About

2026-07-10T00:00:00+00:00

What is the Animal Institute?</h2>
The Animal Institute is a 100%-volunteer 501(c)3 charitable nonprofit animal protection organization. We are a small grassroots operation supported entirely by a small team of volunteers.</p>
For years, the Animal Institute operated a large-scale wildlife clinic that addressed countless injured, ill, and orphaned animals, focusing primarily (but not exclusively) on 'rabies vector species' (RVS).</p>
Due to a perfect storm of external influences, the wildlife clinic had to be reduced to a very small operation that has no ability to accept further intake at this time.</p>
We have turned our primary focus towards animal education, and this website is now our flagship resource for wildlife rehabilitation education.</p>

Who is Chris Benson?</h2>
Chris Benson is the Cofounder and Managing Director of the Animal Institute, and is a very experienced wildlife rehabilitator who is licensed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GA DNR). He is also certified by GA DNR for 'rabies vector species' (RVS).</p>
Chris takes a science-first approach to wildlife rehabilitation that is based on the latest advances and research in veterinary medicine, pharmacology, and clinical antimicrobial therapies for infectious diseases.</p>
He is a strong advocate for wildlife rehabilitators to level-up and not just accept "hand me down" information from other rehabbers, because that information often becomes dated by advances in knowledge and understanding.</p>
Chris also conducts field work to study the behavior, motivations, predator/prey dynamics, mating, and parental care of wildlife. While he addresses many species in general, he has deep expertise in raccoons, foxes, and coyotes.</p>

Coyotes

2026-07-10T00:00:00+00:00

Coming soon!</h2>

Foxes

2026-07-10T00:00:00+00:00

Coming soon!</h2>

Raccoons

2026-07-10T00:00:00+00:00

Coming soon!</h2>

How to Reunite Baby Raccoons with their Mother

2026-07-10T00:00:00+00:00

Coming soon!</h2>

Privacy Policy

2026-07-10T00:00:00+00:00

General notes</h2>
Protecting your personal data matters. This website is a static information site</strong> and can be used without providing personal data</strong>.</p>

Hosting</h2>
This website is hosted by an internet hosting provider</strong>.</p>
The web server stores information in its log files, some of which your browser transmits:</p>

IP address</li>
date and time of the request</li>
requested page</li>
HTTP status code</li>
referrer URL</li>
browser and operating system information</li> </ul>
Cookies and browser data storage</h2>
This website does not use cookies.</p>
Browser storage is used in these cases:</p>

After an active click on the theme toggle</strong>, to store the display setting (`light</code> or dark</code>) for this session in the browser (sessionStorage</code>). Legal basis: Section 25(2) No. 2 TDDDG.</li>`
When using the comment function, to store user-provided data and technical session information for later comments in the browser, e.g. username/nickname, email address, optional website (localStorage</code>). Legal basis: Section 25(1) TDDDG and Art. 7 GDPR.</li> </ul> The data storage takes place exclusively locally in the browser. Entries can be deleted there at any time.</p> External content and services</h2> This website does not</strong> embed external content (e.g., YouTube, Google Fonts, tracking scripts). All resources (scripts, images, etc.) are served locally.</p> SSL/TLS encryption</h2> This website uses SSL/TLS encryption. Data transmitted during a page request cannot be read by third parties.</p>

