'483 Babies In Care': Donations Needed For Wildlife Center In Orange County

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — One Orange County wildlife center is undertaking a vital task this spring: rehabilitating 483 orphaned wildlife babies.

"—And more are pouring into care daily," said Debbie McGuire, Executive Director at the Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach. "All over the county, mallards are hatching. It's best if they can stay with their mothers, however, if something happens to mom, then they become orphans."

As of Thursday evening, the WWCC was housing 266 baby mallard ducklings, 80 orphaned opossum joeys receiving care in the center's nursery room, 77 baby hummingbirds receiving round-the-clock-care, 57 squirrels and 12 baby raccoons.

"That's a lot of orphans," McGuire said.

Residents can help take care of the orphaned wildlife receiving vital care at the WWCC by donating to the organization, McGuire said. According to the center, it costs an average of $125 per animal to rehabilitate.

Residents can donate to the cause by visiting the Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center of Orange County's website.