‘A really special opportunity’: Kane County wildlife rehab groups seek volunteers

“The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.”

Volunteers who work with animals at wildlife care organizations live by Charles Darwin’s words in the 19th century. Hoping for that noble attribute to come to the forefront, those organizations are always in need of more volunteers.

Those who care for wildlife not only help animals, they help all of us when we spot an injured or sick animal near our homes or maybe during a walk in a park. Alerting organizations that provide services or private rehabbers who care for animals can often save an animal’s life and allow it to return to its family.

Places like Anderson Humane Wildlife Center in South Elgin or rehabber Kane Area Rehabilitation and Education (KARE) for Wildlife in St. Charles can go only as far as volunteer help and donated supplies can take them.

“We are seeking volunteers, especially at this time, which is very hard on all rehabbers,” said volunteer Liz O’Leary, who has operated as educational coordinator for KARE for Wildlife for eight years. “This is a hard time of year because we had college students who were fantastic, but just like at the public swimming pools, the young workers go back to school.”

It is terrible timing because wildlife care operations make “the big push to get the animals back out in the wild” in late summer and early fall, O’Leary noted.

Over four years ago, Anderson Humane merged with Fox Valley Wildlife, located in the Elburn Forest Preserve. The wildlife baby nursery and critical care hospital of Fox Valley Wildlife moved into the Anderson Animal Shelter facility. Some wildlife services continue at the Elburn Forest Preserve location, while domestic animals and wildlife share the facility in South Elgin.

“The most important need right now is volunteers to help in our nursery and to help in Elburn,” said Chris Beebe, senior director of engagement for Anderson Humane.

Beebe noted that squirrels and opossums have litters in spring and late summer — and that’s when Anderson sees an increase in animals needing care.

“In between that, we have many baby birds that need to be fed every 15 minutes, then every half-hour, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.,” she added. “You can imagine the number of hands we need to do this. At times, we can have as many as 300 baby birds we are feeding.”

The animals mostly arrive after people make calls about sick or injured animals they have found. In peak season, Anderson can get as many as 100 calls daily.

“The first goal is to keep them in the wild,” Beebe said, citing lost birds. “Is there a nest around, and can you put them back in a nest? Sometimes they fall out or get blown, so we hope people can just put them back.”

That strategy is also applicable to a baby squirrel or rabbit. “If we can keep them with mom, that is their best survival rate. If there is no other alternative, the animals can be brought in, and we can assess their needs. If they are not injured, they go to the nursery. If they are injured, we start to address the injury.”

Anderson Humane Wildlife seeks volunteers 16 and older to work four-hour shifts at least weekly to avoid retraining but lists many volunteer options and tasks on its ahconnects.org website.

At a private rehabber like KARE, which needs certifications and permits but does not have as many funding sources, the volunteer needs cover more bases.

“It is hard work, cleaning the animals is 90% of animal care, and you will get dirty and the animals are not always cooperative,” O’Leary said. “Each species is very specialized in how you work with them.”

She noted that many rehab facilities have had record numbers of animals, which is hard on volunteers. She added that many organizations have endured cuts and reduced the number of animals they accept.

Those interested in volunteering at KARE for Wildlife, which operates out of a private home near the Fox River, can reach out with an email to kareforwildlife@gmail.com.

The supplies these organizations need are too long to list here, but they generally need small baby blankets, lotion-free tissues, nitryl gloves and in-shell nuts (peanuts not preferred). KARE has a supply list posted on Amazon.

Vicki Weiland, director of KARE, knows how important it is to spread the word about the need for volunteers.

“We are 100% volunteer-based, and by the end of summer, everybody is pretty burned out,” Weiland said. “It is hard to let people know how much we appreciate them, and highlighting the volunteers (in an article) is going to be quite a boost for them.”

Anderson’s Beebe says it well when explaining the lure of volunteering to help animals.

“It’s quite a unique experience to be able to hand-feed these animals and help them so they can get released back out into the wild,” she said. “It’s a really special volunteer opportunity.”

