Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of MINNESOTA

Public demand for wrc's free services continues to grow after a brief dip in 2022 admissions, related to the avian influenza, wrc bounced back with 18,808 patients from among 200 species in 2023, compared to 16,616 in 2022. Since 2011, wrc has had a 140 percent increase in patients (11,000 more patients). We experienced a large increase from 2014 to 2015 due to the partnership with ahs. However, nearly half of that growth since 2011 has occurred since 2020.the covid pandemic, which began in march 2020, had a dramatic effect on the pattern of wrc's patient admissions. Admissions to the nurseries soared in 2021, but in 2022 hpai (highly pathogenic avian influenza) forced wrc to not open a waterfowl nursery due to biosecurity concerns within the building. Thanks to their dedication to hpai testing in 2022, wrc was able to re-open its seasonal waterfowl nursery in 2023 and experienced a more normal pattern of admissions. Wrc has admitted a total of 318,907 patients since its beginnings in 1979: 246,391 since opening its own building in 2002.demand for emergency medical services and Rehabilitation care for Wildlife continues to grow. While the majority of patients come from the greater twin cities metro area (including western Wisconsin), wrc takes patients from all corners of the state. As one of only two fully-staffed independent Wildlife hospitals in the state, wrc supports independently-permitted Wildlife rehabilitators as a surgical and intensive care hospital, accepting transfers of challenging medical cases or unique species.an uptick of approximately 2,200 patients from 2022 to 2023 put a strain on wrc's resources. This, in tandem with 2023 being one of only 5 years since 1997 in which the organization did not receive substantial estate gifts, resulted in an operating shortfall.wrc new budgeting practices do not include substantial estate gifts. Wrc is thankful for its investments, its banking partners and the support of lead donors and foundations as they bridge the gap between revenue and operating expenses.to help manage its burgeoning caseload, wrc is working with local firms awh architects and ancoats, llc, to build a leed-certified, sustainable Rehabilitation building on its 22-acre grant campus. The 25,000 sq ft building has its own water treatment, solar and geothermal systems.the new facility gives wrc critically-needed space for patient treatment and frees space at the currently crowded roseville hospital for patients needing intense medical treatment. Public admissions of patients will remain at the roseville Center. The $14.5 million capital campaign is a third of the way complete with a lead gift of $5 million.wrc continues to focus on the education part of its mission by working with other veterinarians and Rehabilitation professionals across the nation. In fact, wrc's veterinary staff spent more than 12,000 hours teaching Wildlife veterinarians in 2023. The organization is also working with a national team to create the first certification process for Wildlife medicine.wrc mission is: provides quality medical care and Rehabilitation for all injured, sick and orphaned Wildlife and shares its knowledge with the people who care about them. All told, through its myriad of public, veterinary and Rehabilitation education programs, wrc shares that knowledge with more than 60,000 people annually.