South Jersey Wildlife Rehabilitation

09/10/2026

She was a rust-coloured puppy pouncing on grasshoppers in July, and she is nearly grown now, thin-legged, out alone at dusk, still unsure about the dog.

If she took a hen this summer, that was her. A fox will, and the coop shut at dusk is the answer. An adult cat is rarely worth the fight to her. A kitten left out at night can be.

Sometime this fall, most likely October, she will simply not be there. Young foxes leave to find ground nobody owns. Females settle a mile or a few off. Her brothers go farther, and tracking studies have followed a few fifty miles or more. By Christmas the yard is quiet.

Most do not see a first birthday. The studies put the losses well over half, some as high as eight in ten, to cars and mange. She knows where the mice live.

In January you may hear a scream in the dark that sounds like someone hurt. It is a fox calling for a mate. It may be her. 🦊

08/21/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1DYPYsKk9x/?mibextid=wwXIfr

She taught him everything. How to open bins. How to find water. How to avoid dogs. And this week, she told him to leave.
August: raccoon juvenile dispersal season.
WHY THEY'RE EVERYWHERE RIGHT NOW:
→ Raccoon kits born in March–April
→ Spend spring and early summer learning from mom
→ August: mother pushes juveniles out to find their own territory
→ Young raccoons suddenly appear alone, confused, clumsy
→ They raid trash cans they haven't yet mastered
THE REALITY:
→ They are NOT rabid (daytime activity in young raccoons = normal confusion)
→ They are NOT aggressive (they're scared)
→ They're learning — expect mess, noise, and chaos
→ Most will establish territory within 2–3 weeks and settle down
RACCOON INTELLIGENCE:
→ Can remember solutions to problems for 3+ years
→ Open complex latches, unscrew jars, turn doorknobs
→ Wash food in water ("lotor" = washer in Latin)
→ 5x more sensory nerve endings in paws than most mammals
→ Problem-solving ability comparable to monkeys in studies
COEXISTENCE:
→ Secure trash cans (bungee cord or locking lid)
→ Bring pet food inside at night
→ Cap chimneys with wildlife-rated caps
→ Don't leave pet doors open overnight
→ Never feed raccoons — it creates dangerous dependency
That confused raccoon on your fence tonight?
He's a 5-month-old starting his adult life.
Give him a week. He'll either move on or become your most competent neighbor.

07/28/2026

06/11/2026

Be that weird guy who pulled over and checked on the animal that was hit by a car to see if it was still alive and needed help.

Be the construction worker that left work early while his buddies laughed at him because he found an injured squirrel and wanted to get it to safety.

Be the irritating woman who isn’t afraid to stop traffic because a mama duck is trying to cross the road with her babies.

Be the gross person who isn’t disgusted by a mangy fox and sees it as an animal that needs help from the right people.

Be the aggravating informant who tells the guy buying rat poison what it does to our local wildlife.

Be the uncool kid who stops his friends from trying to hurt a snake they found for fun.

When we start feeling bad or embarrassed for showing EMPATHY toward another and trying to SAVE A LIFE, then we have let the opinions of others mean WAY too much.

Never apologize for being a good and caring human being. There aren’t enough in this world.

Jane Newhouse
Newhouse Wildlife Rescue

04/10/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/18Y7pa2PFg/?mibextid=wwXIfr

If you're planning to trim the hedge this weekend — wait.

Between April and August, dense shrubs and hedges are active nest sites. Cardinals, mockingbirds, catbirds, and sparrows build deep inside the thickest growth because the density protects them from predators and weather.

You can't see the nest from outside. That's the whole point 🪺

The blade doesn't have to hit the nest directly. The vibration alone can cause a nesting bird to abandon eggs she's been incubating for days. She won't come back. The eggs go cold.

How to check before you cut:

- Walk slowly along the hedge
- Watch for a bird flying out as you approach
- If one exits — there's a nest inside. Back off.

The shaggy hedge isn't lazy landscaping. Between April and August, it's the safest structure in the yard for nesting birds. Trim in late August, after the last broods have fledged 🌿

03/15/2026

We aren’t licensed to work with foxes, we are glad to help give the ones that end up in harms way a final resting place. Luke and his team do great work and truly care.

