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2024 Year in Review

As another year comes to a close, we want to share the incredible strides we’ve made at the Northwoods Wildlife Center—achievements made possible by you, our dedicated supporters. Because of your generosity, we were able to rescue, rehabilitate, and educate on a scale larger than ever before, touching thousands of lives, both wild and human.

This past year, our center saw a remarkable 30% increase in wildlife patients, with a peak over the summer that saw us caring for 60% more animals than we did during the same time last year. Thanks to your support, we met this increased demand with compassion, expertise, and commitment. Each of these animals came to us in need of a second chance, a safe place, and healing.

Wildlife Rehabilitation Stats

Last year, we assisted over 1,000 animals—through field rescues, patient admissions, and even by providing guidance to those who reach out to us for help with wildlife issues. And we've learned that by admitting only as many animals as we can handle without compromising care, we ensure that every patient gets the attention it deserves. Because there are always more animals in need of help, we are continually working to expand our capacity. This includes investing in continuing education for our staff, forging new partnerships, and building new facilities to enhance our ability to care for wildlife. Through these efforts, and with your support, we aim to help even more animals while maintaining the high standard of care they deserve.

We may not be the largest wildlife rehabilitation center, but we are proud of the work we do.

Mammals: 71.67% survival rate • Birds: 52.08% survival rate • Reptiles: 66.67% survival rate • Overall: 63.47%

a pie chart showing the various survival rates for the types af animals we cared for

We sometimes hesitate to discuss survival rates, because that means not all of our patients survive. The hard truth is that many animals come to us in very bad shape and are beyond our abilities to save. But we are always working on improving our abilities. An average survival rate in wildlife rehab is often around 30%, and anything over 50% is considered exceptional. So these numbers show our efforts and your support has been paying off.

a baby squirrel getting fed
Baby birds in a make-shift nest
Kayla repairing a turtle shell
pie chart showing the percentage of species that we treated at the Northwoods WIldlife Center in 2024. The chart shows that we treated 52 species of birds, 18 species of mammals, 2 species of reptiles and a 13.2% increase in species diversity overall.
chart showing the most common individual species with eastern cottonatail rabbits being the most common species followed by raccoon, then white-footed mouse, then pine siskins, and white-tailed deer.

Most Comon Species: Eastern Cottontail, Raccons, White-Footed Mouse, Pine Siskin, White-tailed Deer

graphic showing some miscelanious rehab stats. 11 was the highest number of admissions in s single day. 61 was the highes number of patients that we had at one time, and 76 was the number of unique species we admited.

The increase in species admitted was due to a number of things, but chief among them is our rehabbers growing skills and confidence. Every year they attend conferences, take courses, network with other rehabbers and do what they can to be able to care for more animals. In 2025, we hope to be able to improve these trends by continuing to invest in our rehabbers, but also in new and improved facilities.

Some of the rehabilitation projects we are planning for this coming year include:

  • Installing a new water circulation and filtration system for our aquatics species ponds.
  • Further expanding our fawn yard.
  • Building new squirrel recovery enclosures.

Wildlife Education Stats

The education department also had a great year. With new on-site programming and more demand for off-site programs, our wildlife educator, Bart Kotarba, was busy. One of the trends this year was more weekly programs scheduled throughout the summer. Bart enjoyed this because it allowed him to more effectively plan programs and even start a couple of new initiatives, such as the summer Wild Wednesdays afternoon programming and the Young Naturalists after-school program. Both new programs were well received and most often booked to capacity!

1728 people served by an education program, 1875 people who took an education tour, 3063 totl people served by the education department
pie chart showing the percentage of species that we treated at the Northwoods WIldlife Center in 2024. The chart shows that we treated 52 species of birds, 18 species of mammals, 2 species of reptiles and a 13.2% increase in species diversity overall.
chart showing the most common individual species with eastern cottonatail rabbits being the most common species followed by raccoon, then white-footed mouse, then pine siskins, and white-tailed deer.
Bart demonstrating the characteristics of a raptor's foot.

Bart Kotarba explaining the characteristics of a raptor's talons at a Young Naturalists after school program.

Volunteerism

Volunteers are the heart of the Northwoods Wildlife Center, playing a vital role in fulfilling our mission to provide a better future for wildlife through rescue, rehabilitation, and education. In 2024 alone, 52 dedicated volunteers contributed an incredible 1,124 hours to a variety of essential tasks, from feeding and enriching the lives of our resident animals to recycling cans, maintaining our grounds, assisting with events, and supporting administrative and board functions. Their commitment not only helps us care for wildlife but also strengthens our ability to educate and inspire our community. We couldn't do this critical work without them!

