Back To The Wild, Castalia, Ohio

08/28/2026

Our trauma boxes are FULL. 🦅

Right now, we have 17 raptors in rehabilitation, including several Bald Eagles and Red-tailed Hawks, along with gulls, herons, and many other patients throughout the center.

Each one requires something different: specialized diets, medications, diagnostic testing, daily treatments, clean enclosures, and eventually the space and conditioning needed to prepare for release. Right now, with so many raptors & fish-eaters in care, we are FLYING through food!

All of that care adds up quickly!

Back to the Wild relies on the generosity of our community to continue saying “yes” when injured and orphaned wildlife needs us. If you’ve been looking for a way to help, a donation of any size helps us provide the food, medical care, and resources these patients need every single day.

Donate today: down below or at www.backtothewild.org!

As always, without YOU, there is no US for THEM!

08/27/2026

Wildlife myths…. Busted!

Ruby & Abby are putting some of the things we hear about wildlife to the test, with help from our ambassadors, of course.

Think you know your wildlife facts? Watch along and see if you know these ones!

Let us know what wildlife myth you want us to bust next.

08/26/2026

Meet our ambassador Fox Squirrel! 🐿️

Danelly is introducing you to this lady and sharing a bit about how she came to call Back To The Wild home.

She was originally found as a baby and, rather than being brought to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or reunited with mom, she was kept illegally as a pet for around a year. By the time she came into our care, she had become too accustomed to people to safely return to the wild.

While she now has an important role as one of our wildlife ambassadors, her story is also a great reminder that wild animals are meant to stay wild. Even with the best intentions, raising wildlife without the proper training and permits can have lifelong consequences for the animal.

Now, she helps teach others about Fox Squirrels, their adaptations, their role in our ecosystem, and why giving orphaned or injured wildlife the right care from the beginning is so important!

Have you ever met our Fox Squirrel during one of our programs? Let us know in the comments!

08/25/2026

Meet Ruby! ❤️

Ruby is one of our Clinic Tech & Educators here at Back To The Wild, and today Jess is putting her in the spotlight.

Get to know Ruby a little as she answers a few questions about herself, her work at the center, and of course, the animals!

Give Ruby some love in the comments. 🐾

08/21/2026

Come spend the morning with Abby! ☀️

No two mornings at Back To The Wild ever look quite the same. Follow along with Abby, a Clinic Tech & Educator, for a little behind-the-scene look at what a morning around here can look like.

08/20/2026

🍂 Fall programs are booking now! 🦉

Teachers, schools, libraries, homeschool groups, and community organizations, we still have some September availability for educational programs both here at Back To The Wild and at locations throughout the community!

Our programs give participants the opportunity to meet some of our wildlife ambassadors up close while learning about Ohio’s native wildlife in an engaging, memorable way. Depending on the program and age group, we explore topics like:

🦅 Animal adaptations and how they help wildlife survive
🌳 Habitats and the different needs of native species
🦉 Food webs, predator/prey relationships, and an animal’s role in the ecosystem
🐢 Human impacts on wildlife and ways we can help
🩺 Wildlife rehabilitation and what happens when an injured or orphaned animal comes into our care

Programs can be tailored to different ages and groups, making them a great addition to classroom learning, community events, libraries, clubs, and more.

📅 September still has some openings, and fall dates are filling!

For program options, pricing, and more information, visit our website at www.backtothewild.org or contact us directly at [email protected] to book.

08/18/2026

Yesterdays post was a sad one, so we figured we’d add a little humor to your feed today!

Peak baby season might be behind us, but apparently squirrels don’t get the memo. 🐿️
We are officially back in the thick of baby squirrel season, which means lots of tiny mouths to feed and not quite enough hours in the day.

08/17/2026

It was a busy weekend for our team, with two separate trips to Port Clinton for two very different raptors, a Bald Eagle and an Osprey.

The Bald Eagle was found unable to use his legs normally and showing neurological symptoms. Unfortunately, despite supportive care, he passed away. The exact cause is unknown, but possible causes included rodenticide poisoning or West Nile Virus.

Our second rescue was this Osprey. Once back at our facility, we found a severe compound fracture of the ulna. Because of the location and extent of the injury, repair and eventual release were not possible, and the decision was made to humanely euthanize.

One interesting thing the finders were able to photograph during his rescue was those incredible feet! Ospreys have some pretty unique adaptations for catching fish, including reversible outer toes that allow them to grip with two toes forward and two backward, sharp curved talons, and rough, spiny pads on the bottoms of their feet that help hold onto slippery fish. 🐟

Unfortunately, wildlife rehabilitation doesn't always end with a release. But every call gives an animal the opportunity to be evaluated, treated when possible, and prevented from suffering when an injury is beyond repair!

Every rescue also means staff time, fuel, medical supplies, diagnostics, food and care. If you'd like to help us continue responding when wildlife like these two need us, please consider making a donation to Back To The Wild at www.backtothewild.org!

As always, without YOU, there is no US for THEM!

(photos taken by the finder during the rescue! A big thank you for allowing us to share them here.)

08/14/2026

From tiny nestlings to back into the wild!

These Belted Kingfishers came to us when they were just babies and needed lots of specialized care, including plenty of fish to keep up with those big appetites.

After weeks of growing, learning, and getting stronger, they were finally ready for the moment we had all been waiting for… release day!

Good luck out there, little fishers!

08/14/2026

Come see us today at a Birchard Park! We will have some of our ambassadors there to teach you all about & how we can make a difference for wildlife & our natural world! 🦅

🦉 Animal Encounter — TODAY!

We’ve got some special visitors coming to Birchard Park TODAY! 🦉🐢🦨

Join us at 3:00 PM for an Animal Encounter and get an up-close look at some amazing animals while learning more about the wildlife around us!

📍 Birchard Park
⏰ 3:00 PM
📅 Today, August 14

Bring the kids and come check it out!

YOUR SUMMER. YOUR PARKS. YOUR ADVENTURE.