Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary

Opossums are cute!

2011-08-15T11:10:00.000-07:00

Opossums are really cute critters!

Sometimes they get a bum rap because they are misunderstood.

Our Animal Ambassador Petey!

A very young opossum....

A 5 month old opossum in our rehabilitation program.....

All about Opossums!

Virginia Opossums are the only marsupial native to the United States, which means the female carries the young in her pouch. She carries them until they are old enough and big enough to run around on their own a bit while learning to scavenge with her, which is at a few months of age.

They are excellent climbers with their unique paws. Opossums cannot hang from their tail-- they use the prehensile tail to help them grab onto the items they are climbing, like a tree limb, fence, or up the arm of one of the keepers! If you grab an opossum by their tail, they can have their spinal cord severely damaged.

Opossums are scavengers-- they do not actively hunt for food. They are looking for an easy food source. This can be a compost pile, a fruit tree, a garbage bag, or the dog and cat food someone left outside! Since they are omnivores, there are a lot of opportunities for them to find food.

Opossums do play "'possum", or act dead, to protect themselves. If they feel threatened, they will freeze and act dead so a predator does not hurt or kill them. They can stay frozen for a period of time. Opossums also have over 50 teeth-- they will show these off to protect themselves as well.

Come on out and meet Petey, our resident Opossum, at WLS! On this post are a few pictures of him and some young ones we have gotten in for rehab to release back into the wild.

Enjoy, and thanks for your support!

It's Baby Season in Wildlife Rehab!

2011-06-24T10:59:00.001-07:00

9 week coyote pups

4 week old raccoon

4 week old mink

Our R-PAWS program has been a busy one this summer!

R-PAWS stand for Rehabilitation Program at the Wildlife Sanctuary. This is a program run on donations and volunteer time. Last year, the R-PAWS program admitted nearly 4,500 orphaned, injured, and ill wildlife from the public. In 2011, we have already admitted over 1,000 mammals! Here are a few pictures of some of the animals we have been caring for.

You can help support the R-PAWS program in a few ways:
Donate items from our "baby list" posted on our website!

Walk in our Walk for Wildlife event on Saturday, September 17th!

Call Animal Care at the Wildlife Sanctuary if you find an orphaned or injured animal! The number is (920) 391-3685.

Volunteer your time to help clean cages, fold laundry, or prepare food for the animals!

As always, we thank you for your support and we hope you have a great day!

adult Tundra Swan

Canada Geese goslings

Blue Jay nestlings

Fox Kit

Owl rescued from soccer net!

2011-06-09T10:19:00.001-07:00

Here are some "great" photos from a Great Horned Owl rescue! Our intern David and our animal keeper Amy were alerted to this little guy in need of help thanks to some concerned citizens who called the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary. Since the owl was just leaving the nest and was not quite on his own, we added him to our rehab brood of young Great Horned Owls that have been rescued this spring. This rescued owl is doing well and is on his way to recovery, thanks to our dedicated R-PAWS volunteers and from your support!

WELL DONE!!!

2011-05-27T12:18:00.001-07:00

Construction Update:
The Observation Buildling and the parking lot at that building will be closed to the public until June 11.
All other exhibits and public areas and trails are open!

The Bobcat Saga Continues-- part 4

2011-04-07T06:47:00.000-07:00

SHE HAS A HOME!!!!

We are pleased to announce we have found a great home for our little bobcat who has been with us for about 2 months now. She will be going to a wonderful facility in New Hampshire where she can be outside and be cared for by some great people! Keep an eye on the blog and Good Day Wisconsin/Fox 11 to see updates on her journey. As always, it is so important to keep wild animal wild-- but if you find an animal that seems to be in distress or in need of assistance, please call Animal Care here at WLS at 920-391-3685. Thank you everyone for your support!

The Bobcat Saga Continues Part 3...Bobcat on Good Day Wisconsin!

