WHAT HAPPENED	IN 2008	SINCE 1990
Total # of rescued wild animals	2,500 +	34,000 +
Total # of animals returned to the wild	1,500 +	21,720 +
Total # of miles to rescue injured wildlife	21,000 +	350,000 +
Total # of telephone calls	14,167	225,000 +
Total # of permanent, non-releasable educational animals	192	214
Total # of cages built to house injured wildlife	16	84
Total # of Eagle Scout Projects completed at BACK TO THE WILD®	4	19
Total # of College Students completing unpaid Internships	7	138
Total # of Volunteers	36	152
Total # of full-time and part-time paid staff	7	21
Total # of visitors to center	4,763	35,052
Total # of public tours	614	4,025
Total # of educational programs given	512	6,765
Total # of children and adults attending programs	63,500 +	816,000 +
Total # of training conferences and seminars attended	4	45
Total # of freezers and refrigerators in operation	8	14

MOST RECENT HIGHLIGHTS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• A Wetland's Facility for Herons, Egrets, Bitterns, Loons, Grebes and waterfowl
• Extension to clinic area for recovering wildlife and new staff and storage area
• New barn for lumber storage and workshop area
• Handicap accessible restroom
• Handicap walkways (with inscribed pavers) to amphitheater, eagle and wetlands exhibits
• 100 ft. extension wing to existing eagle flight cage
• Indoor viewing room in education center overlooking outdoor exhibits and gardens
• Ten new picnic tables to seat students during field trip lunch hours
• New BACK TO THE WILD® sign at road
• Addition of two new parking lots to accommodate busses and visitors
• Purchase of a cargo van to transport animals to programs
• Bird feeding station in butterfly/hummingbird garden
• Received four bequests: Marjorie Owings, Louise Stanek, Norma Elmlinger, Drew and Rita Jones
• Endowment Fund set up through the Sandusky/Erie County Community Foundation
• Received several state and national conservation, service and wildlife awards including:
  • Animal Planet's "Hero Of The Year"
    Animal Planet awarded BACK TO THE WILD $10,000.00 and gave Bill and Mona an all-expense paid vacation in Hawaii! The award funds paid for part of the new waterfowl enclosure pond system.
  • BACK TO THE WILD has been featured on Animal Planet many times!

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MISSION STATEMENT OF BACK TO THE WILD®

BACK TO THE WILD'S primary mission is to rehabilitate and ultimately release into their natural habitat, injured, orphaned and displaced wildlife. Through this work, BACK TO THE WILD'S overall mission is to educate and foster in children and adults, awareness, appreciation and respect of our natural world. Children especially, are encouraged to become responsible caretakers of our earth, by becoming involved in conservation activities to preserve and protect wild areas and to understand our own interconnection with all living things.