Wildlife Rescue Coalition of Northeast Florida

09/01/2026

A deer’s worst day just got a rescue-mission ending! 🦌

He’d been hit by a car and ended up stranded in a pond, scared and hurt, with nowhere to go. Our team rushed out to help — carefully sedating him so we could get him safely out of the water.

He was a big boy, and it truly took our whole team working together, with care and patience, to get him back to the center. 💛

Moments like this are why we do what we do. Every animal deserves a chance, and today, this one got his.

He’s resting now and getting the care he needs to heal. We’ll be right here with him every step of the way. 🌿

⚠️ Please note: This rescue was carried out by our trained, licensed team. Medication was administered by professionals to keep the deer calm and prevent him from hurting himself or anyone nearby during the process. If you ever encounter an injured or distressed wild animal, please don’t attempt a rescue on your own — contact your local wildlife rescue or animal control for help.

If you need animal help, call us at 904-779-5569 and leave a message. We check messages hourly, 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week! 💚

08/31/2026

🦇 MYTHBUSTING MONDAY: Bats Edition! 🦇

Let’s clear up some batty misconceptions once and for all 👇

❌ MYTH: “Bats are blind.”
✅ TRUTH: Bats can see just fine! Many species actually have great night vision — they just use echolocation as a bonus superpower to navigate in total darkness.

❌ MYTH: “Bats are just flying rats.”
✅ TRUTH: Bats aren’t rodents at all — they’re more closely related to primates than mice! And unlike rats, most bats only have one pup a year.

❌ MYTH: “Bats are pests we don’t need.”
✅ TRUTH: A single bat can eat thousands of mosquitoes in one night 🦟, and many species pollinate plants or spread seeds that keep ecosystems healthy. They’re basically nature’s pest control and gardeners rolled into one.
So next time you spot one flapping around at dusk, give it some credit — it’s out there working the night shift for all of us. 🌙

💛 Got a bat myth you’ve always wondered about? Drop it in the comments and we’ll bust it next time!


*Photo credit to asm.org*

08/30/2026

🦊 RELEASE DAY! 🦊

Six orphaned foxes just got the ultimate send-off back into the wild — happy, healthy, and 100% ready for their next chapter!

Honestly? A couple of them needed a little convincing to leave. Can’t blame them — free meals, cozy bedding, and zero predators tends to spoil a fox. We see you, VIP guests. 😄

But off they went, tails up, into the trees where they belong. Six lives given a second chance thanks to the care of our incredible team and volunteers.

Wishing you a wild (pun intended) and free life out there, little ones! 🌲🧡

08/29/2026

🦝🐢🦌 833 ANIMALS IN CARE RIGHT NOW ☕ (someone send coffee, stat)

Our volunteer coordinator shared last months stats and July was a WILD month — here’s a peek behind the scenes at who’s currently keeping our team busy:

🦡 368 opossums — still our most popular houseguests, even after sending 104 graduates back to the wild that month! 🎉

🦝 184 raccoons — masked bandits getting their second chance

🐿️ 105 gray/fox squirrels — this crew nearly tripled in July (39 → 105) and they are NOT sitting still

🐢 70 shelled friends — 30 gopher tortoises + 40 turtles/tortoises, taking it nice and slow as always

🐰 30 wild rabbits, 🦌 26 deer, 🦔 9 armadillos, 🦊 6 foxes, and a supporting cast of bats, mice, moles, and skunks rounding out the crew

The July recap:
📥 288 animals admitted
🏡 148 released back to the wild
📈 785 → 833 currently in our care

Every single one of them is here because someone cared enough to bring them in. 💚 That’s what keeps us going.

If you need animal help, call us at 904-779-5569 and leave a message. We check messages hourly, 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week! 💚

‼️ Remember, none of our animals are pets and it is illegal in Florida to own wildlife without proper permitting. ‼️

08/28/2026

🦝 Happy reunion!

We got a call about a baby raccoon that had fallen from a tree — understandably, the caller was worried and ready to bring it in. But after chatting it through, we talked them into giving reunification a shot first.

Since the little one was healthy and uninjured, we had them place it safely nearby and wait it out… and sure enough, mom came back for her baby! 🌳❤️
Here they are waving the finder goodbye!

A great reminder: a baby animal alone doesn’t always mean it’s an orphan. When they’re unharmed, giving mom a chance to reclaim them is almost always the best outcome — less stress for the baby, and it keeps families together where they belong.

📞 Found a baby animal? Call us first before intervening — reunification is often possible!Our number is 904-779-5569, please leave a message. We check messages hourly, 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week! 💚

‼️ Remember, none of our animals are pets and it is illegal in Florida to own wildlife without proper permitting!

08/27/2026

💚 Turtle Thursday 💚
Did you know turtles have been around for more than 200 million years? They shared the planet with dinosaurs and are still an important part of Florida's ecosystems today! 🐢

If you see a turtle crossing the road:
✅ If it's safe to do so, move it in the direction it was already traveling
✅ Keep your fingers away from the mouth and support the shell from the sides
✅ Watch for traffic and prioritize your own safety

❌ Don't take it to a pond or different location
❌ Don't bring it home as a pet
❌ Don't assume it is lost
Female turtles often travel long distances looking for nesting sites, especially during warmer months. Moving them elsewhere can prevent them from finding their way back.
📞 If a turtle is injured, has been struck by a vehicle, or has fishing line or hooks attached, contact our wildlife hotline immediately at 904-779-5569
👇 Tell us in the comments:
🐢 Have you ever helped a turtle cross the road?
📸 Share your favorite turtle photo!
🌿 What's your favorite native Florida turtle?
Every turtle safely reaching its destination helps protect the next generation of wildlife. 💚
🐢💚🌿

08/26/2026

🍼🌙 **A DAY (AND NIGHT) IN THE LIFE** 🌙🍼

People see the release photos — the "goodbye, go be wild" moment. What they don't always see is everything that happens *before* that.

