7 Best Wildlife Rescues in Houston! (2024)

When we think about a busy metropolis like Houston, wildlife doesn’t immediately come to mind. But like most other cities, Houston has many vibrant wildlife populations. Many different wild animal species live in Houston and the surrounding area. 

Let’s learn about why wildlife ends up in rescues, why Houston has wildlife rescues, and the best wildlife rescues in Houston. 

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How Does Wildlife End Up in Rescues? 

Injury is the main reason wildlife ends up in rescues. Wildlife rescues have the necessary rehabilitation professionals and volunteers to nurse animals back to health so they can go back to the wild. 

In some cases, animals cannot be completely rehabilitated and must be kept in a rescue facility permanently. Many wildlife rescues have outdoor and indoor facilities to house unreleasable wildlife permanently.

A reputable wildlife rescue has appropriate facilities and expertise for the specific animals that it rescues. 

When Should You Contact a Wildlife Rescue? 

You should call a wildlife rescue if you encounter an animal that is injured, ill, abandoned, or orphaned. It’s usually pretty easy to tell if an animal is injured and sometimes when they’re ill, too. 

However, it’s sometimes harder to discern whether a baby animal has truly been abandoned or orphaned. You should know that some species sometimes leave their offspring alone for long periods, and the mother will return. 

Don’t immediately assume that a baby animal has been abandoned or orphaned. Instead, call one of the experts at the organizations we talk about here before you attempt to touch or handle it. 

Never put your own well-being at risk when dealing with wildlife. If you are concerned about getting bitten or injured, don’t touch the animal yourself. Instead, call a wildlife rescuer. 

Can You Adopt Wildlife?

No, you shouldn’t adopt wildlife. Wildlife is wildlife, and in most cases, you shouldn’t try to make these animals into pets.

There are exceptions, but overall, adopting wildlife is a bad idea. Instead of looking for adoptable wildlife, help support these animals in other ways. 

We can help wildlife by helping to preserve their habitats and the natural environment. Organizations that rescue wildlife care about the health and well-being of the animals they work with. 

Why Are There Wildlife Rescues in Houston? 

Houston needs wildlife shelters because of the abundance of different kinds of wild animals in Houston and its surrounding area. 

Examples of Houston-area wildlife include: 

• Bobcats 
• Bats
• Owls
• Hawks
• Squirrels
• Raccoons
• Deer
• Skunks
• Armadillos
• Coyotes
• Opossums
• Foxes
• Alligators
• Turtles 
• Reptiles and snakes

The Best Wildlife Rescues in Houston 

Houston has a variety of excellent wildlife rescue facilities. Here are some of the best ones below, including their contact information.

If you ever come across injured wildlife or wildlife otherwise in need of help, you should choose an appropriate rescue to call. 

1. Wildlife Center of Texas 

The Wildlife Center of Texas is one of the state’s most prominent wildlife rescues. It has an advanced rehabilitation program. 

It provides care for animals needing help because of injury and illness, as well as orphaned animals. Additionally, it helps oiled animals. This means animals that have been covered in oil due to spills. 

The Wildlife Center of Texas helps more than 12,000 animals annually. As well as being a wildlife rehabilitator, this center administers an impressive public education program.

It educates the public on how and why we should care about wildlife and their ecosystems. 

The Wildlife Center of Texas’s Oiled Wildlife Response team has the specialized expertise to help animals affected by oil spills on the Gulf Coast. 

Wildlife Center of Texas has impressive expertise in rehabilitating animals native to Texas. Check the organization’s website to learn about what to do if you find injured or orphaned wildlife. 

Wildlife Center of Texas Details: 

• Location: 7007 Old Katy Road, Houston, Texas 
• Website: Wildlife Center of Texas

2. The Houston Humane Society Wildlife Center

The Houston Humane Society offers an excellent wildlife rescue service in its Wildlife Center. This facility rescues and rehabilitates wildlife needing help because of illness, injury, or being orphaned. 

If you’ve found an injured animal, take a look at the Temporary Care Instructions that the organization sets out on its site. They will tell you how to help an animal while you wait for it to get help from the Houston Humane Society Wildlife Center. 

In fact, you’ll find a plethora of other kinds of information on wildlife on the Houston Humane Society Wildlife Center’s website. Take a few minutes to look at it now so you know what to do if you ever come across an animal that needs rescuing. 

