An Osprey nest on a new dock in Vineyard Haven was moved by a team of people onto a floating raft to allow use of the dock. | |
Executive Director, Stephanie Ellis placing the chicks onto their new nest.
| Mother Osprey returns to new nest site and chicks, within 5 minutes. Success! | | |
Wildlife and Summer on Cape Cod
Ahhh summer - the beauty of nature all around. Cape Cod is a special place for so many. This time of year is the busiest at Wild Care. We are caring for nearly 200 wildlife patients. With the human population increasing during the summer months, our wildlife face many challenges. We are grateful to be here for every animal that comes through our doors. From the smallest, to the big and the beautiful, all are treated with the same respect and care.
An important part of our summer work is Osprey recovery. We work closely with Eversource Energy to help mitigate Osprey and power line conflict, assist chicks that have fallen from their nests, work with USDA to hatch eggs removed from nests on human dwellings, and place the hatched chicks into foster nests.
Most recently we were asked by the Osprey Project of Falmouth to intervene with a nest in Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve that is closely monitored by Nest Cam. The adults were delivering food sparingly, and the chicks were beginning to fail - a possible indication of lack of choice food sources. We answered the call, but just as we did, the Osprey male miraculously began feeding the remaining chick on a regular basis. We receive daily feeding updates from Glenn Davis, Co-President, Friends of WBNERR. Full story soon. There are many compassionate people to thank!
Stephanie Ellis
Executive Director
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Northern Flicker Nestlings | |
Archive Photo - Adult male Northern Flicker
LEARN more about Northern Flickers
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Northern Flicker Nestlings Displaced Due to Home Renovations
These nestling Northern Flickers were brought to us after they were found on the side of a house during repairs. Northern Flickers are a type of large woodpecker that nests in cavities. The contractor was unsure what to do but compassionately brought them to us. A re-nesting attempt on the property was not possible due to the construction. (We make an attempt to re-nest baby flickers when possible by placing them in a nest box close to the original nest site, and watching for the parents to return.)
Here they are a week after Wild Care admitted them into care. Oh, how they grow! Turn the sound up to hear their distinct and wonderful chatter. Our staff love providing care to baby flickers when they need us!
TIP: Please check for nests before tree felling, home renovations and yard work. Reserve tree work for late fall/winter when possible.
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Photo - Dracula, a Great Horned Owl will be present at the 7pm showing of the documentary along with Bethany from Amazing Animal Ambassadors. | | |
Celebrate International Owl Day With Wild Care at Cape Cinema With Showings of the Documentary Wild Inside
Celebrate International Owl Day with Wild Care at the Cape Cinema on Tuesday, August 4th with two very special screenings at 12pm and 7pm of the film WILD INSIDE. This new documentary from Penny Lane, is the true story about an owl named Flaco who escapes the Central Park Zoo and sets off on a magical adventure through the island of Manhattan. Flaco overcomes his years of captivity and lack of survival skills to answer the call of the wild – and discovers he was wild inside all along.
Following the film Wild Care's Director Stephanie Ellis will give a brief talk about owls, and answer questions from the audience. Guests in attendance at the 7pm showing will meet Dracula, a Great Horned Owl with Bethany from Amazing Animal Ambassadors.
Tickets are available to purchase online at the Cape Cinema's website with a portion of each ticket sold to benefit Wild Care.
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The care and release of these this beautiful little owl is in loving memory of Danny Battista from his family. Always in our thoughts. Forever in our hearts.
LEARN more about
Eastern Screech Owls
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Foster Family Success for three Young Eastern Screech Owls
This sweet Eastern Screech Owl was found alone on a road in Eastham. Wild Care was also caring for two additional screech owls that were displaced when their nesting tree was unknowingly cut down, and despite a two-day reunion attempt, their parents never returned. After putting out a call to find a foster owl family, Dan Dolan came to the rescue. He had a nest box with two young screech owls on his property in Brewster. On the day they fledged the box, we released our three orphans into the family. An adult owl swooped Dan’s head during the process—a reassuring sign of active parental care! For days afterward, Dan heard the young calling and watched the adults flying back and forth to feed them before the family eventually dispersed into the woods. With Screech Owls typically raising 3–5 young, this became one very big happy family.
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Wild Care's Animal Ambassador Nickerson
PHOTO - Jennifer Taylor
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Owl or Alien? Bald is Beautiful for Molting Birds
Are you seeing bald Blue Jays and Northern Cardinals in your backyard? No need to worry. These birds might look strange, but they are just going through their end-of-summer molt. Although you may not see them as often, the same is happening with owls. Here’s a look at Nickerson, our educational Eastern Screech Owl. Hopefully she doesn’t feel as grumpy as she looks. In just a few weeks she will be back to her beautiful self with brand new feathers.
