It is baby season for wildlife in Southwest Florida, and the Conservancy of Southwest Florida is hosting a Wildlife Hospital Baby Shower on Saturday, June 8 to help its youngest patients at the von Arx Wildlife Hospital.
The Conservancy’s von Arx Wildlife Hospital, which treats injured, sick and orphaned animals, started receiving babies in need of care about one month earlier than in previous years. Joanna Fitzgerald, director of the Wildlife Hospital, attributes the early arrivals to warmer temperatures in the early spring months, which also can lead to animals having more broods.
The Conservancy’s annual Baby Shower is an opportunity for community members and supporters to provide gifts that will enable the Wildlife Hospital’s youngest patients to receive the best possible care. The Conservancy is requesting donations of food, vitamins, husbandry items and household supplies, as well as monetary donations. Gifts can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 8 at the Conservancy’s Nature Center, 1495 Smith Preserve Way in Naples, or online through the Conservancy’s Amazon Wish List.
“The von Arx Wildlife Hospital will treat hundreds of baby animals during the spring and summer months, including various birds, mammals and reptiles,” Fitzgerald said. “Any size donation is greatly appreciated.”
Items of greatest need are listed online at Conservancy.org/BabyShower.
Those who bring a gift to the Wildlife Hospital Baby Shower will receive one free admission to the Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s 21-acre Nature Center in addition to a Critter Courier box, which can be used to transport injured animals to the Wildlife Hospital. Baby Shower attendees also will have the opportunity to win a 30-minute personal behind-the-scenes experience with wildlife rehabilitation specialists at the Wildlife Hospital.
The von Arx Wildlife Hospital admitted more than 3,700 animals last year. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Conservancy relies on donations in order to provide the supplies that are essential to patient care, ranging from food products to medical supplies.
About the Conservancy of Southwest Florida:
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida is a not-for-profit environmental protection organization with a 55-year history focused on the issues impacting the water, land wildlife and future of Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties. The Conservancy accomplishes this mission through the combined efforts of its experts in the areas of environmental science, policy, education and wildlife rehabilitation. The Conservancy of Southwest Florida, world-class Nature Center and von Arx Wildlife Hospital are headquartered in Naples, Florida, 1495 Smith Preserve Way, south of the Naples Zoo off Goodlette-Frank Road. Learn more about the Conservancy’s work and how to support the quality of life in Southwest Florida www.conservancy.org.
