Keep Wild

05/30/2026

🐢 Turtle nesting season is underway in Massachusetts, and many native turtles are on the move in search of nesting sites. During this time of year, turtles frequently cross roads near wetlands, ponds, marshes, rivers, and other aquatic habitats, making them especially vulnerable to vehicle strikes.

If you see a turtle on the road, please remember that your safety comes first. Only stop if it is safe to do so. If you can safely assist, move the turtle in the direction it was already traveling. Never return a turtle to the side it came from, as it is likely trying to reach a nesting site or important habitat and will just try to cross the road again.

If you find an injured turtle, please don't assume that nothing can be done. Wildlife rehabilitators are often able to provide care, and even when a nesting female's injuries are too severe for rehabilitation, her eggs may still be viable and can sometimes be successfully incubated and hatched.

If you accidentally hit a turtle, or find one that has been struck by a vehicle, move it safely out of the roadway if possible, place it in a ventilated container, keep it in a quiet, shaded area, and contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible. Do not place injured turtles back into water unless instructed to do so.

Every turtle that safely reaches its destination has the chance to contribute to the future of our native wildlife. Please share this post to help spread awareness and protect Massachusetts turtles during nesting season. 💚🐢

05/30/2026

Me: I really need to stop taking rabbits due to allergies.

Also me:

05/27/2026

Two new intakes tonight.

A tiny little chipmunk found by an Amazon delivery driver in the middle of the road was the first. She is extremely underweight and dehydrated and was clearly desperate to have emerged from her burrow. She had dirt and debris in her mouth and pouches, so must have been on her own for a bit. She has some feistiness, but I’m worried about her prognosis based on her condition tonight.

I next accepted a cat-caught bunny from a resident in my town. There is a small amount of surface-level skin tearing, but more concerning is the rabbits inability to hop correctly. Fortunately, the hind end has sensation and I can’t feel any obvious breaks in the legs. I’ve administered pain meds and started antibiotics and hope those will help.

The hypothermic bun from the other day was deceased in his cage this morning, which came as a sad surprise. The rabbit had been eating well and was active and alert the night before. It’s hard to tell what’s truly going on inside their little bodies, but I imagine the period of time without food in the window well and then the exposure to cold rain was too much for him. These rabbits are breaking my heart this year for all kinds of reasons.

Please keep these two little fighters in your thoughts.

05/25/2026

I’ve had a hard time with cottontails this year. Over the winter, I developed an allergy to an adult rabbit I took in, and as baby season ramped up, it only got worse. After a lot of reflection, I’ve decided to pivot away from focusing primarily on cottontails and broaden the scope of animals I take into rehab — even if it’s just temporary triage and transfer to a long-term rehabber.

That’s not to say I’ll never take the occasional cottontail…but having a room constantly filled with rabbit dander just isn’t sustainable for my health.

So naturally, the obvious next move was to take in a cottontail last night. 🤪

This little one and his siblings had fallen into a window well a few days ago. When the homeowner discovered them, she got them out and they darted off into the yard. They were well-furred and old enough to be out of the nest.

Fast forward to yesterday, when she rediscovered one of the babies in rough shape — shaking, wet, and cold to the touch. I had her start warming him up with a rice sock, and she brought him to me right away. He was struggling to maintain his body temperature, so after giving warm fluids, I placed him in the incubator. He was super dehydrated, thin, and having irregularly formed p**p. In rabbit terms, that’s never a good sign, and I was worried his gut might not recover from the setback.

When I checked on him before bed to make sure he was still with us, he was alert and hopping around the incubator! I went ahead and offered a handful of foraged greens alongside his hay.

This morning, I’m thrilled to report that he not only ate every piece of food offered, but also produced lots of normal rabbit p**p!! 🎉

I’m hoping all systems are back online and that after a few days of good groceries and hydration, he’ll be ready to head back home

05/23/2026

Happy World Turtle Day!

We’re celebrating over here with Sharalanda the painted turtle and her 6 eggs in the incubator.

When you stop for a turtle crossing the road or bring an injured turtle to a rehabber, you may be saving more than just the one life. ❤️‍🩹

05/21/2026

05/21/2026

This adorable eastern grey squirrel was scooped up by a kind finder after she was observed on the porch for a day and was approaching humans.

Typically when we see these “attention-seeking” behaviors in grey squirrel youngsters, it’s a cry for help and reuniting is rarely successful unless there was a clear preceding event that resulted in the squirrel being displaced.

This little lady was dehydrated and thin and had some fleas. She’s active and alert and hoping for some friends in the near future!

05/20/2026

As rehabbers, we like to joke that frequently wildlife in need finds US.

But I think the more logical conclusion is that we are more likely to recognize when a wild animal needs help.

I was barely into my hike this morning when i saw a tiny little mammal leap through the leaves and cling to the back of a tree. Too small to be a squirrel. Mice don’t normally climb trees. I circled the tree and my mammal friend played a game of hide and seek but climbed no further up the tree and I was able to lay my eyes upon a tiny little chipmunk. Most people wouldn’t think twice. Oh, a baby chipmunk out of the nest to look for food. Mom is probably around. But I know better. Baby chipmunks aren’t something you normally observe because they are underground in their burrows until they’re nearly full size! A little chipmunk out on its own is an instant red flag and needs help. It was likely washed out of its burrow in yesterday’s downpour.

So I turned myself around and walked the half mile back to my car with this little chippy in my hand (thank you for not biting me, buddy). He is dehydrated and had some parasites, but otherwise seems in good shape.

Keep your eyes peeled for baby chipmunks - especially after rain storms - and call a licensed rehabber right away if you find one.

05/12/2026

A bunch of the littles started opening their eyes. It’s hard to get over how quickly they grow!

05/09/2026

With the weather finally warming up (maybe? Come on, New England), turtles are on the move. Female turtles are leaving their ponds, streams, rivers, and lakes in search of suitable nesting sites. Unfortunately, that journey often requires crossing roads (sometimes multiple times) which leads to a heartbreaking number of turtles being struck by cars.

If you come across a turtle that has been hit and can safely stop to check on it, please do. Even turtles with fatal injuries may still have viable eggs that can be incubated, hatched, and eventually released back into the wild. It’s not just one life that may be lost, it could be 10, 30, or even 80 future turtles as well.

If you find an injured turtle, please contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible.

Many people don’t realize how long turtles take to reach maturity. Female snapping turtles typically do not lay eggs until they are 15–20 years old, while painted turtles reach reproductive age around 8–10 years old. On top of that, it’s estimated that only about 1% of hatchlings survive to adulthood.

Every turtle matters.