Dear Wildwoods Friends and Family,
We are approaching the end of another busy year at Wildwoods! As of November 19, we have admitted and cared for 1,259 orphaned, injured, and sick wild animals representing 130 different species (an increase of 19 percent from this time last year); responded to 1,036 inquiries regarding animals in potential distress; and provided numerous educational programs.
What happens in the natural world is reflected behind our doors. As we continue to have unseasonably warm winters, we will have early spring babies; and with long summers comes late babies! Due to the early and late arrival of these furry and feathered babies, our workload continues to grow, and our busy season continues to expand.
Even as we take a breath after the departure of the squeaking squirrels, chirping birds, and quacking ducklings, we are admitting injured raptors, birds, and adult mammals. Flip this page over to see some of the animals that have come in this fall!
This summer saw major improvements at Wildwoods.
- We installed point-to-point technology, giving us internet access in our nursery, thereby allowing us to add wi-fi cameras to our enclosures. These cameras help us to monitor animals’ progress outside of human presence.
- We remodeled our lab area and are engaged in a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza surveillance project with the Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.
- We installed high-grade air exchangers in our clinic and quarantine rooms to improve air quality, and installed climate control in our nursery!
And some big news… Many of you joined us in celebration of the gifting of the land to Wildwoods! For the past nine years, Wildwoods has leased the land on which we sit from the founders (Farzad Farr and Peggy Naylor). This year, they donated the land to us! Sustainable funding for an organization of our size and mission is an ongoing challenge, and this donation of land moves us ever closer to that goal.
What does next year look like for us? In addition to our advancements in animal care, we have an exciting project underway. Wildwoods is going solar! Taking advantage of federal and state rebates, and with the support of the Hammond Climate Solutions Foundation Solar Moonshot Program, we will have solar power and battery back-up by Summer 2026.
Thank you for caring!
Jessica LaBumbard
Executive Director
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This Snowy
Owl was found on the edge of a clarifier tank filled with grease and oil at a wastewater treatment facility. The owl had fallen in and was thankfully able to self-rescue. A staff person at the treatment plant found the owl and immediately contacted us. Working with the staff person and Wildwoods’ volunteers, we were able to get the owl to Wildwoods for emergency overnight care, and to The Raptor Center the following day.
This is a testament to the fact that this work “takes all of us.”
Every fall we receive numerous calls about first-year bears (“baby” black bears). We do not intervene unless we are sure that the animal in question is without a parent and is indeed in need of support. This first-year Black Bear was sighted numerous times on the North Shore, including walking up and down Highway 61. We coordinated with the Department of Natural Resources to catch this guy, which they did within three hours of setting a live-trap! This was one hungry bear.
The DNR brought him to Wildwoods and we transferred him to this kennel for transport. We then coordinated with our volunteer team, and sent him on his way to Wild and Free, where he will be raised and released once he is ready to be on his own.
This Northern Saw-whet Owl stayed with us for several days while he recovered. He was found unable to fly, but did not have evidence of trauma or illness. After a couple of days of palliative care including rest, hydration, and food, he took flight and was one happy fella to move on.
As you can see, he is perched in a tree in his enclosure. Every animal that comes to wildwoods is provided age-appropriate, species-specific housing. The same goes for food and hydration! We do everything we can to mimic their setting in the wild so that the animals remain wild and have a reduced stress level.
This juvenile Bald Eagle was found by the side of the road. As with most raptors that come to Wildwoods, this one was likely hit by a car.
Like all raptors that we receive, this eagle was triaged and given emergency care at Wildwoods. The wrapped wing indicates that we found a wing injury. The eagle was hydrated, warmed, medicated, and fed. Due to the wing trauma, we transferred the eagle the following day to The Raptor Center for advanced care.