We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization for Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitation located in Zanesville OH, Muskingum County.
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Wild At Hart Wildlife Rehabilitation Inc. was founded in 2018 to assist our community & surrounding communities with orphaned, injured or ill wildlife, as well as provide outreach & education about our wildlife in Ohio. We are state-licensed, holding a Category II permit for Wildlife Rehabilitation from The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife. Every life that comes through o
ur doors, no matter how small, has meaning-they are all important to us & have a place in our world. The purpose of wildlife rehabilitation is to provide temporary care for orphaned wild animals, short-term treatment/medical care of injured or ill wild animals & to then release them back into our environment, giving them a second chance at a wild life. Release & returning freedom to a wild animal is always our end goal at Wild At Hart. One thing that is important to remember is that not all of our wildlife needs our help, especially when it comes to orphans. We are trained to help you know when human intervention may or may not be needed. It is natural & normal for some wild mammal mothers to leave wild young for hours at a time, some only feeding at dusk & dawn. Unless the animal is in immediate danger, is cold & limp, has open wounds/bleeding, has broken limbs or flies buzzing around it, it may not truly be orphaned. Some mammals are on their own at very young age, even though they may still seem small. Many of our birds naturally leave the nest before they can fly well (fledglings), but parents are still caring for them & nestling songbirds (very young birds without all of their feathers) found on the ground may be gently placed back into their nest, despite the common myth. Some of our wildlife may be able to be reunited with their parents if they have gotten separated, have fallen out of their nest or wandered from their den. Please don't "wild-nap" any wild animal & take them from their wild families if it isn't necessary-if you are unsure if it needs assistance, just give us a call, we are always here to help & are happy to provide guidance on what to do/not to do to best help the animal. Always feel free to call us for information, there are no silly wildlife questions! When it is determined a wild animal does need to come into care, we have a facility that has been built exclusively for wildlife rehabilitation & have a well-trained, experienced team ready to begin the rehabilitation process. At Wild At Hart, we regularly attend continuing education trainings/courses on wildlife rehabilitation, travel to state & national wildlife conferences/symposiums & belong to several professional wildlife organizations including the Ohio Wildlife Rehabilitators Association, the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association, The International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council, the Ohio Bat Working Group, the Mid-West Bat Working Group & several other species specific organizations. Staying up-to-date on training & being professionally connected allows us to continue to provide optimal wildlife care. As mentioned above, we also provide outreach & education programs. You may see us in person at a library or other community organization, at a school or business or even online/virtually! We pride ourselves on featuring informative, fact-based, interesting & fun programs about our wildlife in Ohio, so watch for our presentations & other events in the community, we look forward to seeing you there!
We appreciate your understanding & support at this time, we look forward to being able to provide full assistance with wildlife in the near future. For help with an injured or orphaned wild animal please visit https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/safety-conservation/about-ODNR/wildlife/orphaned-injured & click on the list of Licensed Ohio Rehabilitators to find a rehabilitator near you.
Happy World Wildlife Day!
Come see Claire today from 4-6 at the St. Clairsville Bike Trail Gazebo and get some treats and tips about why bats aren't scary :)
🌿☘️We Can Use It Wednesday!!!!☘️🌿
We are in need of paper towels and some more cleaning supplies! Below is a link with listed items that are safe for our patients in care😊
Thank you to all who sent puppy pads and chucks last week, they will be put to good use and are greatly appreciated! 😊 🦊🐿
https://a.co/apYKT0T
Happy Mothers Day from all of us here at Wild At Hart Wildlife Rehabilitation Inc. 😊
With all of our new arrivals, we often get asked what we could use at the Center. We are kicking off by starting a weekly post called, "We Can Use It Wednesday". And for this Wednesday, we can always use puppy pads! Below is the link to our Amazon wishlist. Thanks so much, and enjoy this beautiful day! 😊🌿🐢🌼
https://a.co/apYKT0T
We wanted to thank all of you for the donations received that helped with this seasons formula order. As well as restocking a few supplies and show everyone what that helped to purchase, and who you're helping by donating. We greatly appreciate it! Thanks so much! 🌿🐾☘️🦊
Our Education Ambassador, Flower the Woodchuck, is sending you a high-five for Earth Day as she naps in the sun at the Earth Day Excellence Event today at Dillion State Park.
