Record Admissions At Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
ROSEVILLE, Minn. (WCCO) – The 2014 calendar year witnessed a record number of injured and orphaned wild animals receiving a helping hand. It was only possible due to the staff and volunteers at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Roseville.
With the year drawing to a close they tallied the care delivered on 9,200 mammals, birds and reptiles. It included a number of species the center has never seen before like the Red-throated Loon and Rufous Hummingbird.
And what makes the mission so gratifying is the moment they return the sick or orphaned wild animals to freedom.
"It's actually the third year in a row we've had record admissions," executive director, Phil Jenni, said.
Since its inception, the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center has seen steady growth in the number of admissions seeking care. But the past 12 months shattered all records with the 9,200 animals coming in for a second shot at life.
"This year we treated about 185 different species," Jenni said.
The record year can primarily be traced to two factors. One is severe winter weather which forced a number of species to scrounge for food sources. The other can be attributed to the willingness of the public to lend a helping hand.
"There are more people whose radar for wild animals is up. They care more and realize that they're (animals) a precious resource," Jenni said.
But Jenni also cites the brutal cold that froze the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River which both stressed and stranded waterfowl. That includes a number of Trumpeter swans that had to scramble to find food when the river in Monticello froze over.
The center cared for some 60 Trumpeters over the entire year.
Veterinarian Renee Schott says 80 percent of all admissions are due to human encounters.
"You're constantly having patients coming in with open fractures, hit by cars, abused by humans. And that does get emotionally trying," Schott said.
Yet, with advances in care and equipment, the center's success rate at returning the animals to nature is also rising. That is assurance to wildlife lovers across the region that its mission of mercy continues into a new year.
The clinic operates without any public tax dollars and is supported entirely by the generosity of private donations and grants.
