Four Lakes Wildlife Center
Our Mission
Dane County Humane Society’s (DCHS) Four Lakes Wildlife Center (FLWC) is dedicated to providing responsible care for the ill, injured and orphaned wildlife of south central Wisconsin, and to promoting education and awareness of the crucial role of wildlife in our community.
Our History
FLWC, a program of DCHS, was founded in 2002 by David Madden, former animal care director at DCHS, and Patrick Comfert, a local licensed wildlife rehabilitator. In the inaugural season, the fledgling wildlife program received over 200 patients.
After the first summer’s influx of wildlife, the program began recruiting volunteers to help care for the wildlife patients that found their way through the doors daily. Grants and donations helped to make many improvements possible during the second year, and community volunteers pitched in to help build outdoor cages.
With the outpouring of community support and an excited team of volunteers, the wildlife program progressed into its third season. The number of volunteers became large enough to care for a wider variety of animals, and to keep the wildlife center’s doors open from morning to night.
With the support of the community, each year the wildlife program continues to improve the facilities and the level of care they are able to provide their wild patients. To this day, FLWC wildlife caretaker volunteers provide the majority of the animal care. FLWC is wrapping up its 11th year after caring for nearly 3,000 wild animals in need. Like many of the animals cared for at FLWC, the program has room to grow and the future is very promising.
Have you found a baby animal? Click on the links below to find out if they need our help!
I found a baby mammal (other than a bunny).
If you find a sick or injured wild animal, please call FLWC at (608) 838-0413 ext. 151 for further instructions. Capturing injured wildlife can be dangerous if not done correctly. If possible to safely contain the animal before calling FLWC, please do so by placing a cardboard box or laundry basket over the animal without touching it.
Can you provide a quiet home to care for wildlife babies while they grow?
FLWC sends hundreds of wild baby mammals into foster care when they are still needing to be formula fed from a syringe and we need lots of help to be sure these babies grow up healthy, strong and wild! If you are interested in or would like futher information about this unique opporunity, please e-mail Brooke Lewis, Wildlife Rehabilitation Supervisor, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or complete and return the application below.
Can you provide a protected release site for our patients?
An important part of the rehabilitation process is releasing the animal in an area with proper habitat and protection from some of the dangers they face to give them the best chance possible to be successful. When possible, we like for animals to go back to the area they came from, but sometimes that is not an option. If you own a rural parcel of land and you would like it to become home to some of the wildlife who have been cared for at FLWC, please download the application and return it to our office.
Wildlife Release Site Application
What is Wildlife Rehabilitation? Click to HERE to learn more!
Interested in an internship?
FLWC offers unpaid internships for college students and recent graduates. Applications for 2013 summer internships are no longer being accepted. Applications are being accepted for fall internships until July 1, 2013. To apply, send a cover letter and resume to Jackie Edmunds, Wildlife Rehabilitation Coordinator, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Thank you for caring about Wisconsin's Wildlife!
