Tough times are falling for the Howell Nature Center, but hope is not lost

Howell Nature Center is going through tough times and is getting help from the community

The nature center is known for celebrating wildlife, but in October it made the difficult decision to close its rehabilitation clinic and let go of some of its staff. However, hope is not lost as there are a number of fundraising events coming up.

HOWELL, Mich. (FOX 2) – The beloved Howell Nature Center has fallen on hard times when it recently closed its rehabilitation center and had to let go of several staff members.

The centre’s CEO Tina Bruce said it had been a very difficult road as time went on.

“It is absolutely devastating to us that we cannot help these injured and orphaned wildlife,” she said.

The nature center is known for celebrating wildlife and educating the public about it. It closed its rehabilitation clinic in October. Bruce said this was a difficult decision.

“Not something we ever want to do here at Howell Nature Center,” she said. “We are very passionate about taking injured and orphaned wildlife, rehabilitating them and giving them the best chance to live their natural lives back in the wild.”

Bruce says they’re still working on 30 animals, but they won’t accept any more. To add to the devastation, they had to let go of the staff.

“Finding people who are passionate about wildlife isn’t the easiest thing to do either,” she said. “So any time we have great staff that we have to let go, it’s tough.”

She says these changes stem from low funding. They are a non-profit organization, so they don’t get any money from the city or state. But the price of everything keeps rising. Everything you can think of, from food, medical supplies and utilities, squeezes their pockets.

But what has given them hope lately is that once news of their struggles broke, the community stepped up and helped them continue to make lasting memories for the children who come through their center. She says that’s what it’s all about.

“Seeing the awe on kids’ faces when they come out and see something that they might not get to see where they live,” she said.

Hope is not lost as there are a number of fundraising events coming up. One of them is the day after Thanksgiving, where their lot will be filled with Christmas trees.

Visitors can buy a tree and the money goes directly to the center.