Nebraska Wildlife Rehab, Inc.

Nebraska Wildlife Rehab, Inc. Interested in learning more about NWR? Contact us to volunteer, donate, or ask wildlife questions!
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Happy Release Day!! This juvenile mallard was rescued from a courtyard in Lincoln after she’d been found with a shoelace...
09/01/2026

Happy Release Day!! This juvenile mallard was rescued from a courtyard in Lincoln after she’d been found with a shoelace hanging from her mouth. After her rescuers tried removing it with no avail, the duck was transported to The Baldwin Wildlife Center for emergency care. An examination from our veterinary team revealed the shoelace was lodged deep within her digestive tract, making it impossible to safely remove by simply pulling on it. It was coiled and tangled inside of her body, and we knew that meant it needed to be removed surgically before it could cause serious damage.

During surgery, our team carefully removed a nearly 5ft shoelace from her digestive tract. Although the surrounding tissue was irritated, there was thankfully no sign of severe damage and after several weeks in care, this lucky little mallard made a full recovery. Now she's finally back in the wild, where hopefully the only thing to be seen dangling from her bill is a well-earned snack!

08/30/2026

Very grape-ful to volunteer Isaac and his wife Cydnie at Collective for the loads of donated grapes that helped feed some of our wild youngsters this summer!

Instead of throwing away décor from their special events, they found a better use for it and donated the grapes to NWR—and our juvenile raccoons were more than happy to put them to good use!

Have leftover produce from your garden, farm or business? Don’t let it go to waste! Fresh, wildlife-safe fruits and vegetables can make a great addition to our patients’ diets and enrichment. Reach out to learn more about donating your extras to our wild patients or visit nebraskawildliferehab.org for a list of accepted donations.

One of our tiniest patients in care, this Woodhouse’s toad is taking a very special “bath” in an anesthetic solution tha...
08/28/2026

One of our tiniest patients in care, this Woodhouse’s toad is taking a very special “bath” in an anesthetic solution that helps safely put him to sleep before a CT scan. Amphibians have highly permeable skin that allows them to absorb substances directly through it (it’s why handling frogs and toads in the wild with sunscreen, bug spray or other products on your hands can be dangerous to them).

This little guy arrived when a rescuer noticed he wasn’t adequately hopping. After a quick medical “spa day,” he settled down just long enough for our veterinary team to capture an image of a hip luxation.

Because his movement has improved since arrival, we’re taking a conservative approach - continuing physical therapy and giving him time to build muscle mass and develop enough scar tissue to support functional movement. For now, we’re hopeful this tiny patient can continue making progress and get back to hopping where he belongs!

Patient #8,000 is an eastern cottontail rabbit just over one week old. Cottontails account for nearly one-third of our ...
08/26/2026

Patient #8,000 is an eastern cottontail rabbit just over one week old. Cottontails account for nearly one-third of our patients at NWR, and so far this year, we’ve received almost 2,500 rabbits. Most arrive as infants or juveniles during the transition from milk to solid foods, with plenty of growing to do before they’re ready to navigate the wild on their own. If you find a cottontail nest in your backyard, leave it undisturbed and keep pets away—the mother will typically return only a few times a day to nurse her babies.

If you think a nest of bunnies has been abandoned or the mother is dead, place a few pieces of grass or dental floss over the nest in an “X” or tic-tac-toe pattern, then leave the area undisturbed for 24 hours. Do not approach the nest or remain in the yard to watch for the mother - even from a distance. She may avoid returning if she senses people nearby or if the nest is frequently checked. If the grass or floss has been moved, the mother has returned to nurse her young. If it remains undisturbed for over 24hrs or if you discover an injured baby outside the nest, contact our wildlife assistance team for guidance.

The best place for baby cottontails is in the wild with their mother, but we are here for the truly orphaned and injured. For more information, visit https://nebraskawildliferehab.org/wildlife-help/found-a-wild-animal/cottontail-rabbits.html

Snapping turtles are well known for their escape artistry in the wildlife rehab world, somehow able to scale up and out ...
08/24/2026

Snapping turtles are well known for their escape artistry in the wildlife rehab world, somehow able to scale up and out of a temporary enclosure that could be 2-3 times their height! They are simply incredible climbers. But even the most determined snapper needs a little help when she finds herself at the bottom of a 6-foot-deep window well.

That’s exactly what happened to this hefty snapping turtle, weighing in at 10.25 kg (about 23 pounds). After falling into the window well, she was unable to climb back out. Thankfully, our partners at Nebraska Humane Society Animal Control came to her rescue and brought her to The Baldwin Wildlife Center for specialized care.

After a thorough examination, our veterinary team was able to determine that aside from some abrasions to her shell and an old rib fracture that was already partially healed, she had not sustained any serious injuries from the fall. We’ll continue to monitor her closely for normal mentation and appetite before she’s cleared for release but for now, she’s proven just how truly tough a turtle’s shell can be!

An Omaha resident noticed something had been tangled around the abdomen of one of her backyard squirrels and called NWR ...
08/21/2026

An Omaha resident noticed something had been tangled around the abdomen of one of her backyard squirrels and called NWR for guidance. She worked with our team to coordinate safely capturing the squirrel and transporting to The Baldwin Wildlife Center for care.

Upon arrival, we observed he was entangled in plastic landscape mesh, the netting often used along yards and pathways to prevent dirt from shifting or washing away. It may seem harmless, but this netting can be extremely dangerous to wildlife. Animals can become trapped and the plastic can tighten around their bodies as they struggle to escape.

