See wildlife and run for a cause

And they’re off:
Young Run/Walk participants take off during the Shasta Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation fundraiser last year.

Sports enthusiasts, or those who just want to get outside and get some exercise, have the opportunity to get active while contributing to a good cause.

The Shasta Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation is hosting Run For the Wild fundraiser on Saturday, April 4, 2009 in the Anderson River Park.

The event includes 6-Mile Coyote Run and a 2-mile Walk/Rabbit-Run. The Hatchling Quarter-Mile is the children's version of the event, and is open for preschoolers through fifth grade students.

"It's for people who like to have exercise, have a good time, and see the beauty of the park and any wildlife that may be in the area," said wildlife rescue volunteer Karlene Stoker.

The wildlife center organizers encourage run/walk participants to dress up in a wildlife-related motif.

"Some people have come with rabbit ears and mouse ears, or a cat face and a tail," Stoker said "We try to make it fun too."

The walk run event serve as the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation's major fundraiser for the year.

The organization takes in sick, injured and orphaned wildlife from the area.

"We take them in and take care of them and release them back into the wild," Stoker said.

The rescue and rehabilitation center does not get federal funding, and relies solely on donations from memberships, fundraisers and the community.

Money raised from the walk run helps pay for food and suppolies for injured animals, formula and shelter for baby animals, sanitary items, utilities for the center and other costs required to allow the rescue and rehabilitation center work properly.

In addition to the run/walk, participants have the opportunity to tour the wildlife and rehabilitation center.

The center is open from mid-April to August or early September. When the center isn't open, volunteers take care of animals off-site.

The Run for Wild race and walk happens just before the center opens, and offers a once-a-year-opportunity to see the facility before baby season.

"Once the animals start coming in we cannot have people go past the reception area into the center for a tour," Stoker explained.

The baby shower and open house gives guests the opportunity to see what the center is all about. This includes seeing the animals the center has on hand for educational purposes, and learning about them from their handlers.

Overall, taking part in the Run for the Wild Race/Walk and the open house gives participants something to feel good about, Stoker said.

"They can have fun knowing that their money is definitely going to a worthwile cause giving the animals a second chance to survive out in the wild.

Run for the Wild Race/Walk

The 2- and 6-mile events begin at 8:30 a.m. and the quarter-mile run begins at 10 a.m. Registration by March 28th for adults is $20. Registration for persons under 18 years of age is $10. Late registration is an additional $5.

Run For The Wild entries are available at the Fleet Feet now located at 1376 Hilltop, at various workout places in Shasta County and at the shastawildliferescue.com, Sweatrc.com, RoadID.com websites.

Everyone is encouraged to dress in their favorite wild animal costume. For more information, visit www.shastawildliferescue.com, call 275-2816 or email liveoak4@com-pair.net.

Baby Shower for Orphaned Wildlife

Shasta Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation is having its seventh Baby Shower/Open House at the Center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 4 at Anderson River Park. Baby shower gifts will be given out to the first 50 children who arrive. If you would like to bring a baby shower gift to help the organization defray the cost of running the center, please call 917-0930 for a list of items such as paper towels, toilet paper, Science Diet dog/kitten food, ProPlan feline growth dry food, surgical gloves, heating pads, laundry soap, peanut butter, thistle and finch seed, etc.