February - 2012
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It's sick or injured
It's orphaned
I need it removed
Wildlife Hotline
614-793-WILD
(9453)          

Who We Are

Ohio Wildlife Center (OWC) is a leader in wildlife rehabilitation and conservation education.  We treat nearly 5,000 animals in our wildlife hospital every year and reach thousands of adults and children through education programs.  OWC is a private, non-profit organization. We rely almost entirely on the generosity of individual and corporate donors, and private grants. Thank you for your support!

Current Items Needed in Hospital

OWC's wildlife hospital is currently in need of the following items:

Large, clear pet food storage containers
Rubbermaid storage containers (all sizes)
Unsalted nuts (walnuts, almonds, holiday mixed nuts) in shells  (URGENT)
39-gallon (or larger) trash bags
Large and X-large latex gloves
Ensure (or generic equivalent) in any flavor EXCEPT chocolate
Unsweetened applesauce (please, no glass jars)
Dry dog food
Commercial-grade dryer
Calculators (basic)
Rechargeable batteries and charger (AA and AAA)
Hidey boxes - these are wooden hiding places for use inside of caging that makes the animals feel hidden and safe.  Click here for building instructions!

PLEASE bring donations to our wildlife hospital at 2661 Billingsley Road, Columbus 43235. 

Nature Programs and Tours

Please call (614) 734-9453 for more information and to schedule your field trip or group tour during the winter.  Due to demand, please allow at least four weeks to schedule your group.

OWC’s Nature Education Center in Powell will continue to be open for public visitation the second Sunday of each month from 12:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.  Additionally, we offer specialized workshops at 2:00 p.m. on the second Sunday of each month.  Please check the calendar to the left for monthly topics!  No registration is necessary.

Animals In Your Home or Business? Call Us.

Humane Wildlife Solutions, an extension of OWC, provides the only 100% no-kill alternative to traditional trap-and-kill animal control methods in Central Ohio.  HWS offers home inspections, animal exclusions and repairs at the point-of-entry.  All of our work is guaranteed for five years.  To schedule home inspection, call 614-763-0696.  Find out more here.

Donate to OWC with your Kroger Plus Card!
How can YOU get involved just by shopping?
» Click here for more information

Correctional Facility Animal Care Program in Need of Supplies
With the volume of animals brought into OWC's hospital every year, our correctional facility animal care program is necessary to care for thousands of animals before they can be released. Unfortunately, this program has recently lost funding and we are in need of supplies. Please help!
» Click here for more information
The Red-tailed hawk is a medium-sized bird of prey found throughout North America. It is generally non-aggressive toward humans and other birds and is an opportunistic feeder with a diet mostly of small mammals. Raccoons are opportunistic eaters and can be avoided by keeping garbage and compost piles secure, and keeping pet food inside. Photo by Scott Schisler American bullfrogs are common in Ohio and recognized by their deep, throaty song. Photo by Dr. Don Burton Canada goslings are born in the spring and by fall are mature and ready to fly south with their flock. Photo by Katherine Clifton Coyotes were introduced to Ohio and have thrived in urban environments. This coyote, Hope, was unreleasable because she was hand-raised by humans before sent to OWC, and so lacks certain survival skills. Photo by Sue Simunich Mother deer tell their fawns to stay still and low (often curled up) all day while she is away. She will return at dusk and likely move them to a new spot. This is a safety precaution for the fawns, but many times fawns are mistaken to be orphans because of it. Photo by Scott Schisler Black rat snakes are native Ohio snakes. This snake resides at OWC because of injuries that would compromise its ability to survive in the wild. Photo by Sue Simunich. The Chukar is a game-bird in the pheasant family, originally from Asia but introduced to the United States. This Chukar is Tori, who resides at OWC. Photo by Sue Simuncich This male American Kestrel also resides at OWC and can be seen at the center’s outdoor wildlife display. Photo by Deb Keller You may see Eastern Gray squirrels like this in your backyard, consuming seeds, acorns, insects, eggs and other nuts. Photo by Sue Simunich The population of the Leopard frog is decreasing due to pollution and deforestation. They are often good indicators for environmental problems because of their sensitivity to chemical pollutants found both in the air and the water. Photo by Sue Simunich Most Snapping turtles eat plants, small mammals, fish and birds and are quick to take off your finger if you get too close. Photo by Sue Simunich Despite what it looks like, those big tuffs on the top of this Great-horned owl’s head are not ears. To predators, they may look like an easy way to grab the owl, but they are actually just feathers. Photo by Sue Simunich The American Bald Eagle is an endangered species. Photo by Katherine Clifton Male Cardinals are recognized by their bright red appearance. Photo by Scott Schisler The Eastern Fox snake resides in Ohio, Michigan and parts of Canada in flat, marshy areas. Fox snakes will eat primarily small rodents, but will also eat small birds, rabbits and other small animals. Photo by Sue Simunich The wings of the male Kestrel are slate-blue. Females are rusty to match the back feathers. Photo by Deb Keller Flying squirrels are one of the most common squirrels in Ohio, although they are rarely seen because they are nocturnal (meaning they are awake at night time). Photo by Deb Keller Red fox kits stay with their mother and siblings for several months and then go off on their own typically in July. Foxes are generally shy animals. Photo by Scott Schisler The Painted turtle is a reptile that is common in southern Canada, the US, and Mexico and is related to other water turtles like sliders and cooters. They live in ponds, marshes, and slow-moving rivers with muddy bottoms. Photo by Deb Keller Great horned owls hunt at night by waiting on a high perch to swoop down on prey. They eat small to medium-sized mammals like rats, voles, skunks and rabbits. Photo by Deb Keller Blanding’s turtles are a semi-aquatic species found mostly near the Great Lakes regions. Photo by Sue Simunich The Virginia Opossum is about the size of a house cat and “plays dead” as a defense mechanism from predators. Photo by Sue Simunich White-tailed deer have been forced to adapt to urban environments as their natural home is being destroyed by human development. Photo by Katherine Clifton Canada geese are dedicated parents and very social. When one goose is fatigued while flying, they will make sure it is not alone while it rests and will fly in shifts. Photo by Katherine Clifton Bobwhite quails are ground-dwelling birds found in North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Photo by Deb Keller Raccoon mothers will call out to their young should they fall from a tree or get lost. As long as she sees them or hears their cries, she will do whatever it takes to retrieve them. Photo by Owen DeWolfe In flight, Red-tailed hawks flap as little as possible to conserve energy. Their flight is slow and deliberate, with deep beats of their wings. Photo by David Harrison The male Red-winged Blackbird fiercely defends his territory during the breeding season. He may spend more than a quarter of all the daylight hours in territory defense. He vigorously keeps all other males out of the territory and defends the nests from predators. He will attack much larger animals, including horses and people. (birds.cornell.edu) Photo by Tripp Braden