Wildlife Center of Long Island

Wildlife Center of Long Island WCLI is a fully staffed wildlife rehabilitation and education center established in 1982. Our hospital admits over 2,300 injured & orphaned animals each year.
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Wildlife Center of Long Island (formerly Volunteers for WIldlife) is a non-profit wildlife hospital & education center located in Huntington, NY. Please call 516-674-0982 or email [email protected] for assistance.

09/02/2026

Learning to eat on your own can be a messy business! These young Virginia Opossums are taking an important step toward independence by eating from a dish. As they continue to grow stronger and more self-sufficient, they’ll move closer to their ultimate goal: release back into the wild! 🐾

08/29/2026

Our injured & orphaned baby mammal patients are weighed daily so we can calculate exactly how much formula they need. While many infant mammals—like squirrels—have a stomach capacity of about 5% of their body weight, baby rabbits can hold roughly twice that amount!

This larger stomach allows a baby bunny to take in plenty of milk during the brief once- or twice-daily visits from its mother. 🐰 🍼

What does a typical day of admissions at our wildlife center look like?These four birds are just some of today’s new pat...
08/20/2026

What does a typical day of admissions at our wildlife center look like?

These four birds are just some of today’s new patients: a Mourning Dove injured in a suspected cat attack, a Canada Goose with two dislocated shoulders, and a Song Sparrow and Herring Gull both showing signs of trauma—likely from collisions.

We also admitted a baby rabbit believed to have been caught by a cat and a nestling robin injured after falling from its nest.

Each case begins with our hotline team reviewing photos & videos, identifying the species, and determining the best course of action. Six different patients, six individual treatment plans—and all in a day’s work.

Why do so many birds get stuck to glue traps? It often starts with an insect.Glue boards trap flies, moths, beetles, and...
08/08/2026

Why do so many birds get stuck to glue traps? It often starts with an insect.

Glue boards trap flies, moths, beetles, and other insects. Birds that feed on those insects land to grab an easy meal, only to become trapped themselves.

This little Song Sparrow was fortunate to be rescued and brought to Wildlife Center of Long Island, where she’s receiving treatment and supportive care. Many of her delicate feathers were torn out and it will take weeks for them to fully regrow.

Glue traps don’t just catch “pests.” They become deadly hazards for birds and other wildlife. Choosing humane alternatives such preventative home sealing (exclusion), natural scent deterrents like peppermint oil, and live catch-and-release traps helps prevent unnecessary suffering and keeps our wildlife safe.

Pile O’ Possums! 🩶Our nursery is full of opossums right now—including these adorable orphaned joeys! We also have severa...
08/06/2026

Pile O’ Possums! 🩶

Our nursery is full of opossums right now—including these adorable orphaned joeys! We also have several other juveniles and a mother opossum in care recovering from a skull & jaw fracture, while her tiny pinkies remain safely tucked away in her pouch.

If you’d like to help support their care, we’re currently in need of:

- Cat food
- Formula
- Baby food
- Puppy pads

These items can all be found on our Amazon Wish List (link below). Every donation helps provide the specialized care these incredible patients need. Thank you! 🐾

Good luck little ones! 🐾We recently released 5 juvenile Virginia Opossums back to the wild after raising them at our cen...
08/02/2026

Good luck little ones! 🐾

We recently released 5 juvenile Virginia Opossums back to the wild after raising them at our center.

Wishing these youngsters long, healthy lives filled with exploring the woods, finding plenty of insects, snails, and other natural foods, and helping keep tick populations in check along the way!

This young Canada Goose was rescued yesterday from Seaman’s Neck Park in Seaford after becoming entangled fishing tackle...
07/30/2026

This young Canada Goose was rescued yesterday from Seaman’s Neck Park in Seaford after becoming entangled fishing tackle. (Thanks volunteer Eric for visiting the park multiple times for this rescue!)

The large treble hook had punctured through the goose’s chest, causing two deep and painful wounds. He’s now safe in our care and our rehabilitators were able to cut the barbed hooks and carefully remove the tackle from the goose. This goose will receive pain medication, antibiotics, and the wound treatment he needs to heal.

Please remember: every piece of fishing line, every hook, and every lure left behind can become a life-threatening trap for wildlife. Cleaning up fishing gear and other litter from the environment helps keep our wildlife safe. 🎣🗑️

This Great Blue Heron was found this morning at Twin Ponds Preserve in Centerport after repeatedly attempting to fly but...
07/25/2026

This Great Blue Heron was found this morning at Twin Ponds Preserve in Centerport after repeatedly attempting to fly but falling back to the ground. Our hotline staff member, Arianna, grabbed safety goggles (check out that beak!), a long net, a towel, and a carrier, and set out to rescue the bird. It was a tricky rescue as the heron quickly retreated into thick brush.

An examination at our wildlife hospital revealed the bird is severely emaciated. We are now working to stabilize this patient before performing diagnostic testing to determine the underlying cause. Thank you to the caring person who called for help and gave this heron a second chance!

These two young Tree Swallows were found earlier this summer by Good Samaritans along the Long Beach boardwalk. Both arr...
07/17/2026

These two young Tree Swallows were found earlier this summer by Good Samaritans along the Long Beach boardwalk. Both arrived at our wildlife center dehydrated and underweight, and we suspect they had been orphaned.

Raised together in our care, these little swallows grew from fragile nestlings into strong young birds ready for life in the wild. Once fully independent, they were released at Avalon Nature Preserve in St. James, where they joined a flock of wild Tree Swallows.

Thank you to everyone who has donated mealworms & other supplies to support our wildlife patients. Your generosity helps make stories like this possible!

Nature’s artwork 🎨Every Eastern Box Turtle has a unique shell pattern, with no two individuals looking exactly alike. Th...
07/17/2026

Nature’s artwork 🎨

Every Eastern Box Turtle has a unique shell pattern, with no two individuals looking exactly alike. The shell pattern provides vital camouflage, mimicking the dappled light & shadows of the forest floor.

This beautiful turtle is currently recovering in our care from a leg injury and has been making great progress over the past few weeks. Once fully recovered, he’ll be released back to his home in Brookville. 🐢

Address

Huntington, NY
11743

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm
Saturday 8am - 4pm
Sunday 8am - 4pm

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