Newhouse Wildlife Rescue

03/31/2025

Before and After ❤️❤️❤️

03/31/2025

A huge thank you to Dr. Leef and the team Heal Veterinary Clinic for being willing to take a look at our new fox kit today so he could get a full exam and have some tests run. He is still lethargic, but doing much better than yesterday!

03/30/2025

We just wanted to thank everyone who made yesterday possible!

Sheena Santos and Emily Medwar from Barrett Sotheby's real estate, Laura at Bedford Cupcakes, Kerry Bosman, owner Mango Bay aequestrian. Mass Audubon, The Burlington Science Center and Gianquinto Wildlife Rehab

And a special thank you all who came! It was a lot of fun and a great success!

03/30/2025

I was taken aback. I already knew I admired these women, but there was something very special about that moment. We were asked to hold our animals for a photo. I watched as each put on their gloves and reached out for the magnificent birds of prey that they cared for. There were poweful talons, lots of feathers and sharp beaks - but these ladies weren’t intimidated. Each one of them a powerhouse in their perspective field. Each of them taking a spot beside me.

When we all stood together, I was overcome with emotion. To be next to each of these wonderful women that I respected and admired felt great. They both adimately support the cause and happily agreed to give up their Saturday’s when I asked.

I’ll never understand how some people can be so competitive with each other. There are those who deal with It in every field. We can choose to be jealous of what someone else has accomplished or we can choose to be impressed, inspired and in support.

By collaborating, we were able to bring very large and diverse crowds. We taught hundreds of people yesterday all about our local wildlife and we did it together. Each of us offering support to the other frequently throughout the event. They aren’t my competition - they part of my tribe and I am so grateful to be part of it.

“Behind every successful woman is a tribe of other successful women who have her back.” - Unknown

The Giaquinto Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
Burlington Science Center

03/29/2025

He was in their yard, all alone and crying for his parents. He cried for hours. He was wet, cold and shivering. Despite his efforts, his calls would go unanswered. It was clear his parents weren’t coming back.

The Newhouse team was coming back from an event this afternoon when we received the call from Reading Animal Control.

He was already in our driveway when he reached out. Good thing too. This baby needed immediate care. He was hypothermic, dehydrated and is very malnourished. He clearly hasn’t seen mom or dad for a while.

We will never know exactly what happened or what chain of events caused him to be alone in that yard - but all we need to know is he needs help.

Welcome to the rescue little one. Let’s get you warm, fed and comfortable.

03/27/2025

He was found in their chicken coop. He didn’t seem to have any interest in the chickens, so it appeared that he was seeking refuge there. They saw blood on the ground and assumed it came from him. He didn’t leave for two days so his finders gave us a call. It turns out this opossum has a nasty wound under his chin that had become infected and he needed treatment. After a couple of days on antibiotics, he is feeling much better and full of sass!

03/26/2025

Each one of these eastern gray squirrels has a story. The start of which is sad - as they are all orphans.

I choose to hold on to the part of the story where they all have a second chance at the life they deserve. Our team is busy day and night feeding these little ones. ❤️

03/25/2025

We were very excited to visit Shore Country Day School today! Their mascot is a beaver so the children were extra excited to learn all about beavers and other wildlife! 🥰

03/21/2025

I was frustrated, to say the least. This beaver had been out there all day. Something was clearly wrong. I crawled over rocks and rushing water to get to him, but he slowly moved into the water to evade me. I threw on my waders and went into the water after him.

The beaver was struggling. He didn’t want to dive - which isn’t normal. I tried to catch him. I went so deep in the water that it rose above my waders and filled them up. There were chunks of ice in the water.

I was freezing.

He continued to evade me and I continued to try. At one point, i couldn’t feell my arms and legs and had to step away. I hated to give up. I was so close…but this was too dangerous.

I was soaked, freezing, exhausted and had nothing to show for it. The beaver remained in the water, seemingly stressed and not receiving the help I knew it needed.

The group of gentlemen that had originally called me about the beaver had watched everything unfold. They asked how they could help. I told them I just needed to sit in my rescue van and warm up.

Within a few minutes, one man brought me a pair of dry jeans and socks he had in his car. A minute later, another man took the sweater off his back and handed it to me.

A third man would approach the window to offer help - but at that point, I would send him away because I was changing into dry clothes lol.

I felt like it was a failure. I didn’t get what I went there for.

They are going to let me know if the beaver still needs my help tomorrow or of he Is able to find his way.

I don’t regret going. I felt very fulfilled after what occurred. These men were literally willing to take the shirts off their back to help me after I tried to help the beaver. They didn’t give It a second thought. I left with oversized jeans and a sweatshirt but cloaked in love and consideration.

There’s so much good in this world. It was the perfect Friday afternoon activity. Nothing else this weekend will top that!

03/19/2025

Can I just say, WOW! When residents noticed an injured raccoon stuck on the same branch for three days, they knew it needed help. Billerica Animal Control, Fire Department and Police officers all collaborated and were able to safely get the raccoon from very high up in the tree.

