New C.O. wildlife hospital seeks support to open

Think Wild offers facility naming, sponsorship opportunities

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Think Wild, a new wildlife hospital in Central Oregon, is inviting community support with on-site naming opportunities for wildlife enclosures and hospital treatment rooms. 

The nonprofit organization, located on a 4-acre property in east Bend, completed the construction and outfitting of a fully equipped wildlife hospital, complete with a triage center, ICU and X-ray diagnostic capabilities last year.

Once fully open, Think Wild will provide both native avian and mammalian species-specific care for animals that become orphaned or injured so they can be successfully released back into the wild. In addition to animal care, the wildlife hospital will promote partnership, research and professional development opportunities, such as workshops for local veterinary clinics, student internships, and research collaborations.

Think Wild currently manages a wildlife hotline to respond to thousands of calls per year about injured, orphaned or abandoned native wildlife. But in order to open and accept animals for care, Think Wild has to build a wide variety of Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conditioning Enclosures. These enclosures will allow the wildlife hospital to provide more long-term, specialized care and treat a range of native species, including eagles, hawks, owls, raccoons, skunks and more.

The structures can span from a “small,” 24 ft. metal-based enclosure for mammals to a 70 ft. long flight cage for raptors. 

And this is where community support is needed.

“Despite the challenging circumstances surrounding COVID-19, Think Wild staff are working as hard as ever to continue progress on fundraising and construction of essential wildlife enclosures,” said Sally Compton, Think Wild's executive director. “The wildlife hotline is still ringing. We currently direct people that find animals in need to the skilled, local wildlife rehabilitation community -- but these specialists are absolutely strapped for capacity. The need for a public wildlife hospital in Central Oregon is long overdue.”

Think Wild is offering permanent, onsite naming opportunities for wildlife enclosures and hospital rooms to raise funds to meet a challenge matching grant from HEDCO Foundation for wildlife enclosures. Donations are tax-deductible, and thanks to the match, have double the impact. 

“These naming opportunities are meaningful and long-lasting ways to acknowledge the importance of wildlife to Central Oregon or maybe to recognize someone in your life that deeply cares for animals,” said Compton. “There are also sponsorship opportunities available through the Wildlife Hotline voicemail and promotional materials.”

Community members can call the Wildlife Hotline (541-241-8680) if an injured or orphaned animal is found. Once an individual has called the hotline, qualified staff determine if treatment is necessary. Think Wild will accept patients by appointment through its Wildlife Hotline as capacity allows or direct the caller to the appropriate local wildlife rehabilitator.

Although the hospital will not be open for public access, to minimize patient stress and habituation to humans, there will be volunteer positions available in Outreach, Animal Care and Wildlife Hotline and Transport once the threat of COVID-19 has subsided. 

The Wildlife Hotline and Hospital are overseen by Think Wild’s Director of Wildlife Rehabilitation, Pauline Baker. Pauline moved to Bend after years of leading wildlife rehabilitation at Wildlife Center of the North Coast in Astoria. 

“We are excited for the Think Wild hospital to fill the regional need for wildlife rehabilitation and to provide a significant and enduring impact in Central Oregon. We’d also like to express our gratitude for the community's continued interest and support during this unusual and difficult time,” said Baker. “Our love of Central Oregon’s unique wild places and animals continues to unite us. We’re all in this together, and we will work out the best path forward so we stay together as a community in good times and bad."

For more information or to inquire about naming and/or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Sally Compton at sally@thinkwildco.org or (541) 933-5437. You can also text THINK WILD to 44321 to donate.

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Think Wild, a Wildlife Hospital and Conservation Center, provides wildlife education, conservation, and rescue & rehabilitation in Central Oregon. Think Wild seeks to reduce the incidents of human-wildlife conflict through prevention education and community outreach. When conflicts do occur, Think Wild will provide veterinary treatment and care at its Wildlife Hospital. For more information or to donate, visit www.thinkwildco.org or email info@thinkwildco.org. Follow us on www.Facebook.com/ThinkWildCo for the latest updates.