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City Wildlife is actively seeking a facility and operating funds to open the first-ever wildlife rehabilitation center in the District of Columbia. At the new facility, which is expected to open in fall 2010, injured and orphaned wild animals who are native to the District of Columbia and surrounding areas will receive care and veterinary treatment that enables them to be released to the wild when they are able to survive on their own.
City Wildlife aims to rehabilitate all species of wild birds and reptiles, as well as most native small mammals (we will not immediately have the space or ability to work with deer, raccoons, and foxes).
City Wildlife will have to give priority to animals picked up in the District of Columbia but, later, hopes to accept wildlife from any jurisdiction if the resources allow for such inclusion. Unfortunately, we will not be able to accept exotic, non-native animals normally kept as pets.
City Wildlife is working to provide educational programs for schools, youth groups, civic associations, and any group of concerned people wishing to learn more about the wild animals who share our community and how we can enjoy and live in harmony with them.
We are putting together a number of information sheets that will be free to the public.
We also report on developments relating to the design of the built environment, such as the prevention of bird/glass collisions and the construction of wildlife-friendly structures.
City Wildlife strives to be an active partner with other agencies fulfilling the District of Columbia Wildlife Action Plan, a comprehensive effort to identify and protect those wild areas that still remain in Washington and serve as vital habitat for the city’s wildlife. To that end, City Wildlife intends to educate the public about the plan, its findings, and its goals; advocate steps that the plan embraces to preserve critical wild areas; and encourage others to do the same.
City Wildlife initiated the Lights Out DC program, which encourages building owners to turn off certain lights from 11 p.m. to dawn during spring and fall bird migration seasons to reduce the large number of fatal bird/glass collisions in the city. Information on helping with this important effort can be found on the Help Us Out page, VOLUNTEER section.
