HOWELL, Mich. – The Howell Nature Center was on the brink. Staff scrambled to keep the doors open, and for a time, the wildlife clinic temporarily closed while leaders searched for a path forward. Then, the community showed up.
After going public about its financial struggles, the Howell Nature Center launched a fundraising campaign — and hit its $100,000 goal in just six days.
Clinic closure forced difficult decisions
The center, located in Howell, Michigan, rehabilitates injured and orphaned wildlife entirely without federal funding. It relies on admission fees, donations and spontaneous acts of generosity to cover operating costs — an unpredictable revenue stream that recently pushed the organization to a breaking point.
“When someone is telling you they have a poor baby in their hand and they can’t take care of it, it’s so hard to say no. You don’t want to say no,” said Jen Ewing, curator of wildlife and education.
That “no” became an all-too-common answer as staff worked to figure out how to keep operations going.
“The average patient costs about $200, and that’s just the basic patient,” Ewing said.
“You don’t ever know how much money you’re going to get at a time,” she added.
Community responds to call for help
Once leaders were transparent about the center’s financial situation, the response was swift. Donors rallied behind the campaign, helping the center cross the finish line in less than a week.
Kristy Hyten, a visitor at the nature center, reacted with excitement when she heard the news.
“Aww, that’s so exciting,” Hyten said after learning the goal had been met.
Hyten is no stranger to the center’s mission. Her family has brought injured animals there over the years.
“We’ve actually brought injured animals here — squirrels, duck, geese, I think a hawk one time,” Hyten said.
More than a nature walk
Many visitors come to the Howell Nature Center to walk the trails and see resident animals like Biscuit the Coyote.
But behind the scenes, staff are working to rehabilitate wildlife and change the way people think about animals often considered pests.
“It literally is so heartwarming how many people actually care about wildlife, because a lot of the animals we work with can be considered nuisance animals — people don’t like them, they don’t want them around,” Ewing said.
The center is working to shift that perception through education and community outreach.
Reaching the $100,000 goal means the clinic can once again accept new animals in need of care. But leaders say the work doesn’t stop there — sustaining the center requires ongoing community support year-round.
“I wish I could shake everyone’s hand because I love this place. I want to work here for the rest of my life, so thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Ewing said.
How to help
Even with the fundraising goal met, the Howell Nature Center welcomes continued donations.
To learn more or contribute, click here, or support the campaign directly by clicking here.