Austin Wildlife Rescue: Texas’s largest nonprofit dedicated to native wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and release.
Keeping Austin WILD since 1977. Open every day of the year, we care for orphaned, injured, and sick wild animals at no cost to the community.
Two ways to be part of this year’s brunch.
Become a sponsor → Donate an auction item →Our Intake Center
Austin Wildlife Rescue's Intake Center recently relocated to make it easier for our community to reach us. Find us at our new front door, just off I-35 — details below.
Where to find us, and what we accept.
Temporary Intake Center
811 E. 13th Street, Austin, TX 78702
Open 9am–4pm daily, every day of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Bring injured or orphaned animals here during open hours. No appointment needed, ring the front doorbell.
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
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. 187,909 animals have come through our doors since we began.
Recurring gifts keep our intake doors open every day of the year.
More than one way to help.
Volunteer
Hands-on help with daily wildlife care, intake support, and events. No experience required — we'll train you.
Internships
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.
Employment
Paid roles at our Austin Intake Center and Elgin Rehabilitation Center, posted as they open.
Thank you to our supporters.
Every animal we treat is made possible by the businesses, foundations, and community partners who stand alongside us. Their support keeps our doors open and our team in the field.