In addition to monetary contributions, the Wildlife Center gratefully accepts donations of materials, supplies, and food to help us treat and return animals to the wild. Whether you are holding a donation drive for your school or office, looking to do some extra shopping for wildlife at the Center, or cleaning out your closets, we’ll accept a variety of cleaning, feeding, and housing supplies as well as office products.
Before bringing a large number of donated items (particularly sheets and towels) please email us first at wildlife@wildlifecenter.org. We have limited linen storage at the Center.
Supplies and Food Needs
We’d love to accept:
Cleaning Supplies
- Antibacterial liquid soap
- Paper towels
- Tissues (no lotion)
- Toilet paper
- Bleach (jugs and spray bottles)
- Brass high-pressure hose nozzles
- Dawn dishwashing liquid (blue)
- Kitchen-size or larger trash bags
- Scrub brushes
- Scrub Daddy Sponges
- Contractor bags
Feeding Supplies
- Eggs
- Baby rice cereal
- Baby food (fruit and meat)
- Canned dog food
- Dry cat food (high-quality)
- Dry dog food (high-quality, high-protein)
- Wellness Core Kitten Chow Dry Food
- Exact bird food
- Birdseed
- Native nuts (acorn, hickory, husked walnuts)
- 1 mL and 3 mL syringes
Seasonal Needs
We have an especially urgent need in the fall months for food for our growing bear cubs. Learn more at Collecting Nuts for Wildlife.
During the summer, our needs include leafy woody plants for our fawns to browse. See more at Browse for Fawns.
Housing Supplies
- Timothy Hay
- Airline kennels (all sizes)
- Aquariums (ten or twenty gallon)
- Front opening glass terrariums (any size)
- Heating pads (with no auto shut-off)
- Linens: flat sheets, large towels, infant fleece blankets, pillowcases (no holes)
- Astroturf doormats or rolls
- Reptile bark
- Stuffed animals (not bead-filled)
- Wood Wool bales (Excelsior)
- Reptile cage hydrometers
- Reptile cage thermometers
Miscellaneous
- Masking tape
- Colorful duct tape
- Butterfly nets
- Sharpie markers
- Expo markers
- Extension cords (outdoor grade)
- Kitchen/Postal scales (digital)
- Kitchen shears
- High-quality water hoses
- Ink pens
- Plastic cable ties / zip cords (regular and reusable)
- Rubbermaid 10+ gallon plastic tubs
- Work gloves (leather and rubber gardening gloves)
- Ziploc bags (only gallon or two-gallon size)
- Paper for copier (including colored paper)
- Distilled water jugs
- Rechargeable batteries (AA and AAA sizes)
- Non-Toxic Pet Nail Polish Pens
We’ll also accept gift certificates to the following locations: Amazon, Chewy, Kroger, RodentPro, Fox Valley Animal Nutrition, and Mazuri.
DIY Projects and Supplies
The Wildlife Center also needs some specific supplies that are hand-crafted. Plans and instructions for several projects are included below.
Cutting and Taping Tail Guards
Tail guards help protect raptor tail feathers during hospitalization when critically injured birds need to be housed in small crates or enclosures. These stiff plastic coverings, created from a specific plastic file folder, provide waterproof protection and prevent breakage in the birds’ feathers during the recovery process.
Current need: BADO, GHOW, and BAEA tail guards.
Sewing Raptor Wrappers
Raptor wrappers are useful tools to quickly contain raptors for weighing at the Wildlife Center, making the weighing process safer for both birds and humans.
Current need: We could use more XXL for raptors at the Center, and are happy to share extras with other wildlife rehabilitators.
Sewing Booties
These foot wraps for pelagic birds help protect sensitive feet when recovering patients need to be “dry docked” at night or while healing.
Current need: None at this time.
Sewing Program Crate Covers
Every time an education ambassador animal participates in an on-site or off-site program, the animal travels in a crate. A crate cover provides the animal with privacy as it travels; the covers also add to the professional look of the Wildlife Center outreach team. Please contact the outreach team at edu@wildlifecenter.org to discuss current needs, supplies, and plans!
Making Reptariums
Reptariums are used daily at the Wildlife Center for housing injured and young songbirds. While these soft-sided mesh enclosures can be purchased through reptile supply vendors, they can also be created by those with sewing skills!
Current need: Yes, please!