Terms and Conditions 2026-07-10T00:00:00+00:00 TERMS AND CONDITIONS, ASSUMPTION OF RISK, RELEASE OF LIABILITY, AND USER AGREEMENT</h1> Effective Date:</strong> Friday, July 17, 2026 Last Updated:</strong> Friday, July 17, 2026</p> IMPORTANT LEGAL AND SAFETY NOTICE</h2> WILDLIFE RESCUE, CAPTURE, RESTRAINT, TRANSPORTATION, FEEDING, MEDICATION, TREATMENT, REHABILITATION, AND RELEASE ARE INHERENTLY DANGEROUS ACTIVITIES. CONTACT WITH WILDLIFE, INCLUDING RABIES VECTOR SPECIES, MAY RESULT IN BITES, SCRATCHES, CRUSHING INJURIES, ENVENOMATION, ALLERGIC REACTIONS, EXPOSURE TO RABIES OR OTHER ZOONOTIC DISEASES, PROPERTY DAMAGE, PERMANENT DISABILITY, OR DEATH.</strong></p> DO NOT ATTEMPT TO HANDLE, CAPTURE, RESTRAIN, FEED, MEDICATE, TREAT, TRANSPORT, OR REHABILITATE WILDLIFE SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF INFORMATION FOUND ON THIS WEBSITE. CONTACT AN APPROPRIATELY LICENSED WILDLIFE REHABILITATOR, VETERINARIAN, ANIMAL-CONTROL AUTHORITY, PUBLIC-HEALTH AUTHORITY, OR EMERGENCY SERVICE BEFORE TAKING ACTION.</strong></p> These Terms and Conditions, Assumption of Risk, Release of Liability, and User Agreement (“Terms”) constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Animal Institute Inc., Chris Benson, and their respective directors, officers, employees, volunteers, contractors, consultants, contributors, agents, representatives, successors, and assigns, collectively referred to as the “Released Parties.”</p> Please read these Terms carefully. They contain an assumption of risk, release of liability, limitation of liability, indemnification obligation, and agreement to resolve disputes through individual arbitration.</p> 1. Acceptance of Terms</h2> By accessing, viewing, downloading, printing, copying, sharing, relying upon, or otherwise using [WEBSITE NAME AND URL], including any page, article, photograph, illustration, video, recording, downloadable resource, social-media content, communication, course, presentation, or other material made available through it, collectively the “Website,” you acknowledge that:</p> You have read and understood these Terms;</li> You agree to be legally bound by these Terms;</li> You understand the serious and potentially fatal risks associated with wildlife rehabilitation and animal handling;</li> You are voluntarily choosing whether to use the Website and its content; and</li> You will not use the Website or its content unless you accept these Terms.</li> </ol> If you do not accept these Terms, you must immediately discontinue use of the Website and must not use, rely upon, download, reproduce, or act upon any Website content.</p> 2. Eligibility and Minors</h2> The Website is intended primarily for adults who are capable of understanding and accepting these Terms.</p> A person under eighteen years of age may not use Website information to capture, handle, restrain, transport, feed, medicate, treat, rehabilitate, or release wildlife. A minor may view general educational content only under the direct supervision of a parent or legal guardian.</p> Parents and guardians are responsible for supervising minors’ access to the Website and preventing minors from attempting dangerous or unlawful wildlife-related activities.</p> 3. Educational Information Only</h2> All Website content is provided solely for general educational and informational purposes.</p> The Website does not provide and must not be interpreted as providing:</p> Veterinary advice, diagnosis, prescriptions, or treatment;</li> Medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment for humans;</li> Emergency-response services;</li> Legal advice concerning wildlife possession, permits, licensing, animal welfare, public health, or any other subject;</li> Individualized wildlife-rehabilitation instructions;</li> Certification, licensing, qualification, or authorization to practice wildlife rehabilitation;</li> A substitute for supervised, hands-on training;</li> A substitute for consultation with an appropriately licensed veterinarian, wildlife rehabilitator, public-health professional, attorney, governmental agency, or emergency service; or</li> A guarantee that a particular technique is appropriate for a particular animal, species, condition, location, or person.</li> </ul> No veterinarian-client-patient relationship, physician-patient relationship, attorney-client relationship, professional-client relationship, fiduciary relationship, supervisory relationship, or other special relationship is created through use of the Website or communications associated with it.</p> 4. No Authorization to Possess or Treat Wildlife</h2> The Website does not grant permission, licensing, certification, or legal authority to possess, capture, restrain, transport, confine, feed, medicate, treat, rehabilitate, transfer, display, relocate, or release any wild animal.