Back To The Wild, Castalia, Ohio

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Back To The Wild, Castalia, Ohio Back To The Wild (R) is a non-profit 501(c)3, donation-supported wildlife rehabilitation and nature education center in Castalia, Ohio
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Back To The Wild is a wildlife rehabilitation and nature education center located in Castalia, Ohio. We admit over 1,000 injured and orphaned animals every year and do our best to get them back where they belong....THE WILD! Because so many animals come to us injured because of humans, education is also a big part of our mission. Through education, we can prevent some of these tragedies from happening in the first place. Back To The Wild is a 501(c)3 charity. Want to help us help wildlife? Consider hosting your own Back To The Wild fundraiser! You can do so at https://www.facebook.com/fund/BacktothewildOhio/

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

We're NUTS about our squirrels... and we think you should be too! šŸ˜‰šŸæAs we prepare for the colder winter months, we're lo...
10/21/2026

We're NUTS about our squirrels... and we think you should be too! šŸ˜‰šŸæ

As we prepare for the colder winter months, we're looking to stock up on walnuts in their shells for our squirrel patients and permanent wildlife ambassadors. Pictured is our ambassador Fox squirrel, who would like to know why you haven't bought their walnuts yet!! šŸ‘€

Did you know that squirrels front teeth never stop growing? Gnawing on hard shells naturally wear down their continously growing incisors, keeping their teeth healthy & in good shape.

Providing nuts in their shells also encourages natural foraging behaviors & gives our squirrels a little extra enrichment as they work to get that tasty reward inside.

We currently have them on our Amazon Wishlist, and we'd be so grateful for your help keeping our furry friends happy, healthy, and busy this winter.

šŸŒ° Shop our Wishlist: https://a.co/09VXFn29

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

Wildly Spooky Series: Snakes šŸSnakes might give some people a fright, but these misunderstood reptiles are much less sca...
10/21/2026

Wildly Spooky Series: Snakes šŸ

Snakes might give some people a fright, but these misunderstood reptiles are much less scary than you think!

Did you know that venomous snakes are extremely rare in northern Ohio? While Ohio is home to three native venomous snakes, encounters with them are uncommon.

One snake that often gets mistaken for a venomous snake is the Eastern fox snake! These harmless snakes have brown blotches along their bodies, red heads, and may even vibrate their tails when threatened. When that tail rattles against dry leaves, it can sound surprisingly similar to a rattlesnake. Their red head also gets them mistaken for a Copperhead!

Despite a spooky reputation, snakes play an important role in our ecosystgems by helping control rodent populations and maintaining balance in the food web.

So.... if you spot a snake this season, there's no need to panic! Give it some space & it will slither on it's way in no time.

Monarch butterflies may be small, but they play an important role in the ecosystems around us! šŸ¦‹From pollinating native ...
10/19/2026

Monarch butterflies may be small, but they play an important role in the ecosystems around us! šŸ¦‹

From pollinating native plants to making their incredible annual migration, monarchs are just one example of why protecting wildlife and their habitats matters.

Thank you to the Sandusky Register & staff member Maia for helping bring attention to these amazing butterflies and the importance of their conservation!

Take a moment to give this a read! šŸŒæ

Are Box turtles really homebodies? You may have heard that Woodland box turtles spend their entire lives within the same...
10/18/2026

Are Box turtles really homebodies?

You may have heard that Woodland box turtles spend their entire lives within the same small area, but research has shown that their movements are a little more complicated than that!

While many Box turtles do remain within familiar home ranges, others travel much farther, shift their ranges, or move between different areas throughout their lives. Researchers have even documented individuals traveling several kilometers!

That doesn't mean relocating a Box turtle is a good idea though. Moving turtles to unfamiliar areas can increase their risk of injury or death.

If you find a healthy Box turtle in the wild, it's best to leave it where it is. If it's crossing a road, you can help it safely across in the direction it was already traveling.

