Emergency Wildlife Response

The primary purpose of BHIC’s wildlife emergency hotline is to maintain the safety of both the animals and people on the island. Conservancy staff responds to injured and distressed wildlife including birds, sea turtles, snakes, alligators, and mammals reported to the hotline. Often our role is simply to educate the public, and our approach is to interfere with the animal as little as possible.

If necessary, injured wildlife are sent to rehabilitation centers such as the Sea Biscuit Wildlife Center in Oak Island or the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Topsail.

If you come across injured or distressed wildlife on BHI, we advise not to touch or approach the wildlife and call BHIC’s Wildlife Emergency Hotline at 910-457-0089 ext. 5. Please leave a detailed message with the animal’s condition and location and a contact name and number where you can be reached. We will respond to the animal as soon as possible.