Earth Day at LifeSource: Shop Local, Support Local Wildlife
A Bald eagle that came to CWC after being hit by a car in early January is released in Lebanon by staff member Maddy
Turn Your Earth Day Groceries into Wildlife Care
This Earth Day, April 22, LifeSource will donate 5% of our gross profits for the day to Chintimini Wildlife Center. You can help!
Chintimini Wildlife Center envisions a world where humans and wildlife enjoy a peaceful and mutually productive coexistence. Wildlife and thriving ecosystems are not something that exists outside of or adjacent to our human communities, but are intertwined with us, and our fates and well-being are linked.
Education and outreach are central to Chintimini’s work, and they offer tours of the Wildlife Center and their Animal Ambassadors make visits to classrooms, clubs, and special events, reaching thousands of people each year. But perhaps the centerpiece of Chintimini Wildlife Center’s work is their wildlife hospital, open to admit orphaned and injured wildlife 365 days per year.
What does the Chintimini Wildlife Center’s wildlife hospital do?
The goal of the wildlife hospital is to rehabilitate and release orphaned or injured animals back into their natural habitats. These services are free of charge to members of the community, though they nonetheless cost money to provide. Every year, Chintimini provides services to over 2,000 animals from around the Willamette Valley, primarily Benton, Linn, Lane, and Marion counties.
Wildlife rehabilitation involves medically treating sick or injured wildlife, or raising orphaned or abandoned wildlife. It uses methods tailored to each species and designed to prepare them for release and survival in the wild. Chintimini’s facilities include a complete veterinary hospital. It has an x-ray, anesthesia, and surgical equipment, plus a diagnostic laboratory, intensive-care unit, nursery, incubators, and pharmacy. There are over forty outdoor enclosures provide housing for animals recovering from their injuries. The operations of the animal care program are overseen by Chintimini’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Director and animal care team staff. This team is supported by interns and volunteers, including several local veterinarians. Over 120 volunteers donate some 20,000 hours of their time every year.
What should I do if I think I have a wildlife emergency?
Oregon law prohibits anyone from removing or capturing wildlife and keeping it in captivity without a permit. Violation of the law is punishable by up to a year in jail and a $6,250 fine. Moreover, animals have special needs that may not be obvious to non-specialists. Trying to treat an injured, sick, abandoned, or orphaned animal on your own may be dangerous to both you and the animal. But don’t fret! Chintimini offers a Wildlife Hotline that can help you figure out what to do.
Give the hotline a call immediately if you think you’ve found wildlife in need of attention. They’ll walk you through next steps: 541-745-5324.
Get Involved!
How can I learn more about Chintimini Wildlife Center?
You can visit their website at chintiminiwildlife.org. You can also find them on Facebook and Instagram.
How is LifeSource supporting Chintimini Wildlife Center?
This Earth Day, April 22, we will donate 5% of our gross profits for the day to Chintimi Wildlife Center.
How much will LifeSource’s donation be?
It depends! Our donation is 5% of our gross profits for the day, so the bigger your purchases, the bigger our donation!
Why did LifeSource choose to donate to Chintimini Wildlife Center?
Usually LifeSource chooses donation recipients located directly in our community, so in that sense, our donation to Chintimini is a little unusual: they’re located not in Salem or Marion or Polk Counties, but rather just north of Corvallis. But since the closure of Turtle Ridge Wildlife Center a few years ago, Chintimini fills a crucial role in providing care for wildlife in the Salem area, too. They are doing important work in our community, and Chintimini needs our support to keep offering it!
Wondering how else you can help support the environment during Earth Month?
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