Come on out! 12-4!
🌞🌞Hopping into Spring 🌱🌼and that means babies! That also means weekly mowing and w**d eating will begin. It's very important to check yards and lawns before mowing. Bunnies will nest in or near brush piles, gardens, under bushes or sometimes right in the middle of the yard. DO NOT DISTURB the nest if you find one. To avoid mowing, stake or mark beside the nest and skip that section of grass. From birth to when they leave the nest, is roughly 3 weeks time. If a nest becomes disturbed, cover with the grass and fur material. Place a grid(a tight tic tac toe pattern) of 5-6 twigs or tall grasses over the top of the nest. Avoid using yarn and cloth as the babies can get tangled in it. This will indicate if and when mom returns, since bunnies only nurse morning and night. If a dog or cat has gotten into the nest and disturbed or injured them, contact a Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator. Thank you for always caring for wildlife! We hope everyone has a Happy Holiday!
Happy Earth Day from all of us at Wild At Hart Wildlife Rehabilitation, we hope you’re having the best day opossible! 🌎 💕 ☀️
We at Wild At Hart Wildlife Rehabilitation wish you a Hoppy Bunny Day & Happy International Bat Appreciation Day! 🐰 🦇
The sweet smell of…..skunk love? We have one type of skunk native to Ohio, the Striped Skunk. Skunk mating season typically begins in just a few days, around mid-February, just in time for Valentine’s Day. You may soon spot more skunks out & about looking for love when the sun goes down & that includes crossing the roads in search of a mate. Skunks aren’t quick & their vision is poor so please be kind & drive with care. These non-aggressive black & white beauties would prefer to walk away from a threat rather than spray, although they may as a last resort. Skunks first exhibit warning signs before spraying, such as foot stomping, back arching, tail raising & showing its hind end, warning signs our furry family members 🐾 don’t always pay attention to. This is a time to avoid the urge to run & instead move away slowly & quietly, doing so may help to avoid being sprayed. When it comes to diet, skunks are omnivores, meaning they eat a little bit of everything. Skunks are beneficial to humans as they eat insect pests & are even known to dig up & consume yellowjacket nests! As you can see in the video, the pattern of stripes in each skunk can vary greatly, making each one a little unique. 🦨💕
(Video: Wild At Hart Striped Skunk release 2021)
In remembrance of Betty White & in honor of what would have been her 100th Birthday, please consider accepting the , on this Monday January 17th, if you're able. This campaign urges Betty fans to support an animal rescue in memory of her & her legacy of helping animals in need. Join us in celebrating her life while helping to support local wildlife rehabilitation. Thank you! 🐰🦝🦨🦡🐁🦊
Happy New Year! As 2022 kicks off, we wanted to take a moment to thank all of you that made it possible for Wild At Hart to save many wild lives this past year. Whether you rescued an animal, made a donation, purchased items from our Amazon/Chewy Wishlists, chose us as your charity of choice at Krogers or Amazon Smile, provided a safe release site, donated useful goods, crafted bedding, denning or nest boxes, grew produce or just shared your kind words of support, we thank you! We also thank those who chose to remain anonymous for recent Amazon Wishlist donations & the mailed donation featuring a lovely John Keats quote. We feel fortunate everyday to help you, help wild animals in need, whether it’s an animal commonly admitted for rehabilitation or one that is less commonly admitted, like the Least Weasel featured in this video. Least Weasels are the smallest carnivore IN THE WORLD, & are native to Ohio. Isn’t that interesting? They are very small, rarely seen & secretive, using mouse tunnels in the grass to remain hidden as they move about hunting mice. A tiny trio came into care with us a few weeks ago, after a bale of hay was opened up & they came tumbling out. Because the location of the mother was unknown & they are too young to be on their own, they will remain in care until spring. Last but not least, we want to thank our amazing team, including our highly-skilled volunteer assistants & interns that have been so dedicated, generous & have worked tirelessly to provide optimal care for our animals in rehabilitation. We look forward to assisting our community with wildlife in 2022!
