Help Hurt, Orphaned Burlington Co. Wildlife At Upcoming 'Baby Shower'

MEDFORD, NJ — Gifts of peanut butter, puppy pads, and certain baby food can help a local wildlife refuge rehabilitate hurt and orphaned animals at their upcoming "Wildlife Baby Shower."

Cedar Run Refuge, located in Medford, is preparing for the upcoming arrival of thousands of injured and/or orphaned wild animals.

Last year, the refuge took in more than 4,000 animals needing care between April and September, a popular time for birthing. Many of these came in as babies, and needed species-specific treatment and feeding.

With Wildlife Baby Season approaching, Cedar Run is inviting everyone to the shower and asking for items and donations that will keep their mission going. The refuge says its primary goal is to rehabilitate these animals so they can have a second chance of living in the wild.

The Wildlife Baby Shower is Saturday, Feb. 11 from 1-3 p.m. at Medford United Methodist Church (2 Hartford Road, 08055). Guests may bring an item from the refuge's wish list (see below), or pay a minimum $5 cash donation. Some non-releasable wildlife will make a special appearance, and there will be light refreshments and crafts for kids.

For more information about the party, click here. Here are the items on the party's wish list:

• 39-gallon garbage bags
• Paper towels
• Ziploc bags (all sizes but most-used azre gallon and quart)
• Tissues
• Puppy pads
• Cotton balls
• Amazon gift cards
• Clorox wipes
• Dawn dish soap
• HE laundry detergent
• Bleach
• Scrub Daddy sponges
• Orange baby food
• Green baby food
• Peanut butter
• Kaytee Mouse/rat food
• Aspen bedding
• Quickie Sponge Mop Refill 3" x9 ” type S
• Disposable Waterproof shoe covers
• Disposable waterproof isolation gowns

Founded in 1957, the Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge is a 501(c)3 non-profit "dedicated to the preservation of New Jersey’s wildlife and habitats through education, conservation, and rehabilitation." It is located on 171 acres of land, with over 3 miles of hiking trails. Cedar Run includes the Woodford Nature Center, a wildlife housing area housing nearly 60 non-releasable Wildlife Ambassadors, Nature Center, and a Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital.

Cedar Run says its wildlife hospital is "the oldest and busiest wildlife hospital in New Jersey, seeing over 6,300 injured and/or orphaned wild animals every year." The nature center & hiking trails are open to the public daily.