Fall 2023

infection before they are released.”The diagnosis delayed the freedom date for the noisy footballs-on-legs, but it didn’t deter Duits-Cavanaugh and her unflap- pable staff. They manage one of the most diverse wildlife centers in the state. “Our facility is fascinating due to the variety of species that come through the doors,” says SPCA Vice President of Marketing and Communi- cations Beth Brookhouser. “On any given day, they could see a coyote, a baby skunk, a fawn, a hummingbird.We act more like an emergency hospital. Wild animals don’t want to be near people, so if an animal is able to be caught, it’s a critical situation. We also act as a nursery for the animals who are orphaned during spring after their parents are hit by a car or killed in tree trimming. Our goal is to keep them all wild to be released.” Duits-Cavanaugh agrees. “I’m a planner, and I have a task list, and I’m very organized, but there is something about this job where you have no idea what’s gonna happen dur- ing the day.You never know when ‘XYZ’ will be injured, or orphaned. Not every day is the same.” The center has had thousands of exciting and challenging days since offi- cially opening in 1982. But well before that, the staff were looking after non- domesticated animals. An article from 120 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • F A L L 2 0 2 3 Photo: XXXXXXXXXXXX These two young hummingbirds were rescued as tiny orphans and are being raised at the Wildlife Center. At the Wildlife Center, birds of all kinds are rescued, treated and nurtured, and released back into the wild—from large predators like this majestic adult bald eagle, to the tiniest of hummingbird chicks, and everything in between.