Some noodles expanding

Lauren McLauchlan already has a popular gluten-free pasta operation called Ugly Noodle that she opened last year at 2600 Keslinger Road in Geneva.

However, under the category of “coming soon,” she is working to expand her business and open a gluten-free deli shop at 303 Franklin St., in the former Hahn’s Bakery location in downtown Geneva.

On the Ugly Noodle Facebook page, McLauchlan says she plans to serve “pasta salad, hot sandwiches, meatballs, hot pasta and more.”

Some have checked out Ugly Noodle products at the Wheaton or Geneva French markets on weekends, and others have ordered Ugly Noodle at the Keslinger Road site. But moving into downtown Geneva will bring far more eyes (and mouths) to try any number of deli or pasta products.

Some Latin Fusion expanding

The application is in, but the permits have not been issued as of earlier this week. However, we can count on the popular Altiro restaurant on Anderson Boulevard in Geneva to expand into a second location at the Del Barrio site at 507 S. Third St., Suite B.

Residents were concerned because Del Barrio had suddenly closed. Still, it all makes sense, knowing that Altiro owners (and brothers-in-law) Miguel Villaneuva, Roberto Avila and Jose Trejo were associated with Del Barrio. There is a plan to call the new restaurant Altiro on Third.

Here’s a block party

Batavia is gearing up for its annual Block Party and Taste of Batavia, which will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 1, at the Peg Bond Center.

The other fun thing about this event, in addition to sampling all sorts of food and drinks, is the car show unfolding on Houston Street at the same time.

Plus, you get entertainment from Batavia Academy of Dance performers, local rock band ORD Rocks, and Elvis songs from David Fracarro.

This event stands out as a true family affair, with plenty of stuff for kids to do. They also get in free, so that’s a plus.

Admission is $5 for adults, with food or drink samples costing $3 each.

Seeking some shade

For as long as most people can remember, an open patch of land has existed on the east side of Third Street in Geneva between the Geneva History Museum and the Artemesia/Odalisque store.

About 30 years ago, Moveable Feast owners had drawings and a concept in mind to put a two-level restaurant/bakery operation at that location with a glass front so people could relax over coffee and look out to Third Street. That idea didn’t get too far past someone drawing up the concept; over time, it just fizzled.

With nothing else happening in that spot, the Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva church’s land owner began creating a “future shady spot” for Third Street shoppers and visitors to rest and chat.

Red Oaks Landscape Contractors have a stone patio base and will soon start constructing a pergola to finish the project.

We foresee this becoming a popular spot during the summer, especially during community festivals. The church often had tables or a booth in that spot to complement food tents operating along Third Street at those events.

Heat rises at meetings

As a young reporter covering the townships west of Randall Road nearly 50 years ago, I was amazed to see how much farmland was intact. Of course, the belief was that eventually, it would all be developed.

Fast-forward to today, and plenty of open land remains. Some of it is protected by Green Space referendums or as forest preserves, and some of it continues to be worked by farmers and their families.

Of course, things have changed. Plenty of subdivisions have surfaced in the past 50 years, but we’re careening toward some decisions that would take up plenty of open acres.

Years ago, a reporter observed that developers tend to name their projects after something they ruined. This was a tongue-in-cheek but generally accurate take on disputes between developers and longtime residents.

We may get some of that again as St. Charles planners contemplate Pulte Home Co. LLC’s plans for its St. Charles Farm development of nearly 2,000 homes and a Del Webb complex on 970 acres. Years ago, part of this parcel near Route 38, Brundige, Harley and Keslinger roads was included in a plan for Grand Prairie and later Settlements of LaFox.

At the same time, some Sugar Grove residents are not too happy about a proposal for The Grove, a 761-acre development east of Route 47 along I-88. This plan includes housing, commercial property, warehouses and industrial.

A heated discussion has already unfolded on these fronts, and the city council in St. Charles and the village board in Sugar Grove will have to weigh the pros and cons for their communities.

People who years ago said this land would eventually be developed may say it took longer than initially envisioned. However, we can count on this: A place called St. Charles Farms won’t have much to do with farms, and a place called The Grove won’t enhance any grove.

dheun@sbcglobal.net