South Kingstown

Visit the link in comments or our website for tickets and more information!

WildFest Logo by Peter Green

08/21/2026

🍂 NEW THIS FALL: THE WCRI SCARECROW CONTEST! 🍂

We’re putting a wildlife-themed twist on a favorite fall tradition and inviting our community to get creative with us!

Individuals, families, classrooms, community groups, and wildlife lovers of all ages are invited to create a homemade scarecrow inspired by wildlife, nature, or conservation.

Build your creation at home, then bring it to the Wildlife Clinic during our designated drop-off window in September. Throughout October, we’ll showcase the entries at the Wildlife Clinic and across our social media as our community follows along, casts their votes, and helps us crown our inaugural winner! 🏆
The winning scarecrow will receive a WCRI merch basket -plus some well-earned bragging rights!

🍁 Registration is FREE, but space is limited for our inaugural year. Please visit the link in our comment section to reserve your spot and view complete contest guidelines, requirements, and important dates.

**Please note: The Wildlife Clinic of Rhode Island is an active wildlife hospital and is not open for unscheduled public tours or general visitation. The scarecrow display is intended as an added point of engagement for those already coming to the Wildlife Clinic for clinic-related purposes. We’ll share the entries and voting opportunities on social media so everyone can join in the fun from home!
Any questions please reach out to [email protected]

We can’t wait to see what you create!

08/20/2026

🌿Partner Spotlight: West Place Animal Sanctuary 🌿

One of the amazing components of our Life Sciences Internship Pathways Program is the opportunity for participants to learn from incredible partner organizations throughout Rhode Island—including our friends at West Place Animal Sanctuary.

Through educational rotations and mentorship opportunities, interns gain exposure to animal husbandry, enrichment, welfare practices, sanctuary operations, and nonprofit management while exploring career pathways in animal care, wildlife, conservation, and related fields.

We’re grateful to West Place Animal Sanctuary for helping us provide meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities that broaden our interns’ understanding of animal care beyond wildlife rehabilitation.

🍂 Fall & Winter Internship Enrollment is Now Open!
Our Life Sciences Internship Pathways Program is supported through multiple funding opportunities throughout the year, including summer opportunities through the Governor’s Workforce Board and fall/winter opportunities made possible through the generous support of the Van Beuren Charitable Foundation.
We are currently recruiting Aquidneck Island residents for paid fall and winter internship opportunities supported by Van Beuren.

📩 Interested Aquidneck Island residents are encouraged to reach out for additional program details, eligibility requirements, and application information to [email protected]