It is important to understand that all animals can bite and scratch, especially scared, injured ones. Your well meaning attempts at rescue can end up with you injured as well. States and the Federal government have laws and regulations concerning how to handle and deal with wildlife. In most cases, only licensed individuals can legally care for injured wildlife. Georgia requires that only licensed wildlife rehabilitators or veterinary personell care for injured wildlife. In addition, it is illegal to keep most wildlife in the state as a pet.
If you are at all uncertain of how to deal with an animal which you think has been injured, please use the following resources to get outside help.
Georgia Department of Rehabilitation, Wildlife Division, Special Permits Unit at:
770-761-3044 from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday
State Operations Center, after hours/Weekend emergency assistance:
800-241-4113 from 4:31 pm to 7:59 am Monday through Friday, and all day Weekends
Cochran Mill Nature Center – accepts native species, some exotic as space allows.
6300 Cochran Mill Road
Palmetto, Georgia 30268
770-306-0914 – call first
Chattahoochee Nature Center – accepts native reptiles, amphibians, and birds of prey
9135 Willeo Road
Roswell, Georgia 30075
770-992-2055 – call first
UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital Wildlife Treatment Center
Athens, Georgia 30602
706-542-3044 – call first
Support GRARE
The Georgia Reptile and Amphibian Rescue Effort, Inc.
Home of
Creepy Critters®: Funding GRARE Initiatives Through Educational Programming
(404) 386-2998 
Lawrenceville, Ga. 30044 info@grare.org Copyright 2001-2007