Wildlife Images

A few miles out of Grants Pass is Wildlife Images Rehabilitation and Education Center.

This world-famous non-profit facility helps sick, injured, or orphaned wild animals receive the care they need to hopefully rejoin their kind in the wilds. Those who are too disabled or too human-imprinted to survive in the wild join the other permanent residents, and may earn the title of "Educational Ambassador." This wolf is being walked as part of his socialization to become an "Ambassador." The facility has a few paid staff and many volunteers who work in all capacities, including working directly with the animals.

The guided tour includes only the permanent residents. The animals being prepared for re-entry into their natural habitat are sequestered from excess human contact, as human imprinting is a major reason for failure to readjust to wild habitat.

These signs told the stories of the residents, and also reminded visitors that caring for these animals does have a price.

Some of the animals, like Shoshone, above, were difficult to photograph either because they were hiding, they didn't stop moving, or their enclosure and position in the enclosure made photography difficult. But I did get some good shots.

The facility has a good population of bears, including 2 grizzlies from Alaska, who we didn't see as they weren't hungry and were on the far side of their enclosures. One of the bears, Susie, was rescued from mistreatment in Italy by an American couple who saw her plight. These black bears were busy eating when we reached their enclosure.

The staff tries to encourage animals who would normally hibernate to do so, but in this mild climate their hibernation is usually shallow and intermittent.

Before we left, we enjoyed our picnic lunch by the duck pond down hill from the visitor center.

It was a beautiful, peaceful day.