There will be a baby shower for cute critters. Find out when and where
Shopping for the perfect baby shower gift can be difficult, but the Stanislaus Wildlife Care Center is making it easy for animal lovers to help, and for not just one baby, but a thousand or so.
On Saturday, April 19, the Stanislaus Wildlife Care Center will host its annual Baby Animal Shower from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Fox Grove Park in Hughson. “It’s a really fun time and people will have a great day,” said Executive Director Donna Burt. She said this is one of the only times the public has the opportunity to get up close and personal with the many wild animals in the region and learn about what it takes to help animals in need.
Animal ambassadors will be on hand to give presentations with wildlife including owls, hawks, crows and more, and baby feedings will be viewable throughout the day. There also will be a live video feed of the baby bird room, which will show how demanding eager hatchlings can be.
In the spring, help in the form of donations and volunteers is essential. “During the fall and winter, we receive and care for about 100 to 150 animals,” Burt said. “But in the spring, we will receive about 1,500 animals over the next few months.”
Burt said most of the patients are birds, usually knocked out of a nest or dropped by another animal. The center also sees a lot of larger birds of prey, like hawks and kestrels and even some bald eagles.
Four-legged critters also contribute to the baby boom, including plenty of raccoons, foxes and squirrels.
Once at the center, most baby birds need to be fed every half-hour all day, while wildlife like raccoons and squirrels must be bottle fed for eight to 10 weeks.
The Baby Animal Shower is one of the main fundraisers for the center and an opportunity to collect funds and items to see it through its busiest season. Puppy pads, gloves, blankets and paper towels are among the common items requested, while interlocking floor tiles, larger critter cages and even incubators are some of the more specialized items needed.
The center also will be taking donations and selling merchandise. A full list of what’s needed is on an Amazon wishlist.
Burt said that they are looking for volunteers during the busy season. Volunteers must be 17 or older and have an up-to-date tetanus vaccination. They usually work a four- to six-hour shift once a week. Summer internships are also available. For more information, visit stanislauswildlife.org.