Chart showing the where most of the volunteer hours went.

Volunteer Administration: 176.5 hrs. Resident Feeding/Enrichment: 184 hrs. Buildings and Grounds: 422.4 hrs.
Events/Fundraising: 412.2 hrs. Board/Committee Meetings: 112.5 hrs.

A young volunteer helping clear storm damage out of the fawn yard.
volunteers helping paint paneling.
volunteer nailing paneling into the quarantine barn
volunteers relaxing after helping at the Night for Wildlife Fundraiser

Plans for 2025

Together, we've achieved so much in 2024, but there's still more work to be done. As we look ahead to 2025, we're excited to expand our efforts, from completing the aquatics recovery enclosures with new pond circulation and filtration systems that will reduce water usage and ensure the cleanest environment for our aquatic patients, to expanding our fawn yard to care for more orphaned fawns. We're also building a new squirrel recovery enclosure we affectionately call the "nut house."

Additionally, we will finally be building the long-awaited Owl House, an educational building housing four owls native to northern Wisconsin. This will allow people to observe and learn about great-horned owls, barred owls, saw-whet owls, and screech owls. The building will also feature a screened-in education pavilion, enabling us to educate more people than ever before.

We are also committed to improving our team's skills. Sheridan will be taking her test for her advanced wildlife rehabbers license, and our rehab department will be working toward additional certifications for long and short-legged waders (herons, egrets, etc.), bats, and mustelids (weasels, otters, etc.).

These projects will allow us to provide even better care for wildlife and offer more impactful educational programs to our community. With your support, we can make these plans a reality. Join us as we continue to grow, innovate, and give wildlife a better chance. Please consider donating today to help us achieve our vision for 2025 and beyond.

Progress: 55.24%
Goal: $80,000.00
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  • The needs of our Northwood is so great & we are so fortunate to be able to care for some of our wildlife population as well the education provided. Thanks so much
    Mary Hobson
  • We love the wildlife center and are happy to see the animals thrive there.
    Katie Hackbarth
  • Thank you for all you do and Happy Holidays!
    Wayne Jackowski
  • Keep up the amazing work you do! I used to live in WI and toured your place a few times. Now I live in MT and miss the Northwoods. Your newletters keep me connected. Thanks!
    Sarah Miller Nehring
  • Grateful for the care you provide for animals in need!
    Parker and Mildred Sharpe
  • Have previously supported. Loved living in area as child. In winter, I could walk outside and hear a chickadee and then hold out my hand with pieces of peanuts and feed it.
    Joan Weckmueller
  • Your dedication to sick and injured animals brings joy to my heart. The animals that you rescue may not be able to say thank you, but I can on their behalf. You all are very special people. Thank you!
    Janet Long
  • I have been able to visit your rehabilitation center with my grandchildren and were very impressed with your work. Please keep up the great work.
    Jeanne Merlo
  • Thank you for all that you do to help sustain our future!
    Jim Schneider
  • You people do an awesome job!
    Lynn Hoeppner
  • Donation on behalf of Carol Steiner, longtime Center supporter!
    Raymond Steiner
  • I can actually see the results of my donation
    Marti Albrecht
  • So grateful for all you do for the Northwoods and beyond. We brought a fawn who we saw get hit by a car to you after hours and your interns were quick to help and call a rehabber back to the facility. Sadly, this sweet baby didn’t make it but I felt more at ease knowing she wasn’t just left in the field to become prey or starve.
    Rebecca Griffin
  • Support your outreach to help animals. I brought a duck to you several years ago and you helped her. Thanks for all you do.
    Grace and Drake Deming
  • In memory of Carol Baker
    Vanessa Angelo
  • In memory of my nephew Joseph (Joey) Ogrodnik. He loved Minocqua and the Northwoods, was a true animal advocate and supported you throughout the years. Thank you for all you do.
    Gloria Kisiel
  • In memory of Carol Baker.
    Richard Patton
  • Volunteers are awesome people
    mark loehlein
  • Thanks for all you do!
    Linda Hoadley
  • We have donated for many years and visit when Up North.
    Dorcas Burlingame
  • Keep up the GOOD work!
    Michael Samsa
  • I am just now finding out about your rehabilitation center and it sounds like you’re doing a lot of good up there. Please keep me informed of your growing progress.. I don’t have a lot of money, but I know every little bit helps.
    Lisa Noble

Checks can be sent to:
Northwoods Wildlife Center
8683 S. Blumenstein Rd.
Minocqua, WI 54548