March 6 marked the dawning of a new era for Nature’s Nursery.
The wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center celebrated the opening of its new facility in Waterville and start of the second portion of the project–an outdoor rehabilitation area.
Allison Aey, executive director, welcomed a large group of visitors to the event and thanked the many supporters who made the new facility possible.
“This is a total team effort, and I’m excited to have you here,” she said.
Although not fully under one roof yet, Ms. Aey said she expects the indoor portion of the center to relocate to the new building soon.
“As of now, all operations are still taking place at our center on Schadel Road in Whitehouse. We hope to start admitting rehab animals in the new space by the end of this month,” she said.
“People will need to call us before they bring in an animal just as they always have. Birds and some animals may still need to go to Schadel for this season,” she added.
Ms. Aey believes they will be fully open in their new location by the end of summer.
She said staff are looking forward to relocating, noting that they had long ago outgrown the farmhouse at the old prison work farm.
“We are going from 1,500 square feet to 5,700 square feet.” She pointed out that at the farmhouse, staff and volunteers used every nook and cranny of the building and the outdoor pens were filled to capacity.
The new building, which at one time housed a restaurant, has been completely converted into a wildlife rehabilitation and public education center.
“The inside consists of two sides. One is for the rehabilitation of animals and will be inaccessible to the public,” she explained.
It features an NICU: aquatic, X-ray, surgery and observation rooms; three kennel spaces for larger animals and a laboratory.
“The education side includes an open walk-thru area to see the animals, a merchandise shop and classroom,” Ms. Aey said.
The nonprofit completed renovations after reaching its fund-raising goal of $1.5 million in January through grants and private donations. Now staff attention turns toward raising funds to complete the outdoor area.
Plans for this phase of the project call for development of five acres behind the building into an exterior wildlife rehabilitation space and public education area.
It will include construction of a 60- by-30 square foot pole barn with community porch gathering area, more than 30 cages for wildlife, 20 habitats for wildlife education animals and a flight cage.
“The project is expected to take four to six months to complete,” she said, adding, “We are really excited about the progress of the overall project and ready to see the second phase come together so that we can provide the best care to the nearly 4,000 animals that we admit each year.”
To donate, volunteer or for more information, visit naturesnursery. org or call 419-8770060.
A wildlife rehabilitation and conservation education organization, Nature’s Nursery provides medical care for injured, orphaned or ailing wild animals and offers educational outreach programs for children and adults.
It was founded more than 30 years ago by Debbie Cooper, an education curator at the Toledo Zoo, who began receiving an increasing number of calls from residents asking what could be done for injured or orphaned wildlife they encountered.
After obtaining the necessary permits and licensing, Ms. Cooper opened Nature’s Nursery, taking in the first animals at her home. In that first year, 1989, she cared for 150 animals, and that number has grown substantially in the years since.
~Jane Maiolo
