As the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Northern Utah continues to monitor Coronavirus (COVID-19) developments closely, the health and well-being of our staff, volunteers, community, and wildlife patients and ambassadors are of the utmost importance to us. By keeping everyone as safe as possible, we can work toward keeping our doors open to provide these core services to our community.
We are monitoring information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as federal, state and local agencies to help ensure our actions are in line with the latest recommendations and guidance. We are communicating regularly with our staff and volunteers in order to keep them informed and to ensure their safety and that of the public.
We have modified our intake process to help us maintain a safe environment and maintain social distancing.
1. Most important, please be sure to CALL FIRST to schedule an appointment. Please do not come to WRCNU without calling first. We can be reached at 801-814-7888 from 10 am until 6 pm. Please do not leave messages, continue to call until you are able to reach us. Please be patient as we are busy caring for many patients already in our care with a very small staff. If you already have an animal contained, please do not feed, or offer water, or handle the animal, and keep it in a quiet dark location until you are able to contact us.
2. We may request you send a photo by text message to help us determine if the animal needs to come into care. Please do not text unless it is requested. As we enter baby season, this will become even more important so that no one makes a trip for a healthy baby that does not need help and this will also ensure we have space for babies that don’t have other options. We are happy to discuss reuniting strategies if that is the case.
3. If we determine the animal should come in for care, we will gather all the information we need from you to complete our admission form over the phone, and then schedule an appointment time to arrive at the wildlife center with the animal. During the phone intake process, you will be given a patient case number. You will need this number to admit the animal. You may also use this number to check up on the animal’s status. Check-up calls are accepted between 1 pm to 4pm daily. Please consider making a donation at this time to ensure that we are able to continue this valuable service. Appointment times will be staggered to help eliminate overlapping of others dropping off an animal when you arrive—we ask that you do your best to be on-time for your appointment.
PLEASE: THERE IS A LIMIT OF ONLY ONE PERSON IN THE BUILDING LOBBY AT ONE TIME. DO NOT BRING IN YOUR CHILDREN OR OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS OR FRIENDS--THANK YOU!
4. Please secure the animal for transportation in a container that you do not need back. We typically recommend a cardboard box of appropriate size with a towel on the bottom. The box should be just big enough that the animals can stand comfortably yet not so big that they are able to move so much they may further injure themselves. A cozy dark box is actually very calming to them and allows them to feel safely hidden. If you are not able to leave the container please inform staff in advance and we will give you directions.
5. When you arrive at WRCNU, bring the animal into the lobby. For your safety, we are carefully sanitizing surfaces and door handles after each patient has been delivered—we have also installed a Plexiglas barrier at our front desk. Place the container with the animal, closed and secured inside, on the table in the lobby and then let our desk person know the case number.
6. Wildlife staff will come out to pick up the animal in the lobby drop-off area after you have left building.
Thank you for taking the time and effort to help our sick, injured and orphaned wildlife as well as for your cooperation and support during this challenging time—please stay safe and well.