</p> Wildlife-related activities may be regulated or prohibited by federal, state, tribal, territorial, county, municipal, and local laws and regulations. Requirements may vary according to species, location, disease status, migratory-bird status, protected status, and other circumstances.</p> You are solely responsible for determining and complying with every law, permit, license, reporting requirement, quarantine requirement, vaccination requirement, and professional standard applicable to your activities.</p> You must not engage in any regulated wildlife activity unless you possess every required permit, license, authorization, qualification, facility, item of protective equipment, and level of training.</p> 5. Emergencies and Disease Exposure</h2> The Website is not monitored as an emergency service. Do not submit an emergency through the Website, email, social media, voicemail, or an online form and assume that it will be received or answered promptly.</p> In an emergency involving a person, contact emergency medical services immediately.</p> After a bite, scratch, saliva exposure, mucous-membrane exposure, suspected rabies exposure, venomous bite, allergic reaction, or other potentially dangerous exposure, promptly contact appropriate emergency medical and public-health authorities. Do not delay professional care while awaiting a response from Animal Institute Inc., Chris Benson, or any Website contributor.</p> For an animal emergency, contact an appropriately licensed wildlife rehabilitator, veterinarian, animal-control agency, wildlife agency, or other qualified authority.</p> 6. Inherent and Unpredictable Risks</h2> You understand that wild animals are unpredictable and may react suddenly, violently, or differently from what is described or depicted on the Website.</p> Risks associated with wildlife-related activities include, without limitation:</p> Bites, scratches, puncture wounds, lacerations, crushing injuries, falls, kicks, impacts, and attacks;</li> Rabies, tularemia, leptospirosis, salmonellosis, psittacosis, toxoplasmosis, parasites, fungal infections, bacterial infections, viral infections, and other zoonotic or communicable diseases;</li> Venom, toxins, allergens, feces, urine, saliva, blood, respiratory secretions, contaminated bedding, carcasses, sharps, medications, chemicals, and hazardous materials;</li> Adverse drug reactions, dosing errors, aspiration, choking, malnutrition, dehydration, hypothermia, hyperthermia, shock, stress, capture myopathy, and complications from restraint;</li> Injury to the animal, the user, family members, children, visitors, employees, volunteers, neighbors, pets, livestock, or members of the public;</li> Escape, environmental contamination, property damage, vehicle accidents, legal penalties, permit violations, and euthanasia;</li> Permanent impairment, disfigurement, disability, emotional distress, financial loss, and death; and</li> Risks that are presently unknown or not reasonably foreseeable.</li> </ul> Protective equipment, training, permits, vaccination, supervision, and professional assistance may reduce certain risks but cannot eliminate all risks.</p> 7. User Responsibilities</h2> Before acting on any Website content, you agree to:</p> Obtain direct guidance from an appropriately licensed and qualified professional;</li> Confirm that the information is current and applicable to the species, animal, condition, jurisdiction, and circumstances involved;</li> Assess your own training, physical ability, medical condition, equipment, facilities, vaccination status, and legal authority;</li> Use appropriate personal protective equipment and biosecurity measures;</li> Avoid any activity beyond your license, training, experience, or physical capacity;</li> Stop immediately when an activity becomes unsafe;</li> Protect minors, bystanders, pets, livestock, and members of the public;</li> Comply with all applicable laws, regulations, permits, professional standards, and governmental instructions; and</li> Accept sole responsibility for deciding whether and how to act.</li> </ol> You agree that you will never interpret silence, failure to respond, delayed response, generalized information, or the absence of a warning as approval that an activity is safe, lawful, appropriate, or recommended.</p> 8. No Guarantee of Accuracy or Results</h2> Wildlife-rehabilitation knowledge, veterinary practices, medical guidance, disease information, product availability, laws, regulations, and professional standards may change.</p> Although reasonable efforts may be made to provide useful information, the Released Parties do not represent or warrant that Website content is accurate, complete, current, error-free, species-appropriate, legally compliant in your jurisdiction, or suitable for your circumstances.</p> The Released Parties have no obligation to investigate your circumstances, inspect an animal, review your qualifications, correct errors, update content, or notify you of changes.