Several La Crosse-area veterinary clinics have teamed up with local wildlife rehabilitators to create a community-based Wildlife Triage Program designed to provide initial medical assessment and stabilization to injured or orphaned wild animals. The collaboration is aimed at streamlining the handoff from public drop-off to rehabilitation care, improving survival rates and reducing clinic overwhelm.
The idea took root after Dr. Hannah Kelley of River Valley Animal Hospital noticed a seasonal surge in wildlife-related cases coming through her clinic. “We were seeing more and more people bringing in baby rabbits, birds, or raccoons—not knowing what to do or who to call. Our staff was doing their best, but we knew we needed a better system.”
The group developed shared intake protocols, coordinated with the DNR and area rehabbers, and built a central directory of authorized drop-off sites and transportation volunteers. The new process has improved care consistency and allowed clinics to better balance wildlife cases with their regular patient load.
Participating clinics include River Valley Animal Hospital, Coulee Ridge Vet Care, and Driftless Pet Wellness. The program has received positive feedback from the public and was recently featured in the La Crosse Tribune.
Dr. Kelley encourages other regions to consider similar collaborations. “It’s doable. You don’t have to be a wildlife expert—just willing to work together and lean on local rehabbers. We all want the best for these animals.”
More details and resources are available on the Driftless Region VMA website.