A.R.K. / Association to Rescue Kritters

A.R.K. / Association to Rescue Kritters The A.R.K was officially founded by Ruth and Denny Fruehauf in 2001. At that time, Critter Alley, a rehab center downstate was closing it's doors.
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They started rehabbing out of their home for many years but quickly realized they needed more space. Ruth and Denny had worked with Critter Alley on a few occasions. Critter Alley donated the remaining assets, including caging and a few education animals over to Ruth and Denny. It was then that the A.R.K Association to Rescue Kritters was officially born. With over 25 years of experience, Ruth is

still the director at the A.R.K. She and her team of volunteers carry out the day to day care of wildlife, education, and fundraising. The A.R.K is a non-profit organization solely run on donations and volunteers.

We have some new faces in care!Both red fox kits and eastern coyote pups have officially arrived! Many of these little o...
05/30/2026

We have some new faces in care!

Both red fox kits and eastern coyote pups have officially arrived! Many of these little ones arrived orphaned, dehydrated, or injured.

Our dedicated team is working around the clock to provide them with specialized formula, medical treatments, and a safe space to grow big and strong.

As these canines grow, we take strict care to "wild them up". This means limiting human interaction so they maintain their natural fear of humans, ensuring they can safely navigate the wild upon release.

While they are undeniably adorable as babies, these animals grow up to be crucial "keystone species" that keep our local ecosystems healthy and balanced:

Both foxes and coyotes act as nature's clean-up crew. They primarily hunt rodents, insects, and rabbits, keeping pest populations from exploding. By managing rodent populations, they indirectly reduce the spread of tick-borne illnesses (like Lyme disease) and other zoonotic diseases in our environment. As apex and meso-predators, their presence allows smaller plant and animal species to thrive, creating a richer, healthier environment for everyone.

Share This Post: Help us spread awareness about the vital roles of these misunderstood animals!

Thank you for all helping us give these wild babies a second chance at a life!

The hunt for the Queen continues, and the stakes have never been higher! Could next Tuesday be the night someone walks a...
05/27/2026

The hunt for the Queen continues, and the stakes have never been higher!

Could next Tuesday be the night someone walks away with the massive jackpot?

Where: Travlers Bar lers Bar and Grill (LeRoy, MI)
When: Tuesday nights at 7:30 PM

Last Night's Recap:
James Marciniack's ticket was drawn! He chose envelope #19 and revealed the Ace of Hearts, walking away with a cool $250! Congratulations, Jimbo! This leaves the Jackpot sitting at $8,802.60, not including any sales for next Tuesday!

Willow’s Opossum Fact of the Week:
Did you know that opossums have 50 teeth? That is more than any other North American land mammal! Willow had a blast seeing everyone last night.

Het Your Tickets: Reach out now for ticket sales!

Remember, you do not need to be present to win.

Come hungry, come thirsty, and come ready to win! See you all at the Travlers Bar!

Thanks to an incredible collaborative effort between our three organizations, this beautiful bald eagle received a criti...
05/20/2026

Thanks to an incredible collaborative effort between our three organizations, this beautiful bald eagle received a critical feather imping procedure yesterday. We are thrilled with her progress and truly cannot wait to watch her retake the sky!

If you haven't already, please go give our partners a follow to see more of the amazing work we all do! We are proud to have such a fantastic network of individuals to share these kinds of success stories with.

We could not do this vital conservation and rehabilitation work without the ongoing dedication of all of our supporters.

Thank you for being part of her journey back to the wild!

Another great day of learning with the kids!
05/19/2026

Another great day of learning with the kids!

Surprise Attendance Day was fantastic!
05/19/2026

Surprise Attendance Day was fantastic!

This past week, after a long winter of rehab, we had the absolute pleasure of releasing four orphaned bobcats back into ...
05/16/2026

This past week, after a long winter of rehab, we had the absolute pleasure of releasing four orphaned bobcats back into the wild!

