Savage Hart

Savage Hart Dedicated to protecting wild animals through rehabilitation, conservation, and education. This page is not constantly monitored for messages, tags, or comments.

For wildlife emergencies, please call or text our hotline at (888) 444-1810.

We’re celebrating the power of community partnerships today! Our friends at Paws Humane Society have supported us in cou...
10/02/2025

We’re celebrating the power of community partnerships today!

Our friends at Paws Humane Society have supported us in countless ways—providing food, enclosures, and essential supplies that allow us to care for injured and orphaned native wildlife. From tiny opossums and squirrels to turtles and foxes, their generosity has directly touched the lives of patients who come through our doors.

Thanks to Paws and their supporters, these animals get the chance to grow strong and healthy, and eventually return to the wild where they belong. We are forever grateful for this partnership and the community that makes this work possible.

📸 Check out a few of our patients making good use of these donations!

Dog Attack Survivor: Eastern Box Turtle in CareThis male eastern box turtle was admitted after being bitten and chewed o...
09/30/2025

Dog Attack Survivor: Eastern Box Turtle in Care

This male eastern box turtle was admitted after being bitten and chewed on by a dog. The attack left multiple puncture wounds through his shell, fracturing bone and damaging the marginal scutes. A turtle’s shell isn’t just armor—it’s living tissue. The outer keratin layer functions much like a fingernail, and when it’s torn away, the bone beneath (with sensitive nerve endings) is exposed and highly vulnerable to infection.

Did you know?
▪A turtle’s shell is made of bone covered by keratin, the same protein found in human nails and hair.
▪The shell is fused to the spine and ribs, making shell injuries equivalent to broken bones.
▪In Georgia, box turtles are a protected species, making it illegal to collect them from the wild or keep them as pets.
▪Eastern box turtles can live 50+ years in the wild.

This patient is now receiving intensive daily treatments, pain management, and antibiotics. With successful healing, he will be returned to the wild before cold weather forces him into winter dormancy.
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How you can help: Every medication, bandage, and day of care requires resources. By donating through the button on this post—or by visiting our Facebook fundraiser—you are directly providing lifesaving treatment for this turtle and many others.

We’re celebrating another successful release: four striped skunks who came into care earlier this year as orphans. After...
09/28/2025

We’re celebrating another successful release: four striped skunks who came into care earlier this year as orphans. After months of specialized nutrition, safe housing, and the chance to practice natural behaviors, they are back in the wild where they belong.

Skunks may have a smelly reputation, but they are actually beneficial neighbors, helping to keep insect and rodent populations in check. Did you know Georgia is home to two skunk species? The striped skunk, like these four, is the more common, while the eastern spotted skunk is much rarer and more elusive. Giving them a safe start ensures they can play their vital role in a healthy ecosystem.

Thank you for supporting this work and making moments like this possible! Please consider making a donation to help us continue providing lifesaving care: https://www.savagehartwildlife.org/how-to-help/donate/

Not Our Everyday Patient 🐍This adult black racer was one of just three snake patients we’ve admitted this year. After su...
09/24/2025

Not Our Everyday Patient 🐍

This adult black racer was one of just three snake patients we’ve admitted this year. After sustaining injuries, likely from a cat, this patient received medical treatment and supportive care before returning to the wild.

Snakes like the black racer are protected under Georgia law and play a vital role in keeping rodent populations in check. Every patient matters for the balance of our shared ecosystem.

“Excuse me human, you’re late with our breakfast order.”
09/20/2025

“Excuse me human, you’re late with our breakfast order.”

Earlier this season, we admitted a very special patient, a gopher tortoise, Georgia’s state reptile. He was found wander...
09/17/2025

Earlier this season, we admitted a very special patient, a gopher tortoise, Georgia’s state reptile. He was found wandering across Columbus State University’s main campus. While there are some native populations in and around Ft. Benning, this individual was outside suitable habitat. All signs suggest he was a released pet.

