CRYSTAL LAKE, IL– Mary Pat and Cat Collins think even a few of nature’s typically neglected animals– such as rats, Madagascar hissing cockroaches and hedgehogs– are worthy of warm houses and can make excellent family pets.
That’s why the duo chose to open Lost Woods Nature Sanctuary, which is found off Path 176 near the Fox River in Burtons Bridge. In its very first year here, the nature center has actually taken in 70 undesirable animals, consisting of a number of guinea pigs, hedgehogs, bearded lizards, turtles and rats. Therefore far, 50 of those animals have actually been embraced out to brand-new houses.
Pat and Collins created the concept for Lost Woods while collaborating at Wildwood Nature Center in Park Ridge. Collins, who got her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from DePaul and graduate certificate in non-profit management from North Park University, stated individuals would generate guinea pigs and little unique family pets to the nature center, searching for a location where the animals might be taken care of.
However such services are scarce, she stated.
” And we simply understood there actually requires to be a shelter for little unique family pets,” Collins stated. “There are a great deal of locations for pets or felines however there are not a great deal of locations where you can take a guinea pig or a mouse or a turtle.”
Colins stated a great deal of these animals, particularly guinea pigs, were bought for kids throughout COVID. Moms and dads discovered gradually the animals, which they believed would be easy to look after, were more work than anticipated, Collins stated.
” It was a pattern,” Collins stated. “And guinea pigs can be quite high upkeep.”
So, Collins– who likewise works part-time as a veterinary assistant– and Pat– who learnt early youth education in college– chose to integrate their competence to develop Lost Woods, which intends to ensure little unique family pets discover houses where they will be desired and likewise to inform the general public, particularly kids, about these animals. In addition, Collins gets advantages from her veterinarian task that permit discount rates for treatment and screening, which Lost Woods likewise manages for the animals that are generated.
Lost Woods is found on a home off of Path 176 and near the Fox River that has a farmhouse and woodshed, which was previously owned by a carpenter, Collins stated. Presently, Lost Woods is looking after about a lots guinea pigs, 3 reptiles and 2 rats.
By spring, they want to open their animal structure, which will be a heated pole barn with a kitchen space and area to hold curricula where kid and lady search soldiers, for instance, might pertain to discover more about whatever animals they presently have on hand. More routinely neighborhood occasions might likewise be possible down the roadway.
Collins likewise owns some family pet bugs, which you might have satisfied if you stopped out to the popular Farmers Market + At the Dole. Lost Woods had a cubicle and Collins brought her Madagascar hissing cockroach, which she let visitors to her cubicle hold, along with American millipedes. She could not bring the “peppered roaches,” she stated, due to the fact that those can fly.
All the bugs were generated by Collins after she worked for the Field Museum’s Wonderful Bug Encounter display and will be utilized in the future for academic functions.
Lost Woods intends to keep adoption charges low, Collins stated, and you can have a look at what is offered for adoption on the non-profit’s site. The majority of the animals generated are from owner forfeitures however Lost Woods likewise has actually taken in some roaming hamsters or guinea pigs discovered roaming around along with a number of hamsters that were discarded in a street.
” We have actually absolutely had some experiences in this very first year,” Collins stated.
