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.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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Wild about Herpetology? Have a soft spot for turtles? Next week's Discovery Day will focus on amphibians and reptiles. You'll learn how to safely go herping. ![]()
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Next Saturday, June 10th from 12:00-1:00pm, join our team of zookeepers for this extra special Herpetology Discovery Day! Ages 6+ welcome. ![]()
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Register Here: bit.ly/41T18IU
Everyone is finally all tucked in for the night in our rehabilitation clinic 😮💨![]()
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If you’ve ever wondered what a day in our clinic is like, here is a quick summary. ![]()
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Our first shift of staff begins the day at 6:30 am and checks on all patients, addressing any urgent needs that they find. They then begin baby feeds and medications, followed by feeding and cleaning enclosures for all patients and performing medical procedures such as wound cleaning, bandage changes, physical therapy, etc. Calls to the wildlife helpline are answered throughout the day. When new injured and orphaned patients come in, intake exams are performed to diagnose injuries, initiate treatment plans, and determine feed schedules. Diagnostic tests are performed throughout the day on new and existing patients, including blood work (we draw blood then send it out for testing), x-rays, fecal exams, etc. Patients are given enrichment to encourage natural behaviors and stimulate their bodies and minds, and patients in our pre-release area are given activities to help prepare them for release back into the wild. While all this occurs, babies continue to be fed throughout the day and new patients continue to arrive. At the end of the day, more medications and treatments are administered. We leave when the work is done, lately around 1 am.![]()
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Today’s critical patients that needed extra care included a fawn that was birthed on impact when it’s mother was hit by a car, a sandhill crane colt who can’t stand and needed to have a splint placed and a sling built to keep her upright, a fox kit having seizures, a baby squirrel with a fractured jaw, woodchuck babies who are struggling to survive, and an emaciated squirrel with mange. Luckily some of our other critical patients have stabilized. ![]()
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This work can be a lot. But, the support of our community and the knowledge that we are helping wildlife mean the world to us, and tomorrow will be a new day to help more creatures in need. 💕
We are so grateful for the green thumbs of our amazing volunteers who helped make our garden planting day over the weekend a blooming success! 🌻🌿👏 Thank you for your continued support & kindness!![]()
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#ThankYouVolunteers
This weeks Baby Season feature highlights our cottontails! Named for their signature white bushy tails, cottontails can very in color ranging from reddish brown to grey. ![]()
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Facing many predators in the wild, they must be very quick on their feet. They can run up to 18 miles per hour, zigging & zagging to avoid being caught. ![]()
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Not only are they quick on their feet, they also mature at a very fast rate gaining independence around a month old. ![]()
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Our cottontails like hundreds of other injured or orphaned wildlife need your help to get them through baby season! ![]()
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Donate today: bit.ly/3AyAF7W
Patient of the week![]()
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This sandhill crane colt came to us from our friends at Wildside Rehabilitation and Education Center after being found orphaned. She was transferred to us to be fostered by our non-releasable crane Frasier, who LOVES baby cranes and does a phenomenal job raising them to be healthy, socially-appropriate cranes that can be released back into the wild. ![]()
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Crane colts typically leave the nest within a day of hatching to follow their parents. Both parents feed the colts initially until they learn to self-feed. Colts stay with their parents for several months and migrate with them.![]()
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This little colt will live with Frasier for several months before being released in an area where numerous cranes are present. Frasier will help her learn all the things she needs to know to survive in the wild. He takes his job very seriously, instantly becoming quite protective of her. This photo was taken seconds after they met for the first time. ❤️![]()
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We are still fundraising for our annual Baby Shower Appeal. Each spring/summer, we take in hundreds of baby wildlife that are injured or orphaned and in need of help. Our goal is always to raise these babies and help them grow into healthy juveniles that can be released back to the wild. On average, each patient costs $80, so the costs really add up! Please consider making a donation of any amount to help us help these babies.
Attention all nature enthusiasts! Looking for the perfect summer opportunity?? Howell Nature Center is still hiring for Summer Day Camp Counselor positions. ![]()
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If you love the outdoors and working with kids, this is the perfect role for you. Apply now and join our team in providing a fun and educational summer experience for our camp kiddos. Applicants must be 16 years of age or older. ![]()
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You do not want to miss out on this opportunity! #summercamp #naturelover #jobopening ![]()
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Apply Here: bit.ly/3ZXyHtd
This month we are highlighting our fabulous team member, Kate Cooch. As our Guest Experience Coordinator, Kate spends each day making sure every guest who comes to the Nature Center leaves with a smile. You can find her doing so in our Welcome Center 5 days a week. ![]()
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“I like meeting, helping, and chatting it up with our guests. I’m always interested in what our guests have to say - so many stories, so little time,” she says.![]()
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Outside of work, Kate enjoys a variety of hobbies including baking, gardening, and making jams. Kate loves reading, noting the latest & greatest book she has recently read is “The Overstory” by Richard Powers. Kate is also an avid beekeeper and loves all things nature. ![]()
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Kate notes, “Perhaps the best part of working at HNC is the extraordinary staff I get to work with. This is truly a magical place to be.”![]()
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Our team and our guests are so lucky to have you, Kate! Thank you for all your hard work & passion for the Nature Center!
Cute baby alert 😍![]()
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Do you know what species this is?![]()
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**UPDATE** ![]()
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Thank you for all of your guesses! If you guessed Stoats, Ermines, or Weasels, you are correct! ![]()
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Stoats, also referred to as ermines or short-tailed weasels, are close relatives of the mink & otter. ![]()
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These adorable little ones are carnivores with their diet consisting mostly of small rodents like mice and voles. Female stoats typically give birth to litters of 5 to 12 kits with the kits becoming fully independent at about 12 weeks old. ![]()
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Stoats undergo a process called embryonic diapause, meaning fertilized eggs don't immediately implant in the uterus. Instead, the eggs are held in a state of stable hibernation for up to 300 days. After this, the fertilized eggs are implanted with their gestation period taking about 3 to 4 weeks before the babies are born.
Meet Rocksteady, our new Wildlife Ambassador!!🐢Rocksteady the snapping turtle came to us all the way from New Mexico!![]()
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Rocksteady came to us from a family who cared for her for 27 years! After outgrowing her pond in New Mexico, she was in need of a new place to call her forever home. ![]()
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For this year's Be Wild 5K Run/Walk, we selected Rocksteady as our ambassador! Join us on September 9th for our annual Be Wild 5K to support wildlife in need!![]()
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This moderately challenging, rustic course winds through 230 acres of wooded nature trails at the Howell Nature Center. Whether you walk, jog, or run, your participation will help wildlife.![]()
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After the race, you’re welcome to explore the Wild Wonders Wildlife Park and Alexandria's NatureScape. All proceeds go directly towards wildlife rehabilitation and education!![]()
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REGISTER HERE: bit.ly/44Q9W4Y![]()
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Please note that t-shirt orders are only guaranteed when placed by August 21st.
We are officially one month out from summer camp beginning! Camp Wonder's first week of campers are scheduled to arrive June 5th. ![]()
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In order to offer our campers their best summer yet, we are seeking in-kind or amazon wishlist donations. We are looking for any of the following:![]()
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- board games![]()
- arts & crafts supplies ![]()
- sports balls ![]()
- yard games![]()
- foldable kids camping chairs ![]()
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Shop our Camp Wonder Wishlist at the link below:![]()
bit.ly/3KmX2Dz![]()
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Donations may be dropped off at our Welcome Center any day between 10-5. Thank you! We so appreciate all of those who donate or share this post!