</p> No outcome is promised or guaranteed. An animal may deteriorate, suffer complications, transmit disease, require euthanasia, or die despite actions taken in good faith.</p> 9. Assumption of Risk</h2> TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, YOU KNOWINGLY, FREELY, EXPRESSLY, AND VOLUNTARILY ASSUME ALL RISKS ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO:</strong></p> Your access to or use of the Website;</li> Your reliance on Website content;</li> Your failure to obtain qualified professional assistance;</li> Your interaction with any wild or domestic animal;</li> Any rescue, capture, restraint, transport, feeding, medication, treatment, rehabilitation, relocation, transfer, or release activity;</li> Any exposure to disease, biological material, medications, chemicals, equipment, environments, or other hazards; and</li> The acts or omissions of you or any person acting at your request or under your supervision.</li> </ul> Your assumption of risk includes known and unknown risks, foreseeable and unforeseeable risks, and risks arising in whole or in part from the ordinary negligence of one or more Released Parties, to the extent such risks may lawfully be assumed under applicable law.</p> 10. Release and Waiver of Liability</h2> TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, YOU, FOR YOURSELF AND FOR YOUR HEIRS, ESTATE, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, SUCCESSORS, AND ASSIGNS, IRREVOCABLY RELEASE, WAIVE, DISCHARGE, AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE THE RELEASED PARTIES FOR ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION, CAUSE OF ACTION, DAMAGE, LOSS, LIABILITY, JUDGMENT, COST, OR EXPENSE ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO YOUR USE OF OR RELIANCE ON THE WEBSITE.</strong></p> This release expressly includes claims involving:</p> Personal injury, illness, infection, disease exposure, disability, or death;</li> Injury, illness, escape, deterioration, or death of an animal;</li> Property damage or financial loss;</li> Emotional distress or loss of consortium;</li> Failure to warn;</li> Negligent selection, preparation, publication, editing, updating, or omission of content;</li> Negligent instruction, communication, recommendation, referral, or supervision;</li> Errors, inaccuracies, omissions, outdated information, technical failures, or unavailable content; and</li> The ordinary negligence of any Released Party.</li> </ul> This release applies regardless of whether a claim is characterized as negligence, premises liability, products liability, negligent misrepresentation, breach of contract, breach of warranty, failure to warn, or another legal theory.</p> Nothing in these Terms releases conduct that cannot lawfully be released under applicable law, including liability finally determined to have resulted from gross negligence, willful or wanton misconduct, intentional wrongdoing, fraud, or another nonwaivable duty.</p> 11. Disclaimer of Warranties</h2> THE WEBSITE AND ALL CONTENT ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE,” WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND.</p> TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE RELEASED PARTIES DISCLAIM ALL EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY, AND OTHER WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, CURRENCY, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, SAFETY, LEGAL COMPLIANCE, PROFESSIONAL QUALITY, AND RESULTS.</p> THE RELEASED PARTIES DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE WEBSITE WILL BE SECURE, CONTINUOUSLY AVAILABLE, FREE FROM ERRORS OR HARMFUL COMPONENTS, OR SUITABLE FOR ANY PARTICULAR ANIMAL, PERSON, SPECIES, CONDITION, LOCATION, OR PURPOSE.</p> 12. Limitation of Liability</h2> TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE RELEASED PARTIES WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO THE WEBSITE OR YOUR USE OF, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE ITS CONTENT.</strong></p> This limitation includes damages arising from bodily injury, illness, disease, animal injury, animal death, human death, property damage, lost income, lost profits, medical expenses, veterinary expenses, loss of data, emotional distress, legal penalties, or other losses.</p> To the extent liability cannot lawfully be excluded, the total aggregate liability of all Released Parties arising from or related to the Website will not exceed the greater of:</p> The amount you paid directly to Animal Institute Inc. for access to the specific Website content giving rise to the claim during the twelve months preceding the event; or</li> One hundred United States dollars.</li> </ol> The limitations in this section apply regardless of the legal theory asserted and even if a Released Party was advised that damages were possible.</p> Some jurisdictions do not allow certain exclusions or limitations. In such jurisdictions, these provisions apply to the maximum extent permitted by law.