The Northwoods Wildlife Center is a not-for-profit wildlife rehabilitation and education center that strives to better the future of wildlife through rehabilitation, education, and research. The center takes in an average of 700-1000 patients a year, including mammals, birds, reptiles and the occasional amphibian.

Families are invited to tour the facility Monday through Saturday year-round for a small donation. The tour consists of several resident animals who have been injured and cannot be released, including a bald eagle, red tailed hawk, owls, turtles, a turkey vulture and more.

Wildlife and Nature programs take place throughout the summer on a variety of topics, from story time to a discussion on canoe building, making dream catchers with local shaman, learning about birds of Prey, turtles and much more.

The Northwoods Wildlife Center is run entirely on donations. The Center has both State and Federal permits, which allows it to treat Wisconsin native wildlife including threatened and endangered species. Also covered under these permits are non-releasable birds of prey and turtles used for educational purposes.

The center was formed in 1979 by local veterinarian Dr. Rory Foster and his wife. After seeing the center become successful and after having written two books, Dr. Foster passed away in 1987, but his dream lives in on in the Northwoods Wildlife Center today. Orson the Great Horned owl was the center’s original resident and is still today educating the public.

The Northwoods Wildlife Center is located at 8683 Blumenstein Road in Minocqua. Programs at the center are always changing and offer a variety of interesting activities for kids and adults alike. A tour of the center is the perfect way to see native wildlife up close while learning something new during your visit to the north woods.