A Dream That Will Soon Be Realized

Caring for injured and orphaned wildlife and returning them to their environment is an act of both compassion and responsibility. We believe that teaching our children and their parents the importance of knowing about and respecting wildlife should be part of growing up in our suburban community.

The new Wildlife Center of Fairfield County is designed to make this happen.

Our extended Fairfield County community deserves a local place to bring the wildlife they would like to help. The Center will provide wildlife education for children and tips to help homeowners prevent unwanted encounters with wildlife.

The Center's staff and volunteers will provide education to our children, both in our schools and community centers, and at the Wildlife Center. We are committed to engaging our youngsters and their parents in gaining a better understanding of the importance of our Fairfield County wildlife and its preservation, while fostering compassion and personal safety when interacting with animals. The Center's Wildlife Education Program is a priority in order to inform this and future generations about the richness of our wildlife heritage and its essential sustainability.

Having a staffed facility that is open to the public will centralize and maximize wildlife care resources and better serve both the animals in need and the public.

A Comprehensive Solution to Protect our Native Wildlife will be Coming Soon

The Wildlife Center of Fairfield County will be a comprehensive and unique wildlife rehabilitation and education center open to the public in Fairfield County.

The Center will greet visitors and wildlife patients with professional and compassionate staff. In addition to being able to speak directly with the Center's staff, the public will have live television feeds from our rehabilitation facilities at their disposal. Visual and practical educational materials will be available for those seeking additional information.

Starting with our planned twenty-four hour seven day a week hotline, visitors will be encouraged to be part of the process with the intake of each patient. While taking great care to protect each animal's wild nature, the Center will offer the public a first glimpse into the world of wildlife rehabilitation in order to develop compassion and understanding about the impact we have on the wildlife that lives among us. On-site staff will be able to answer any questions or concerns you have.

Our rehabilitation services will care for thousands of injured and orphaned native wild animals. Since the number of these wild animals in CT has doubled since 1998, the opening of a center will impact wildlife and our community by standardizing the level of care and will raise the overall ability to meet the needs of the community.

Our Backyard Basics™ program will inform residents of Fairfield County how to avoid conflicts with wildlife on their property and provide information on normal wildlife behavior. Through our educational initiatives, we will promote understanding, tolerance and coexistence in our shared community. Teaching compassion towards wildlife to our children of the community will have a positive impact on our entire society for generations to come.

Establishing a valuable resource in our community geared toward wildlife and the public is necessary to make a direct impact and connection with our natural world…right here in lower Fairfield County.

Please support the development of The Wildlife Center of Fairfield County.

The planned Wildlife Center is now accepting donations in anticipation of rebuilding the Red Barn in Mianus River Park, Stamford, CT starting in early 2012. In anticipation of finalizing all issues related to the acquisition of rights to use the Red Barn for this facility, much development and preparation is underway.

We are encouraging our friends and supporters to support us at this time with donations that can be used to finalize architectural drawings, prepare the facility for use, and begin our efforts to engage the community. The sooner we acquire the funds, the faster the facility will be built.

Please use our secure donation page to make a donation today to help us get underway. The Wildlife Center is an IRS 501 (c) 3 organization. Donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

If you wish to speak to one of us to learn more about our plans and to get more involved, please contact Cathie Kovacs or Heather Bernatchez:

Cathie Kovacs: Founding Director - Operations

Email: CKovacs@fairfieldcountywildlife.org
Phone: 203-424-1228

Heather Bernatchez: Founding Director- Outreach and Development

Email: HBernatchez@fairfieldcountywildlife.org
Phone: 203-969-4278