Fly Away Home

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

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/.