LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — The Kentucky Wildlife Center in Lexington is preparing their facility ahead of baby season. The center says 'baby season' starts in March and usually goes through the summer.
The Kentucky Wildlife Center's mission is to rescue and rehabilitate the state's native wildlife and to improve the welfare of wildlife through education. Each year the center takes in about 1,500 babies and takes care of them using incubators.
"Lots of raccoons, bats, possums, squirrels, if we get a baby beaver, baby otters go incubators. I mean, anything that is neonatal that can't support it's own body temperature," director Samantha Opp explained.
The influx in babies usually starts in March and goes until about August. Without the incubators working correctly, it would be dangerous for the babies.
"That's one of the number one reasons babies die in care is because they get too cold and any fluctuation can put them at risk of becoming septic," Opp said.
The Kentucky Wildlife Center's hope is to save as many animals as possible, but to do that, they rely on donations and help from volunteers. And before baby season begins, they're asking for donations so the center can buy new incubators that work correctly.
"Every time we ask for help, they help us. So, without our donors or our volunteers we wouldn't be here," Opp told LEX 18.
