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Humane Indiana Wildlife Humane Indiana Wildlife Rehabilitation Center provides expert medical care for injured and orphaned animals native to Indiana.
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The education center provides educational opportunities for community groups, schools, and internships for college students. The Moraine Ridge Wildlife Rehabilitation Center was founded in 1997 by a group of wildlife rehabilitators and enthusiasts. Their primary mission then and now is to rescue, rehabilitate and return orphaned and injured wildlife to the wild. A second parallel and equally essential part of the mission is to provide educational opportunities for the community that promotes informed and humane interaction with native wildlife. In 2003 two acres of wooded, rural land adjacent to a state designated wildlife habitat was donated to the organization and in 2005 ground was broken to construct a building designed to serve their mission. The building was completed in 2008 with widespread community support, including a challenge grant from the Porter County Convention Recreation and Visitors Commission, generous cash donations and substantial gifts of labor and materials from individuals. For many years Moraine Ridge depended almost entirely on volunteers to accomplish its mission. In 2014 MRWRC became a subsidiary of the Humane Society Calumet Area. This brought about the ability to hire professional staff and gave access to a sophisticated infrastructure which allows us to substantially expand the scope of our mission and services.

10/23/2026

Enrichment is an important component of animal care. Each day, our team provides something new to our patients and ambassadors to ensure that they are receiving mental stimulation. Today, our ambassador bobcat, Diego, was given a box (which is enriching itself) that had been sprayed with a new scent for Diego to explore.

You can help keep our animals enriched by purchasing new items for them off our Amazon Wishlist!! We are wanting to get Diego a saucer swing and our crows/vultures new puzzle toys! To check out the list follow the link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/12TH5G1M7K4DC?ref_=wl_share

It's a way of life... A vibe... The 'Permanently Exhausted Opossum' that Hannah, a non-releasable opossum, embodies with...
10/23/2026

It's a way of life... A vibe... The 'Permanently Exhausted Opossum' that Hannah, a non-releasable opossum, embodies with perfection. So much so, that a design company called Silkworm just HAD to immortalize her on a shirt!

For a limited time you too can show off your Permanently Exhausted Opossum self with our new merch!! To get your own follow the link found here: https://shopsilkworm.com/humaneindianawildlife?vcrmeid=wWPvibb3Kkm8l3puDLLuUw&vcrmiid=Lbno_E7E1ESacwX4aLoPdg

Tshirts and sweatshirts in adult and youth sizes are available in multiple color options! 😍

Short-eared Owl Update! Two weeks ago our Short-eared Owl patient visited Arbor View Animal Hospital for x-rays to deter...
10/22/2026

Short-eared Owl Update!

Two weeks ago our Short-eared Owl patient visited Arbor View Animal Hospital for x-rays to determine the severity of its wing break. While we could determine with just a simple exam that the left humerus was fractured, the extent of the break would need better diagnostics than what we can provide in-house.

With X-rays the team at AVAH was able to determine that the fracture was significant, and also an open fracture, which means the bone has punctured through the skin, exposing the bone and surrounding tissue to dangerous bacteria. With careful precision, Dr. Herbert was able to realign the bones and place pins to keep the bone pieces stable.

We have already started range of motion physical therapy on the impacted wing to ensure that it does not lock up and will hopefully be able to heal properly. Next week we will get repeat x-rays to see how well everything is healing and determine next steps. While we won't know for a while whether this owl will be able to return back to the wild or not, we are hopeful he will be able to fly again in the future.

Enormous thanks go out to Arbor View Animal Hospital for always being there for our wildlife patients and ambassadors!

Southern Flying Squirrels are the smallest and most elusive of the tree squirrel species that call Northwest Indiana hom...
10/21/2026

Southern Flying Squirrels are the smallest and most elusive of the tree squirrel species that call Northwest Indiana home. Weighing just over 10 grams, these are the smallest displaced orphans admitted to the center within the last few weeks. At just 3 weeks old, their eyes have yet to even open. Due to their young age, this late in the fall baby season, they will remain at the center through the winter and will be released in the spring with two additional Flying Squirrel adults currently in our care.

Tiny patients require tiny supplies! Six times a day our team uses a ni**le and syringe appropriate for feeding these young squirrels. Other small orphans, such as baby voles, shrews, baby bats, are fed similarly to ensure that they do not aspirate and become sick. While they are new to this process at the moment, it won't take long before they are well adapted to this feeding process.

This Halloween season, our animal ambassadors are showing off their creative side! Each ambassador has crafted a one-of-...
10/17/2026

This Halloween season, our animal ambassadors are showing off their creative side! Each ambassador has crafted a one-of-a-kind canvas painting, and you could be the lucky winner who takes one home.

