Once per month, staff, interns, and volunteers vote for their favorite individual patient that was admitted and rehabilitated here at DCHS’s Wildlife Center. Nominations are collected and reviewed by our Werndli Apprentices, who keep track of the winners and name them “Patient of the Month.” This is a fun way to highlight the joy of caring for animals while also highlighting all of the effort and care that goes into our program from those who support us.
Toads deserve love too! And our American Toad #25-3028 received all the love when he was voted as December’s patient of the month! This little toad was found outside in freezing temps and was brought in to overwinter with our large crew of reptiles and amphibians. With just a small wound on his belly, likely from being in contact with the frozen ground, this toad was otherwise healthy and adorable! Volunteers and staff were delighted to comment on his win, with volunteer Cameron noting, “He’s a little gentleman. He loves to hide in his hidey-hut, and he loves small crickets!”
Lynnea Colbert was a 2025 Werndli Apprentice
2025 Patient of the Year is...
From the Patient of the Month, the Wildlife Center team votes for the Patient of the Year. Congratulations to American woodcocks 25-1342 and 25-1342 (photo at top of story), who were voted our 2025 Patients of the Year! These adorable little birds were voted Patients of the Month for June (story to the right). To get these orphans to eat, volunteers and interns would play the nasally "peent" call of an adult woodcock. Over the course of three months, these little balls of fluff searched for redworms and nightcrawlers in their dirt pans, slurping them up like noodles, and each eventually gained over 100 grams.