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays from all of us at Wild At Hart Wildlife!
However you celebrate, this Southern Flying Squirrel should bring you a little joy! These very small squirrels are native to Ohio & are found throughout our state but are nocturnal, so most people don’t see them as they only come out at night. She came to us as a tiny orphan & was successfully rehabilitated & released this past fall!
We recently received a call about an injured Big Brown bat found in the key drop at the McHugh Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Fiat dealership in North Zanesville & we affectionately named her McHughette.
She was unable to fly due to her injures, so we suspect she must have gone there in search of another mode of transportation…a new Bat Mobile perhaps?🦇 🚗 😁
But seriously, thankfully she found the help she so desperately needed, lucky for her, Chris F. was working that day & came to her rescue. Chris called us & began with “I don’t know if you’ll care or not”…, well, you found the right place Chris! She desperately wanted to find assistance for the bat & we understand why she wasn’t sure if we would accept bats for rehabilitation. They are often misunderstood & needlessly feared, however, we happen to specialize in their care & recently constructed a new building & flight enclosure dedicated to their rehabilitation needs, thanks in part to a cage building grant we were awarded from the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association earlier this year. Bats are highly intelligent, shy, non-aggressive creatures that are an invaluable part of our ecosystem. They provide us with the awesome service of eating the bugs that bug us, like mosquitos, as well as chowing down on insects that destroy our food crops, supplying farmers with billions (yes billions) of dollars of pesticide-free insect control.
We transported McHughette back to the Wild At Hart wildlife rehabilitation facility in South Zanesville, where we immediately warmed her, administered fluids for severe dehydration & began a regimen of medications to treat her pain & injuries. Once she was stabilized, we offered her nourishing food & a safe, quiet place to recover. She should have been tucked away hibernating this time of year & while she suffered significant trauma, she is healing quite well. Her appetite is fantastic & she will spend the winter with us getting lots of TLC. Thanks to the compassionate “battitude” of Chris, Kevin & the rest of the team at McHugh’s, this little bat will have a second chance at life!
Winter is officially here today & with it comes great opportunities for wildlife watching-whether at your feeders, possibly observing species that are only found here this time of year or while taking a winter hike & identifying tracks in the snow. Welcome winter! ❄️
❄️ This winter wren is wishing you a happy winter solstice!
This is the first day of winter (in the Northern Hemisphere) and the shortest day of the year. Luckily things will only get brighter from here, as the winter solstice means the return of more sunlight each day until we reach the summer solstice in June.
When “Bat”tholamew, an injured Big Brown Bat who is spending the the winter here at Wild At Hart recovering from a wing injury, was selected by CARA member Lisa G for the Crafters & Artisans for Rescue Animals (CARA) 1st annual Secret Santa event, we couldn’t wait to see what goodies Secret Santa Lisa had created for us. Batholamew received a box full of incredible, skillfully handmade nests & snuggle mats as well as several of our favorite items from our Amazon Wishlist- enough to share with some of our other wildlife currently in care! And the personalized card gave us such joy 🦇. We also received a bonus Secret Santa gift from CARA member Barb G, a beautiful hanging nest perfect for an injured bat we admitted last week, McHughette (look for her rescue story soon in an upcoming post). We are able to form these nests & mats into shapes that mimic crevices these bats love to snuggle into & when they feel safe & secure, it reduces stress which allows them to heal more quickly. We are so grateful that CARA exists & for all of the talents & generosity of the crafter & artisan members who have created these items for us & our wild creatures in care- we can see & feel the time, attention to detail & love put into each & every piece. Thank you so very much! 💫
