Center & Yard closed through May 3; animal intake suspended until further notice
For updates about Lake Metroparks COVID-19 operations, click here.
Please use caution when handling wild animals. The only time that humans should interfere is if the animal is injured, sick or truly orphaned.
Each year, nearly 2,500 injured or orphaned animals receive first aid and rehabilitation at the Kevin P. Clinton Wildlife Center at Penitentiary Glen Reservation. Patients include common backyard wildlife such as rabbits, squirrels and songbirds, and uncommon species such as the peregrine falcon and bobcat. Our goal is to return healthy wildlife back to the wild. Special attention is given to animals whose populations are in decline.
Our focus is the rehabilitation of native Ohio wildlife species (note: not accepting new animals until further notice.)
Under state permits, the Wildlife Center is not permitted to rehabilitate skunks, raccoons, deer, coyote, mute swans and red-eared sliders.
The Wildlife Center does NOT accept domestic (i.e., farm animals, cats), exotic (i.e., ball pythons, parrots), and non-native species (i.e., English house sparrows, European starlings).
by Tammy O’Neil, Wildlife Care Manager & Marilyn Levand, Wildlife Education Manager Watching native wildlife is a treat even in our own backyard! Springtime is the best time to watch for nest building and the arrival of young.
Backyard wildlife need very little from us, as long as we remember to give them the peace and quiet they need to successfully raise their young.
The most important thing to remember is that wild parents know what’s best for their young. We do not need to get involved! Young animals do not have a scent. If the parents have hidden them in the grass or elsewhere, predators will not be attracted to them.
Here are some suggestions for a wildlife-friendly backyard:
If an animal is found with any of the following, it is in need of assistance:
Not all wildlife rehabilitation centers are closed throughout Ohio. Here is a list of permitted wildlife rehabilitators in the state of Ohio or contact your local wildlife officer for your best options.
Watching native wildlife is a treat! Springtime is the best time to watch for nest building and the arrival of young. It is likely that you will encounter a baby animal in your yard at some point. Backyard wildlife needs very little from us—remember to give them the peace and quiet they need to successfully raise their young.
The most important thing to remember is that wild parents know what’s best for their young. Many of them leave their babies alone as they venture off to find nourishment. Parents hanging out around the location of their young only attract predators to its location, but don’t worry, they are usually not far away and keep a watchful eye. We don’t need to get involved! Young animals don’t have a scent. If the parents have hidden them in the grass or elsewhere, predators will not be attracted to them. Keep a safe distance so you don’t attract predators and so you don’t scare the mother away. Wildlife parents are very devoted to raising their young, and it is unlikely for them to abandon them. Click here to determine if a baby animal found alone is truly orphaned.
These baby birds are healthy and vibrant. They are okay to leave alone if found.
This fawn is doing exactly what it is supposed to, it sits still, waiting quietly for its mother to return. Sometimes you will see a fawn in the same spot for a few hours. When the mother comes, it is usually a quick visit to feed the fawn and then she leaves again.
Sometimes fledgling birds can get blown out of the nest after a storm. If the baby is healthy, a makeshift nest can be put back in the tree so the mother can continue caring for its baby. It is a myth that if you touch a young animal that the mother will abandon it.
Baby mallards are precocial, which means they can walk and eat on their own as soon as they hatch. However, a mallard this small should not be on its own. If you see one walking around by itself, it has likely lost its way.
If you find a baby animal and any of the below apply, here is a list of permitted wildlife rehabilitators in the state of Ohio or contact your local wildlife officer for your best options.
Remember: If you find an injured or cold baby animal, keep it warm but do not feed it, until you have contacted a permitted wildlife rehabilitator.
It is illegal to raise, possess or keep any wild animal without a rehabilitators permit. The purpose of the law is to protect wild animal populations and to protect humans and pets from disease and injury.
Young groundhogs do not come out of the den until their eyes open. This baby groundhog may have left the den out of curiosity. It is best to see if its mother is still around before removing it from a location.
When at home or visiting the parks, remember to keep animals wild and healthy by not feeding them.
Feeding wildlife creates unhealthy conditions. Many people find it enjoyable to go to a park to feed the animals. Animals congregate in areas where they are fed, causing several problems. They exceed the carrying capacity of their habitats and become overcrowded. High levels of fecal matter are concentrated in one area, which causes unsanitary conditions for animals and people. Diseases can be passed from one animal to another when areas are overcrowded.
Processed foods such as bread, popcorn and cereal are junk food to wild animals. They lack many of the nutrients the animals need in order to stay healthy.
Feeding wildlife causes loss of wild instincts. Wild animals that are hand-fed can lose their natural instincts to migrate and search for food. They become dependent on humans for food and lose their healthy fear of them. Hand-fed animals lose their ability to care for themselves.
Wildlife education at Penitentiary Glen Reservation offers a wide range of programs that cover natural habitats and the animals that live in them. These community outreach programs are a fun way to learn about wildlife and how to respect the environment we live in. For more information, call 440-358-7275.
Lake Metroparks' Animal Ambassadors represent a variety of native Ohio wildlife species. These residents are under the permanent care of the Kevin P. Clinton Wildlife Center staff because their injuries prohibit independent survival. Animal Ambassadors allow us to educate the public about conservation.
The Adopt an Animal program is a unique opportunity for family, friends, classrooms and scouts to see native Ohio wildlife up close. Click here to learn more and to apply online.
Would you like to take part in our mission by donating to the Kevin P. Clinton Wildlife Center? Supporting the Kevin P. Clinton Wildlife Center at Penitentiary Glen Reservation can be a satisfying, rewarding experience. All donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.
The Kevin P. Clinton Wildlife Center accepts new or gently used items from our Wish List. First aid products, nutritional supplies and gift cards are greatly appreciated. You can donate items to the Kevin P. Clinton Wildlife Center through our Amazon Wish List. Your purchases are shipped directly to the center.
Get close to wildlife through volunteering! Lake Metroparks volunteers help wildlife by surveying animals and birds through Citizen Science projects, restoring and maintaining habitats and caring for animals at the Kevin P. Clinton Wildlife Center. Click here for information about our college internship program.
The Kevin P. Clinton Wildlife Center operates under state permits from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and federal permits from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Care staff has professional training in wildlife first aid, care and education. The staff works closely with generous and talented local veterinarians.