Wildlife Rescue Numbers in Central Massachusetts
Wildlife in Central Massachusetts
Central Massachusetts is characterized by mixed hardwood forests, wetlands, river valleys and working farms. These habitats support white-tailed deer, black bears, coyotes, foxes, beavers, fishers, hawks, owls and many small mammals and songbirds. Wildlife often follows forest edges, utility corridors and waterways, especially around dawn and dusk.
In late spring and early summer, many calls involve young animals resting quietly in grass or near woodland edges while adults forage nearby. Most juveniles are not abandoned and should not be disturbed. Intervention is recommended only when there are clear signs of injury, prolonged immobility or immediate danger from traffic, construction or domestic pets.
Key wildlife rescue numbers for Central Massachusetts
MassWildlife – Wildlife assistance
Best first call for injured or sick wildlife anywhere in Massachusetts, especially if you are not sure who should handle the species.
- Phone: 508‑389‑6300
- Best for: general wildlife guidance and referrals.
- Use first for: coyotes, fishers, beavers, river otters and bobcats.
MassWildlife Central District – West Boylston
Regional MassWildlife office serving Central Massachusetts communities with local wildlife information, referrals and technical guidance.
- Phone: 508‑835‑3607
- Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:30 am–4:00 pm.
- Address: 211 Temple Street, West Boylston, MA 01583.
Tufts Wildlife Clinic – North Grafton
Strong regional hospital for injured birds, mammals and reptiles. Call before transport because intake instructions may vary by species and condition.
- Phone: 508‑839‑7918
- Address: 50 Willard Street, North Grafton, MA 01536.
- Best for: injured birds, turtles, small mammals and referral guidance.
MSPCA Wildlife Information Line
Useful when the main question is whether the animal actually needs rescue or whether observation is the better first step.
- Phone: 617‑383‑1210
- Best for: baby animals, normal behavior questions, and next-step advice.
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Use for rabies questions, especially if a bat was in a room with a sleeping person, unattended child, or pet, or if there was a bite or saliva exposure.
- Main contact: 617‑983‑6800
- Also listed for bat testing coordination: 617‑983‑6550.
- Best for: exposure evaluation and testing guidance.
Massachusetts Environmental Police
Call when there is immediate public risk, a large wild mammal in a dangerous setting, or an injured hawk, owl or other raptor in a roadway or other high-risk public location.
- 24-hour line: 1‑800‑632‑8075
- Sometimes assists with transport of injured hawks, falcons and owls.
Worcester Animal Control
Useful for wildlife incidents inside Worcester when the animal is in traffic, on city property, near a school, or otherwise creating an immediate public-safety problem.
- Phone: 508‑799‑1211
- Best for: city pickup coordination and urgent Worcester cases.
Who to call first in common Central MA situations
| Situation | Best first call |
|---|---|
| Injured bird, turtle, squirrel, rabbit, or unknown small wild animal | Tufts Wildlife Clinic or MassWildlife |
| Coyote, fisher, bobcat, beaver, or river otter | MassWildlife first |
| Bat in bedroom, bite, or possible rabies exposure | DPH and local health officials |
| Hawk or owl injured in traffic or other public hazard | Environmental Police or local police if urgent |
| Worcester city wildlife blocking traffic or in a public area | Worcester Animal Control |
Other wildlife regions in Massachusetts
If you are close to a regional boundary, check the nearest two pages. Wildlife hospitals and rehabilitators often serve more than one part of the state.
When to call, when to wait, and what to do first
Before you touch anything, decide whether the situation is a true rescue case or simply normal wildlife behavior. In Central Massachusetts, many calls in spring and early summer involve baby rabbits in shallow grass nests, fledgling birds under trees, and fawns resting alone for long periods while adults stay away from people.
- Protect people first. Keep children and pets away. Do not corner foxes, coyotes, fishers, raccoons, or any animal that can bite.
- Look for obvious injury. Bleeding, a wing dragging, head tilt, inability to stand, repeated circling, or road trauma usually means the animal needs help.
- Pause before picking up young wildlife. Quiet, still young animals are often waiting for a parent. Call for advice before moving them.
- Write down the exact location. Street address, nearest house number, trailhead, pond name, park entrance, or GPS pin can save time.
- Call the right number first. Use MassWildlife for species-specific guidance, Tufts for transport-level wildlife care, DPH for bats and rabies concerns, and Environmental Police for urgent public-safety situations.
- Do not offer food, milk, bread, or water unless a professional tells you to. Wrong food, stress, and aspiration can make a survivable case worse.
Usually call now
- Road-hit turtle, hawk, owl, squirrel, or other visibly injured animal
- Bat in a bedroom or room with a sleeping person, child, or pet
- Coyote, fisher, beaver, river otter, or bobcat that appears injured
- Animal tangled in fencing, netting, fishing line, or yard debris
- Wildlife in a schoolyard, roadway, or other active public area
Usually observe first
- Fawn resting quietly alone with no visible injury
- Baby rabbits in a small grass nest
- Fledgling songbird on the ground, hopping and alert
- Fox, coyote, or hawk simply passing through a yard or field edge
- Healthy turtle crossing a road, if it can move safely away
FAQ: Wildlife rescue in Central Massachusetts
What should I do if I find a baby rabbit or fawn alone?
In many cases, the animal is not orphaned. Fawns may stay still for long stretches while the doe feeds elsewhere, and baby rabbits are often left quietly in shallow nests during the day. If there is no visible injury and no immediate danger, keep pets and people away and call for advice before touching the animal.
Who should I call for injured coyotes, fishers, beavers, river otters, or bobcats?
Call MassWildlife first. These species require species-specific handling and should not be transported or confined without guidance. This is one of the most important Central Massachusetts calls to get right.
What if there is a bat in a bedroom or a room with a sleeping person, child, or pet?
Treat it as a possible rabies exposure. Confine the bat if you can do so safely, do not release it, and contact your local health department or the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. In Massachusetts, this kind of bat exposure can require testing and medical or veterinary follow-up.
Can Tufts Wildlife Clinic pick up injured wildlife for me?
Usually no. Call first, describe the animal, and follow the intake instructions you are given. Many wildlife hospitals and rehabilitators do not provide field pickup, so an animal control officer or police department may still be needed if the animal is in traffic or another unsafe public location.