It is now here at the rescue being assessed so we can figure out what’s going on. I am so grateful to all the wonderful first responders in Billerica. What an awesome group of caring human beings. ❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏

Billerica & Tewksbury Animal Control
Billerica Police | MA
Billerica Fire | MA

03/19/2025

In the past week alone, we have done public presentations for over 700 people to teach them all about their local wildlife. We offer this service to schools, elderly communities, libraries and more. We NEVER charge as we don’t want anyone to miss out on this opportunity simply because of funds.

This is all made possible by all of our supporters and we appreciate you all so much!!!! 🙏🙏🙏

03/19/2025

Mama Won’t Take Them Back If They’re Cold!

Tiny baby mammals need a heat source. A blanket alone won’t keep them warm enough. They need something that radiates heat, like a low-setting heating pad or a warm rice sock.

If they get too cold, they’ll go hypothermic, and mom won’t take them back.

One of our callers yesterday didn’t know this and, once she warmed them up, she was delighted to see momma squirrel come and get them all!

03/18/2025

MYTH: Nocturnal animals seen out during the day are rabid.

FACT: Sometimes, nocturnal animals are seen out during the day - especially moms that have to forage more to keep up with the demands of hungry babies.

Pictured below are two raccoons seen out during the day. One is perfectly healthy. One tested positive for rabies. Can you tell which is which? From my public talks, I can tell you that 99% of children can tell that the one on the right was the sick one.

Why? Because the one on the left is ambulating normally (fancy words for “walking like a raccoon should”). It’s moving with all four limbs, aware of its surroundings, and making direct eye contact. If we tried to approach it, it would run—but we’re not going to do that, because we’re not idiots.

The one on the right is exhibiting classic signs. It has no idea what’s going on. The way it’s slouched over doesn’t look right. Many rabid animals will act “drunk” and have difficulty coordinating their limbs - especially the back ones. Some will be overly aggressive. Some may be overly friendly. Either way, approaching people is not a normal behavior for raccoons.

I get that they are friend shaped, but let’s be clear:

If one is moving like it just lost a bet with gravity, that’s not normal.

If it’s wobbling toward you like it just left an all-you-can-drink margarita night, it’s best to back away and call a wildlife professional.

If it’s approaching your family like it’s about to ask for your WiFi password - don’t give it to him.

But if it’s just out during the day, acting normal and minding its own business? Maybe…and hear me out….you should try that too.

03/18/2025

PSA: PLEASE DONT ASSUME that beavers seen wandering around right now are rabid. This is prime dispersal time for young beavers!!! Beavers around 2-3 years old are generally kicked out by mom and dad and start their journey to finding a new home. We have gotten several calls today alone about beavers wandering around neighborhoods.

If you notice a beaver that appears lost, please leave it be. It is likely a youngster trying to find its way. If it keeps wandering through your neighborhood day after day, please give us a call and we can help it find the nearest water source. If it appears injured, we are also happy to help.

PLEASE DONT ASSUME that beavers seen wandering around right now are rabid. Please leave them be. Dont try to interact with them and call a wildlife professional if you have concerns.

03/17/2025

Hilarious! Chuck is doing well and will be released tomorrow

MIDDLETON, MASS. (WHDH) - A woodchuck was rescued after getting stuck in a barbed-wire fence around the Essex County Sheriff’s Department in Middleton Sunday, police

03/17/2025

When an innocent groundhog needs help escaping from prison….who you gonna call????

The last time I rescued an animal caught in a prison fence, it was an opossum that accidentally castrated himself up there. The barb wire is VERY sharp. I was very nervous about this groundhog getting harmed while we tried to get him out of the wire. Luckily, we were able to get him down with only a tiny scratch on one toe. A very efficient prison break!

03/17/2025

Perspective is so important…

You know that feeling… slipping on your favorite pair of jeans only to realize they don’t fit anymore. My diet wasn’t working—in fact, it was doing the opposite. I was gaining weight! That set off a downward spiral of self-doubt. I felt like a complete failure. Why is it that men can have five kids and still keep their “pre-baby body”? My day was ruined. Life felt unfair.

I walked into the rehab room to triage a hawk that a police officer had witnessed get hit by a car. He was clearly injured but still trying to get up as best he could. Testing would later reveal that he also had a bb lodged in his wing. His blood also tested positive for rat poison because he had been eating mice that people had poisoned.

So to clarify, the hawk was poisoned, shot and then run over - yet he was still doing everything he could to get back up. Meanwhile, I was spiraling over a pair of jeans.

The tenacious hawk would go on to make a full recovery and be released back into the wild just a few weeks later—but not before leaving me with something of incredible value: the priceless gift of perspective.

03/16/2025

Wildlife rehab is really about this moment.
It makes it all worthwhile. Run free Merrimack….❤️❤️❤️