About
Keep Wild is an in-home wildlife rehabilitator center located in Dover, Massachusetts. Our focus is on rehabilitating orphaned and injured wildlife that is in need of assistance and educating and empowering the public to aid in conserving our native species. As a small organization, we have limited capacity, but do our best to assist in finding an appropriate rehabber if we are unable to take an animal. Please remember that we, and all the other rehabilitators in the state, are volunteers. The state does not pay us for our time or for the care of wildlife. We have families and jobs and other obligations and are not always available to answer our phones right away. Our Resources page contains links and phone numbers to wildlife centers and other agencies that may be able to offer guidance or assistance if you are unable to immediately get in touch with us or another rehabilitator.
Species we rehabilitate
Eastern cottontails, first and foremost!
​We have primarily focused on rabbits for the 2024 season and are now excited to rehabilitate other species, including Eastern grey squirrels, red squirrels, Virginia opossums, turtles, and snakes. Please text the number listed below to inquire about any species of reptile or mammal you have concerns about and we will do our best to help find placement.
Rabies-vector species
Rabies-vector species (RVS) in MA include raccoons, skunks, foxes, bats, groundhogs, weasels, fishers, and coyotes. We are unable to accept RVS at this time, but can offer advice. Please reach out via text or find a rehabilitator that specializes in the species you are concerned about.
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**Note about RVS** We cannot stress enough the importance of using the utmost caution when it comes to rabies-vector species. NEVER handle a RVS with bare hands, even if it appears healthy or is a young orphan. Always use heavy-duty gloves or towels if you need to handle an RVS and only do so if you feel that you can safely contain the animal without injury to yourself or others.
Rabies is a virus transmissible to humans and pets through saliva and mucus from an infected animal. If you are concerned that you or a child may have come in direct contact with a RVS, it is imperative to call your primary care physician as soon as possible to discuss your risk and to receive post-exposure vaccinations if needed. Once an animal or person begins to show symptoms of rabies, the virus is fatal.
Endangered species
We are not able to rehabilitate threatened or endangered species A list of endangered species in MA can be found here.
If you are not sure if you have found a threatened or endangered species, please contact us or directly reach out to MassWildlife's Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program
Excluded species
Wildlife rehabilitators are not able to care for white-tailed deer, black bears, venomous snakes, or moose. If you have questions or concerns regarding these species, contact Massachusetts Environmental Police at 1-800-632-8075.
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Most wildlife rehabilitators are not authorized for the rehabilitation of coyotes, fishers, bobcats, river otters, and beavers. These require special permission from Mass Wildlife.
Meet the rehabber
My name is Lauren and I am a state licensed wildlife rehabilitator in Massachusetts. I run Keep Wild out of my family home in Dover, MA. I have spent my whole life loving animals and have spent nearly my entire professional career working with them in some capacity. While pursuing my degree in Wildlife Biology, I worked in a pet store and enjoyed caring for various small mammals, reptiles, and fish while also interacting with people and helping to educate them on how to best provide for their personal pets. Post-college, I briefly took an office job and quickly learned that it wasn't the path I was destined to follow and I began volunteering at both a zoo and a wildlife center. I eventually accepted a full-time position as a zookeeper and educator and spent nearly a decade at the same facility.
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I led the ambassador and reptile department by providing exceptional animal care through enrichment, training, and medical care as needed. I trained staff and interns, created policies and procedures, and provided on-site education presentations and programs to the public. As I grew within my role, I found myself focusing more and more on native species. I enjoyed creating programming about wildlife one might encounter in their own backyard. It was an opportunity to dispel myths, to talk about the threats to and the benefits of native animals in the ecosystem, and to foster in the public an appreciation for the wildlife that we share our everyday lives with. Wildlife rehabilitation was a logical next step for me to take.
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When I'm not rehabilitating animals, I'm spending time with my young family, my pets, and breathing in nature. I am an avid birder and hobbyist wildlife photographer. These interests pair nicely and I spend a considerable amount of my free time in the woods, trying to see, hear, and recognize different species of birds. I also enjoy reading a variety of fiction literature, listening to audiobooks and to true-crime podcasts, completing jigsaw puzzles, and researching genealogy. I am on the board of Wildlife Rehabilitators' Association of Massachusetts where I endeavor to make more of a difference in the lives of wildlife and other rehabilitators in the state.
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