Roseville Wildlife Rehabilitation Center Overwhelmed With Injured Animals

ROSEVILLE, Minn. (WCCO) -- It's during these first weeks of Spring staff and volunteers at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Roseville gets a rush of patients.

Sick and injured animals found in the wild are brought here for treatment and rehabilitation, but sometimes the number of animals needing help is overwhelming.

There is a way you can help these animals in the wild without taking them out of their environment.

They come from all over -- squirrels, rabbits, even mallard ducks -- some abandoned others hurt.

People find them in unusual places and the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center eventually ends up being their home away from home. The WRC is an animal hospital and in order to make sure the sick and injured get help, people need a little guidance figuring out what little ones need saving.

"Especially with the baby animals showing up in people's back yards this Spring," said WRC Executive Director Phil Jenni.

It's this time of year that the center sees more and more animals in need of medical care.

"By mid-May, we will be admitting over 100 animals every day and as many as 150 in a single day," Jenni said. "In May, June and July, each of those months well take in about 2,500 animals."

Executive Director Phil Jenni says many people are unsure what to do when they come across baby squirrels, rabbits or fawns who appear to be on their own.

"It's important to make sure it is truly abandoned," Jennis said. "A lot of animals -- a lot of the adults -- won't go back to the nest because they're afraid they will attract predators."

Jenni says when people stumble across these animals, they should ask for help.

"We really urge people to call us first if they have any kind of a question,��� Jenni said.

WRC staff can help people figure out if they should intervene or let mother nature do her thing. Staff and volunteers will direct people what to do if they find an animal abandoned in the wild.

If your dog or cat somehow hurts a rabbit or squirrel, WRC can help. Just call 651-486-9453.