LEARN more about bird molting
| | Watch the ducklings return to the wild. | | |
A Good Day for Ducklings
We received three orphaned Mallard Ducklings on June 10th from Sue Cowan, Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator in Carver, transferred by Claudia Biddle Travis, Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator in Centerville. The ducklings thrived at Wild Care and were released by Leah Myrbeck, Staff Wildlife Rehabilitator at small pond where they are watched over by the homeowner. Happy life little ones!
| | Watch the opossum release. | |
Every rescue is a second chance. These four are living proof!
Marcie and Hardie Truesdale sponsored the care and release of these four precious opossums.
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Watch the joeys during their
recovery at Wild Care.
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Opossum Joeys Make Remarkable Recovery and are released after spending three months at Wild Care
Four Virginia Opossum joeys were among seven babies rescued from the pouch of a gravely ill mother found beneath a camper and were rescued by Harwich Animal Control Officer Jennifer Harrington. They arrived at Wild Care on April 15 in heartbreaking condition—tiny, bald, dehydrated, emaciated, and weakened after nursing from their critically ill mother. Despite our attempts, the mother died shortly thereafter. With dedicated care, four of the seven joeys made a remarkable recovery. Today, they are back where they belong, released into protected habitat on
Orleans Conservation Trust land with permission, in suitable opossum habitat. Thank you, OCT!
Opossums are truly amazing creatures and help reduce the tick population. This time of year it is important to check the pouch of a deceased female opossum to see if there are baby joeys in her pouch. If there are babies, it is so important that you leave them in the pouch when you transport them to a licensed wildlife rehabilitation center or rehabber.
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Summer Interns Enjoy Exploring Nature With Wild Care's Director
Summer is going by quickly, and soon all of our incredible interns will be heading back to school. We are enjoying getting to work beside these hard-working and compassionate young women! Yesterday, our Director Stephanie was fortunate to spend some time with them exploring Mass Audubon's Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, and enjoying some ice cream together. We hope they leave us with a love and appreciation for our native landscape, wildlife, and of course local ice cream. They certainly left their mark on us. We will miss them.
Jay Pulli and Peggy Marshall thoughtfully funded this Intern field trip.
Our Internship Program for 2026 was generously funded by The Ballard Foundation.
Wild Care 2026 Interns (L to R): Natalie O’Brien, Alexa Rasnick, Maggie Vallenti, Delaney Earp, Katie Adams, and Peyton Wolfe
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Get All the Details About Wild Care's May 2027 Costa Rica Trip
***Only a few spaces left!***
Come to Costa Rica with Wild Care! From urban charm to wild paradise, this is Costa Rica at its most spectacular—a journey designed for explorers, nature lovers, and anyone seeking a little more adventure in their life.
Watch a presentation and Q&A with your guide, Wild Care's Director Stephanie Ellis.and travel expert Nancy Bradford.
TRIP DETAILS HERE
Deposit needed to reserve your space. Full payment January 2027.
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We Can't Thank You Enough!
Wild Care Friends, you are amazing, and we are so grateful for your continued generosity! When we put a call, you always answer.
Shipped or dropped at our door, your donations of supplies ensure that our animals have what they need. Ask and we have received!
Many donations do not arrive with a gift receipt. Now, we know most people do not make donations seeking recognition, but we want you to know that every towel, every jar of baby food and every bag of walnuts, etc. is so greatly appreciated by all of the staff here. Your donations make a difference.
Thank you also for your Facebook birthday fundraisers! We feel humbled and honored that you choose Wild Care to celebrate your birthday, and for other special occasions.
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Archive Video - Rabbits eating kale | | |
Nauset Middle School Greenhouse Program Donates Funds From Produce Sales
Nauset Regional Middle School’s Greenhouse Program under the guidance of teacher Rand Burkert raises funds throughout the year by selling produce they grow through the program at the Orleans Farmers’ Market. We are incredibly grateful to be selected as a recipient of their generous donation of $765.50. Their hard work will go a long way towards helping us during our busy summer season.
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PHOTO - Marti Gruhn (aka The Barnstable Bag Lady) with Burrito win the Small & Sassy title. | | |
Eastham Dog Owners Association Second Annual Dog Show Benefits Wild Care
Wild Care had so much fun meeting all of the adorable dogs at Eastham Dog Owners Association’s second annual Fun Dog Show at the Hands on the Arts Festival on the Windmill Green! More than 32 dogs registered to win titles like Big and Beautiful, and Small and Sassy! Volunteers Lynn Adams, and Roz Goldstein spoke with lots of pet people about co-existing with backyard rabbits, and money raised from registrations went to Wild Care.
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Check out our Amazon and Chewy WISH LISTS and donate much
needed supplies to help the animals being cared for at Wild Care.
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