von Arx Wildlife Hospital still admitting patients
As Hurricane Dorian approaches the Florida coast, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida is proactively preparing.
The Nature Center is closed to visitors until Wednesday, Sept. 4, pending the outcome of the storm.
However, the Conservancy’s von Arx Wildlife Hospital is open and accepting patients seven days a week between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Should storm conditions change and closures be necessary, updates will be posted online at www.conservancy.org and on Conservancy social media channels.
Conservancy staff are busy getting the inside of the hospital prepped for before and after the storm. After Hurricane Irma, the Conservancy learned there are specific items that its staff will certainly need, but may not have access to. These items are currently on its Amazon Wish List.
To provide the best care possible for the injured and orphaned animals inside the von Arx Wildlife Hospital, the Conservancy needs items such as dish soap, bleach, paper towels, bug spray and heavy-duty carts that can make the trek through standing water. These supplies will be critical after the storm passes.
The von Arx Wildlife Hospital also offers the following tips for handling native wildlife after a storm:
- Keep any injured wildlife quiet, dark and warm location.
- Before disposing of yard debris, especially fallen trees or bushes, check first for any wildlife that may have used the tree as their home.
- Do not feed wildlife, as all wild animals require very specialized diets. More harm than good can be done by feeding the improper diet or offering water to an injured animal.
For more information and additional tips on handling injured, sick or orphaned animals, visit www.Conservancy.org.
About the Conservancy of Southwest Florida:
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida is a not-for-profit environmental protection organization with a 55-year history focused on the issues impacting the water, land wildlife and future of Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties. The Conservancy accomplishes this mission through the combined efforts of its experts in the areas of environmental science, policy, education and wildlife rehabilitation. The Conservancy of Southwest Florida, world-class Nature Center and von Arx Wildlife Hospital are headquartered in Naples, Florida, 1495 Smith Preserve Way, south of the Naples Zoo off Goodlette-Frank Road. Learn more about the Conservancy’s work and how to support the quality of life in Southwest Florida www.conservancy.org.