The Houston Humane Society Wildlife Center rehabilitates animals with the goal of releasing them once they’re well and able to survive on their own. One common mistake is people thinking a baby animal has been abandoned.

If you think you see a baby deer or other animal that seems to be abandoned, look at this information first before making any assumptions. 

The Houston Humane Society Wildlife Center Details:

• Location: Houston, Texas
• Phone Number: 713-468-8972
• Website: Houston Humane Society Wildlife Center 

3. Humane Wildlife Control Specialists 

Available 24 hours a day, Humane Wildlife Control Specialists is a wildlife control service that Houston residents can depend on.

By contrast to some of the other rescues in Houston, Humane Wildlife Control Specialists focus more on wildlife control as opposed to rehabilitation. 

As such, this organization is the place to call if you have pest wildlife on your property, such as mice and other rodents, raccoons, and snakes.

Other animals with which Humane Wildlife Control Specialists work include wild cats (such as bobcats) and wild alligators. 

If you see an alarming snake on your property, Humane Wildlife Control Specialists is a great place to call. Of course, Humane Wildlife Control Specialists use humane and ethical practices. 

Humane Wildlife Control Specialists Details:

• Location: Houston, Texas
• Phone Number: 346-717-6329
• Website: Humane Wildlife Control Specialists 

4. Statewide Animal Control

Statewide Animal Control is a wildlife control (and rescue) service skilled enough to deal with animals as challenging as wild hogs! 

These hogs are becoming more of a problem in Texas, including the Houston area. If you have these animals on your property, you can call Statewide Animal Control for help. This organization is experienced in wild hog trapping. 

Of course, Statewide Animal Control also deals with a wide range of other wildlife. For example, the specialists there know how to rescue and remove snakes, bats, skunks, opossums, raccoons, bobcats, coyotes, bobcats, and otters. 

Statewide Animal Control Details:

• Location: Houston, Texas
• Phone Number:  713-417-7920 
• Email: [email protected] 
• Website: Statewide Animal Control 

5. Viking Wildlife Rescue

A smaller wildlife rescue found in Houston, Viking Wildlife Rescue, can deal with a range of wildlife rescue situations. You can call them if you see an injured animal. They are compassionate and care about wildlife. 

As well as rescuing wildlife, Viking Wildlife Rescue will remove wildlife that have become pests on your property. While this is a small operation, they’re highly responsive and will arrive quickly. 

Viking Wildlife Rescue Details:

• Location: 538 Yale Street, Houston, Texas 
• Phone Number: 281-216-1335

6. Texas Wildlife Rehabilitation Coalition (TWRC)

Texas Wildlife Rehabilitation Coalition (TWRC) has been operating in Houston since 1979. It specializes in helping abandoned, orphaned, injured, and ill wild animals.

This establishment may require that you bring the animal into the facility yourself, so that will be a limitation in some circumstances. 

When this organization started out in the late 1970s, it specialized in helping animals affected by oil spills. Today, it helps animals in various circumstances, and it also features an education branch. 

Texas Wildlife Rehabilitation Coalition Details: 

• Location: 10801 Hammerly Boulevard, Suite 200, Houston, Texas 
• Phone Number: 713-468-8972
• Website: Texas Wildlife Rehabilitation Coalition

7. 911 Wildlife 

911 Wildlife operates in four cities, and one of them is Houston. It’s a great place to call if you have a problem with wildlife on your property. You can rest assured that 911 Wildlife uses humane methods, never using any kind of poisons or cruel traps. 

As this business explains on its website, it only uses techniques approved by the Humane Society of the United States, as well as other well-known organizations such as the Houston SPCA. 

911 Wildlife Details: 

• Location: Harris County 
• Phone Number: 713-287-1911
• Website: 911 Wildlife 

Conclusion For “Best Wildlife Rescues in Houston”

If you’re a resident of Houston or the surrounding area, you’re bound to come across some of the local wildlife.

However, at some point, you might come across a wild animal that needs assistance. If this ever happens, consult this list of wildlife rescues in Houston. 

Remember, wildlife adoption is usually inadvisable. Wildlife rescues focus on rehabilitating wildlife and returning animals to the wild whenever possible. Wildlife rehabilitation takes special knowledge and facilities; you should leave it to the experts.

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For more information about Wildlife Animals, check out the video down below: