Rescuing Ocala Wildlife

Rescuing Ocala Wildlife is a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organization operating in the Ocala and Marion County area of central Florida. The organization is dedicated to rescuing injured, orphaned, and displaced native Florida wildlife, providing them with the medical care and rehabilitation they need, and ultimately releasing them back into their natural habitats. In a region as ecologically rich as Marion County, with its proximity to the Ocala National Forest, natural springs, and extensive wetlands, the need for wildlife rescue services is significant and ongoing.

The Ocala area is home to an extraordinary diversity of wildlife. The Ocala National Forest alone encompasses nearly 390,000 acres of sand pine scrub, longleaf pine flatwoods, and hardwood hammocks that support hundreds of species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. Florida black bears, white-tailed deer, gopher tortoises, barred owls, red-shouldered hawks, and countless songbird species all share this landscape with a growing human population. As development continues to expand into previously undeveloped areas of Marion County, encounters between wildlife and humans become more frequent, leading to injuries from vehicle strikes, window collisions, habitat displacement, and other human-caused hazards.

Wildlife rehabilitators like those with Rescuing Ocala Wildlife operate under permits from both the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and, for migratory bird species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These permits require adherence to strict protocols designed to ensure that animals receive proper care while minimizing habituation to humans. The goal is always to return the animal to the wild as a self-sufficient individual capable of finding food, avoiding predators, and contributing to its species' population in the region.

Common rescue situations in Marion County include baby birds that have fallen from nests, squirrels orphaned when their mother is killed by a vehicle or predator, raptors injured by car strikes or fishing line entanglement, gopher tortoises displaced by land clearing, and opossums found by the roadside. Spring and early summer are the busiest times for wildlife rescues, as this is when most species are nesting and raising young. Severe weather events, particularly hurricanes and tropical storms, can also create surges in wildlife rescue needs as animals are displaced from their habitats.

The work of wildlife rehabilitation is resource-intensive. Specialized diets, veterinary care, enclosures, and round-the-clock feeding schedules for baby animals all require time and money. Most wildlife rescue organizations operate as nonprofits and rely on donations, fundraising events, and volunteer support to sustain their operations. Community awareness and education are equally important, as many wildlife injuries can be prevented through simple measures like keeping cats indoors, driving cautiously at dawn and dusk, and knowing whom to call when an injured animal is found.

For Marion County residents who encounter injured or orphaned wildlife, the most important step is to contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator rather than attempting to care for the animal independently. Well-intentioned but improper care can worsen injuries, cause nutritional deficiencies, or lead to habituation that makes the animal unreleasable. Organizations like Rescuing Ocala Wildlife can provide guidance over the phone and arrange for rescue and transport when needed.