Last Updated: Friday, August 17, 2007 4:01 PM CDT
Giving wildlife a second chance at the Northwoods Wildlife Center
by Michael Skubal - Daily News - mskubal@rhinelanderdailynews.com
You've found a bear cub in the backyard. Or you've noticed an eagle by the side of the road. Perhaps a rabbit with a broken leg has caught your attention, or the turtle you took home has a broken shell. What do you do?
The Northwoods Wildlife Center in Minocqua is the place to call. As they themselves say, “Wildlife deserves a second chance. If you find wild animals in need of help, call us first: 715-356-7400. We can be reached anytime.”
The center was founded in 1979 by Rory Foster, who died in 1987 of Lou Gehrig's disease. By 1982 the first building was up. The mission from the very beginning was to care for orphaned and injured wild animals and get them back in the wild. A big part of their work is to educate, to get people to commune better with their wild neighbors.
Between tours, outreach, educational programs and senior groups the Wildlife Center reaches about 50,000 people a year. They rehabilitate between 800-1,000 animals a year from 120 different species. The success rate for rehab and replacement in the wild is 75 percent. Some die, some must be put down and some are used for educational purposes if they can't be rehabilitated.
The Wildlife Center is having a large year. Normally the center gets about five or six bear cubs a year. This year they have 23 so far. The new bear enclosure will be ready next spring.
Beth Burns is the Director of Administration for the center. “We work with other rehabbers in the state,” said Burns. “The DNR helps. We run our center completely on donations and some raffles. We get no government funding and no grant money.”
The center has a full time staff of five plus volunteers and interns who work for college credit. Though Burns has a degree in theater, she has worked for the Wildlife Center since she was eight years old, volunteering since 1989, and has served as Director for the last two years.
“We're critical to the Northwoods,” said Burns. “We help maintain the relationship between people and animals. Habitat loss is the greatest threat to the animals. We're the guests, they were here first. We feel a stewardship.”
What does she see for the future? “We want to be here for the animals,” said Burns. We want to have the proper space, caging, and care. We are open year round from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday. We take everything but skunks, everything from deermouse to bear. We currently have six eagles. Our rehabber is Mark Naniot. He's been with the center for ten years.”
The Wildlife Center needs people with construction skills to volunteer, and they have a “wish list.” The list includes aluminum cans, computer items, cameras, venison and fish for the animals and used cell phones. And donations are needed. The center spends $10,000-$15,000 a year just on rats and mice alone, food for the animals.
The Wildlife Center is sponsoring a Wilderness Cruise on the Wisconsin River. Raffles, hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar will be available. The cruise is scheduled for Sunday, August 26, at 2 p.m. The cost is $25 per person and tickets must be purchased in advance. Contact Beth Burns at 715-356-7400 or at babnwc@hotmail.com.
Take time to visit the Northwoods Wildlife Center. Take a walk around the trail and talk to some of the animals, you'll feel better. Phoenix the eagle is up to 17 pounds. Sierra, who was shot, is a red -tailed hawk and is now a program bird. Orson the Owl, the first permanent resident, has been at the Wildlife Center since 1982 and is at least 30 years old. Say hi to Hortense the turkey vulture, who is comic relief for the center.
Beth Burns has a last thought, “I do believe people are innately good.”
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