</p> 13. Indemnification</h2> To the fullest extent permitted by law, you agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Released Parties from claims, demands, proceedings, investigations, damages, judgments, settlements, penalties, fines, liabilities, costs, and reasonable attorneys’ fees arising from or relating to:</p> Your violation of these Terms;</li> Your unlawful or unauthorized wildlife-related activities;</li> Your use, misuse, reproduction, distribution, or misrepresentation of Website content;</li> Your handling, possession, restraint, transportation, feeding, medication, treatment, rehabilitation, transfer, relocation, or release of an animal;</li> Injury or damage caused by you or an animal under your possession, custody, control, or supervision;</li> Your infringement of another person’s rights; or</li> Content or instructions you provide to another person.</li> </ul> This indemnification provision does not require you to indemnify a Released Party for liability that applicable law prohibits that Released Party from transferring to you.</p> 14. Communications and Responses</h2> Any response from Animal Institute Inc., Chris Benson, a volunteer, contributor, or representative is general information based on limited facts and is not an individualized professional assessment.</p> No person should rely on an email, message, comment, social-media post, telephone conversation, photograph review, or other remote communication as a substitute for an in-person examination by an appropriately qualified professional.</p> The Released Parties are not responsible for unanswered, incomplete, delayed, intercepted, lost, misunderstood, or misdirected communications.</p> 15. Third-Party Content and Links</h2> The Website may contain third-party links, references, advertisements, product names, services, organizations, publications, videos, or other materials.</p> The Released Parties do not control and are not responsible for third-party content, availability, accuracy, safety, privacy practices, products, services, or conduct. Inclusion of a third-party reference does not constitute an endorsement, warranty, sponsorship, or guarantee.</p> Your dealings with third parties are solely between you and those third parties.</p> 16. Products, Equipment, Medications, and Dosages</h2> A reference to any product, medication, dosage, formula, device, technique, disinfectant, restraint method, housing system, diet, or piece of equipment is not a recommendation that it is safe, lawful, available, or suitable for your circumstances.</p> Medication and treatment decisions must be made under lawful veterinary authority when required. Dosages may vary according to species, weight, age, condition, concentration, route, formulation, interactions, and other factors. Incorrect use may result in severe injury or death.</p> You are responsible for independently verifying all instructions with appropriately qualified professionals and current authoritative sources.</p> 17. Intellectual Property</h2> Unless otherwise stated, the Website and its original content are owned by or licensed to Animal Institute Inc. and are protected by applicable intellectual-property laws.</p> You may view or print Website content for personal, noncommercial educational use, provided that you do not remove warnings, copyright notices, attribution, or links to these Terms.</p> You may not reproduce, modify, sell, license, publish, distribute, create derivative works from, or commercially exploit Website content without prior written permission.</p> You may not remove or separate safety warnings or liability notices from the content to which they apply.</p> 18. Prohibited Conduct</h2> You may not use the Website:</p> To engage in unlawful wildlife possession or rehabilitation;</li> To impersonate a licensed rehabilitator, veterinarian, medical professional, governmental authority, or representative of Animal Institute Inc.;</li> To instruct an unqualified person to perform a dangerous procedure;</li> To encourage cruelty, neglect, unnecessary suffering, or illegal activity;</li> To remove or conceal warnings, attribution, or legal notices;</li> To misrepresent Website content as individualized professional advice;</li> To introduce malicious code, interfere with Website operation, or gain unauthorized access; or</li> For any purpose that may endanger a person or animal.</li> </ul> 19. Suspension and Termination</h2> Animal Institute Inc. may restrict or terminate access to the Website, remove content, or discontinue any part of the Website at any time, with or without notice.</p> Sections concerning assumption of risk, release, limitation of liability, indemnification, intellectual property, dispute resolution, and governing law survive termination.