All four of these beautiful cats came to us last summer, each with their own story:

-Two came to A.R.K. as orphans.
-One was orphaned, rescued, and triaged by our friends at Wild Heart WildLife Rescue.
-One was rescued by our friends at Sleeping Bear Wildlife Fund with two broken back legs. After diagnostic X-rays at ARK, that final kitten was transferred to West Michigan Wildlife Center. There, the amazing Dr. Rebecca Vincent-Sturdivant, DVM, surgically repaired his legs and their team provided his critical post-op care.

Fast forward from August, and these four have spent all winter growing, healing, and learning every skill they need to survive. They proved they were finally ready!

Bobcats are a keystone species. They play a vital role in regulating and balancing our ecosystems.

We are thrilled to share this massive success with our rehabilitation colleagues. We can truly accomplish so much more when we all work together!

Good luck out there, spicy kitties!

Photo credit to Justin Grubb.

Meet our first little fawn of the season! While we are happy to give her a second chance, her story is a sad one: she wa...
05/12/2026

Meet our first little fawn of the season! While we are happy to give her a second chance, her story is a sad one: she was confirmed orphaned after her mother was tragically hit by a car in Missaukee County.

Because we expect many more calls as the weather warms up, we want to share some critical advice on how to tell if a fawn actually needs help.

Remember: "If you find them lying, they aren't dying!"

Mom is nearby: Mother deer (does) do not stay with their fawns during the day. They intentionally leave them hidden in tall grass or brush to avoid drawing predators to them. They only return a few times a day to nurse.

Don’t "Fawn-nap": If you see a quiet, still fawn tucked away, please leave it alone. Unless the baby is crying incessantly, covered in fly eggs, or you have confirmed the mother is deceased, they are exactly where they are supposed to be.

If you aren’t sure, please call us before touching or moving the animal. Let's work together to keep these babies with their wild mamas whenever possible!

Moms come in all shapes and sizes. Regardless of whether you have fur, feathers, scales, or well earned grey hairs, we ...
05/10/2026

Moms come in all shapes and sizes.

Regardless of whether you have fur, feathers, scales, or well earned grey hairs, we know this is the hardest job of all.

Happy Mother's Day!

The hunt for the Queen continues, and the stakes have never been higher! Could TONIGHT be the night someone walks away w...
05/05/2026

The hunt for the Queen continues, and the stakes have never been higher!

Could TONIGHT be the night someone walks away with the big prize?

Where: Travelers Bar and Grill in LeRoy, MI

When: Drawing tonight at 7:30 PM

But that’s not all... we have a very special MYSTERY GUEST joining us tonight! This animal guest has NEVER visited our drawing before and we are so excited to have them.

Take a look at the photo below... any guesses on who (or what!) our new friend is? Let us know your best guess in the comments!

Reach out for last minute ticket sales! You do not need to be present to win!

Come hungry, come thirsty, and come ready to win! See you all at the Travlers Bar !

There is no better way to celebrate our planet than by seeing its wild inhabitants return to where they belong.We are th...
04/28/2026

There is no better way to celebrate our planet than by seeing its wild inhabitants return to where they belong.

We are thrilled to share that on Earth Day, our over-wintered otters were released back into the wild!

These two came to us separately as tiny, helpless orphans. Over the last 10 months, they’ve grown up together, becoming the best of friends and mastering the skills they need to survive:

* Hunting for their own meals
* Navigating deep waters
* Finding the perfect hiding spots
* Maintaining a healthy, wild fear of humans

Watching them dive into their very own lake for the first time and play in the open water was a moment we’ll never forget.

Why are otters so important?

Otters are much more than just a cute face! They are apex predators and a "keystone species," meaning they help keep the entire ecosystem in balance. By managing populations of fish and invertebrates, they ensure biodiversity thrives, keeping our local waterways healthy and vibrant for everyone.

Thank you for supporting our mission and making second chances like this possible.

Checkout their release video in the comments!

Address

3878 S Maple Valley Road
Saint Helen, MI
48656

Telephone

+19893893305

Website

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