Because gopher tortoises are a protected species in Georgia, we quickly coordinated with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. He will be placed in an appropriate wild habitat where he can safely live out the rest of his life, potentially up to 60 years!

Why does this matter? Gopher tortoises are a keystone species. Their burrows provide shelter for hundreds of other animals, including frogs, snakes, and small mammals. Protecting them means protecting an entire network of wildlife that depends on the homes they create.

We’re grateful this tortoise’s story will have a happy ending, and even more grateful for the chance to highlight how critical this species is to Georgia’s biodiversity.

Please remember: It is illegal to keep most native Georgia animals as pets. Their role in the wild is far too important.

The past few weeks have been full of releases here at Savage Hart. Remember the three red fox patients we admitted back ...
09/12/2025

The past few weeks have been full of releases here at Savage Hart. Remember the three red fox patients we admitted back in April? We are excited to share that they have completed their rehabilitation. As a species, red foxes can be among our most specialized patients, requiring extensive veterinary care, carefully formulated diets, and enrichment to ensure they develop the skills necessary for survival in the wild.

A safe release site is one of the most important parts of the rehabilitation process. Wildlife need access to natural food sources, water, shelter, and space to avoid human conflict. That’s why preserving undeveloped land and wild spaces is so vital—not only for these red foxes we released, but for the long-term health of countless native species.

We are especially grateful to Burnt Hickory Farms and Refuge, who generously provided the ideal habitat for these foxes (and other native wildlife) to begin their second chance. By maintaining and protecting this land, they are contributing to the conservation of Georgia’s wildlife in a lasting and meaningful way.

Partnerships like this make it possible for the animals we care for to return to the wild where they belong, and we are deeply thankful for this support of our mission.
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If you would like to support our work, please consider making a donation or exploring other ways to get involved at https://www.savagehartwildlife.org/how-to-help/. Together, we can give more wildlife a second chance.

If this little one can face Monday with a smile, so can you. Have a great week!
09/08/2025

If this little one can face Monday with a smile, so can you. Have a great week!

Patient Spotlight 🐢About a month ago, this adult male Eastern box turtle arrived at our clinic with a severely swollen r...
09/03/2025

Patient Spotlight 🐢

About a month ago, this adult male Eastern box turtle arrived at our clinic with a severely swollen rear leg. Box turtles get their name from their unique ability to “box up," tucking their head and limbs completely inside their shell for protection. In this case, the swelling prevented him from pulling in his leg, leaving him vulnerable to predators.

Upon the initial exam, we noticed a puncture-like wound. X-rays showed no fractures, so under sedation, our vet carefully explored the site and uncovered the cause: two bot fly (Cuterebra) larvae. Also called wolf worms or warbles, these parasites normally develop when adult flies lay eggs in the environment. In rare cases with reptiles—especially chelonians like box turtles—flies may deposit eggs directly on the host at a wound site. The larvae then burrow beneath the skin, creating painful swelling until they mature and drop out to pupate in the soil. Because Cuterebra typically infect mammals such as rodents, rabbits, cats, and dogs, finding them in a turtle is highly unusual, making this case especially noteworthy.

With anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, and daily physical therapy, this turtle has steadily improved. Just yesterday, he was able to fully close into his shell again, a huge milestone! He’s expected to make a full recovery and return to the wild in the coming weeks.
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Want to learn more about our work and how you can support wildlife? Visit https://www.savagehartwildlife.org/

The second wave of baby season is keeping us busy with specialized, round-the-clock care. With new arrivals almost daily...
08/27/2025

The second wave of baby season is keeping us busy with specialized, round-the-clock care. With new arrivals almost daily, we are approaching our 300th patient of the year. We are proud to provide this critical service for our community and for the native wildlife that rely on us, and we thank you for your support.

Address

P. O. Box 451
Fortson, GA
31808

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+18884441810

Website

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