Second Chances:Building Hope for Orphaned Raccoons

Our GlobalGiving campaign gave us a headstart on planning for this new building at our 40-year-old wildlife rehabilitation center - Oaken Acres Wildlife Center. Your donations from December's GIVING TUESDAY kicked off a campaign that has now reached hundreds of individuals and dozens of local businesses. Construction of our new raccoon building will begin in August 2025 when we demolish the oldest outbuilding on our farm, a 100+-year-old shed that has served numerous purposes in the past. We have all of our subcontractors signed on and site preparation will begin as soon as the old shed is down (we are big into recycling and will find environmentally conscientious homes for all materials when possible). 

The shell of the building will be completed by the end of September and that includes plumbing and electricity. Indoor build out will begin shortly after that and by Spring of 2026, we will be ready for what we call "baby season!" We typically admit over 2,200 wild patients each year, 200 of those will be orphaned raccoons and will call this new building home next year until ready for release.

One foundation has offered $100,000 toward this effort and we are applying for a large grant from our local community foundation that has funded multiple projects for Oaken Acres over the past 20 years. There are specific naming opportunities and those are included with this report. 

Thank you for helping us save more wild lives. This is what Oaken Acres is all about - second chances for wildlife!