Animal Care at New Canaan Nature Center

Wander down the driveway to the New Canaan Nature Center and you’re likely to meet some of our feathery, furry, or slithery friends. Over 50 animals call the New Canaan Nature Center home and serve as animal ambassadors as part of our environmental education and outreach programs.

Birds of Prey
Housed in an easily accessible outdoor aviary exhibit, our Birds of Prey collection is open to the public from dawn to dusk everyday. These animals cannot be released into the wild for a variety of reasons and are used in teaching programs.

Teaching Collection
Nearly 50 different reptiles, mammals and birds make up our teaching animal collection, with many on display in exhibits in our Visitors Center and Greenhouse.

Support Animal Care

Sponsor an Animal
You can help support the care of our live animal collection by participating in our Sponsor an Animal program. Your financial support funds the cost of medications, food and personal care, as well as proper housing and upkeep of the animal enclosures. Learn more!
Volunteer!
Our dedicated Animal Care Volunteers assist with daily feeding and exercising of the Nature Center's critters and help us keep our Animal Care facility clean. All permanently injured or otherwise human-dependent, our captive animals form a vital part of our educational program. Please Click Here for a list of current volunteer opportunities.

Animal Rescue & Acquisition Information

Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation
The New Canaan Nature Center is not legally allowed to accept wildlife. If you have found injured or orphaned wildlife, please carefully put them in a paper towel lined box in a warm, dark place away from people and pets until you can transport them to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian. Please contact one of the following wildlife rehabilitation sites:

Wildlife in Crisis (Westin) 203-544-9913

Earthplace (Westport) 203-227-7253 *call first

CT Department of Environmental Protection 24-Hour Hotline 860-424-3333
CT Wildlife Rehabilitators Association Advice Hotline & Email 203-393-1050 www.cwrawildlife.org

Animal & Pet Acquisition
The New Canaan Nature Center will sometimes accept pets into our animal care programs. Please download and review our Animal Acquisition Policy before contacting the Director of Animal Care if you have an animal that might fit into our programs.

> Sponsor an Animal!
> Volunteer in Animal Care!