Second Chances Wildlife Center

Our Mission:

To inspire compassion, conservation, and environmental responsibility through hands-on education and dedicated wildlife rehabilitation.

HOW WE CARRY IT OUT

1. Rescue & Rehabilitation – We provide specialized care for orphaned, injured, and displaced native wildlife with the goal of returning them to the wild. In 2025, we rehabilitated and released 324 native animals with an 80% release rate. When an animal cannot safely return to the wild, they find a permanent home at Second Chances and, when appropriate, become an ambassador animal who helps us educate others about Kentucky wildlife.

2. Education with Heart – Education is a big part of what we do. In 2025, our programs reached more than 3,000 students through field trips, school programs, camps, and other educational experiences. Our 52 permanent wildlife residents help bring those lessons to life, giving children and adults a chance to make a real connection with the wildlife that lives right here in Kentucky. We want people to leave with a better understanding of wildlife, how our actions affect it, and what each of us can do to help.

WHY WE MATTER

When someone finds an injured or orphaned wild animal, they often want to help but don't know what to do next. That's where we come in. In 2025 alone, Second Chances responded to more than 3,200 wildlife-related phone calls, emails, and social media messages from people looking for help and guidance. Wildlife rehabilitation requires specialized training and state and federal permits, and trying to care for a wild animal without that knowledge can put both the animal and the person at risk. We help people make the right decision for the animal while also working to prevent unnecessary wildlife removal and reduce human-wildlife conflicts.

MAJOR MILESTONE

We proudly completed Kentucky's first and only dedicated bat rehabilitation facility. This specialized space includes an indoor flight cage and quarantine room, giving injured and orphaned bats the specialized environment they need to recover and prepare for release. It also expands our ability to care for some of Kentucky's most vulnerable species, including federally endangered bats, and strengthens our role in their conservation.

THE IMPACT OF YOUR GIFT

Second Chances Wildlife Center is licensed by both state and federal agencies, but we receive no government funding for the day-to-day care of the animals that come through our doors. We depend on donors, volunteers, and community partners to make this work possible. Your gift helps provide food, medical care, rehabilitation supplies, safe habitats, enrichment, and everything else an animal may need for its second chance. It also helps us continue educating the next generation about the wildlife we all share Kentucky with.

WHY WILDLIFE NEED US

So many of the animals that come through our doors are here because their lives have crossed paths with ours. Habitat loss, vehicles, pesticides, glue traps, outdoor pets, lawn equipment, and other human-related dangers can quickly turn life in the wild into a fight for survival. We can't eliminate every threat, but we can give injured and orphaned wildlife a chance to recover while helping people learn simple ways to peacefully coexist with the animals around them.

WHO WE ARE TODAY

Founded in 2009, Second Chances Wildlife Center has grown into a trusted resource for wildlife rehabilitation, conservation, and environmental education across Kentucky. From our 23-acre facility, two full-time and three part-time staff members, along with nearly 40 dedicated volunteers, care for native wildlife while helping thousands of people better understand the animals that share our communities.

Our work reaches far beyond the animals in our care. Through classrooms, field trips, camps, libraries, community programs, and partnerships with other organizations, we're helping people build a stronger connection with Kentucky's wildlife. Our hope is that every animal we help, and every person we teach, creates another opportunity for wildlife and people to live alongside one another with a little more understanding and compassion.