Owl Fest returns to Tree House Wildlife Center

By Editor | October 5, 2022 |

By Steven Spencer

The Treehosue Wildlife Center will be holding Owl Fest on Saturday, Oct. 15, and Sunday, Oct. 16, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at their animal rehabilitation center in Dow.

The two day event gives the public a chance to tour the center’s rehab buildings while enjoying educational speakers, local environmental organizations, crafts, food, live music, raffles, vendors, kid friendly activities and the Treehouse Wildlife Center’s teddy bear clinic.

Kelly Vandersand, Interm Director, said the event generally brings around thousands of visitors, being the only opportunity the public has for tours, and gives staff a chance to detail how the process works at Treehouse.

“We can’t do it any other time of the year because during most of the spring we are inundated with spring babies, so in the summer we’re taking care of babies and orphans, times when we have to worry about human interaction,” Vandersand said. “In the fall, majority of the animals that can be released are released, any animal that isn’t ready to be released and needs to be kept away from human interaction and potential stress has room to be housed.”

Staff is always excited to bring in visitors during Owl Fest, Vandersand said, giving them an opportunity to discuss the wildlife they help and how community members can help in their own ways.

“The staff is very excited about getting people in to learn about our mission. We’re all passionate about saving these animals,” Vandersand said. “Saving them is one thing, but it’s done through education. Our mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, release and educate, so Owl Fest is a very big educational opportunity. It gives people a chance to make a connection to these animals, make a connection to nature, get them to see the impact people have on wildlife and how we can make some changes.”

One of the center’s resident opossums will be making rounds during the weekend, educating guests on the role the opossum plays in the regions environment.

“We have an educational opossum, so people can learn that while you may not really like that they look like a giant rat, they are so beneficial,” Vandersand said, adding that opossums help control ticks and snakes. “While people may never fall in love with an opossum, they understand the benefit they present.”

After missing a couple of years of Owl Fest due to covid, Vandersand said her and the rest of the staff can’t wait to share their passion of wildlife with attendees.

“I love seeing the kids out here enjoying it,” she said. “When they get to see an owl up close for the first time, or if they love foxes, being able to see these animals in real life is special. In a zoo exhibit you don’t get to see animals as close as we are able to at our sanctuary.”