02/21/2026

Happy Saturday. We are in urgent need of roofing materials and are seeking to raise approximately $380 to cover the costs. I am aware that financial constraints are a challenge for many, given the current economic climate and inflated (looking ayou ACE AND SJ GAS, lol) utility bills. However, I am reaching out for assistance as our previous attempts to repair the leaking seam on our barn’s attached pen have been unsuccessful- we had a guy out to attempt to fix 3x. The recent snowfall has exacerbated the issue, resulting in water damage to the roof structure where some of our birds reside. To rectify this situation, we will need 12 corrugated tin roofing panels and corresponding screws, totaling around $380. Any contributions would be greatly appreciated.
For those who are unable to donate, kindly consider sharing this request. Thank you for your continued support. - Angie 🦆.
To contribute, please use the following:

Venmo: -gorham
PayPal: [email protected]

02/21/2026

Happy Saturday. We are in urgent need of roofing materials and are seeking to raise approximately $380 to cover the costs. I am aware that financial constraints are a challenge for many, given the current economic climate and inflated (looking ayou ACE AND SJ GAS, lol) utility bills. However, I am reaching out for assistance as our previous attempts to repair the leaking seam on our barn's attached pen have been unsuccessful- we had a guy out to attempt to fix 3x. The recent snowfall has exacerbated the issue, resulting in water damage to the roof structure where some of our birds reside. To rectify this situation, we will need 12 corrugated tin roofing panels and corresponding screws, totaling around $380. Any contributions would be greatly appreciated.
For those who are unable to donate, kindly consider sharing this request. Thank you for your continued support. - Angie 🦆.
To contribute, please use the following:

Venmo: -gorham
PayPal: [email protected]

02/14/2026

SHE IS DEAD. THEY ARE NOT. 🚗🐀

It is Pouch Season (Late Feb - March). You see an Opossum hit by a car on the side of the road. You keep driving. "It's too late," you think.

Turn around.

The Opossum is North America's only Marsupial. That means the mother is just a vehicle; the babies are passengers in a safe, warm "External Womb." The mother can be gone, but the 13 babies inside her pouch are often perfectly healthy, waiting to be saved.

Here is the science of "The Pouch Check":

1. The Survival Capsule 🛡️ Opossum babies are born the size of a honeybee. They live inside the pouch for months. The pouch is insulated, fur-lined, and tough. It acts like a crash helmet and an incubator. Babies can survive for hours inside a deceased mother.

2. The "Ni**le Lock" (DO NOT PULL) ⚠️ This is the most important rule. When a baby opossum latches on, the ni**le swells inside its mouth to keep it from falling out. They are physically locked on. If you try to pull them out, you will rip their mouths open and kill them. The Protocol:

Move the mother’s body to safety (wear gloves!).

Check the belly. If you feel lumps or see movement in the pouch...

Do not remove the babies.

Put the whole mother in a box or towel.

Drive to a Wildlife Rehabber. Let them surgically detach the babies.

3. The "Pink" Check 🕵️‍♀️ If the babies are pink and moving, they are alive. If they are grey and cold, it has been too long. But in February, the cold air preserves the babies longer than in summer. It is always worth a look.

One stop can save 13 lives.



📌 Quick FAQ
Q: Won't she bite me? A: Make sure she is dead. ☠️ Poke the rear leg with a stick first. If there is no reflex, she is gone. Opossums "play dead" (catatonia) when scared, but a road-hit animal usually shows other signs of trauma.

Q: Is it illegal to transport them? A: Technically, maybe. 🚓 In some states, transporting wildlife is restricted. However, if you are driving directly to a licensed rehabber or vet, you are usually covered under "Good Samaritan" protocols. Call the rehabber first; they will tell you what to do.

Q: Can I raise them? A: No. 🚫 Baby opossums require a specialized tube-feeding diet (their stomachs are tiny). Cow's milk kills them. They also suffer from Metabolic Bone Disease (rickets) if they don't get massive amounts of calcium. They need a pro.