Chintimini Wildlife Center (CWC) remains the sole “all-species” wildlife rehabilitation center in the Willamette Valley from Salem to Eugene and will likely remain so for the foreseeable future. CWC has experienced a steep 90% decrease in donations from last year, leading to a detrimental decline of 256% in net revenue.
Since 2020, the Center has suffered tight admissions restrictions caused by the pandemic, last year’s closure of Salem’s wildlife rehabilitation center, and various zoonotic disease outbreaks that have significantly impacted their operations. Though licensed by state and federal regulatory agencies, CWC receives no government funding and relies on community support to provide essential services to wildlife in need. Without this necessary support, the future remains uncertain for the Willamette Valley’s injured and orphaned animals and for Chintimini Wildlife Center.
“CWC remains in a precarious position, as our service area remains large and the funding to provide aid to animals in need remains low,” says Catherine Mendez, Executive Director of Chintimini Wildlife Center. “We’re having daily discussions about how to expand our visibility, increase funding, and provide the best quality of care for our animals within the limitations we are experiencing.”
Despite economic uncertainty, they continue to protect and celebrate Oregon’s wildlife, providing care and treatment to approximately 2,000 wild animals per year within a 6-county service region.
“We want the community to be aware of the service area crises,” says Mendez. “Nearly 1/4 of all the injured wildlife we see comes from the Eugene area. Another 1/4 come from the Salem area. These animals have nowhere else to turn, and unfortunately, the funding does not support those numbers.”
Without additional support, CWC may soon be facing a drastic reduction of its services within the community, including a multitude of educational programs and wildlife rehabilitation beyond the Corvallis area.
“There are critical capital improvements needed if we are to continue providing our services to every wild animal in need,” Mendez states. “We must continue to advocate for the wildlife who have no voice and we are hopeful that with our community’s help we can remain the viable wildlife resource the mid-valley needs.”
As a community-driven organization, CWC’s mission is to engage with the local community and to inspire people of all ages to be stewards of their shared environment.
“We are more than a wildlife hospital,” says Mendez. “We’ve been deeply woven into this community for 33 years. Our summer programs offer a safe place for children to explore the outdoors and we prioritize families who are traditionally underserved or underrepresented. We bring nature education directly to those in the care of others, like assisted living facilities or correctional facilities. Our internship programs provide mentoring and career-building opportunities for those wanting to take a deep dive into this field. Our multi-faceted approach is what connects us to our supporters.”
In the last few years of unprecedented events, CWC has remained resilient, but to continue to progress forward they urgently seek the help of the community to develop and implement solutions to their financial crisis, both in the short and long term. To find more information or donate to Chintimini Wildlife Center, go to www.chintiminiwildlife.org
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