What we do!
Mountain Tails Wildlife Rehab rescues and rehabilitates orphaned and/or injured mammals.
Our native wildlife populations face adversity daily from storms, predators, humans, and more. Wildlife rehabilitators routinely rescue animals that have been impacted directly or indirectly by humans: cars often kill mamas with cubs, animals are injured by cars while recovering food thrown out by well-meaning people, dens are disrupted during construction or tree removal, and sometimes animals just decide to raise their young in our chimneys and attics. Not everyone has the necessary knowledge, skills or time to raise/rehab these creatures, but everyone has the ability to help them thrive and co-exist with humans.
Our goal is to provide the best care possible for the animals in our custody until they are able to be released back to their native habitat. Wildlife rehab is more than proper food and medication: orphaned infants need to be given opportunities to practice their natural skills, like tree climbing and catching live prey, while some animals need to re-learn these vital skills to help them survive again in the wild. A tremendous effort goes into preparing every animal for the life they were meant to live.
We also work to share information about wildlife and rehab efforts with the public. Some of our non-releasable animals become wildlife ambassadors and accompany us to educational events. It is amazing to see the change in adults and children alike once they get to touch an opossum! The fear or distaste is quickly replaced with wonder once they realize opossums are such soft and gentle creatures, rather than just a furry ball of scary teeth.
Wildlife rehab is a costly endeavor. We desperately need your help!
We rehabilitate 200+ animals a year (mostly beavers, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, and skunks).
Caging costs/repairs can exceed $10,000 for chain link, building materials and other specialized habitat needs.
We spend over $3,000 per season on baby formula ALONE.
Meat, produce and other foods cost around $3,000 per season.
Yearly cost for food/formula can be more than $18,000!
We pay out-of-pocket for ALL medical care (vet visits, surgeries, vaccinations, medicines, medical supplies, etc.).
There are very few veterinarians that treat wild animals and even fewer who give discounts!
Rehabbers do not receive any financial assistance from the government and instead rely on private donations from kind people like you.