Second Chance Wildlife Center
3.9 from 172 reviews
Address 7101 Barcellona Dr, Gaithersburg, MD 20879
Phone Number +13019269453
Description Founded in 1995, Second Chance Wildlife Center is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit facility providing skilled and compassionate emergency treatment and long-term rehabilitative care to injured, ill, and orphaned wildlife with the goal of releasing healthy animals back to their intended roles in nature. We also work to educate the public on how to safely coexist with their wildlife neighbors. Each year, residents, animal services officers, and others bring nearly 3,000 wild animals in need to our door knowing that we care deeply about each one and that we are licensed to operate under permits issued by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Website http://www.scwc.org/
Alejandro Saavedra (Al)
I found a big brown bat on a neighbor’s car in July 2024. It looked weak and possibly near death. Ian at the second chance wildlife center was very helpful over the phone and greeted me when I arrived. I was very happy to hear that the clinical team was able to release the little guy (who I’d taken to calling Bruce Wayne) after a veterinarian had adjusted a locates thumb and he recovered for 18 days at the center.
Michael McAleer
Found baby squirrel in middle of the road. Took him straight there on a Sunday. Good people to care for our natural critters. Coexist with nature.
changhong liu
We had a horrible experience with Second Chance and I definitely DO NOT recommend this place if you want to have a higher and better chance for the poor animals to have a second chance to live. Here is what happened: we hatched a Canada Geese egg when we found it in the middle of the road in our neighborhood. It was amazing to see how the little thing made it to the world and how fast he grew. He brought a great joy to my family and became part of the family member. Unfortunately, I learnt that they shouldn’t be kept by human and are protected when I was trying to find a forever home for him. I tried some sanctuaries and farms, who recommended me to bring it to a rehabilitation center and Second Chance was place we found online. I tried to call Second Chance and the staff encouraged me strongly to bring the gosling in but did said he must’ve imprinted on humans. If that happened, the chance to release it would be little but they would try to keep it with other goslings and teach him how to be a goose. That way, I trusted their expert view and dropped our gosling there on the next day (May 28th). We didn’t realize that the worst case scenario was to euthanize the gosling until after we signed the document. We were shocked by this worst case scenario but it was too late. We still hoped for the best as the staff told us that they would try to quarantine our gosling for 24 hours and tried to put him with other goslings. They asked us to check in on May 30th but I couldn’t wait that long to figure out the destiny for the poor gosling. I called the on the next day and was told that the gosling was gone already!!! The didn’t wait to give this poor thing the second chance for more than 24 hours before euthanizing it! I was shocked and very upset about Second Chance. They kept telling me that it is based on the law if the goose is imprinted on human. I am not arguing what they did was againt the law but I have my two points: 1. They didn't even try to give the Second Chance as the whole process took less than 24 hours. This is not the purpse of having it called Second Chance 2. The law supports euthanizing under such situation but does say if it can't be placed in a nature center. Second Chance didn't even bother to find out a place to accomodate the gosling. I actually found a sanctuary where they could keep an imprinted-on-human gosling but it was too late!! Our family are still in deep sorrow after losing the gosling for a week in such an expected way. There is some learning that I want to share to make sure such a mistake wasn't made again. Additionally, it is not a good and correct idea to hatch an egg that belongs to the wild life.
Paige Ruecker
My husband found a baby bunny at the bottom of a parking garage. It was trapped and scared. We were able to give it to Second Chance Wildlife Center. They were able to give it the hydration and nutrition it needed and return successfully to the wild. We are so grateful for their hospitality and care! They were very responsive and wonderful to work with!
Diane Strodel
Thank you all so much for saving the snake! We found a rat snake severely tangled in garden mesh. The wounds were pretty deep. Just got an email that he recovered and released! Thank you!!!
Taylor Crims
PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT TAKE ANIMALS Here ANYMORE!!! This is NOT the same place it was over 5 years ago before it was taken over by new management. Read the other 1 star reviews. This place USED to be a rehab center but is basically just a euthanasia center now. The chance the animal will be euthanized without 12 hours is over 90%... Regardless of health status or age or survival chance. People dropping animals off think they're doing a good thing, not knowing this place doesn't save animals anymore. GO TO ANOTHER PLACE or you will have it on your conscience forever. I can't say too much, but let's say if you actually saw what's going on behind those doors it would horrify you. They need to change the name because it's no longer about giving second chances here. There are multiple other shelters in the DMV that will help.
Business Hours
Monday:10:00AM - 16:00PMTuesday:10:00AM - 16:00PMWednesday:10:00AM - 16:00PMThursday:10:00AM - 16:00PMFriday:10:00AM - 16:00PMSaturday:10:00AM - 16:00PMSunday:10:00AM - 16:00PM
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