The long wait is nearly over — the Medicine River Wildlife Centre will be breaking ground on the first phase of a $900,000 interpretive centre this spring.
Executive-director Carol Kelly said she can hardly wait to get construction started as soon as permits are approved and the ground de-frosts. Work is expected to begin in June.
There’s been consistent public demand for an interpretive/visitor centre ever since the dilapidated old one had to be closed nearly a decade ago, added Kelly. “Daily, we have people asking when are you going to be open (to the public) again? The demand for education is huge.”
She feels teaching about wetland and habitat preservation is crucial. And just as important is spreading knowledge of animal behavior so area residents don’t needlessly “rescue” young animals — such as fawns waiting for their mothers to return, said Kelly.
“People are picking up wildlife when they shouldn’t because they don’t understand animal habits.”
In recent weeks, near daily calls were coming in to the centre about a young moose who was roaming the streets of east Red Deer, munching on yard berries. Some Red Deerians were convinced he was lonely, said Kelly, when loneliness doesn’t apply to normally solitary moose. “They are not herd animals.”
Otis the Blind Owl has been an educational ambassador for the centre for most of his 21 years and will have a permanent cage built in the reception area of the new interpretive centre. Kelly also plans to feature seasonal changeable displays so visitors won’t see the same thing every time they drop in.
Besides creating new bathrooms and a gift shop, Kelly said longer-term plans are to create an indoor waterfowl pond that’s 10-by-36 feet and resembles a natural wetland. Ducks and geese who will swim on the pond as part of their rehabilitation will be viewable to visitors through one-way glass.
This year’s first phase of the 4,200 square-foot project will consist of building the centre’s foundations, enclosing the structure with walls and windows, and getting a roof and heating system installed so construction can continue on the centre’s interior next winter.
Kelly has so far raised about $300,000 from private donors, and will be asking for more support to get the other two-thirds of the centre’s funding in place. Constructing as money becomes available worked well for the wildlife hospital, so Kelly intends to continue the practice.
Meanwhile, some interior demolition was started on the old interpretive centre. Kelly said some “good wood” will be reused to build a workshop on the property. “We re-use everything around here.”
The wildlife centre will soon get four volunteer interns from Alberta and B.C. who will learn about animal rehabilitation over a three to five month term.