City Wildlife Saves D.C.’s Urban Animals

By Mia Pech

Washington, D.C. may be known for its monuments and busy streets, but it’s also home to an incredible variety of wildlife. When these animals are injured or orphaned, the local nonprofit City Wildlife is there to help them.

City Wildlife operates the District’s only wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center. Before it opened in 2013, injured wild animals often had to travel nearly an hour to the closest facility, and many of them were not able to make the journey. Today, the center cares for roughly 1,800 animals each year.

“People do crazy things to get animals to us. They take the Metro, Uber, or bike,” said Lorraine Docherty, Ph.D., executive director of City Wildlife.

Many of the animals at the center come from situations that are common in the city. Birds collide with windows, young animals are mistakenly picked up by people who think they’ve been abandoned, and turtles are hit by cars while crossing roads. Turtles are the most common patients treated at the center. Many arrive with cracked shells that require months of careful healing before they can be released.

Release is always the goal. Staff and volunteers work to give each animal the specialized care it needs so it can survive on its own again. About 70 percent of the animals treated at the center are successfully rehabilitated and released back into the wild. But sometimes, their injuries make life in the wild impossible. One long-term resident at the center is a pigeon named Sally with permanently injured wings. Because she can no longer fly well enough to survive outside, she now lives at the facility.

Education is a big part of the organization’s mission. Every spring, as baby animals appear across the city, the center receives calls from concerned residents. Often, the best thing people can do is simply leave the animal alone or call the center for advice if they are unsure. Young squirrels or birds may look abandoned, but their parents are usually nearby.

City residents can also help wildlife in simple ways. Planting native plants in gardens can help animals find shelter and appropriate food. Reducing conflicts with wildlife is also important—this includes securing trash and avoiding poisons. Staying informed about animal behavior can help people better understand how wildlife lives in the city and how to coexist with it. Volunteering and donations also help support the center’s work and protect D.C.’s urban wildlife.

More photos of animals cared for by City Wildlife are below.

tagsanimalsCity WildlifeDCdc nonprofitsdc wildlifeWashington