Two Hearts Wildlife Rehab Rescue and Sanctuary is built upon the foundational principle of humane stewardship, operating officially as a licensed 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused solely on native wildlife. Our operations encompass a full spectrum of care, starting with emergency rescue and intake, moving through a dedicated, state-of-the-art rehabilitation process, and culminating in careful and scientifically informed release efforts. This journey is overseen by a team of veterinary technicians, licensed rehabilitators, and experienced volunteers who adhere to the highest standards of animal welfare and ethical practice, ensuring that the primary goal is always successful reintroduction into the wild. We maintain specialized housing, including heated nursery units for orphans, flight cages for raptors, and large pre-release enclosures designed to minimize habituation and promote natural behaviors like foraging and predator avoidance. Our organizational structure ensures round-the-clock availability for critical emergencies, making us a reliable resource for local law enforcement, animal control, and the concerned public in the Sunset, SC area and surrounding counties, reinforcing our role as crucial first responders for imperiled wildlife.

Our educational philosophy extends beyond mere observation; we aim to foster a deep, actionable understanding of wildlife conservation and human-wildlife coexistence within the community. We firmly believe that the best defense for wildlife is an informed and empathetic populace, which is why we dedicate significant resources to public outreach, including presentations, informational materials, and guided workshops (subject to health and safety protocols for our patients). The core tenet of this philosophy is the concept of non-interference and responsible reporting, teaching citizens when to intervene, how to safely transport an animal, and—perhaps most importantly—when to simply leave an animal alone, such as seemingly abandoned fawns or baby rabbits. By illustrating the complex, fragile nature of wildlife rehabilitation and the high standards of care required, we empower community members to become proactive stewards of their local environment, thereby reducing the instances of human-caused injuries and conflicts that necessitate our rescue services in the first place.

The journey of Two Hearts Wildlife Rehab Rescue and Sanctuary began over a decade ago with a simple, yet profound, act of compassion by our founders, recognizing a critical void in local resources dedicated to injured native wildlife. Starting as a small, home-based operation specializing in migratory birds and small mammals, the immediate and overwhelming need for professional, permitted care quickly became apparent, prompting the formal establishment of the organization. The initial challenge involved securing the necessary state and federal permits, building appropriate, non-public enclosures, and developing a network of trusted veterinary professionals willing to donate time and expertise to non-domestic patients, all while managing the constant influx of new rescues. This pioneering spirit and determination to provide licensed, high-quality care quickly earned the trust of local authorities and the public, leading to rapid expansion of both our physical facility and our capacity to handle larger, more complex species, laying the groundwork for the comprehensive center we operate today.

The critical phase of rescue and intake begins immediately upon receiving a call or having an animal delivered to our center, requiring swift, systematic assessment to maximize the chance of survival and recovery. Our protocols dictate that every animal undergoes immediate triage upon arrival, which includes stabilizing life-threatening conditions, performing a thorough physical examination for external injuries, and initiating pain management as quickly as possible, often in consultation with our collaborating veterinarians to determine the need for immediate surgical intervention or specialized diagnostics like X-rays. Detailed documentation is created for each patient, recording the location of rescue, the presumed cause of injury, species, age class, and initial prognosis, all of which is critical for guiding the subsequent rehabilitation plan and legal release documentation. This initial process is deliberately designed to be as stress-free as possible for the animal, utilizing quiet, dimly lit environments and minimal handling, recognizing that stress can significantly impede the healing process in wild patients who are not accustomed to human presence.

Our public outreach and education efforts are foundational to the mission of coexistence, operating under the principle that proactive awareness prevents many of the injuries and conflicts that necessitate our intervention. We conduct frequent online webinars, hands-on (non-animal contact) workshops, and provide detailed informational resources covering topics critical to community stewardship, such as recognizing signs of animal distress, understanding the nuances of local species’ nesting and feeding habits, and implementing humane solutions for preventing conflicts with common suburban wildlife like raccoons, opossums, and foxes. A key focus is on preventing “kidnapping” of wildlife—teaching citizens how to properly assess a situation before intervening with seemingly abandoned young animals, which often do not require rescue and are simply waiting for their parents to return. By providing clear, scientifically accurate, and ethical guidance, we empower every citizen to make responsible decisions that safeguard both human safety and the future of our wild neighbors, ensuring our sanctuary’s work is magnified by a network of informed community partners.

