Est. 1977 · Austin, Texas
Keeping Austin wild.
Austin Wildlife Rescue: Texas’s largest nonprofit dedicated to native wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and release.
We care for orphaned, injured, and sick wild animals across Central Texas at no cost to the community.
Austin Wildlife Rescue · Capital Campaign
Help build our
new intake center.
Help create a permanent, 1,500-square-foot space for wildlife examination and stabilization before transport to our rehabilitation center.
Learn about the campaign$70,000 in matching gifts announced at kickoff.
Plan your visit
Our current
Intake Center
Where to find us, and what we accept.
For animal drop-offs, use our current Austin or Elgin locations below. Our Austin Intake Center is in a temporary location just off I-35. The capital campaign is for a future, permanent intake center.
Austin · Temporary public drop-off location
Temporary Austin Intake Center
811 E. 13th Street, Austin, TX 78702
Open 9am–4pm daily. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Bring injured or orphaned animals here during open hours. No appointment needed, ring the front doorbell.
Elgin · Open 9am–4pm daily for drop-offs
Main Rehabilitation Center
111 Elbow Bend, Elgin, TX 78621
Animals are transferred to Elgin from our Austin Intake Center each day after 4pm. While we welcome drop-offs for orphaned or sick native Texas wildlife at either location, we are not open to the public for viewing due to state regulations.
What we accept
We help all native Texas wildlife in need — songbirds, raptors, fawns, opossums, raccoons, cottontail rabbits, squirrels, reptiles, and more.
What we can’t accept
Domestic animals, adult deer (no spots), Muscovy ducks, Monk parakeets, feral hogs, and other non-native species. Find out why →
Austin Wildlife Rescue is unable to pick up or transport animals.
About Austin Wildlife Rescue
Wild lives.Second chances.
Austin Wildlife Rescue is a nonprofit wildlife rehabilitation center serving Central Texas. For nearly 50 years, since 1977, we’ve rehabilitated and released native Texas animals back to the wild, and helped our community learn to coexist with its wild neighbors.
Every year, we care for more than 10,000 orphaned, injured, and sick wild animals: songbirds, raptors, opossums, raccoons, cottontail rabbits, squirrels, reptiles, and more.
Get to know our work
Animals admitted this year
Each one a wild life worth caring for.
- 1977
- The year our work began
- 187,909+
- Through our doors since we began
Opossums, barn owls, armadillos — and so many more.Rescue. Rehabilitate. Release.
Care doesn’t stop
Help their next
chapter begin.
A monthly gift helps provide food, medicine, and ongoing care for native Texas wildlife. Here’s what your support can make possible.
Our work in action
The work behind every release.
More wildlife stories on our YouTube channel
Get involved
More than one way to help.
Volunteer
Hands-on support for wildlife care at our Rehabilitation Center in Elgin. Explore seasonal individual volunteering and year-round group opportunities.
Explore volunteeringInternships
Hands-on wildlife care alongside our rehab team. Most credit-bearing placements run through summer — our peak intake season — with spring and fall inquiries also welcome.
Explore internshipsEmployment
Paid roles at our Austin Intake Center and Elgin Rehabilitation Center, posted as they open.
See current openingsWith deep gratitude
Thank you to
our supporters.
Care for every animal is made possible by the businesses, foundations, and community partners who stand alongside us. Their support keeps our doors open and our wildlife care going.
Community supporters & 2026 event partners