From the Wild At Hart team, Happy Thanksgiving! As everyone is chowing down today, we wanted to take a moment to share (in between bites) how grateful we are to everyone who helped save Ohio’s wildlife by bringing them to us for rehabilitation. There is a phase we often use in this profession which is “animals don’t bring themselves in for care, people do”. What does this mean? It means that although we provide care, raise the little ones, treat injures, relieve pain, offer nutritious foods & give them a sanctuary for healing to prepare them for a life in the wild, we couldn’t do that without caring individuals who often go out of their way, sometimes facing criticism or ridicule from others, to rescue wild animals in need. So you, as the rescuers, are the first step in helping us to save lives. We bet you never thought of it like that, right? You all are amazing. So, thank you, to each & every one of you who have put even the tinies of lives above your own to give an animal a second chance at life, we are so grateful! 🍁
Skunk release! In Ohio, we have one species of skunk, the striped skunk. We admitted over a dozen baby skunks into care this season & in August we released a litter that were ready to go be wild skunks. As you can see, they get right to work doing what skunks do best, foraging for insects, many of these insects are pests to humans. Skunks are non-aggressive creatures & will only spray if threatened. Although they may stay in their den for periods of time during extreme weather, they don’t truly hibernate, so don’t be surprised if you see a skunk out & about this winter. Speaking of winter, each skunk typically has a different pattern of black & white, just like how no two snowflakes are the same. Skunks have poor eyesight & can’t move quickly, so if you encounter one while driving, be kind & try to avoid them if possible. Thank you to the Hoopes family for providing a safe release site with the perfect habitat for them to thrive! 🦨 💕
Good afternoon! We wanted to provide an update to everyone who has contacted us regarding the matter of the black vultures here in Zanesville. Wild At Hart immediately reached out to Mayor Mason who took the time to speak with us directly. We provided humane alternative options known to be effective in encouraging vultures to relocate & have offered our direct assistance as well. We support our affected community members who have experienced the negative impacts of the vulture issue, human-wildlife conflicts are inevitably becoming more frequent as our population grows. Resolving matters like this as humanely as possible, whenever possible, in ways that can be just as effective as other methods, allows us to co-exist with our local wildlife. Wild At Hart is always ready to assist with any human-wildlife conflicts that may arise in our community. Stay tuned!
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It’s finally here! Today we kick off Bat Week! Ohio’s government recognized National Bat Week beginning in 2019 & it takes place during the entire week of October 24th to October 31st every year. It is an international celebration to recognize the positive role of these highly intelligent & often misunderstood animals, as well as to bring attention to the need for their conservation & protection of their habitats. Want to learn more about our awesome bats of Ohio? Join Wild At Hart tomorrow evening, Monday October 25th, from 5:30-7:00pm at the Duncan Falls/Philo Branch of the Muskingum County Library System. Our Education & Outreach Specialist Nicole will share some interesting facts about bats & why they are so important through a short video presentation, a story, games & more! Additionally, we will briefly touch on how we’re helping our bats through wildlife rehabilitation & what to do if you find an injured or orphaned bat. We hope to see you there!
🦇💛🦇💛🦇💛🦇💛🦇💛🦇💛🦇
To register visit:
https://events.muskingumlibrary.org/event/5622126
222 Main Street, Duncan Falls, OH 43734
Are you feeling a little “squirrelly” today? So are we! This fall, we have had all 4 species of tree squirrels that are found throughout Ohio at once. The species are the Eastern Gray Squirrel, Eastern Fox Squirrel, Red Squirrel & the Southern Flying Squirrel. Second litter squirrel babies are typically born July- September in Ohio & to date this fall we have received over 40 orphaned & injured squirrels that were able to be saved, rehabilitated & released/will be released back into the wild! 🐿 💕
Happy Marsupial Monday! In honor of National Opossum Day yesterday, enjoy a slo-mo video of our resident education ambassador opossum, Stevie, on an enriching walk outside. Although she was born blind, she loves to go for walks- she can feel the grass beneath her feet, hear the crunch of leaves & take in all the smells of fall! 🎃 🍁
Join us THIS SATURDAY, October 9th, at a FREE, family-friendly event happening at the Muskingum Valley Park District Collegial Woods Trails from 5:oo-7:00pm. This thrilling Trick-or-Treat style event is brought to you by MVPD and area organizations. Visit our booth for candy, to learn about wildlife rehabilitation & to visit with some of our awesome educational ambassador animals!
Wear your costume, bring your candy collector bag, and walk the TRAIL OF TREATS!
Collegial Woods is located on the northern portion of the OUZ/Zane State College Campus at 1555 Newark Rd, Zanesville, Ohio 43701.
2900 Stine Road
Zanesville, OH
43701
| Monday | 9am - 6pm |
| Tuesday | 9am - 6pm |
| Wednesday | 9am - 6pm |
| Thursday | 9am - 6pm |
| Friday | 9am - 6pm |
| Saturday | 9am - 4pm |
| Sunday | 9am - 3pm |
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A few new arrivals!
The sweet smell of…..skunk love? We have one type of skunk native to Ohio, the Striped Skunk. Skunk mating season typically begins in just a few days, around mid-February, just in time for Valentine’s Day. You may soon spot more skunks out & about looking for love when the sun goes down & that includes crossing the roads in search of a mate. Skunks aren’t quick & their vision is poor so please be kind & drive with care. These non-aggressive black & white beauties would prefer to walk away from a threat rather than spray, although they may as a last resort. Skunks first exhibit warning signs before spraying, such as foot stomping, back arching, tail raising & showing its hind end, warning signs our furry family members 🐾 don’t always pay attention to. This is a time to avoid the urge to run & instead move away slowly & quietly, doing so may help to avoid being sprayed. When it comes to diet, skunks are omnivores, meaning they eat a little bit of everything. Skunks are beneficial to humans as they eat insect pests & are even known to dig up & consume yellowjacket nests! As you can see in the video, the pattern of stripes in each skunk can vary greatly, making each one a little unique. 🦨💕 (Video: Wild At Hart Striped Skunk release 2021)
Happy New Year! As 2022 kicks off, we wanted to take a moment to thank all of you that made it possible for Wild At Hart to save many wild lives this past year. Whether you rescued an animal, made a donation, purchased items from our Amazon/Chewy Wishlists, chose us as your charity of choice at Krogers or Amazon Smile, provided a safe release site, donated useful goods, crafted bedding, denning or nest boxes, grew produce or just shared your kind words of support, we thank you! We also thank those who chose to remain anonymous for recent Amazon Wishlist donations & the mailed donation featuring a lovely John Keats quote. We feel fortunate everyday to help you, help wild animals in need, whether it’s an animal commonly admitted for rehabilitation or one that is less commonly admitted, like the Least Weasel featured in this video. Least Weasels are the smallest carnivore IN THE WORLD, & are native to Ohio. Isn’t that interesting? They are very small, rarely seen & secretive, using mouse tunnels in the grass to remain hidden as they move about hunting mice. A tiny trio came into care with us a few weeks ago, after a bale of hay was opened up & they came tumbling out. Because the location of the mother was unknown & they are too young to be on their own, they will remain in care until spring. Last but not least, we want to thank our amazing team, including our highly-skilled volunteer assistants & interns that have been so dedicated, generous & have worked tirelessly to provide optimal care for our animals in rehabilitation. We look forward to assisting our community with wildlife in 2022!
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays from all of us at Wild At Hart Wildlife! However you celebrate, this Southern Flying Squirrel should bring you a little joy! These very small squirrels are native to Ohio & are found throughout our state but are nocturnal, so most people don’t see them as they only come out at night. She came to us as a tiny orphan & was successfully rehabilitated & released this past fall!
