Each year the Northwoods Wildlife Center treats between 800 and 1,000 wild animals, reptiles and birds.

The center is one of Minocqua's finest treasures, with staff, interns and volunteers dedicated to putting life back into wildlife since 1979.

June is a busy month.

"Most days in June it's 30 to 40 patients coming in every day," said Beth Burns, executive director.

With a permanent staff of just five, that's a lot ot handle.

Nonetheless the center is a fully operational wildlife hospital, which works with more than 100 species of wildlife.

"Our aim is to get them back into the wild. Right now our success rate is 70 to 75 percent, which is pretty darn good," Burns said.

Animals come from all over Wisconsin and neighboring states.

"We get them, we rehab them, we get them in a safe spot so they can recover safely with minimal attention from humans."

About 30 birds and wild animals live here permanently.

All of the permanent residents here have their own story to tell. Candy, the corn snake was found by a florist who was scared of her. She was brought here and now is used as an educational tool for children.

With the permanent residents it's impossible not to get attached. Just this spring a great horned owl that had been with the center since 1982 passed away.

But staff are careful not to imprint on animals that will go back home into the wild.

"You get a certain amount of distance and you know it's for their better interest to not get attached to them, and if you did.... there's a lot of death somedays," Burns said.

The non-profit is operational solely thanks to donations.

"It really is the kindness of people that keeps us open, which is a cool thing because then you realize people are really interested in keeping wildlife here."