Salem Wildlife Rescue

08/27/2026

Hi all! Sorry for the lack of posts! It’s been a little slow over here since a lot of people still don’t know I exist in NC yet. And right now I am only taking cottontails so I’ve been unable to jump in for squirrel calls. I am going back home for about two days at the end of September, so since I don’t have help to formula feed a bunch of babies, I can only take what will be released before I leave! And I will be fully back open once I return.

Multiple cottontails have come in this month thanks to cat and dog attacks, who didn’t make it. But I do have a cottontail here who will be released in the coming days after surviving their injuries, which is wonderful!

Something possibly exciting is in the works, I don’t want to say too much to risk jinxing it as it’s already a slim chance of working out, so that’s been another reason it’s been a little quiet here! But this is something I’ve been working towards for years and I am hoping for the best! Fingers crossed for the best!

And lastly, my birthday is (unfortunately 😂) in one week! I added a donate button to this post in case you’d like to help celebrate by supporting the rescue! Donations are very low and going through quickly! Over 90% of finders don’t donate towards the animals they’ve brought in, and wildlife rehab care is quite costly! Every little bit goes a long way! Help me celebrate my birthday by making sure every animal can have what they need to grow and heal 💕

Hopefully everyone is doing well and is happy and healthy!

08/04/2026

It has begun! One of the baby cottontails has started to crack open their little eyes this morning 🥺 it’s exciting when a baby opens their eyes for the first time, but a bit sad because it means they’re growing so quickly!

08/03/2026

Very important!! Please keep cats indoors! So many animals that come in are a direct result of cats. Be a good pet owner and keep your kitties indoors with plenty of enrichment! It protects our wildlife and keeps your cat safe from disease and injury (and even death) too!

Cats don't just catch mice and rats. These are the faces of cat attacks. All of these animals were patients admitted to our Center after being caught by cats in just one week. Over the past decade, we've admitted more than 4,000 patients due to cat attacks, and only about 8% made it to release.

Wild animals caught by cats have a very low chance of survival, even with immediate veterinary care. Their injuries are often severe, and even small puncture wounds can become fatal because of the bacteria in a cat's mouth. Without treatment, the chances of survival are nearly zero.

We don't hate cats - we love them, and many of our staff members have cats at home! But we do hate the devastating impact free-roaming cats have on wildlife. Keeping cats indoors is the only way to prevent these injuries and keep wildlife safe, and it's safer for cats too! Indoor cats live longer and healthier lives compared to their free-roaming counterparts.

If you own an outdoor cat, please consider transitioning it indoors and encouraging others to do the same. We offer helpful resources on our website to support this transition. And for cats who struggle with life indoors, an outdoor “catio” can give them safe access to the outdoors without harming wildlife.

08/02/2026

What a difference just a few days makes! On Wednesday, three newborn baby cottontails came in following a dog attack on their nest. They still had their little umbilical stumps attached!

And the second photo is them here this morning before their feeding. In just 4 days, they’ve grown fur (they were totally naked when they got here) and are looking like real rabbits! As is normal in rehab, it’s taken them a bit to adjust to eating formula, but as of today, all three have started taking the syringe and eating the full amount so they should start getting plump very soon!

In the wild, it only takes about three weeks between birth to independence. Every day of development counts! Once they are at least the size of a tennis ball, they’re totally fine to be left alone. Please keep dogs and especially cats away from animal nests! Bunnies will be gone and off on their own so quickly!

07/24/2026

This sassy girl came in yesterday after being dropped off at a local vet office. We aren’t too sure what happened to her, but she sustained wounds and a subsequent infection on her tail that’s currently draining fluid. She was not a happy camper and showed her displeasure by apparently trying to give the vet some bites during her exam 😂

Right now, she’s on antibiotics and pain medicines to see if the tail starts improving. And hopefully soon enough, she will be back to the wild and away from us pesky humans!

07/21/2026

3 more baby cottontails are back in the wild and free! Another successful rehab and release! 🥳 have the best life, bunnies!

07/17/2026

Last weekend, 7 adorable babies came in after being found on their deceased mother in the sweltering heat after she was attacked by a dog for trying to drink from a water bowl. We are in a drought so please leave out water for the wildlife, and keep your pets leashed/monitored/indoors. Animals, especially mothers with babies, may be seen in the daytime as they are looking for food and water.

These babies thankfully are doing well, growing by the day, and above all… EXTREMELY ADORABLE!!!

07/07/2026

Hi all! Sharing an adorable photo of snuggly baby Yve (so I don’t have to disturb the baby cottontails here for a quick photo) so I can make some important reminders.

