On Sunday, the Fox Valley Wildlife Center hosted its annual "Wild Baby Shower" in preparation for the hundreds of orphaned infant birds and mammals expected to arrive.
The busy season runs April through July.
To share in the responsibility of caring for nature's wildlife, people came with baby shower gifts, everything from jugs of water to bird seed, receiving blankets, paper towels and gift cards.
Skyler's mother Tina Krantz and her friend Jeanie Russell came from Bristol with armloads of necessities.
"I feel sorry for the animals, but it makes me happy they are taking care of them," Skyler said.
The Fox Valley Wildlife Center is a state and federally licensed wildlife rehab hospital that operates out of a Kane County Forest Preserve District former ranger's home tucked into the Elburn Woods Forest Preserve on Route 38, west of Route 47.
The center's trained volunteer wildlife rehabbers care for as many as 1,500 orphaned and injured birds and mammals in a year's time. Their mission is to restore the animals back to health and release them when they are ready.
"We give them a second chance," said Kaitlin Zordan, wildlife rehabber and education coordinator.
Zordan said baby birds sometimes will fall out of their nest and break a wing or leg. Other times, a mother will get injured and leave behind her orphaned babies, or people will mistakenly scoop up a baby bird thinking something is wrong when in fact they need three to seven days on the ground to learn how to fly.
The Fox Valley Wildlife Center relies on membership fees and the generosity of people to make donations.
Retired Plano veterinarian Dr. Richard Velders volunteers weekly at the animal hospital.
"Virtually all of the animals likely have come here as a consequence of the presence of man," Velders said.
Some of the temporary tenants are the Great Horned Owl that has a detached retina, probably due to a head injury, and lives in an outdoor flight cage, along with other units that make up a tiny wildlife village. A northern white bobwhite quail, which have become rare in these parts, was found almost frozen beneath a car and resides in the hospital. Summer, a raccoon, was orphaned when her mother was hit by a car and is blind and suffers from scoliosis.
Volunteer Andrea Krueger said a Mute Swan was rehabilitated after it was shot and rescued from a pond in St. Charles last December.
"We're looking for a permanent home," Krueger said.
On Sunday, met some of the permanent tenants. Lucy, a Canada goose, was taken in by a family as a gosling as though it was a pet or stuffed animal. Krueger said when they attempted to release her, she came right back. Today, Lucy is featured in the center's educational programs. Toby, a three-toed turtle the size of a baseball, also greeted guests.
Karen Broten of Elburn said she has taken in dozens of animals to live in her barn since the center opened in 2001.
"Everybody can make a difference if they take care of nature as God intended," Broten said.
It costs approximately $50 to feed and provide medical care for an orphaned or injured animal. Donations and volunteers are always needed. Wildlife rehabbers said donations are needed for a raptors flight cage.
A volunteer at the Fox Valley Wildlife Center plays with a raccoon housed permantly at the center. The raccoon was found as a baby by an area family who attempted to raise it as a pet.
Contributions can be sent to the Fox Valley Wildlife Center, P.O. Box 385, Elburn IL 60119. Call (630) 365-3800 or visit www.foxvalleywildlife.org.