The 2am feedings. The tiny syringes. The heating pads set to just the right temp. The hours spent making sure a baby who lost its mom still has a shot at a normal life. 💕

Right now, our team is hand-feeding orphaned babies every few hours, around the clock — just like a newborn. No days off, no sleeping in. Just quiet, steady care until they're strong enough to do it themselves.

It's not glamorous. It's formula on your shirt and no plans for the weekend. But it's also the reason a baby who shouldn't have made it gets to grow up, get released, and live the wild life it was always meant to. 🌿

This is what your support actually funds — not just the happy ending, but every unglamorous, sleep-deprived step that gets them there. 💚

If you need animal help, call us at 904-779-5569 and leave a message. We check messages hourly, 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week! 💚

‼️ Remember, none of our animals are pets and it is illegal in Florida to own wildlife without proper permitting. ‼️

Donations are what keep us able to care for wildlife!

💚 Send donations through PayPal at this link: https://wildlifecoalition.com/donate-to-wildlife/

💚 We now accept 💰Zelle💰donations! Send to 904-779-5569 to help us to be able to continue care for these wild babies. Add your name in the notes so we can thank you!

💚 Check out our Amazon wishlist! 🎁 https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1BR7G06Z9IEH9

💚 Donate food through Chewy! 🐾
https://tinyurl.com/8da6u2cb

***A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll free 800-435-7352 within the state. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state.

08/25/2026

🗑️ Dumpsters aren’t just trash. They’re accidental traps.

Raccoons scavenging. Opossums hiding from predators. Animals dumped by people who should know better.

Last week’s midnight rescue wasn’t a fluke — it happens more than you’d think.

5 seconds. That’s all it takes to check before you toss. Sharing forward how you can be a hero by Northern Colorado Wildlife Center.

Look. Listen. Save a life. 🐾

If you need animal help, call us at 904-779-5569 and leave a message. We check messages hourly, 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week! 💚

08/24/2026

📢 A Friendly Reminder: We Are By Appointment Only

Intake of sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife is by appointment only — and we do not allow visitors to the center. If you brought an animal to us for rehabilitation, please do not return expecting to see or interact with them.

Our rehab permit through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission explicitly states that we cannot allow the general public to access animals in our care (68A-9.006(2)(1)):

(l) Rehabilitation – temporary possession of sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife to provide for the proper treatment and care of such wildlife for the specific purpose of release back into the wild.

This process is designed to minimize human interaction while maximizing an animal’s chances of survival and successful return to the wild. 🦉🦝🐢

Our onsite team is busy cleaning enclosures, feeding patients, triaging new arrivals, coordinating releases, and managing countless other daily tasks. An unexpected visit disrupts the structured schedule our team relies on to give every patient consistent, high-quality care.

This hands-off approach matters most for animals raised as pets or accustomed to human contact — they need to relearn wild behaviors and a healthy fear of people to survive after release.

We know it’s hard not to check in on an animal you rescued 💛 but giving them space is one of the best ways you can help. Our goal is always returning wildlife to the wild — not making them comfortable with people.

Want to help within FWC’s permit guidelines? We’d love to have you volunteer with us! Link to our volunteer application in bio/website: https://wildlifecoalition.com/volunteer/ 🔗

Thank you for understanding and helping us give these animals their best shot at a wild future. 🌿

Wildlife Rescue Coalition is a volunteer-based organization dedicated to the care and rehabilitation of native Florida wildlife. Volunteers are essential to

08/24/2026

One of the questions we're asked most often is, "Where does my donation actually go?"
The answer is simple: directly to the wildlife in our care. 🦝🦉🐿️🐢
Your support helps provide:
🍼 Specialized formula for orphaned babies
🩺 Medical treatment and medications
🥜 Species-appropriate food and nutrition
🧺 Bedding, towels, and enrichment supplies
🚑 Rescue and transport assistance
🌿 Outdoor enclosures that prepare animals for release
Every patient that comes through our doors requires time, expertise, and resources to give them the best chance of returning to the wild.

Whether you donate $5 or $500, you're helping provide a second chance for injured, orphaned, and displaced wildlife throughout Northeast Florida. ❤️

💚 Send donations through PayPal at this link: https://wildlifecoalition.com/donate-to-wildlife/

💚 We now accept 💰Zelle💰donations! Send to 904-779-5569 to help us to be able to continue care for these wild babies. Add your name in the notes so we can thank you!

💚 Check out our Amazon wishlist! 🎁 https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1BR7G06Z9IEH9

💚 Donate food through Chewy! 🐾
https://tinyurl.com/8da6u2cb

***A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll free 800-435-7352 within the state. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state.

Thank you for being part of our rescue community. We couldn't do this work without you.