Wildlife Rescue Organizations in South Mississippi
A Shoofly Magazine Local Living Resource Guide
Have you ever encountered a gull on the beach dragging its wing or an injured opossum on the side of the road, but didn’t know how to help? Our new comprehensive resource list has the answers!
- by Wendy Sullivan and Ellis Anderson
A bald eagle rehabilitated by Wildlife Care and Rescue Center, 2013 photo by Ellis Anderson
The Mississippi Gulf Coast is full of caring people concerned about wildlife, particularly injured or displaced creatures. But knowing who to contact for help can be a dilemma. Below is a list of South Mississippi groups that rescue and rehabilitate wildlife, what their specialties are, and how to contact them.
Legitimate wildlife rescue groups (like the ones we've listed here) must be licensed by the Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. Those groups that handle birds of prey, migratory birds and federally protected species must have both a state and a federal permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We’ve designated the groups below that have both the state and federal “unlimited” licenses.
Keep in mind that not every animal that’s found actually needs rescue. Two websites that provide guidance about when and how to determine the need for rescue are Gulf Coast Wildlife Rehab and Central Mississippi Turtle Rescue.
Legitimate wildlife rescue groups (like the ones we've listed here) must be licensed by the Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. Those groups that handle birds of prey, migratory birds and federally protected species must have both a state and a federal permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We’ve designated the groups below that have both the state and federal “unlimited” licenses.
Keep in mind that not every animal that’s found actually needs rescue. Two websites that provide guidance about when and how to determine the need for rescue are Gulf Coast Wildlife Rehab and Central Mississippi Turtle Rescue.
All the organizations listed below have missions similar to that of Woodside Wildlife Rescue in Pass Christian: “To rescue, rehabilitate and release indigenous animals back into their natural habitat as healthy as possible to promote preservation of the environment.”
Some of these groups have a particular focus - like birds or raccoons - while others care for a wider range of animals. Reptiles, including alligators, have their own special needs which many organizations are not able to address.
Our list is intended to provide guidance. Inclusion does not indicate endorsement or funding support, nor does exclusion from the list indicate any judgment about services.
Remember: Wildlife rescue depends upon volunteers, as well as the goodwill of the community. Consider donating or volunteering to further their important work.
Learn more about sharing our communities with natural neighbors in this story from our 2017 Shoofly Magazine Archives.
Some of these groups have a particular focus - like birds or raccoons - while others care for a wider range of animals. Reptiles, including alligators, have their own special needs which many organizations are not able to address.
Our list is intended to provide guidance. Inclusion does not indicate endorsement or funding support, nor does exclusion from the list indicate any judgment about services.
Remember: Wildlife rescue depends upon volunteers, as well as the goodwill of the community. Consider donating or volunteering to further their important work.
Learn more about sharing our communities with natural neighbors in this story from our 2017 Shoofly Magazine Archives.
South Mississippi Wildlife Rescue Organizations
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Back to the Wild
(228) 697-1191 Specializes in raccoons |
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Central Mississippi Turtle Rescue
(601) 672-1418 Find a turtle? If it’s not injured, read this before determining if the turtle needs help. Read more about this group in this 2017 Shoofly story. |
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Gulf Coast Wildlife Rehab
5500 Richmond Street Ocean Springs, MS 39564 (228) 238-5505 Email: [email protected] Open 7 days 8 am – 8 pm Federal “Unlimited” License – can handle migratory birds, birds of prey and federally protected wildlife. This rescue provides guidance on when and how to rescue wildlife. Their website has several helpful flowsheets that guide rescue assessments and decisions. They provide rescue care to the five southernmost counties of Mississippi. All kinds of animals and birds are rescued except alligators and bats (as they do not have the facilities for them). |
Photo by Gregg Martel for the Shoofly Magazine
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Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS)
1-888-SOS-DOLPHIN Also: (901) 215-8108 From their website: If you are out fishing and you catch a sea turtle, please do not try to remove the hook yourself. Call our stranding hotline and we will come get the turtle from you and bring it back to our facility where we can safely remove the hook and care for any other injuries or ailments it may have before releasing it back into the ocean. |
If you find a live stranded or injured dolphin on the beach, call for help immediately. Do not touch the animal without direction from IMMS or another governing agency such as NOAA or MDMR. Please be aware that when an animal strands, it may be sick. Therefore, please use every precaution to protect yourself from any infectious diseases. A live dolphin stranding is an emergency, and the speed of response by a professional rescue team is perhaps the most crucial factor in determining whether or not the animal will survive.
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Manatee Sighting Network
(866) 493-5903 Email: [email protected] Sighting reports from the public help Dauphin Island Sea Lab find, study and protect manatees in the northern Gulf of Mexico. |
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Possum Hill Wildlife and Bat Education
(228) 218-7430 Specializing in bat rescue |
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Coming Soon:
Southern Wildlife Rescue (228) 216-0632 Headed by Maggie Wooten, veteran rescuer currently working with Wildlife Care and Rescue Center, this new facility will have an “unlimited” federal license so they can care for migratory birds, birds of prey and federally protected wildlife. Maggie specializes in pelicans and water birds. We will add more information when it becomes available. |
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Whisper of Hope Foundation
(228) 731-4970 Jamie Pope cares for all mammals, specializing in opossum and squirrels. |
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Wild at Heart Rescue
(228) 669-7907 Email: [email protected] Open 24 hours, this rescue responds to calls for assistance with a wide range of wildlife including opossums and squirrels, other small mammals and songbirds. |
Alison Sharpe, director of Wildlife Care and Rescue Center, Inc. with one of her charges. Photo by Ellis Anderson
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Wildlife Care and Rescue Center, Inc.
(228) 669-2737 Email: [email protected] Open 9 am - 6 pm Monday-Friday, 10 am - 5 pm Sat-Sun Federal “Unlimited” License – can handle migratory birds, birds of prey and federally protected wildlife. They request phone calls to report injured or abandoned wildlife. |
Woodside specializes in raccoons, beavers and otters like this baby.
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Woodside Wildlife Rescue
Phone: 228-223-0430 Email: [email protected] While this organization focuses specifically on small mammals like raccoons, beavers and otters, they work closely with other rescue and rehab centers to coordinate rescue and care. Their website lists several additional resources to meet the needs of animals for whom they are unable to provide the appropriate level of care. |
