The Greenwood Wildlife Reification Middle has helped and look after practically 200 totally different species of animals round Boulder County, and this 12 months the middle celebrates its fortieth anniversary.
In keeping with its web site, the middle homes 16 rehabs licensed by the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife.
Dr. Allison Hazel started working with Greenwood in 2005, when she moved to Colorado and located an injured chook in her neighborhood. She introduced the chook to Greenwood and later confirmed her her expertise as a seasoned wildlife vet.
“I moved from upstate New York, the place there are literally thousands of wildlife rehabilitation professionals. Colorado has a handful.” Hazel stated.
In keeping with the Greenwood web site, it’s the solely facility that gives look after wildlife from the northern pueblo to the Wyoming border.
“Throughout each animal welfare hub, frequent wildlife species are on the backside of the hierarchy, and the truth that there’s this group of individuals so devoted to serving to wildlife could be very inspiring to me,” Hazel stated.
Greenwood opened in 1982, when the Humane Society of the Boulder Valley established a wildlife heart inside its facility. A 12 months later, the household of Natalie Jenner – a lady who died making an attempt to save lots of a canine – donated her memorial cash to Greenwood to assist additional the enlargement.
After its rising reputation, in 1993, the wildlife sanctuary was formally named Greenwood – after the primary rehabilitated raccoon, Greenwood. In 1997, the middle moved from veterinarians’ places of work to a bigger space as higher cages and amenities have been constructed for rescued animals.
In 2004, Greenwood opened a thrift retailer and merchandise showroom at 3600 Arapahoe Ave. In Boulder to boost cash. In 2009, the annual Wild Night time for Wildlife occasion started, and the middle moved to its present constructing between Longmont and Lyons.
Amanda Lau, CEO of Greenwood, moved to Colorado in 2009 and started working with native nonprofits, ultimately discovering herself with Greenwood in 2020.
“As the one wildlife rehabilitation heart in your complete Entrance Vary that grazes birds, waterfowl and mammals, Greenwood is a really worthwhile useful resource,” stated Lau. “Greenwood’s targets have been twofold: to rehabilitate wildlife, together with treating and releasing sick or injured wildlife and orphaned or deserted infants, and educating the general public to stop or cut back human-wildlife interactions and providing humane options when such encounters happen.”
As Greenwood celebrates its fortieth anniversary, the middle’s help for wildlife all through Colorado continues to develop. Amongst veterinarians, volunteers and donors, Greenwood hopes to proceed to be a staple within the Boulder group.
“The necessity to rescue and rehabilitate injured and orphaned wildlife has grown as Entrance Vary growth has grown, and we more and more encroach on wildlife habitats,” stated Clyde Mason, a graphic designer at Greenwood for the previous 30 years. “All of us wish to protect the Colorado wilderness, and we have now a accountability to the wildlife that we have now displaced and injured. The necessity for Greenwood will solely develop stronger.”