Visitors, Northside Hospital make for successful wildlife baby shower at CNC
ROSWELL, GA. – Visitors to the Chattahoochee Nature Center on February 29 played exciting baby-themed games, such as matching pictures of baby animals to their adults, or guess the animal scat in the diaper. Fun! The day was to support the CNC Wildlife Department’s efforts in rehabilitating injured animals. Check out some photos here.
All told, the Wildlife Department raised over $4,000 from community contributions throughout the month. Add in a dollar-for-dollar match from Northside Hospital and that number doubles. Donations included cash and gift cards, but also cans of wet cat food, bags of dry cat food, cans of various vegetables and bags of “Reptibark,” a reptile bedding. Also, plenty of bottles of laundry detergent.
The day was made possible thanks to a generous gift from Northside Hospital, which matched donations up to $5,000, all to go toward the Wildlife Department. Northside Hospital’s mascot, Sammy the Stork, also came to the event Feb. 29. As the nation’s largest provider of births in the nation, Northside was a perfect choice as partner on the day.
Students from nearby Timber Ridge Middle School also donated hundreds of canned goods and gift cards.
Kathryn Dudeck, CNC’s wildlife director, said she was pleased by the community support for the department.
“We had such an amazing turnout for this day all about wildlife,” said Dudeck. “Through the help of the visitors, donors, and sponsor Northside Hospital, the wildlife department will be well-stocked to help many injured raptors and reptiles this year.”
CN
C takes in hundreds of injured animals a year for rehab, with nearly 40 young birds of prey (raptors) and reptiles among them, and hundreds of calls a month from people who have found animals and are looking for advice. The majority of young raptor patients come in due to nest loss, such as from a storm or trees being cut down, and from good Samaritans who might not know when an animal is actually in need of help. Dudeck says it’s best to contact a local rehabber before attempting to “
rescue” any animal, especially babies.
With all three full time Wildlife Department staff members licensed for rehabilitation, CNC treats over 600 injured raptors and reptiles each year. If the animals can be released back into the wild, they will be; otherwise they may become resident animal ambassadors on CNC’s grounds for educational purposes. All resident animals at CNC are injured and non-releasable.
For more information about CNC’s wildlife department or to make donations, visit https://www.chattnaturecenter.org/visit/experience/wildlife/
For more information about CNC, visit www.chattnaturecenter.org.
For over 40 years, the Chattahoochee Nature Center prides itself on connecting metro Atlanta with nature, through education and experiences unlike anywhere else. Sitting on 127 wooded acres on the banks of the Chattahoochee River, CNC offers amazing access to this important water source through guided canoe trips on the river and a river boardwalk. CNC also forms connections in the wider community through animal encounters with rehabilitated wildlife, excitement on the new treetop zipline courses over our ponds, unique yearlong pollinator gardens, unparalleled family events, and more all year long.
To learn more about CNC, its mission and its programming, visit us online at www.chattnaturecenter.org.