There's still plenty we're learning about these fascinating little ones! šŸ¢

10/17/2026

Wildlife FAQ

How do we know when an animal is ready to be released? šŸ¦…

Just because an animal has recovered from an injury doesnā€™t always mean itā€™s ready to head back into the wild!

Before releasing an animal, we have to make sure itā€™s physically healthy and capable of surviving on its own. Depending on the species, that can mean evaluating everything from weight & feather condition to mobility, flight agility, and natural behaviors.

For Bald eagles like the young one in this video, we want to see strong, controlled flight & make sure theyā€™re able to maneuver, gain altitude, and land properly. We also evaluate their overall health and condition before making the decision to release them.

Some patients are ready relatively quickly, while others need additional time to recover. Our goal isnā€™t just to get animals healthy enough to leaveā€¦ itā€™s to make sure theyā€™re prepared for life back in the wild!

Hereā€™s Danelly releasing one of the young Bald eagles that recently completed rehabilitation with us.

10/17/2026

Whatā€™s on the menu at Back To The Wild? šŸ¦‰šŸ“

Follow along with Olivia for a look at what feeding time looks like around here.

With so many different species in our care, thereā€™s a lot that goes into preparing meals each day. Every animal has different nutritional needs, and those needs can change depending on their age, health, season, and stage of rehab if theyā€™re a rehab patient!

Our youngest orphaned patients often require multiple feedings throughout the day, while others receive carefully prepared diets of fruit, vegetables, insects, or proteins depending on their species.

For our rehab patients, providing the proper diet is an important part of helping them grow, heal, and eventually return to the wild. Our education ambassadors also receive diets tailored to their individual needs to help keep them healthy.

Keeping everyone fed is a big part of our daily routine!

Earlier this week, we received a call about a young Red-tailed hawk who was found dangling from a power line at WR Hunt ...
10/16/2026

Earlier this week, we received a call about a young Red-tailed hawk who was found dangling from a power line at WR Hunt Club.

Thankfully, the staff at WR Hunt Club were able to coordinate with others to safely get her down and contained. One of our volunteers then headed out to pick her up and bring her back to our clinic.

Unfortunately, she suffered a pretty significant burn to one of her feet. She's been receiving treatment and is showing improvement, but she's certainly not out of the woods yet.

Power lines can pose a serious danger to birds of prey, who frequently use utility poles as perches while hunting (especially RTH, there's a reason they're nicknamed mile markers)! Injuries from electrical equipment can be severe, and recovery isn't always straightforward.

We're thankful to everyone who helped get this young hawk to safety and are hoping to see her continue making progress!

10/15/2026

Follow along with Danelly & Ruby as they go to an off-site program! šŸ¦‰

Speaking of programs, weā€™ll be at VacationLand Federal Credit Union in Norwalk today from 2-6pm helping celebrate their anniversary! Stop by and meet some of our wildlife ambassadors.

Wildly Spooky Series: Owls & Silent Flight šŸŖ¶Imagine being outside at night and having an owl fly right over your head wi...
10/14/2026

Wildly Spooky Series: Owls & Silent Flight šŸŖ¶

Imagine being outside at night and having an owl fly right over your head without ever hearing it!

Unlike most birds, owls have specially adapted feathers that allow them to fly almost silently. The leading edges of their wing feathers have tiny comb-like structures that help break up airflow and reduce noise as they fly.

This gives owls a huge advantage when hunting, allowing them to approach unsuspecting prey without giving away their location. It also helps them listen for prey without the sound of their own wings getting in the way!

So, the next time you're outside after dark, just rememberā€¦ there might be an owl flying nearby, and you'd never even know it! šŸ‘»

10/14/2026

We asked some of our staff to share their favorite animal here at Back To The Wild & why! šŸ¦…

Jess caught up with Olivia, Danelly, and Maia to hear their picks. Now we want to know yours! Leave it in the comments below!

Address

P. O. Box 423 4504 Bardshar Road
Castalia, OH
44824

Telephone

+14196849539

Website

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