2011-04-07T06:41:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! Good Day Wisconsin/Fox 11 in Green Bay did a great clip featuring the bobcat! We would like to thank the entire staff at Good Day Wisconsin for their help in promoting her situation and our R-PAWS program. Here is a link to check it out: http://www.fox11online.com/dpp/good_day_wi/getting-wild-at-the-bay-beach-wildlife-sanctuary

Resch Falls is Up and Running!

2011-04-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

After a long winter of dormancy, Resch Falls is up and running as of today at the Sanctuary! Spring must be really (finally) here! Water is now cascading over the rocks, the ice is cleared off the lagoons and lots of migrating waterfowl are stopping by for a visit and rest on the lagoons.

Parking lot construction will begin April 25 down at the Observation Building. The lot will be closed off to the public for 3-4 weeks. Corn will still be available up behind the Nature Center and the boardwalk to Resch Falls will continue to be open. Our summer hours will begin Monday, April 18. The Nature Center will be open 8:00 am - 7:30 pm daily, trails open daily 8:00 am - 4:30 pm.

Birthday Party for the Animals

2011-03-23T07:06:00.000-07:00

Birthday Party for the Animals for Wednesday March 23, 2011 has been cancelled due to the weather and road conditions.

Thank you for your generosity in our Toy Drive!

2011-03-21T12:48:00.000-07:00

Animal Care would like to thank everyone for their generous donations of animal toys this past winter. As you can see below, the many gifts have made a big difference in their lives, giving new enrichment experiences. We appreciate all the time and effort you have given!

Delilah Skunk exploring a new toy!

Delilah and King Louie, our striped skunks, playing on a new bed!

Spike the porcupine on her new stuffed animal!

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!

The Bobcat Saga Continues-- part 2

2011-03-21T12:41:00.001-07:00

Our Bobcat has been checked over by our veterinarian and looks good. Our vet did a full body exam, drew blood to check her organs and to see if there are any infections, and weighed her. She weighs 19 pounds-- she's a big girl with her weight being that high and she is still so skinny. Our bobcat has been adjusting slowly, enjoying chicken legs as a treat with her regular meal of a special carnivore diet and venison. She has also started playing with toys in front of us, including balls and large cat toys. We are hoping to finalize a home for her in the next month.

Watch our blog for weekly updates as we help this bobcat find a new home!
We hope to see you at WLS soon enjoying the spring weather!

2011-03-21T12:39:00.001-07:00

Celebrating 75 years at WLS!

2011-03-18T14:31:00.000-07:00

We want You to help us Celebrate 75 years at the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary!

Check out our Facebook page on our Website and post your favorite photos, stories, and memories of the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary. Founder's Day is coming up fast on Sunday, April 17th, where we plan to share many of your entries. Haven't heard of Founder's Day? It's a new event here at WLS and here is your invitation:

The Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary is inviting the Greater Green Bay community to celebrate its 75th birthday! In honor of this milestone, the Sanctuary will be holding a free Founder’s Day event that will feature an animal release, a first person characterization of an old (really old!) founder of the Sanctuary, and a chance to meet some of the Sanctuary’s animal ambassadors. Visitors can also take advantage of all the exhibits and education areas the Sanctuary offers during the year. And what is a birthday party without cake? Sanctuary staff will be serving birthday cake in the Nature Center while supplies last.

So come on up to the Nature Center from 1pm until 3:30pm and help us celebrate our 75th anniversary motto:

"Soaring Forward with the Wildlife Sanctuary"

And thank you all for helping make these past 75 years wonderful!

Hope to see you there!

2011-03-16T06:23:00.000-07:00

The Bobcat Saga...

Hello everyone! As you read in the Honker, we have a bobcat here with an interesting tale. She was found two years ago as a kitten wandering outside. Someone found her and decided they would care for her. Now residing at the WLS, we do not know if this kitten was in distress or if something had happen to the mother. Whatever the situation was, this bobcat ended up living in a cage in a basement for 2 years.
After some unfortunate circumstances, this scared, thin creature ended up at the Wildlife Sanctuary. We have been trying to make her comfortable, offering new foods and seeing what she wants to eat, and watching her discover new smells and toys. We are hoping after her vet check we can find her a great home with sunshine above her and grass and dirt below her paws.