For just $5 per entry, you’ll have the chance to own an original piece of wildlife ambassador art while supporting the care and rehabilitation of wildlife in need. Names will be placed on paper 'candies' as we fill each ambassadors Halloween bucket!! The more entries you have, the greater your chance to win!

At NOON on Halloween, education ambassador American Crow, Bowie, will draw a name from each bucket. The lucky winners will receive the ambassador’s original painting to treasure forever. Paintings CAN be mailed to the winner! Winners will be contacted by email or phone.

Meet the artists behind the masterpieces:

Feta the Virginia Opossum

Poutine the Groundhog

Oscar the Skunk

Pickle the Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel

Freddie the Turkey Vulture

Don’t miss your chance to celebrate native wildlife, support rehabilitation, and own a masterpiece that supports the animals you love.

https://www.humaneindiana.org/merchandise/halloween-originals-ambassador-artwork-you-can-win-2-cwyg7

Does it still count as breakfast in bed if you hang from your hammock to eat? This opossum joey is in care after having ...
10/16/2026

Does it still count as breakfast in bed if you hang from your hammock to eat? This opossum joey is in care after having a run in with a dog. Thankfully his injuries are not severe, but he does have a small limp in one of his back legs from soft tissue damage. For now, he is convalescing in the center and regaining his strength nicely.

With so many overwintering opossums, groundhogs, fox, and squirrels we are going through a LOT of produce! While we visit local grocery stores and Andershocks in Chesterton weekly, sometimes we still come up a bit short! Right now, is one of those times! With all of our patients, we are currently going through roughly 30lbs of produce each day!

We are in need of produce donations for the following items:
Cucumber, Apples, Sweet Potato, Bell Peppers, Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Butternut Squash, Cauliflower, and Broccoli. We can NOT take tomatoes, hot peppers, onions, avocado or white potatoes.

How can you get produce to us? The most common way is for people to drop if off at the center from 8am-4pm. Just let our staff know you are here and we can come out to meet you. Produce can also be sent to our center through DoorDash or on our Walmart Wishlist found here: https://www.walmart.com/lists/wishlist/525ea497-3815-48a8-92d5-12cb71a458df

Any items sent here for delivery can be sent to the following address: 570 N 450 E Valparaiso, IN 46383.

👀🎃Some of our ambassadors put on their painting pants today to help us prepare for our Halloween Fundraiser! If you were...
10/15/2026

👀🎃Some of our ambassadors put on their painting pants today to help us prepare for our Halloween Fundraiser!

If you were here last year and participated, great! If you are new to the opportunity to win your very own ambassador artwork... Get ready!!

We will announce the fundraiser details on Saturday for the kickoff! Be sure to keep your eyes on the page for how to participate! 🫟🍬

10/14/2026

Errol is a surrogate Great Horned Owl who has been at our center since 2018, helping us raise young Great Horned Owls who have lost their own parents. This year she has had 4 other Great Horned Owls with her for the better part of the summer months! Within the next two weeks all of her enclosure mates will be released back to the wild and Errol will finally have her enclosure all to herself again.

Errol arrived at our center in 2018 at less than a month old herself. A wing injury, from falling out of her nest, rendered her flightless and left her with a permanent eye injury as well. Since 2019 Errol has had chicks with her every year and has done a wonderful job making them feel right at home.

This older adult opossum had a very unfortunate run in with a dog that ultimately may have ended up saving her life... T...
10/12/2026

This older adult opossum had a very unfortunate run in with a dog that ultimately may have ended up saving her life... This adult opossum was admitted to the center this past week with a bite wound to her back and back of her neck. The areas around the wounds were cleared of hair and her wounds were debrided and cleaned. We also started her on antibiotics and pain medication to help her heal and be comfortable.

Now, the part where this unfortunate incident may have actually saved her... This opossum came in skinny, and with an already existent infection on her back that had clearly been festering for some time. While she was feisty, she wasn't moving quickly, which is how she was likely caught by the dog. Looking at her ears, muzzle, and scars on her body it is very clear she has had a rough life.

Now at the center she is on her way to healing and being returned to the wild in better shape than before she was even attacked by the dog. It is likely that she will be with us until the spring, based on the severity of her injuries and infections, but we are happy to house her until she is ready to be returned to the wild.

Thank you to Maria of Maria Overlay Art for hosting her painting fundraiser to support our efforts to care for injured a...
10/09/2026

Thank you to Maria of Maria Overlay Art for hosting her painting fundraiser to support our efforts to care for injured and orphaned native wildlife! Her beautiful painting of our Barred Owl, Arya, now has a new home with Allison M. Thanks to Maria's fundraiser, $280 was raised to help wildlife in need!

Address

570 N 450 E
Valparaiso, IN
46383

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm
Saturday 8am - 4pm
Sunday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

(219) 299-8027

Website

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