</p> 20. Governing Law</h2> These Terms and all disputes arising from or related to the Website, its content, or the relationship between you and any Released Party are governed by:</p> Applicable federal law of the United States; and</li> The laws of the State of Georgia, without regard to Georgia’s conflict-of-law principles.</li> </ol> The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods does not apply.</p> 21. Informal Dispute Resolution</h2> Before initiating arbitration or litigation, a party must provide the other party with written notice describing:</p> The party’s name and contact information;</li> The facts and legal basis of the dispute;</li> The relief requested; and</li> A reasonable proposal for resolving the dispute.</li> </ul> Notice to Animal Institute Inc. must be delivered to:</p> [LEGAL NOTICE EMAIL] [MAILING ADDRESS]</p> The parties will attempt in good faith to resolve the dispute for at least thirty days after receipt of the notice.</p> 22. Binding Individual Arbitration and Class-Action Waiver</h2> PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY. IT AFFECTS YOUR RIGHT TO HAVE A COURT OR JURY DECIDE A DISPUTE.</strong></p> Except for a claim eligible for small-claims court or a request for temporary injunctive relief necessary to prevent immediate misuse of intellectual property or confidential information, every dispute arising from or related to these Terms or the Website will be resolved by final and binding arbitration on an individual basis.</p> The Federal Arbitration Act governs the interpretation and enforcement of this arbitration agreement. Arbitration will be administered by the American Arbitration Association under its applicable Consumer Arbitration Rules, as modified by these Terms.</p> Unless the parties agree otherwise, arbitration may occur by telephone, videoconference, written submissions, or at a reasonably convenient location consistent with applicable arbitration rules.</p> The arbitrator may award any individual remedy that a court could lawfully award but may not combine claims belonging to different persons.</p> YOU AND THE RELEASED PARTIES WAIVE THE RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL AND AGREE THAT CLAIMS MAY BE BROUGHT ONLY IN AN INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, NOT AS A PLAINTIFF, REPRESENTATIVE, OR CLASS MEMBER IN A CLASS, COLLECTIVE, CONSOLIDATED, MASS, OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION.</strong></p> You may opt out of this arbitration agreement by sending written notice to [EMAIL ADDRESS] within thirty days after first affirmatively accepting these Terms. The notice must include your name, contact information, date of acceptance, and a clear statement that you are opting out of arbitration. Opting out of arbitration does not opt you out of the remaining Terms.</p> If the class-action waiver is finally determined to be unenforceable as to a particular claim, that claim will proceed in court rather than class arbitration.</p> 23. Court Venue</h2> For any dispute not subject to arbitration, you consent to the exclusive personal jurisdiction and venue of the state courts located in [COUNTY], Georgia, and the United States District Court having jurisdiction over that county.</p> You waive objections based on personal jurisdiction, venue, or inconvenient forum, to the extent such objections may lawfully be waived.</p> 24. Severability and Reformation</h2> If any provision of these Terms is found invalid or unenforceable, it will be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law and, where permissible, modified only to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable.</p> The remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.</p> 25. No Waiver</h2> Failure to enforce any provision of these Terms does not waive the right to enforce that or any other provision later.</p> 26. Entire Agreement</h2> These Terms, together with the Website Privacy Policy and any additional terms expressly presented and accepted in connection with a particular service, constitute the entire agreement concerning use of the Website.</p> They supersede prior or contemporaneous communications concerning the same subject matter.</p> 27. Changes to These Terms</h2> Animal Institute Inc. may revise these Terms periodically.</p> The updated version will be posted with a revised “Last Updated” date. When required by law or when changes materially affect your rights, additional notice or renewed affirmative acceptance may be requested.</p> Continued use after legally effective notice of revised Terms constitutes acceptance to the extent permitted by law.</p> 28. Contact Information</h2> Questions concerning these Terms may be directed to:</p> Animal Institute Inc.</strong> Attn: Chris Benson help@animalinstitute.org</p> 29. Express Acknowledgment</h2> BY ACCEPTING THESE TERMS, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE CAREFULLY READ THEM, UNDERSTAND THEIR CONTENT, UNDERSTAND THAT THEY INCLUDE AN ASSUMPTION OF RISK AND RELEASE OF CLAIMS INVOLVING ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE, HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSULT AN ATTORNEY, AND ACCEPT THEM FREELY AND VOLUNTARILY.