Wild About Wildlife event raises funds for rehab center
If you find an injured animal on the side of the road, what do you do?
Many people turn to Fox Valley Wildlife Center, an animal rehabilitation facility in Elburn. But feeding and providing medical care for injured and orphaned animals costs a lot — around $100,000 per year — and the center does not receive federal, state or local funds. That's why fundraisers, like the fifth annual Wild About Wildlife Event, are critical to its success.
The event is scheduled for 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13, in St. Charles. It will feature presentations throughout the afternoon from various rehabilitation organizations that will be bringing animals with them and answering any questions the audience might have.
Representatives from “Hoo” Haven will start the afternoon off with a presentation from 1 to 2 p.m. The presentation includes a visit from ‘Marshmallow' the pelican. From 3:30 to 4:30, audience participants will get to meet ‘Bubba' the alligator, a tortoise, and assorted snakes from Cold Blooded Creatures.
“They'll have an albino python, 10 feet long, and a ball python,” explained Fox Valley Wildlife Center's board President Andrea Krueger. “There is interaction with the kids, and they'll all get to hold the albino python and stretch him out.”
The afternoon promises to be fun and educational for adults and kids, and organizers hope it will raise around $3,000 for the center through ticket sales, a silent auction, crafts, a bake sale, and private donations.
A lunch of vegetarian chili or cheese soup, cornbread and a beverage is included in the price of the ticket.
“It's a really great event with neat wildlife presentations and booths,” said Laura Kirk, director of animal care for Fox Valley Wildlife Center. “It's a fun day for everybody.”
The fundraiser has been held in various locations over the last few years. Although nature-oriented with walking paths and lots of fall beauty, this year's venue, Hickory Knolls Discovery Center, 3795 Campton Hills Drive in St. Charles, will be indoors.
“We started out in the forest preserve the first year and it was very simple,” Krueger said. “After that, we had it at the Fifth/Third (Bank Ball Park) where the (Kane County) Cougars play.”
Participants who purchase tickets will be helping the center to pay for food, medicine and much needed supplies such as paper towels in order to adequately care for sick, injured and abandoned animals that arrive at the center throughout the year. This year alone, Krueger said, the center has taken in 2,700 animals. The babies — which have included birds, bunnies and raccoons — require a lot of care and attention.
“When babies come in, we have to buy milk replacers for all of them and that's really expensive,” Krueger said.
There are also some odd creatures that end up at the center. One longtime resident, Lucy the Goose who was raised by a little girl, has an identity crisis and therefore can never be released back into the wild.
“She thinks of herself as a person,” Krueger said. “When we tried to introduce her to other geese, she acted differently because she wasn't raised by geese and they picked on her.”
Lucy has been living at the center for 10 years.
At the Wild About Wildlife event, Krueger said center representatives will spend time educating attendees about problem wildlife and steps to take to live harmoniously.
“We get so many people who get a raccoon under their deck or in their attic and it has had babies,” Krueger said. “But there are things that they can do to encourage the mother to take the babies and find another spot.”
The Fox Valley Wildlife Center holds many other fundraisers throughout the year. Other events include a dinner auction, golf outing, baby animal shower, wine tasting and open house. Monetary donations and supplies are accepted at any time.
For more information about the Wild About Wildlife Event and general information about the organization, visit www.fvwc.org.
If you go
What: Fifth annual Wild About Wildlife fundraiser, benefiting the Fox Valley Wildlife Center in Elburn
When: 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13
Where: Hickory Knolls Discovery Center, 3795 Campton Hills Drive, St. Charles
Tickets: Preordered up to Nov. 12, $10 for adults/$5 for children/$30 for families; at the door, $15 for adults/$10 for children/$40 for families. Tickets can be preordered on the website or by calling (630) 365-3800.
Details: <a href="http://www.fvwc.org">www.fvwc.org</a>.