There are many wild animals, in Wisconsin and around the world, that find themselves in this situation. As desirable as it may seem, wild animals do not make good pets. As you can see by her pictures below, this bobcat looks very cute, sweet, and harmless. Actually, bobcats are quite dangerous. Any wild orphaned or injured animal found should be taken to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator so it may be handled carefully, treated for any ailments, and given a chance to be released back into the wild where it belongs… not kept in a basement and not able to see the sun. Wild animals deserve to have a chance to be wild.

We are hoping for a happy ending for this bobcat. We will keep you posted through our blog. If you ever have any questions about wildlife, if one is in distress, or if you know of one in need of assistance or care, please feel free to call animal care at the Wildlife Sanctuary at 920.391.3685.
Have a great day—and be sure to get outside and enjoy the arrival of spring!

2011-02-02T08:25:00.000-08:00

HAPPY GROUNDHOG'S DAY EVERYONE!

Well, Green Bay Betty, our new groundhog, did see her shadow this morning on GoodDay Wisconsin on Fox 11... so, it means 6 more weeks of winter!

That's okay though, because you can celebrate winter this Saturday, February 5th, at Frosty Family Fun Night! It's a great event where we have music by Good News, 2 night hikes, a bonfire where we roast s'mores, visits with animal ambassadors, night snowshoeing, a great treat table (including a chocolate dipping station), and crafts for the kids! Frosty Family Fun Night is from 5:30 until 8pm at the Nature Center. At only $5 a family or carload or free for Friends members, it is for sure the best deal in town! All proceeds go towards the Friends of the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary. We are also giving away Friends memberships and gift certificates to our giftshop! We hope to see you there!!

Happy 2011!

2011-01-10T09:28:00.000-08:00

Thank you everyone for your support in 2010! We hope you all have a wonderful 2011!

Check out our website at baybeachwildlife.com for winter tips to help the critters that are coming through your yard this season. You can put out Christmas trees for shelter! Give a daily dish of warm water! Roll pinecones in peanut butter and seeds for wildlife treats! A few small actions make a big difference in helping wildlife get through winter.

And a quick update.... Our bald eagle we have been telling you about is still here! She is feisty as ever, but still has not molted to grow good flight/primary feathers. She is eating and maintaining a good weight. Her bones have healed well. We hope to keep updating you on how she is doing. And yes, we are still doing physical therapy with her!

Have a great week! Remember-- be sure to get out and enjoy the beauty of nature all around you!

17th Annual Halloween Event Coming Soon!

2010-10-13T13:54:00.000-07:00

The Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary's Annual Halloween Event is quickly approaching! The 17th annual event will be held on Saturday, October 23, 2010 beginning at 6:00 pm. The idea for this popular program came about year's ago as a great family friendly Halloween activity that is an alternative to the typical haunted house. No scary monsters, blood or gore here!

The focus of the event is on education and having fun while being entertained by a larger than life animal (a volunteer dressed up in a costume). Our 25-30 volunteers range in age from 8-30. Each of them tries out for the particular animal character that they would like to portray. After receiving their part, they spend hours memorizing their animal script, working on their costume and interacting with each other. Many of the characters play off of each other and try to point out their character's habits and qualities that make them unique. Most of the characters are nocturnal animals (ie. bat, opossum, skunk, raccoon, moth, etc.) that are commonly found in Wisconsin and often times are misunderstood. All of this is done in an educational and many times humorous way!

Our event takes place rain or shine because it is held inside the pumpkin lit, darkened Nature Center. You also don't have to stand outside in a long line and wait for your chance to meet our animal friends. Groups of 15-20 people are led through the indoor hike every 20 minutes beginning at 6:00 pm and concluding at 8:20 pm. Each hike takes approximately 45 minutes. Kids are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes and each child will receive a treat bag after completing their hike. The fee is $3.00 per adult and $2.00 per child under 12. Pre-registration for a specific time slot is required. Many time slots fill up quickly. For more information or to pre-register please call (920) 391-3671.

