As households across the country prepare their Thanksgiving feasts, the Wildlife Center is gearing up for a very different kind of holiday meal—one designed for the 101 wild animals currently in our care. This year, Veterinary Intern Dr. Liv, Wildlife Rehabilitation Supervisor Alex, and Veterinary Technicians Jenn and Rachel will spend their holiday on-site, tending to our 17 ambassador animals and the 84 patients recovering at the Center.
Alex and Jenn will start their day in the animal kitchen, where, instead of traditional Thanksgiving dishes, they'll be preparing dozens of species-specific diets. From leafy greens for box turtles to a high-protein meal for a growing bobcat kitten, each dish is carefully crafted to meet the unique nutritional needs of every animal. Preparing meals for 101 animals may sound daunting, but it will be a fairly "easy" day compared to this summer when the Center had about 300 patients to serve!
While the rehabilitators focus on preparing meals, Dr. Liv and Rachel will focus their attention on the patient’s medical needs—administering medications, cleaning wounds, changing bandages, and performing health checks. They will also be ready to respond to wildlife emergencies; wildlife care doesn’t take a holiday, and neither does the dedicated team that provides it.
This year’s Thanksgiving guest list at the Wildlife Center includes:
- 2 American Black Bears
- 1 American Crow
- 2 American Kestrels
- 2 Bald Eagles
- 3 Barred Owls
- 1 Bobcat
- 1 Broad-winged Hawk
- 5 Central Ratsnakes
- 1 Cooper's Hawk
- 1 Eastern Garter Snake
- 1 Eastern Gray Squirrel
- 2 Eastern Painted Turtles
- 7 Eastern Screech-Owls
- 2 Great Horned Owls
- 2 Mourning Doves
- 1 Northern Cardinal
- 1 Peregrine Falcon
- 1 Red Cornsnake
- 2 Red-shouldered Hawks
- 3 Red-tailed Hawks
- 1 Russian Tortoise
- 14 Snapping Turtles
- 1 Song Sparrow
- 1 Spotted Turtle
- 2 Virginia Opossums
- 1 Western Hog-nosed Snake
- 31 Woodland Box Turtles
- 8 Yellow-bellied Sliders
- 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler
And, as always, the staff remains prepared for new arrivals throughout the day. By the time the team heads home to their own dinners, each of the animals in our care will have been fed, watered, and cared for.
As we take a moment to reflect on this season of gratitude, we’re reminded of just how important our community is to the work we do. Your generosity helps ensure that these patients—and thousands more each year—receive the expert, compassionate care they deserve. On behalf of everyone at the Wildlife Center, thank you for being a part of our mission and supporting us every step of the way.
Happy Thanksgiving!