From the Wild At Hart team, Happy Thanksgiving! As everyone is chowing down today, we wanted to take a moment to share (in between bites) how grateful we are to everyone who helped save Ohio’s wildlife by bringing them to us for rehabilitation. There is a phase we often use in this profession which is “animals don’t bring themselves in for care, people do”. What does this mean? It means that although we provide care, raise the little ones, treat injures, relieve pain, offer nutritious foods & give them a sanctuary for healing to prepare them for a life in the wild, we couldn’t do that without caring individuals who often go out of their way, sometimes facing criticism or ridicule from others, to rescue wild animals in need. So you, as the rescuers, are the first step in helping us to save lives. We bet you never thought of it like that, right? You all are amazing. So, thank you, to each & every one of you who have put even the tinies of lives above your own to give an animal a second chance at life, we are so grateful! 🍁
Skunk release! In Ohio, we have one species of skunk, the striped skunk. We admitted over a dozen baby skunks into care this season & in August we released a litter that were ready to go be wild skunks. As you can see, they get right to work doing what skunks do best, foraging for insects, many of these insects are pests to humans. Skunks are non-aggressive creatures & will only spray if threatened. Although they may stay in their den for periods of time during extreme weather, they don’t truly hibernate, so don’t be surprised if you see a skunk out & about this winter. Speaking of winter, each skunk typically has a different pattern of black & white, just like how no two snowflakes are the same. Skunks have poor eyesight & can’t move quickly, so if you encounter one while driving, be kind & try to avoid them if possible. Thank you to the Hoopes family for providing a safe release site with the perfect habitat for them to thrive! 🦨 💕
It’s finally here! Today we kick off Bat Week! Ohio’s government recognized National Bat Week beginning in 2019 & it takes place during the entire week of October 24th to October 31st every year. It is an international celebration to recognize the positive role of these highly intelligent & often misunderstood animals, as well as to bring attention to the need for their conservation & protection of their habitats. Want to learn more about our awesome bats of Ohio? Join Wild At Hart tomorrow evening, Monday October 25th, from 5:30-7:00pm at the Duncan Falls/Philo Branch of the Muskingum County Library System. Our Education & Outreach Specialist Nicole will share some interesting facts about bats & why they are so important through a short video presentation, a story, games & more! Additionally, we will briefly touch on how we’re helping our bats through wildlife rehabilitation & what to do if you find an injured or orphaned bat. We hope to see you there! 🦇💛🦇💛🦇💛🦇💛🦇💛🦇💛🦇 To register visit: https://events.muskingumlibrary.org/event/5622126 222 Main Street, Duncan Falls, OH 43734
Happy Marsupial Monday! In honor of National Opossum Day yesterday, enjoy a slo-mo video of our resident education ambassador opossum, Stevie, on an enriching walk outside. Although she was born blind, she loves to go for walks- she can feel the grass beneath her feet, hear the crunch of leaves & take in all the smells of fall! 🎃 🍁
Happy Marsupial Monday! What are you dreaming about tiny one…? We know you miss your Mom Opossum, but you are safe with us now, to grow, to make friends with other opossums & will now have the chance to be wild & free once again someday. Yes, you’ll be able to run as fast as you want & travel wherever your heart (and your nose) takes you. With your pouch already growing, you’ll also have a family of your own littles to care for someday. Be kind & be sure to give opossums (and all wildlife) a “brake” while driving so little ones can be raised by their wild moms. 💗
Hope you’re having a Foxy 4th of July! 🇺🇸 🦊
When you’re sharing a salad & you feel like your friend is taking more than their fair share 😂… but that’s ok because that’s what friends are for. Even though these two little woodchucks aren’t siblings, they both came to us as orphans & have become the best of friends. They will spend some more time here growing & will be released together later this summer when they are ready to be wild & free once again.
Happy Magical Marsupial Monday! Although it’s been a while since our last post, that doesn’t mean we haven’t been hard at work for our wildlife & our community here at Wild At Hart. We’ve been busy caring for little ones-answering many daily phone calls to help however we can, reuniting babies with their mothers, admitting those who truly are orphaned or injured & feeding around the clock….& did we mention the cage cleanings? 💩 We thought we’d kick off the week with Magical Marsupial Monday- we think opossums are truly magical creatures. Did you know the Virginia Opossum is our ONLY marsupial in the United States? Marsupials are mammals that are born undeveloped & finish growing after they make their way to the mothers pouch. Yep, just like a kangaroo or koala. These little joeys rescued by Darcie D weigh a mere 21 grams, but they will grow to be healthy opossums ready to eat thousands of ticks EACH per season! That little “sneezing” sound you may hear in the background is how they call to their mother. A big thanks also to Barb C from CARA for the pouch & many other goodies so they can stay warm & snuggly as they grow! Stay tuned for next week’s Magical Marsupial Monday to see our other marsupials in care & learn more cool facts about opossums!
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