State guide
Michigan
Michigan animal control is usually handled by county animal control or county shelter systems, although Detroit has its own city Animal Care and Control division. Nuisance, injured, or orphaned wildlife is handled through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, which provides wildlife rehabilitation guidance and a licensed rehabilitator directory.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Who handles animal control locally
- Usually county animal control or county animal shelter services; Detroit is a notable city-run exception.
- State wildlife agency (nuisance and injured wildlife)
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources
- Nuisance wildlife help
- Official page →
- Reporting an animal bite
- Any person with knowledge of an animal bite where rabies is suspected must report it within 24 hours to the local health department where the bitten person resides and where the bite occurred.
- State rabies contact
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services rabies program / local health departments.
Official resources in Michigan
DNR overview of wildlife rehabilitation rules, contacts, and bite/rabies handling notes.
Official statewide list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators by county and species accepted.
DNR public guidance on baby wildlife and when to contact a rehabilitator.
MDHHS rabies reporting page for health professionals and local health departments.
State rabies information page directing animal bite reports to local health departments.
Key facts for Michigan
- Michigan DNR tells the public to contact a licensed rehabilitator before removing injured or orphaned wildlife.
- Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may possess abandoned or injured wildlife.
- A suspected rabies bite must be reported within 24 hours to the appropriate local health department.
- Michigan rabies diagnosis is done by the MDHHS Rabies Laboratory in Lansing.
- Detroit Animal Care and Control handles lost animals, strays, dog licenses, and rabies-vaccine compliance.
Local animal control offices in Michigan
| Office | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland County Animal Shelter and Pet Adoption Center Oakland | Pontiac | 248-858-1090 | Animal Control handles abuse and neglect complaints, bite investigations, wildlife pages, and other enforcement services. |
| Macomb County Animal Control Macomb | Clinton Twp | 586-469-5115 | Handles adoptions, dog licensing, cruelty and neglect investigations, bite reports, and domestic-animal rescue services. |
| Kent County Animal Shelter Kent | Grand Rapids | 616-632-7300 | Shelter services include lost and found, dog licensing, kennel licensing, rabies-testing intake for certain bite exposures, and coordination with county animal control. |
| Ingham County Animal Control & Shelter Ingham | null | Not published* | Official county animal control and shelter page for dog licenses, lost pets, and shelter services; phone not captured in the search result. |
| Detroit Animal Care and Control Wayne | Detroit | Not published* | City service for reporting strays or lost animals and keeping dog licenses and rabies vaccines current. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- If wildlife is injured or truly orphaned, call a licensed rehabilitator from the DNR directory before you move it.
- If rabies is suspected after a bite or bat encounter, report promptly to the local health department.
- For pet or stray issues, start with your county animal control or city animal care office, not DNR.
Not seeing your office or county?
Not every office publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Michigan's population center, for comparison only):
- Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control, Indiana · about 132 miles
- South Bend Animal Resource Center, Indiana · about 132 miles
- Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter, Ohio · about 164 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Wildlife rehabilitation permits
Website →Phone: (517) 284-6210 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Michigan page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.