FIRST: it is all over my page and website, and in my voicemail, that I am no longer in Massachusetts. I’ve been being inundated with calls/texts lately from Massachusetts and unfortunately there is nothing I can do. If you know of any suitable and affordable places for rent, I would come home ASAP! But as of now, I am stuck here in NC. So please utilize the state map of licensed rehabilitators to find placement as it is the ONLY UP TO DATE resource for who is currently licensed. Not these other third party apps. State website only.

Second, I am not an animal shelter for domestic pets. I’ve been getting messages like that too. No I cannot take your pet birds, reptiles, cats, etc. If I could, I would. How do you think I ended up with two of my three pet bunnies 😂 but I am MAXED OUT caring for 5 pets all on my own and making sure they have the care and attention they need on top of caring for wildlife. Contact your local animal shelters and rescues, or find a way to keep them to not overwhelm shelters more than they already are. Pets are a commitment, not an accessory. I am Salem WILDLIFE rescue, not PET rescue after all!!! Don’t make my sensitive heart ache more than it does when I have to say no!!

But seriously, Massachusetts/southern NH friends, if you know of/have a place for rent that’s affordable for someone alone and has the space for all of my pets and the wildlife rescue, please let me know! My lease is almost up here, I have submitted the notice to property management that I am renewing for another year, but if it’s quick then I may be able to switch! Otherwise, if it means coming back home to New England in the perfect place for me, I’d look into breaking the lease if it takes a bit to find something. I just want to come back home. If you are a landlord who loves animals, please please send a message my way!!!

Thank you in advance ❤️

07/04/2026

Happy 4th everyone!! Started out the morning with a baby cottontail intake. With no nest in sight, a curious puppy who had found him, and 100° temps expected for us today, this baby needed to come into care ASAP! The caring finder put him in the cutest little basket for his delivery to me and I’m obsessed!

And as for the domestic bunny update! We went to the vet on Wednesday. She is definitely a she, and she is a lionhead rabbit! She does have a detached retina on the one side, confirming my suspicion that she is visually impaired and thankfully not fully blind! Obviously she can’t tell us if her vision is improving or not, but the vet said it looks like the retina is already starting to reattach itself so whether or not she gains back even some vision is unclear. She also did have a botfly under the skin 🤢🤢🤢 but other than that, her eye infection is clearing up, residual respiratory infection seems to also be clearing, the scabbing on her ears should hopefully heal up soon and regrow fur, but she otherwise has a clean bill of health!

This morning I moved her into a small playpen on the opposite side of my living room from the other bunnies. As I type this, she is starting to play with the toys and run around. She definitely did not do this in the quarantine pen! She now approaches me to get pet, sniffs the cats through the playpen, and shows more curiosity as opposed to fear now. I think she is settling in very nicely in her new home 💕

And as for her name, I’ve decided to name her Yve (pronounced like Eve) 🥰🥰 Welcome to the family little baby!

06/28/2026

Not too much of an update on the baby bunny, but so far all is well!! I’m thinking they may be a she, but can’t tell. We are going to the vet on Wednesday to get a check and see how she’s looking.

As she starts to settle in more and grow, I will transition her to a playpen instead of a big cage in the rehab room. I just need to find some more space!! I attempted a soft intro with the other bunnies by holding her in my lap and allowing them to approach if they felt comfortable. Well… Ophelia is not a fan as she charged over and attacked my hand pretty badly and I’m having trouble moving my thumb now, so I am not attempting another intro for a while! 😅 Any playpen for this baby will be in my bedroom, and eventually figure out the living room situation where Benny and Ophelia are. Putting a pen next to it for another intro step (like I initially did when first getting Ophelia) will involve some furniture rearranging for sure!! I need more space haha!!

I’ve started little by little combing out the mats and using a small animal grooming wipe to clean the baby’s dirty fur. One ear is droopy and feels a little weird so we will be getting that checked on as well. And after combing out the mats and seeing her fur in all of its beauty, she does appear to be a domestic lionhead! She has a long tuft of fur between her ears and what looks like the starts of some “mane” growing around her face!

The baby is also responding well to the antibiotics! The eyes are clearing up nicely and looking much brighter! The vet office did give me some Revolution treatment as a start before her appointment, and hopefully that has already started working. She is eating too which is a great sign! She still runs away from me most of the time but has started to allow some head pets! Hoping that in time, she learns that humans are not something to be fearful of and understands that she is now safe and inside a home where she belongs, not outdoors💕