Memorial to our Cougar

2010-07-30T07:08:00.001-07:00

Our staff would like to say good-bye to a member of our wildlife family.

Dago the Cougar died July 27, 2010 at the age of 18.

He came to us in October of 1992. He had been confiscated by authorities as an illegal pet. At that time he was suffering from malnutrition and joint problems. He had life-long hip issues because of this. Dago in 1993

He will be greatly missed by staff and volunteers, as well as by all of the thousands of visitors who have been coming to see him for the past 18 years.

Dago in 2009

2010-05-11T09:33:00.000-07:00

See WLS goslings and ducklings!

More Trail Reports:
May 10
-False Solomon's Seal blooming along Chipmunk Trail
-Rose-breasted Grosbeak carrying nesting material and working on nest
-Yellow Warblers singing right outside Nature Center
May 8
-91 species of birds seen and heard
May 6
-Orchard Oriole seen and heard near Director's residence
-Summer Tanager (female) seen by staff and visitors, a rare visitor to this area
May 5
-17 species of warblers seen and heard

2010-05-04T14:19:00.000-07:00

Trail Updates
May 4
-Vole impaled on sharp twig by a Shrike
-Nashville Warbler climbing through twigs and singing
-Palm Warblers all over the trails
-Wild Strawberry blossoms
-Blue-gray Gnatcatchers chasing each other
-Beautiful Scarlet Tanager male in Hussong Woods
-Rose-breasted Grosbeak singing in the apple blossoms
-young male Baltimore Oriole singing and bouncing through leaves
April 21
-A pair of Blue-winged Teal on Hussong Marsh
-Hermit Thrush jumping on snags
-Ruby-crowned Kinglet bouncing through branches
-Eastern Phoebe catching insects
-2 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers chasing each other
-Stinging Nettle growing up
April 20
-Cabbage butterflies fluttering
-Ferns coming up in the marsh (fiddleheads)
-Trout Lilies blooming
-Jewelweed leaves peeking out of the forest floor
-Woodchucks out eating, then scurrying to their burrows
-Lesser Scaup diving by the floating boardwalk
-Yellow-rumped Warbler
April 19
-Brown Thrasher bouncing around under the brush
-Blue-gray Gnatcatcher flitting from branch to branch
-Painted Turtle sunning on a log in Hussong Marsh
-Bluebells blooming along the trail
-bumblebee buzzing near the ground
-waterleaf leaves growing in the woods
-mayapple leaves have flower buds nested between them, ready to blossom soon
-violets blooming all along edges of trail
-dragonfly hawking insects on the boardwalk
April 14
-Cedar Waxwings in the trees
-A pair of Wooducks flying across Hussong Marsh
-Dragonflies mating at Whirligig Pond
-Lots of mosquito pupae wriggling in Whirligig Pond
-An Osprey circling overhead-Leopard Frogs calling
-May Apple leaves and buds along Hussong Trail

Kicking off the 2010 Season of our Urban Fishing Program

2010-04-23T07:54:00.000-07:00

On Earth Day we kicked off the 2010 season of our urban fishing program with the planting of 1,500 rainbow trout into Manger Lagoon.

We reinstated the fishing program last April after the restoration of the lagoon was complete. To date, more than 10,000 fish have been planted in the lagoon.

The following is what you need to know about our program:

Program is open to children ages 15 and under as well as handicapped or disabled adults
Fish caught can either be kept or released back into the lagoon
Children ages 15 and younger can fish without a license, but adult anglers will need a license and if they plan to keep any fish caught, will also need an inland trout stamp
Sanctuary staff is on-hand on Sanctuary grounds, but the program is not supervised, so adults are encouraged to attend with younger children
State urban fishing regulations and city ordinances are in place and will be enforced by State DNR wardens and by the Green Bay Police Department

We'd like to thank Don Renard, Renco Machine and the Green Bay Area Great Lakes Sportfishermen who have made the fish stockings and the urban fishing program possible.

We can't wait to see everyone fishing at the lagoon!

