A Healing Place for Wild Animals Sandra Kirkland 2002 Toledo Blade

At some time in a child’s life, an injured or orphaned bird or animal finds its way

across her path. While the urge to nurse the poor creature back to health or give it

a home is strong, it’s not a good idea. None of us is equipped to help these animals. That’s why there is a Nature’s Nursery where they can be brought for healing and rehabilitation.

Nature’s Nursery (NN) of Northwest Ohio provides protection, shelter and care for wild animals. Their mission is to improve the well-being wildlife population through rehabilitation and education. This non-profit, tax-exempt1 group in Whitehouse, Ohio has been fulfilling its mission since 1989. The present facility has become too small, so the organization is thrilled to partner

with Toledo Metroparks and expand into the Toledo Metropark’s Blue Creek Conservation Area.

Now in its fifteenth year, NN is run by founder and director Debbie Cooper, staffer

Pam Parquette and many volunteers. Ms. Cooper was once the education specialist at the Toledo Zoo, where she received hundreds of calls from people asking what to do with a wild animal they had found. There was no place she could refer these people to, so she decided to provide one.

Ms. Parquette, a paramedic, once picked up an injured squirrel and transported it to NN in the ambulance. She works with the animals daily and goes out to teach children and adults about the wonderful wildlife that shares their neck of the woods with us.

Veterinarian and wildlife enthusiast Mike Shields volunteers his services to Nature’s

Nursery two to three times a week to check on the animals’ conditions and performs surgeries when required.

Where do other volunteers come from? Ms. Parquette answers, “Most of the

volunteers come from area colleges and universities, but we also get many retirees.

In many instances, someone brings out an injured animal and decides to volunteer.

 “We ask that volunteers do a four hour shift. There’s plenty to do from sunup to

sundown, such as cleaning pens and cages, giving meds and answering the

hotline. The phone rings 24 hours every day. We’ll get 60 to 70 calls a day.”