Hawks and Owls in Distress
A young hawk or owl found on the ground may not be orphaned. Do not take it to a rehabilitator unless the adults have not been seen for more than 24 hours.
Hawks and owls are capable of inflicting a very nasty wound with their sharp talons or, in some cases, their beak. Do not try to handle one of these birds unless you are wearing heavy gloves and/or have help from someone with experience.
Listed below are volunteers who are authorized to care for sick, injured, or orphaned hawks and owls with the intent of returning them back to the wild. These birds are protected by federal and state law.
Persons authorized to handle and care for hawks and owls
Canton
- Roaring Brook Nature Center
- 860-693-0263
Guilford
- Rose Crisci
- 203-824-4124
Mansfield
- David P. Stevens
- 860-450-6181
- dstevens5471@sbcglobal.net
Sharon
- Sharon Audubon Center
- 860-364-0520; Ext 106
- Mackenzie.Hunter@audubon.org
Stonington
- Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center
- 860-980-3731
- ledwards@dpnc.org
Waterford
- Julia Gwen Rice
- 860-514-9591
- FreedomFirstWildlifeRehab@yahoo.com
- Only rehabbing owls
Waterford
- Waterford Country School, Ben Turner/Tina Cote
- 860-442-9454; dial ext. 4290
- bturner@waterfordcs.org or tcote@waterfordcs.org
Weston
- Christine Peyreigne; Christine's Critters, Inc.
- 203-856-5596
- christinescrittersinc@gmail.com
- Rehabbing hawks, owls, eagles, falcons, and ospreys
Weston
- Wildlife in Crisis
- 203-544-9913
Return to Dealing with Distressed Wildlife
Content last updated on October 29, 2026.