</strong></p> Copyright and Use of Content</h1> The content and works published on this website are subject to United States copyright law.</p> Copying and redistribution are prohibited without explicit written permission from Chris Benson at the Animal Institute Inc.</strong></p> Why This Exists 2026-07-10T00:00:00+00:00 The Crisis That Only Wildlife Rehabilitators Know Exists</h2> Coming soon.</p> A Controversial Approach</h2> Coming soon.</p> What to Do When You Find Injured, Ill, or Orphaned Wildlife 2026-07-10T00:00:00+00:00 When you find a wild creature in need of assistance, first make sure it really needs assistance. Some usually do (baby squirrels), and some usually don’t (fawns). Don’t kidnap a perfectly healthy fawn left alone while its mother forages nearby, unless it is clearly sick or injured, and remember that you will likely never see the mom - so don’t panic. Newborn fawns that are in or by roadways should be picked up and placed 50-100 feet away to avoid a tragedy.</p> For a wild creature that is injured, ill, or orphaned, follow these three simple rules:</p> Keep it safe, secure, warm, quiet, dark, and away from people, pets, and predators. Do not handle more than absolutely necessary, because you are a giant predator to a wild animal, and unnecessary stress can kill. Having said that, a little of your scent on a baby will not make mom reject it, but minimize scent transfer by wearing exam gloves or similar. Place a heating pad on low under (only) half of the container it is in, because babies and compromised adults may need help maintaining a healthy body temperature.</p> Do NOT feed or water. Nothing at all! Yes, it’s counterintuitive, but critically important! The websites you are getting your information from are often WRONG - but not this one. ;-)</p> Do NOT post for help on social media. If you have already posted, please delete it. The comments you receive from supposedly experienced amateurs and wannabe rehabbers are often wrong - and frequently result in fatal outcomes with increased suffering.</p> Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator immediately - specifically one with expertise in the species. That person will provide all guidance and instruction thereafter.</p> Wildlife Rehabilitators (aka rehabbers) are licensed and regulated by state and federal laws and regulations. A person who is a legitimate wildlife rehabilitator can produce a current license to establish credentials.</p> Treating Mange in the Wild Without Capture of Contact 2026-07-10T00:00:00+00:00 This protocol is proven to work well with foxes, coyotes, and raccoons.</p> Once you know where and when you can intercept the fox without any other animal nearby (because you’ve been logging the sightings), you put out the food bowl for a brief time during that window. I can not stress how important this is. Do not leave it out for long or every animal around will find it, which ruins the time and place for distributing the med later on because the wrong animal may consume the med. Only the fox may be permitted to find the food.</p> </span> </figure> Use a camera that automatically takes photos from motion sensing to monitor the food bowl.</p> Here’s what to start with:</p> A cup of puppy kibble</li> Some bits of meat from a rotisserie chicken</li> One intact hardboiled egg with the shell removed</li> </ol> So long as the drug in question is one of the following and is dosed for the fox's weight (~15 pounds) you should be good to go. You will need 2 doses for each fox to be treated.</p> Most effective modern options: Isoxazolines (sarolaner, fluralaner, afoxolaner, lotilaner)</p> Simparica Trio -> Sarolaner Bravecto -> Fluralaner NexGard -> Afoxolaner Credelio -> Lotilaner</p> Do not use any other drugs - including Ivermectin or Selamectin (Revolution) - as they are not as effective.</p> Remember to put the fox on the schedule as we've discussed, and narrow down that schedule. Only have food out during the window that the fox comes, so that no other animal finds it. You need a positive confirmation exactly when the fox consumes the med, and that it was in fact the fox that consumed the med, so a camera is necessary.</p> After the "lock-in period" to get the fox on the schedule, and the med is administered via a hard-boiled egg or other food that will ensure all med is taken, keep the fox on the schedule to provide puppy kibble for nutrition for 3 weeks to improve its immune system, and then administer another med dose, before tapering off the food to end the protocol.</p> Please do not hesitate to email me as often as you need. Most people who are successful update me constantly and ask questions along the way.</p> Search 2026-01-14T00:00:00+00:00

