West Sound Wildlife Shelter

Behind every rescue, every late-night intake, every clean enclosure, every meal prepared, every transport, every answered phone call, and every second chance… there’s a volunteer making it happen.
 
Our volunteers are the heartbeat of West Sound Wildlife Shelter. They show up with compassion, dedication, patience, and an incredible love for wildlife — often fueled by coffee and determination. From caring for our tiniest patients to supporting our education and outreach efforts, they give so much of themselves to help wild animals heal and return home where they belong.
 
To every single volunteer who gives their time, energy, and heart to this work: thank you. We simply could not do this without you.
 
You are truly the secret ingredient.

Robins galore!

Say hello to one of our most common baby bird patients! Right now, American Robins make up about 10% of our patient load, with most of those being juveniles. Above is a video of a few of our current fledgling being fed in their weigh box before returning to their enclosure. These adaptable little birds thrive in suburban environments, where lawns provide plenty of worms and insects to eat. As members of the thrush family, robins also snack on berries and even spiders!

One common misconception is that robins completely migrate away for winter. In Washington’s temperate climate, many actually stay year-round. They’re just less noticeable in colder months, when frozen ground makes worms harder to find and they rely more on berries and flying insects for food.

Right now, though, robin fledglings are everywhere, learning how to fly and forage on their own. It’s completely normal to see them spending time on the ground, so watch your step! If you’re ever concerned about a baby robin, give West Sound Wildlife Shelter a call, we’re always happy to help make sure these feathered friends stay safe.

Look what the wind blew in!

This Barred owl chick was found in a Bremerton park after a good samaritan noticed him alone on the ground in the late evening. After carefully containing the chick, she held him overnight and brought him to us first thing in the morning. With no mom or nest in sight, this owlet was in need of our help. After assessing the chick for injuries, we found he had a clean bill of health!

Young birds tend to thrive better with others of their species in rehabilitation. As we did not have another owlet of his size, we contacted our friends at Discovery Bay Wild Bird Rescue to see if they would be able to help. Luckily, they had another owlet close in age, and an adult Barred owl that can be a role model for them. Now, the owlet is being carefully raised by Discovery Bay and seems to be enjoying their time! Thank you for providing the best care for this baby. It takes a village!

It all starts with someone noticing something small.

In this case, that little something was nestling Hairy woodpecker 26-366! This little fellow was found on the ground Thursday afternoon after taking a tumble out of his nest. The good samaritan that found him made short work in contacting our Shelter, and our dedicated staff guided him on how to wait for mom and dad to return. Unfortunately, there was no nest in sight. At the end of the day, he was brought to the shelter for some supportive care and a physical exam.

In the morning, we got great news! The nest was spotted, and the parents were seen actively tending to his siblings. Two of our staff members were able to transport the healthy baby from the Shelter and renest him with his siblings! Renesting is often not an option for several reasons, including the baby being in ill health, the parents not being present, or the nest being inaccessible. In these rare cases when we’re able to access the nest, putting the baby back is always favorable as the parents can provide the most natural care. Happy endings all around!!

Fast. Fierce. Feathered.
 
Did you know the Peregrine Falcon is the fastest animal on Earth, reaching diving speeds up to 242 mph? From speedy hawks to swift little hummingbirds, our patients come equipped with some seriously impressive flight skills!
 
We rounded up the top speeds of a few of the incredible birds we’ve had in our care. Which one surprises you most?