2010-04-21T09:16:00.000-07:00

The Bald Eagle is doing great! She has been moved out of recovery to the flight pavilion so she can start building strength and muscle tone. She has to be encouraged to move at this point; at the end of the video clip there is a broom that gently moves toward her--that is simply part of the physical therapy session. She does not fly yet, but is gaining strength in her legs through running and flaps her wings to build flight muscle. This process will eventually involve her flying from one end of the enclosure to the other. We will continue to work with her and still have hope that she will make a full recovery.

OTHER NEWS from the sanctuary:

One of our volunteers photographed the first known batch of goslings this season on April 15!!

Trail Updates

2010-04-13T07:08:00.000-07:00

SOME OF THE SPRING ACTIVITY ALONG OUR TRAILS:

April 2
-A pair of Eastern Phoebes catching flying insects
-Brown Creepers crawling up and down trunks

April 5
-Mourning Cloak butterfly fluttering through the woods
-Hermit Thrush bouncing around on fallen logs
-Wood Frogs calling along Hussong Marsh
-Tree Swallows swooping and diving for insects
-A Cabbage Butterfly fluttering around a patch of blue Scilla; an American Goldfinch singing up above see short clip below

April 8

-Wild Turkey tracks in the snow
-A pair of Sandhill Cranes standing together on a small patch of the trail not covered with snow
-A pair of mature Bald Eagles circling over Hussong Marsh
-A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker circling around a tree trunk
April 12
-A male Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle Warbler) zoomed past and perched on a branch close by
-A pair of Song Sparrows in a small tree along a boardwalk
-An Eastern Comma Butterfly sunning itself along the back fence of the deer yard
-Virginia Bluebells ready to bloom along Hussong Trail
-Trout Lily leaves all over Hussong Woods

2010-03-02T10:09:00.000-08:00

Eagle Update #1-- February 17, 2010
Here is the surgical story of the Bald Eagle from our partners at Gentle Vet Animal Hospital...

Friday, February 12 was a typical day at Gentle Vet Animal Hospital until the staff of the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary arrived with an injured bald eagle. The bird had been hit by a vehicle in the Crivitz area. She was very weak, and did not put up much of a fight, which is not normal for eagles, even sick ones!

Dr Gray was concerned that this bird might have multiple injuries, and could also have other health conditions which had weakened her so that she wasn’t able to avoid the passing car. He and the technicians gave the eagle a complete physical exam, and collected a blood sample for testing in our laboratory. Dr. Gray found a severe wound to the eagle’s left elbow; most of the skin had been peeled away.

View of left wing xray

view of right wing fracture

X-rays showed another serious problem; there was a fracture of the lower part of the radius bone in the right wing, just above the wrist. The skin was not broken in this area, which was good news. But in order to fly well, eagles must have nearly perfect function of their wings, and the fracture was close to the joint.
By the time the exam and x-rays were done, the blood results were also finished. We could see that the bird had no signs of internal bleeding, and no organ damage. This was good news, but we still had a very shocky bird.
Dr Gray considered the options, and decided that the best course would be to stabilize the eagle for a few days, then perform surgery to close the skin wound and repair the fracture. He prescribed antibiotics and pain medication, and bandaged the eagle’s wounds. The bird returned to the Wildlife Sanctuary for treatment over the weekend.
On Monday, February 15, we were delighted to see a much stronger eagle! The bird was much more difficult to handle, which is a good sign for her, but a challenge for the staff! Dr. Gray anesthetized the eagle, placed an intravenous catheter, and had her prepped for surgery. All during the surgery, Cindy, a Certified Veterinary Technician, monitored the eagle’s vitals signs and controlled the gas anesthesia. After an hour and a half, the eagle was sporting four stainless steel pins in her broken radius, and the wound on the other elbow had been closed. It took thirty stitches just to close that wound!
Things are looking good, but we are in the difficult “watching and waiting” period. The bird looks great, but it will be several more days before we know how well the skin wound heals, and several weeks before we can tell how well the fracture heals. Dr Gray is continuing to monitor her closely, and we’ll keep you posted on her progress!
The Staff of Gentle Vet Animal Hospital

2010-03-01T12:13:00.000-08:00

Hello wildlife enthusiasts!

The Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary would like to welcome you to our new blog series about a Bald Eagle that we are rehabilitating. We have many goals we would like to achieve with this blog series. We will not only give you periodic updates about the bird’s journey through the Wildlife Rehabilitation program; we are also going to talk about the history of eagles in our area, the natural behavior of eagles, and where you can see eagles on your own. We are also going to write about how caring for wildlife at the sanctuary is a community effort. From the police officer that first responded, to the DNR officer that gave the bird a ride here, to the veterinarians at Gentle Vet Animal Hospital who did the surgery, to the staff and volunteers who care for the eagle and hopefully return him/her back into the sky soaring free once again.

This immature eagle was brought into us on Friday, February 12th from the Crivitz area after being hit by a car. Once the bird was reported to the police, the officer contacted the DNR office. The DNR official then drove it to the sanctuary for care. The quick response of the police officer and DNR agent saved this bird’s life: the sooner an injured or orphaned animal can get to a licensed rehabilitator, the better its chances are to return to the wild. When this eagle arrived at the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary, we did a thorough exam and contacted our veterinarians at Gentle Vet Animal Hospital to have an x-ray done and have his/her wounds analyzed.

This eagle is known as 10R6. It does not have a name, since this is a wild animal and not a pet, which we honor and respect at all times. All of the 4,000+ orphaned and injured animals brought in annually are important, but some, as this eagle, require more extensive care and a longer time with us. From the initial transport, to the first exam, surgery, recovery, flight training, evaluation, to the final disposition, eagles can take months of rehabilitation. Our goal is always to return wildlife back into the wild where they belong, but sometimes that is not possible. For example, there may be complications in recovery, or tendons and muscles do not heal in the precise manner they need to and the bird has trouble flying. When this happens, we try to place an animal with our facility or another facility, or if the animal is suffering and all of our options to relieve the pain have been exhausted, humane euthanasia is performed. Again, our goal is always to release; we do everything we can for every animal that comes through these doors, from the smallest bunny to the largest eagle.

Congratulations to our Senior Animal Keeper

2010-02-17T13:25:00.000-08:00

Lori Bankson, our Senior Animal Keeper, was selected by the Green Bay Chamber of Commerce as one of the "20+10 People You Should Know" feature in the Bay Business Journal (BBJ) magazine. She was nominated and honored as an individual who has made a significant impact in her field. The criteria includes: accomplishments and contributions, spirit, drive, ambition, innovativeness and creativity, and living and working in Brown County.
Congratulations to Lori from all of the staff!

"All of us are so proud of Lori for being recognized by the Chamber with this prestigious recognition. Lori is tireless in her efforts in helping to rehabilitate animals, plan events, work with volunteers, and be a wildlife awareness ambassador in the community."
-Ty Baumann, Director

If you'd like to read more about Lori and this award go to http://www.titletown.org/

Thank you for a successful Frosty Family Fun Night & Gambler's Promotion!

2010-02-16T07:46:00.000-08:00

A big thank you to everyone for great success at our Frosty Family Fun Night on Saturday, February 6th! Over 400 people experienced beautiful night hikes, a night tour of our new waterfalls, great music with Good News, yummy s'mores, chocolate dipping, and treats, and fun crafts, including hanging "Cheerio" garland for the Wildlife Sanctuary birds to snack on! All of our Animal Ambassadors loved seeing so many people all night. A big thanks to all of our volunteers for helping us out. We hope to see you next year on Saturday, February 5th, 2011!

Another big thank you to all of you for supporting the Green Bay Gamblers Bat Promotion. With your help, the Gamblers presented us with a check for $1,650! This money will be used to help many, many orphaned and injured wildlife, including bats, to get back into the wild. We look forward to working with the Gamblers in the future-- what a great organization!

Have a great day-- enjoy the beautiful winter weather!

Frosty Family Fun Night is Saturday!