About

Coyotes

Coming soon!</h2>

Foxes

Coming soon!</h2>

Raccoons

Coming soon!</h2>

How to Reunite Baby Raccoons with their Mother

Coming soon!</h2>

Privacy Policy

General notes</h2> Protecting your personal data matters. This website is a static information site</strong> and can be used without providing personal data</strong>.</p>

External content and services</h2> This website does not</strong> embed external content (e.g., YouTube, Google Fonts, tracking scripts). All resources (scripts, images, etc.) are served locally.</p>

SSL/TLS encryption</h2> This website uses SSL/TLS encryption. Data transmitted during a page request cannot be read by third parties.</p>

Terms and Conditions

TERMS AND CONDITIONS, ASSUMPTION OF RISK, RELEASE OF LIABILITY, AND USER AGREEMENT</h1> Effective Date:</strong> Friday, July 17, 2026 Last Updated:</strong> Friday, July 17, 2026</p>

25. No Waiver</h2> Failure to enforce any provision of these Terms does not waive the right to enforce that or any other provision later.</p>

28. Contact Information</h2> Questions concerning these Terms may be directed to:</p> Animal Institute Inc.</strong> Attn: Chris Benson help@animalinstitute.org</p>

Copyright and Use of Content</h1> The content and works published on this website are subject to United States copyright law.</p> Copying and redistribution are prohibited without explicit written permission from Chris Benson at the Animal Institute Inc.</strong></p>

Why This Exists

The Crisis That Only Wildlife Rehabilitators Know Exists</h2> Coming soon.</p>

A Controversial Approach</h2> Coming soon.</p>

What to Do When You Find Injured, Ill, or Orphaned Wildlife

Treating Mange in the Wild Without Capture of Contact

Search

General notes</h2>
Protecting your personal data matters. This website is a static information site</strong> and can be used without providing personal data</strong>.</p>

External content and services</h2>
This website does not</strong> embed external content (e.g., YouTube, Google Fonts, tracking scripts). All resources (scripts, images, etc.) are served locally.</p>

SSL/TLS encryption</h2>
This website uses SSL/TLS encryption. Data transmitted during a page request cannot be read by third parties.</p>

TERMS AND CONDITIONS, ASSUMPTION OF RISK, RELEASE OF LIABILITY, AND USER AGREEMENT</h1>
Effective Date:</strong> Friday, July 17, 2026
Last Updated:</strong> Friday, July 17, 2026</p>

25. No Waiver</h2>
Failure to enforce any provision of these Terms does not waive the right to enforce that or any other provision later.</p>

28. Contact Information</h2>
Questions concerning these Terms may be directed to:</p>
Animal Institute Inc.</strong>
Attn: Chris Benson
help@animalinstitute.org</p>

Copyright and Use of Content</h1>
The content and works published on this website are subject to United States copyright law.</p>
Copying and redistribution are prohibited without explicit written permission from Chris Benson at the Animal Institute Inc.</strong></p>

The Crisis That Only Wildlife Rehabilitators Know Exists</h2>
Coming soon.</p>

A Controversial Approach</h2>
Coming soon.</p>