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The center cares for squirrels, cottontails, opossums, mallards, Canada geese, turtles, raccoons, skunks, foxes and more.
The center only takes in animals that are native to Missouri, Bolton noted, because once the animals are rehabilitated, they are released back into the wild.
The one exception are two hybrid foxes that were confiscated from a residence by the Department of Conservation years ago.
Since the foxes cannot be released in Missouri, they are permanent residents of the center, said Bolton.
In addition to caring for sick or injured animals, the Wildlife Center of Missouri encourages public education as a means of fostering "a more harmonious relationship between humans and animals."
That begins with letting the public know that the center is available to help free of charge (donations are accepted).
The center recommends people call the center first (636-394-1880) before bringing in an injured or believed-to-be orphaned animal, said Bolton, explaining the staff can provide step-by-step instructions on things that can be tried onsite or they can provide details on how a person should go about collecting an animal to bring it in.
The majority of animals brought in to the center are orphaned, meaning their mother has most likely been killed in some way, but Bolton is quick to point out that a baby seen alone, even for an extended period of time, isn't necessarily orphaned. It may just have been separated accidentally or the mom may be out gathering food.
"With a baby squirrel found near a tree, for example, we tell people to put the baby in a plastic container and attach it to the tree," said Bolton. "The baby will cry, the mom will hear it and come rescue it.
"A baby's best chance of survival is to be reunited with its mother," she remarked.
In some cases, people think babies have been orphaned, but in reality, the mother is simply out looking for food. That's often the case with fawns and bunnies, Bolton noted.
"Deer will leave their babies in one place for as long as 12 hours, so we tell people to really watch and see if there is any sign that the mother has returned," said Bolton (noting, however, that the center currently doesn't take in deer).
"A lot of times people will call about a nest of bunnies where they haven't seen the mom for a long time, but the mom only comes at night, so again we tell them to look for signs that the mom has been there."
Stories of injured animals can be heartbreaking, but the way the Wildlife Center of Missouri is able to restore their health is nothing short of amazing. Bolton has stories of turtles that had been run over by cars and had their shells cracked but were still nursed back to full health at the center.
There's the story of a raccoon who had been out hunting for dinner along a river bank when a discarded fishing lure got lodged in its nasal cavity. Each time the animal tugged at the hook trying to remove it, he let out a cry.
The staff approached the raccoon slowly and carefully, "taking every precaution to keep him as calm as possible so he would not panic." The animal care staff and one of the center's volunteer veterinarians sedated the raccoon to remove the lure and then began to administer a series of antibiotics.
About a month later, the raccoon was "strong, confident and ready to return to his natural habitat," said Bolton.
All of the animals cared for at the center are released on private property, ideally near the area where they were initially found. The center has hundreds of property owners it works with when releasing animals.
"We try to take the animal back to the area where it was found because it's a habitat they're used to, they know how to hunt there . . . a box turtle, for example, lives its whole life in one square mile," Bolton noted.
Facility Built in 1999
The Wildlife Center of Missouri is located on 20 acres at the end of New Ballwin Road in Ballwin. The 9,000-square-foot facility was built in 1999. The building includes separate rooms for the various animals and outdoor porches and spaces where they can move the animals so they can get acclimated to the weather before being released.
There also is an intensive care unit for seriously injured animals.
The center has gradually been taking in more and more animals each year since it was founded back in 1979. Bolton believes that's due to the ongoing development of residential and commercial buildings.
"There is less habitat for the animals these days," she remarked.
The center does not charge when someone brings in an animal for care. Instead it relies on donations. Depending on the species and the type of care required, the cost to care for an animal can range from $50 to $100, said Bolton.
The center is fortunate to work with four veterinarians who volunteer their services, including surgery and X-rays. There also is a large group of lay volunteers who are trained in how to care for the animals.
"We have training sessions for them to learn how to do everything and they work with a mentor in the beginning," said Bolton.
Outreach Opportunities
The center offers a variety of programs for people of all ages to learn more about protecting wildlife and promoting conservation. In addition to offering guest speakers for in-school presentations and tours of the rescue facility, the center has a summer camp for chidren ages 6 and up; a junior volunteer program for children ages 7 to 12; a shadow volunteering program for ages 13 to 15; and trained volunteering for ages 16 and older.
"There are opportunities for internships, Scout projects and those in need of community service," Bolton noted.
"Scout and service projects might include building animal enclosures, landscaping or donation drives."
The center, which hopes to increase its outreach by 30 percent this year, is even willing to hold birthday parties at the center, said Bolton.
The center will hold an open house Saturday, May 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be crafts and interactive educational projects for kids and tours of the facility.
Celebrating 30 Years
The Wildlife Center of Missouri is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. The center was established in 1979 by a woman in Kirkwood who operated the rescue operation from her basement.
As the effort grew, she brought on more volunteers and eventually the center was moved to a dairy barn in Ballwin, said Bolton.
In 1990, the center was able to purchase 20 acres near Castlewood State Park and in 1999 it built the current facility.
Today the nonprofit agency is governed by a board of directors and run by staff and volunteers. It is funded exclusively through private contributions.
To learn more about the Wildlife Center of Missouri, people can visit www.mowildlife.org or call 636-394-1880.