2010-02-03T13:39:00.000-08:00

Did you ever wonder what went on at the Wildlife Sanctuary at night? Well here is your chance to see your favorite critters in a whole new "light"! Frosty Family Fun Night is Saturday, February 6th from 5:30 to 8pm here at the Wildlife Sanctuary. You can join your neighbors for a great bonfire and roast s'mores! Hike around the Woodland Building trail and visit the coyotes, deer, otters, bobcats, and maybe even hear the wolves howl! Listen to some great music by Good News, do some fun crafts, and try your hand at our chocolate dipping station! You can even visit our new waterfalls that will be illuminated that night only! At only $5 a carload, the price is right for a fun night out, and all the proceeds go towards our Friends of the Wildlife Sanctuary Guild to help put on many programs and save orphaned and injured wildlife! Please call (920) 391-3671 with any questions. We hope to see you there!

Lake Michigan Field Trip

2010-01-06T11:10:00.000-08:00

By: Ty Baumann, Director - Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary

Despite the frigid temperature and brutal icy wind our hardy Bay Area Bird Club members made a birding field trip on December 2, 2010 along the Lake Michigan shoreline starting at Port Washington. Our target bird was a Black-Legged Kittiwake, a small and rather uncommon member of the gull family.

After braving the wind chill for an hour scoping the harbor finding Canvasbacks, Greater Scaup, Ruddy Ducks, Gadwalls, Common Goldeneyes, plus Greater-black backed and Glaucous Gulls - it was time to warm up, but we weren't giving up. Putting one car near the north breakwater and one car near the river channel we waited and hoped for a showing. The Kittiwake didn't disappoint. Appearing out of who knows where, the bird flew in low over the river and continued to soar making circles around the south gazebo area. We had excellent views and continued to watch this special bird for 10-15 minutes before we left the harbor and continued on the tour.

Our planned route next included a drive along Six Mile Road just north of Holy Cross. We slowed for some Horned Larks and several Rough-legged Hawks. Then, there on the ridge, to the east, was a Snowy Owl. North of the owl we encountered a huge flock of Snow Buntings estimating between 800 -1,000 individual birds. Across from the Harrington Beach State Park entrance we saw a lot of bird activity in the small wood lot and brushy habitat - a little pishing and up popped the Harris’s Sparrow, staying near the road for all eleven of our members to get a good look. At Sheboygan we started on the Blue Harbor Hotel and Convention Center side of the river. Using our binoculars and spotting scopes we scanned through dozens of Common Goldeneyes. Very quickly the Barrow’s Goldeneye was found providing excellent close viewing for everyone. A group of Sheboygan birders we encountered said a Tufted Titmouse was visiting a bird feeder in a nearby neighborhood. After scanning the feeders and bushes the Titmouse flew in directly above our heads. That was fun! On to North Point where a Harlequin Duck was found south of the parking lot diving in the strong waves with Buffleheads and Goldeneyes.

We saw many Rough-legged Hawks between Sheboygan and Harrington Beach, both going south on the highway early and back along the lakeshore. We had Peregrine Falcons in Port Washington and Manitowoc. The ferryboat harbor had lots of gulls but only 1 Greater-black-backed Gull. A Bald Eagle scattered all the rest of the gulls. We ended seeing 47 species on this very cold day. Congratulations to Brian Pierce for a 5 "lifer" day. Our next scheduled fieldtrip is February 6th, which leaves the Sanctuary at 4:00 am. We will be driving to the Three Lakes area and through the Nicolet National Forest concentrating on locating the boreal bird species.

2009-12-23T09:01:00.000-08:00

We are happy to have established a partnership with the Green Bay Gamblers. This is a perfect opportunity to educate people about bats and the important role they play in the ecosystem. This program will foster public interest in bats and offer a chance to dispel many of the myths and misconceptions about these unique animals. The money given by the Green Bay Gamblers from the sale of the toy bats will be used for food and medical care for the 4000+ injured and orphaned wild animals that the Wildlife Sanctuary rehabilitation program admits yearly.

Winter at the Wildlife Sanctuary-- We Never Hibernate!

