Wildlife In Need Center celebrates 30 years of helping sick, orphaned animals

OCONOMOWOC, Wis. (CBS 58) – For three decades, the Wildlife In Need Center has been a place where Wisconsin animals can recuperate and heal.

"We take in about 2500 to 3000 animals a year. On our busiest days, we can admit 60 animals. We recently just admitted our 70,000th patient since inception," Wildlife In Need Center Executive Director Kim Banach said.

Since Banach first arrived in 2009 as a volunteer, she has been committed to the center's rescue operation.

"It had me at hello," she said. "It just spoke to my heart because I love the animals."

The non-profit founded in 19934 admits all types of critters.

"We rehabilitate injured, orphaned, and sick Wisconsin wildlife and our goal is to always release them back into the wild," Banach explained.

The animals that are brought in need of help from the center to survive.

"Typically, we would take the animals that are legitimately orphaned or animals that are injured or sick or somehow could not survive on their own, for whatever reason. We're essentially like a vet hospital," Wildlife In Need Director of Animal Care Lisa Fosco said.

Fosco has been rehabilitating animals for 40 years and has spent the last three at the center, providing specialized medical care.

"We'll see anything from hummingbirds to eagles," Fosco said. "All these animals have a place at this point because it is very hard for wildlife to survive. There are a lot of things out there that work against them. Everything from highways to windows."

To be released, the animals must be at 100 percent to ensure they endure life in the wild.

"We could have animals in here from days to over a year depending on the situation," Fosco said.

Those who cannot be released become ambassadors for the center, assisting in the educational portion of their mission.

"We travel anywhere from Milwaukee to Madison and even like two and a half hours north, delivering education programs, just spreading wildlife wisdom, to all ages, whether it's a school, a nursing home," Banach said.

"It's great that we can fix the animals and put them back out there, but if we don't educate people and the reasons that they came here in the first place, it's kind of a vicious game," Fosco said.

They have been able to share their knowledge and save animals for three decades thanks to the help of the community.

"We don't get any government funding. So, we are run 365 days a year on our fundraising efforts. It's through generous donors, fundraising events, grants," Banach explained.

Each being they help holds a special place in their hearts, but their work is ongoing, and they hope to continue for many years to come.

"I think about imagining a world without the Wildlife In Need Center, the animals would have no place to go, the injured, orphaned, and sick would have no place to go to get medical care, hospital care, food, or shelter, to be able to grow as an orphan or to heal from their injuries," Banach said.

For more information on the Wildlife In Need Center, click here.