Our veterinary team worked quickly to cut away the netting in several places as the wounds had already begun to scab over the plastic. After one week of care, he's made great progress. He is running and climbing well, and his wounds have begun to heal significantly. There's still some recovery ahead, but this squirrel is heading in the right direction and we're feeling optimistic about his return to the wild.

Thank you to the amazing rescuer that watches over her neighborhood squirrels, and put in the time and effort to save a little life! 🐿️🤎

August and September are the most common months for unexpected bat encounters inside homes. That’s because young bats, b...
08/21/2026

August and September are the most common months for unexpected bat encounters inside homes. That’s because young bats, born in early summer, are now starting to fly - and they don’t always get it right! Inexperienced flyers can accidentally enter attics, chimneys, or living spaces while learning to navigate the world.

If you find a bat in your home, the first thing you should do is contain it. Gently place a box or container over the bat, then carefully slide cardboard underneath. Wear gloves or use a towel to avoid direct contact. NEVER touch a bat with bare-hands. To avoid injury, do not attempt to catch a bat in flight.

Next, evaluate if the bat needs to be tested for rabies. If someone was bitten or the bat was found in a room with someone who was asleep, very young, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or someone otherwise unable to communicate or reliably report contact with the bat, keep it contained and contact your local health department. If you're in the Omaha metro area, you can contact the Nebraska Humane Society.

Provided it does not meet the requirements for testing listed previously and it is not raining or less than 60º F, you can release the bat outdoors at night from late April through mid-October in Nebraska. If weather conditions are not favorable or the bat is injured and doesn't fly away when you release it, please bring the bat to the Baldwin Wildlife Center or call us at (402) 234-2473 for assistance.

Like several other mammals, bats are considered a rabies vector species, which means rabies can occur in their populations. However, most bats never get the disease. Rabies is only spread when the virus enters the body through a bite or contact with saliva or nervous system tissue - not through blood, urine, or droppings.

Take reasonable precautions without resorting to unnecessary harm. Informed decision-making allows us to protect both human health and bats! Learn more at https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/about/index.html

We’ve been receiving many calls about red foxes in urban areas, and late summer is a time when kits born in the spring a...
08/16/2026

We’ve been receiving many calls about red foxes in urban areas, and late summer is a time when kits born in the spring are beginning to venture beyond their den sites - meaning you might be noticing more activity from these wild neighbors during the daytime. Foxes are naturally active during dawn, dusk, and nighttime, but young foxes may be out at unusual times as they gain confidence and learn how to survive on their own.

One concern we often hear about this time of year is mange, a skin condition caused by mites that burrow into the skin and cause irritation, hair loss, and discomfort. Sarcoptic mange in foxes is generally not their primary ailment – they succumb to mange because they have another problem, such as an injury, infection, or an inability to find enough food. This makes it very common in young foxes as they are learning to hunt on their own and not yet proficient at feeding themselves. As mange progresses, affected foxes may develop patchy or complete hair loss, crusty skin, weight loss, and secondary skin infections.

Mange can be especially challenging for wild foxes because fur loss affects their ability to regulate body temperature and maintain their overall health. While a fox with a small patch of hair loss may simply need monitoring, foxes showing extensive hair loss, lethargy, weakness, or other signs of illness may need to be brought to the Baldwin Wildlife Center for emergency care.

If you see a fox that appears to be suffering from mange or is acting unusually, please contact [email protected] with any information and images to help our team determine whether a fox may need intervention and provide advice on the next best steps.

Join us for the 3rd Annual Dr. Matthew Latacha Memorial Bike Ride on Sunday, September 6, 2026! In honor of Dr. Matthew ...
08/15/2026

Join us for the 3rd Annual Dr. Matthew Latacha Memorial Bike Ride on Sunday, September 6, 2026! In honor of Dr. Matthew Latacha’s love of animals and passion for protecting the environment, his friends and family have organized this memorial ride to celebrate his life and legacy. We are honored that they have generously selected NWR as the beneficiary of this year’s event. Participants can opt for a 3-5 mile walk/run or a 9-18 mile bike ride. All are welcome!

Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/3rd-annual-dr-matthew-latacha-memorial-bike-ride-registration-1992318320729?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

Here come the baby squirrels! Eastern fox squirrels and gray squirrels have two nesting seasons each year: one in late w...
08/15/2026

Here come the baby squirrels! Eastern fox squirrels and gray squirrels have two nesting seasons each year: one in late winter and another in midsummer. As a result, our nurseries fill up again in July and August with orphaned and injured youngsters in need of specialized care. Without a mother, these babies rely on our team to provide everything they need until they're ready to return to the wild.

Our greatest success is when these babies no longer need us and now, you can help us get them home! By adopting a nursery at the Wildlife Center, you'll be providing the formula, enrichment, medical management, and daily care these vulnerable babies need to grow into healthy, independent adults and return to the wild. Whether you’re an individual, a business, or a family looking for a meaningful way to make a difference, a nursery adoption is a wonderful way to support wildlife. It can also be a thoughtful way to celebrate a special occasion, honor someone you love, or mark a milestone with a gift that makes a lasting impact. As a nursery steward, you’ll receive prominent recognition in our front lobby, along with featured acknowledgment on our website and social media.

Learn more at https://nebraskawildliferehab.org/how-to-help/adopt-a-nursery.html

Address

9777 M Street
Omaha, NE
68127

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 8pm
Tuesday 10am - 8pm
Wednesday 10am - 8pm
Thursday 10am - 8pm
Friday 10am - 8pm
Saturday 10am - 7pm
Sunday 11am - 7pm

Telephone

+14022342473

Website

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