2009-12-17T09:11:00.000-08:00

Winter is here, and snow does not slow us down at the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary! Being open everyday of the year gives you an unique opportunity to see the seasons at their best. The beauty of nature is seen in a new light as snow covers the trees and dusts the cages, giving a natural illumination. Most of the animals love playing in the snow. On any given winter day, you can see the otters or bobcats sliding and jumping in the drifts. Some of the critters are not big fans of the cold, like our cougar and golden eagle, so they have limited time outside. Some of the birds of prey are moved to their "winter migration" station. Birds that naturally migrate--turkey vultures, swainson hawks, and broadwinged hawks-- are moved to enclosed cages away from public viewing until spring returns again. If you love feeding the ducks and geese, winter is your time of year! As the natural food is covered, they rely on corn feeding by the general public. But do not worry-- if visitorship is down, we do have feeders in the back for the resident waterfowl to eat from!

Visiting the Wildlife Sanctuary in winter also means some great outdoor activities are available. Six miles of cross country ski trails are open daily from 8am to 4:30 pm-- and they are beautiful! You wind through the back trails, going past the wolves, deer, and through great natural habitats. Just be sure to bring your own skis! Check the website and Honker newsletter also for snowshoe hikes and great winter programs like an ice fishing workshop and Frosty Family Fun Night in February. Come out and visit the new waterfalls, go across the open boardwalk, bird watch, or just enjoy being outside in the crisp air. We also accept all orphaned and injured wildlife daily-- call us with any animal questions at (920) 391-3685.

Winter is a great time of year-- be sure to get out and enjoy it!
Lori Bankson, Senior Animal Keeper

Fly Away Home

2009-10-28T10:43:00.000-07:00

It was a great morning at the Sanctuary today! We released two immature bald eagles back into the wild after spending months being rehabilitated by our dedicated staff and volunteers. Check out the short video of the release below.

The pair of sibling eagles had been under the care of the Sanctuary since June when they were found on the ground after falling from their nest near Calrsville, WI. Mike Neil of the Door County WDNR found the eagles and knew that in order for them to survive, they would need special care.

The eagles were ready to be released earlier this fall, but they became sick after contracting West Nile Virus. But, thankfully, a generous donor stepped forward and covered the cost of the additional care for the eagles.

These eagles have been through a lot and seeing them fly back into the wild was a great moment for us all this morning - but especially for the eagles.

The eagles are among more than 4,000 animals that the Sanctuary and its many volunteers help to rehabilitate and release back into the wild each year.

Halloween Event

2009-10-07T08:37:00.000-07:00

16th Annual Halloween Event Coming Soon!

The Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary’s Annual Halloween Event is quickly approaching! The 16th annual event will be held on Saturday, October 17th beginning at 6:00 pm. The idea for this popular program came about years ago as a great family- friendly Halloween activity that is an alternative to the typical haunted house. No scary monsters, blood or gore here!

The focus of the event is on education and having fun while being entertained by a larger than life animal (volunteer dressed up in a costume). Our 25-30 volunteers range in age from 8-30. Each of them tries out for the particular animal character that they would like to portray. After receiving their part, they spend hours memorizing their animal script, working on their costume and interacting with each other. Many of the characters play off of each other and try to point out their character’s habits and the qualities that make them unique. Most of the characters are nocturnal animals (ie. Owl, opossum, raccoon, flying squirrel, bat, etc.) that are commonly found in Wisconsin and often times are misunderstood. All of this is done in an educational and many times humorous way.

Our event also takes place rain or shine because it is held inside the pumpkin lit, darkened Nature Center. You also don’t have to stand outside in a long line and wait for your chance to meet our animal friends. Groups of 15-20 people are led through the indoor hike every 20 minutes beginning at 6:00 pm and concluding at 8:20 pm. Each hike takes approximately 45 minutes. Kids are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes and each child will receive a treat bag after completing their hike. The fee is $3.00 per adult and $2.00 per child under 12. Pre-registration for a specific time slot is required. Many time slots fill up quickly. For more information or to pre-register please call (920) 391-3671 or check out pictures of previous year’s Halloween events on our website: http://www.baybeachwildlife.com/.