Do you offer tours?
No, unfortunately we cannot give tours of the facility. It is a wildlife hospital and the patients in our care do not appreciate visitors. We must keep human contact to a minimum.This is important to reduce their stress while in a clinical setting and to keep them wild so we can return them to their native habitats. For these reasons, public tours are also illegal and a violation of the state and federal permits that allow us to operate. Thank you for understanding – you can always see photos and videos on our social media pages.
Can I visit the animal I brought to you for care? Will you send me photos?
See the answer about tours above. It is not possible for us to send photos of our patients to you personally. We are happy to provide patient updates, please email us. You can also check out our Patient of the Week blog feature on our website. We may just feature your rescue and then you can share the story with your friends! We do try to share lots of photos on our social media pages, follow us and please understand thousands of patients brought to us annually, it is not possible to take photos of each of them.
How do I find out what happened to the animal I brought to you?
We are happy to provide you with an update on the status of the animal brought in for care. We ask that you email us at info@sarveywildlife.org to inquire. In an effort to keep our phone line open for animal emergencies, we do not provide updates over the phone. Email is answered Monday-Friday – we will get back to you ASAP.
What happens if a patient cannot be released?
We make every effort to save all of the patients brought to us for care. Sadly, some animals have injuries so severe that we must make the difficult decision to end their suffering. In these cases, humane euthanasia is the compassionate choice. If an animal is non-releasable and would not suffer with chronic pain or psychological issues from being placed in an educational or sanctuary setting, we may seek this solution and try to find placement.
Can I pick up the animal and return it to the wild when it is better?
No, unfortunately state law prohibits the public from releasing wildlife after rehabilitation is complete. There are strict protocols and guidelines regarding releasing wildlife back into their habitats, and some species require additional considerations and/or release location approval from the state. All of our patients are released by our staff or trained volunteers. If you would like to become a volunteer, visit our volunteer information page to apply.
Can I be there when the animal is released?
This is difficult because we cannot coordinate with everyone to attend the release of the patient they brought to us. Please be aware that we take in thousands of patients annually – so, this is challenging. You are welcome to inquire via email, but please understand it is especially difficult during the spring and summer when we have hundreds of patients at a time.
Do you have paid staff or is everyone a volunteer?
We do have a small paid staff. Wildlife rehabilitation is a regulated industry. We are required to have state licensed wildlife rehabilitators to manage the patient care. You can read more about our staff on our bio page. We do utilize a large volunteer team as well. You can visit our volunteer page to learn more and apply.
How do I get a job in wildlife rehabilitation?
We frequently get asked this question. There are a variety of paths one may take to work in the field. Washington state requires over 1000 hours of hands-on experience before you can take the state exam. The best way to gain this experience is to start volunteering or applying for internships. Learn more on Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s website.
Can I volunteer?
Yes. We depend on volunteers and you can learn more by reading the volunteer page. The work is physically demanding and we work outside in all weather conditions. There may be other ways you can help though, so let us know what limitations you may have and we will see if we can accommodate you.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Yes, we are a 501(c)3 – making your donation tax-deductible. Our Federal Tax ID # is 91-1303534
Will you come and remove an animal living under my deck/porch/tree/attic?
Yes and No. This really requires a phone call to us. We do make every effort to assist with rescues, but please note that sometimes you may need to hire a professional to assist with this type of problem. We are not licensed and bonded to enter your home. We need to take into consideration the safety of our staff and volunteers, as well as any potential property damage that could be done. Please call us and we are happy to discuss your concerns and help. Sometimes we can give you great tips and tricks for problem solving these types of scenarios.