Enrichment and re-wilding training constitute the specialized and often most complex phase of rehabilitation, a critical process designed to transition the healed patient from a medical environment back to a state of complete self-sufficiency in the wild. This training involves introducing complex, species-appropriate stimuli and challenges within the pre-release enclosures to encourage the development and retention of natural instincts, such as scattering food to promote foraging behavior rather than simply placing it in a bowl, or installing perching and climbing structures that mimic the unstable conditions of a natural forest canopy. For predator species, this can include presenting moving “prey” items to hone hunting skills, while for raptors, it involves utilizing expansive flight cages to test endurance, maneuverability, and stealth necessary for a successful hunt. The entire process is conducted under strict visual barriers and with minimal human presence, using techniques like masked feeding and remote monitoring, ensuring that the animals associate the enrichment challenges with their natural environment and develop an intense avoidance of human sight, sound, and scent, a critical factor for post-release survival.

Before any animal is cleared for release, it undergoes a rigorous, multi-faceted health and behavior assessment designed to guarantee it possesses both the physical fitness and the psychological preparedness necessary to thrive without human aid. The health assessment includes final veterinary check-ups, necessary blood work (especially for common pathogens), and a physical fitness test tailored to the species—such as endurance flights for birds, climbing strength tests for squirrels, or speed and agility assessments for deer. Simultaneously, the behavioral assessment, often utilizing non-invasive remote camera monitoring, confirms that the animal exhibits appropriate wild behaviors, including a strong fear response to humans, proficient foraging techniques, natural aggression toward appropriate stimuli, and successful integration into a peer group (for social species). Only when an animal demonstrates full physical recovery, zero dependence on human caretakers, and the complete repertoire of necessary survival skills is the release date planned, providing an ethical assurance that our efforts have indeed given the animal a true second chance at a wild life.

Two Hearts Wildlife Rehab Rescue and Sanctuary is permitted and equipped to provide specialized rehabilitation services for a wide variety of native wildlife, including small- to medium-sized mammals such as raccoons, opossums, squirrels, foxes, and bats; various non-venomous and some venomous reptiles (handled with strict safety protocols and specialized enclosures); and an extensive array of avian patients, including songbirds, waterfowl, and birds of prey like owls and hawks (raptors). Each species category is managed under distinct protocols, recognizing the vast differences in dietary requirements, housing needs, disease susceptibilities, and necessary pre-release conditioning—for instance, fawns require specialized handling to prevent imprinting, while flight cages for owls must be designed to accommodate silent flight practice. Our facilities include dedicated medical isolation units, specialized nursery brooders for neonates, and large, naturalized outdoor enclosures that cater specifically to the mobility and behavioral needs of each patient group, ensuring the highest standards of care across the rich tapestry of local biodiversity.

While direct, hands-on interaction with our patients is strictly limited to licensed professionals to prevent habituation, Two Hearts deeply values community involvement and channels this energy into formalized “Community Rescuer Training” programs, transforming public concern into effective, safe action. These intensive, hands-on training sessions (utilizing training materials and safe handling tools) educate members of the public on the critical initial steps of wildlife rescue, including proper identification of species, assessing injury severity, using safe containment and transport methods (such as appropriate carriers and blankets), and understanding all legal mandates and prohibitions regarding wildlife handling. We offer specialized workshops on complex topics like “How to Safely and Humanely Remove an Animal from a Trap” or “Handling and Transporting Injured Raptors,” equipping citizens with the confidence and skills necessary to serve as the immediate, crucial link in the chain of survival for an injured animal. This active partnership increases our reach and response time dramatically, ensuring that injured animals are contained quickly and correctly before being delivered to our expert care.