Here at the Howell Nature Center, our mission is that through mutual love and respect, we teach people to be faithful caretakers of one another and the world around us. With 230 acres, we offer numerous programs so you can find the activity that best suits you and your family to once again connect to nature.
CHOOSE YOUR PATH
Summer Camps
Wildlife Rehab
Education
Community
UPCOMING EVENTS
STAY CONNECTED
Sometimes on rainy days you just have to find your favorite stuffed animal and take a nap! ☔️🤣 #Wednesdays #wildliferehab #babyseason
🌟 Meet Alvin, the Southern Flying Squirrel! 🌟![]()
![]()
Alvin has been a permanent resident at the Howell Nature Center since 2018, when was brought to our wildlife clinic after being illegally kept as someone’s pet. Since he is acclimated to humans and wouldn’t be able to survive in the wild, he now lives in our wildlife park. He was born in 2017 and will be turning 5 this year.![]()
![]()
Alvin is very curious and outgoing, which makes him a wonderful ambassador for flying squirrels. These small rodents are more common than people think around our homes, which makes Alvin’s job of teaching people how to conserve flying squirrel habitat even more important. These nocturnal creatures spend much of their day sleeping, but if you’re lucky enough you may see Alvin peering out of his nest box or playing with his new friend Lavender.![]()
![]()
🌟 Fun fact: While flying squirrels are unable to truly fly, the specialized skin flap between their front and rear limbs, called a patagium, allows them to glide between trees.![]()
![]()
Have you ever seen a flying squirrel before?
🧡🐾In appreciation of our supportive community this baby season and beyond, we would like to cordially invite you and your family out to enjoy the Wild Wonders Wildlife Park & Alexandria's NatureScape on Saturday June 4th from 10AM-5PM. Please use the link below to register for this FREE event. We look forward to seeing you then! ![]()
![]()
www.howellnaturecenter.org/plan-your-visit/events/
Program highlight: 🌟Outdoor Teen Adventure Club🌟![]()
![]()
The club has been enjoying a wildly fun spring season! Last weekend, the group pitched tents at our very own Global Village for an overnight experience.![]()
![]()
A few of the fun activities from the weekend were practicing outdoor survival skills, playing ghost in the graveyard, roasting bagels and banana boats over the fire, and much more! With the support of their fellow club members, teens faced their fears by climbing 30 feet up the tree in our Leap of Faith, then throwing eggs off the platform, symbolizing letting go of the things holding them back. Without question, it was a very memorable weekend!![]()
![]()
🌟 Want to be a part of the Outdoor Teen Adventure Club? Our second ever Weekend Retreat is coming up in just two weeks! May 27-29th, teens will stay the night at HNC and enjoy a variety of activities. During the weekend, we’ll participate in a Huron River Clean Up. Teens will gain valuable skills and experiences such as leadership, team-building, communication, and more.![]()
![]()
🌟 What are you waiting for? Register here: bit.ly/3yUy2ei![]()
![]()
🌟 Have questions? Contact Ashley Dunn, Adventure Education Coordinator, at ashleyd@howellnaturecenter.org![]()
![]()
#generatorz
🤎 #fawnfriday We recently admitted our first two fawns of the season into our Wildlife Clinic. Both fawns are just days old, and were determined to be orphaned by our clinic staff. Don’t forget it is normal to see these babies without mom and before you move a fawn, please call our wildlife helpline at (517) 548-5530, unless it is in a dangerous situation or injured. Please see our previous fawn post for more information. ![]()
![]()
These babies will be with us until October when we will release them back into the wild. HNC is only able to take in fawns found in Livingston County as we are required to release them in the same county in which they were found. Our practice is to do a soft release of our fawns on our 230 acre property so that we can continue to provide supplemental care.![]()
![]()
🍼🍼A special thank you goes out to our friends Happy Thought Farm, Firesign Family Farm, and Hickory Knoll Farms Creamery who provide free and discounted goat milk to us. Goat milk is their entire diet during this age.![]()
![]()
Can you donate $5 today to help support the long-term care of our fawns? #togetherwecan #fivedollarfriday
🍼🎀The support we’ve received from our community this spring has truly been the lifeblood for our Wildlife clinic. As more orphaned babies come into our care, the need for supplies also increases. With the average cost of care per animal being around $80, our clinic is in need of the following items-![]()
![]()
🐾Dog food- both wet & dry. We are unable to take dog food that’s been opened, is expired or is a prescription formula. Many of the animals in our care are omnivores, just like our dogs! The same dry food we use for our family pets can be a good substitute when feeding our rehab patients. ![]()
![]()
🐾Hammocks, wheels, and animal enrichment from our Amazon wishlist. These items help to mimic natural behaviors and support the rehabilitation process.![]()
![]()
Donations can be dropped off at our Welcome Center, seven days a week from 10AM-5PM. Please email pattyr@howellnaturecenter.org with any additional questions! Thank you in advance for caring about wildlife! 🤎![]()
![]()
www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/2WOVAI6WZQ4V1/ref=cm_sw_
Found an orphaned squirrel? Try to reunite with mom!![]()
![]()
Wildlife mothers do the best job at raising their babies, so reunite attempts should always be made for healthy babies before a rehabber is sought. Follow these steps to reunite squirrel babies with their mothers:![]()
![]()
🐾Place the babies in a box (shallow enough for mom to get in and out but deep enough to keep babies in) lined with fleece or other fabric at the base of the nest tree with a heat source such as hand warmers, rice in a sock heated in the microwave, or a plastic bottle filled with hot water. Make sure there is a fabric layer between the babies and heat source so they are not burned. ![]()
🐾Give mom 4-6 hours during daylight to retrieve her babies. You can play squirrel baby sounds with a bluetooth speaker for 10 minutes every hour to attract mom to the area, but give mom time and space. She likely will not return for the babies while you are in the area.![]()
🐾Periodically replace the heat source to ensure babies stay warm if the reunite is taking time.![]()
🐾If mom does not retrieve her babies before dark, bring them inside for the night to keep them safe from predators. Keep them in a dark, quiet area with a heat source overnight and do not offer any food or water (this can be deadly). If you have a heat pad, place the box on the pad set on low and cover the pad with a pillowcase. ![]()
🐾If babies were found late in the day, you can try to reunite with mom in the morning.![]()
🐾If the nest was destroyed by tree work, you can still try to reunite! Squirrels have backup nests and will relocate their babies. Place the box as close as possible to the location of the original nest. If possible, wait until fall for tree work.![]()
![]()
Contact a rehabber if the reunite attempt does not work, or immediately if the baby is cold, lethargic, bleeding or injured, or has any sort of fly or maggot activity.
🦅☀️Kili’s splashing away the Monday blues on this beautiful day. Don’t forget our Wild Wonders Wildlife Park and Alexandria’s NatureScape is open 7 days a week! #comeseeus
💐Celebrate Mother's Day in Nature with FREE park admission for moms/grand-moms! We are so grateful for everything our moms do for us. Spend time with your mom while exploring the Wildlife Park, Ambassador Animal Trail, and Alexandria's NatureScape. ![]()
![]()
We are open 10am - 5pm. For all other guests, admission is $6 per adult and $4 per child. Infants 2 and under are free! We can't wait to see you then! ❤️
Last month we received a generous donation of supplies from our friends STAYbowl Tip-Proof Pet Bowl. We are so grateful for their kindness and support! #babyseason #communityfirst 🐰🍼
