Lisa Franco has always had a love for animals, but when she joined the staff of Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, she was able to foster that love into a career. Franco is the Director of Development at Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, a non-profit organization with the goal of caring for and rehabilitating injured wild animals and educating the public through various programs.

The refuge is located on a 171-acre plot of land near the outskirts of the Pinelands in Medford, N.J., with over three miles of trails to explore. The main attraction for visitors is the wildlife housing area, where they can get a rare chance to see a variety of local wildlife that were injured and are now cared for by Cedar Run. 

As a non-profit, the group is funded mostly by individual donations, with grants from other organizations as well. While only 12 people are on their full-time staff, the group is supported by hundreds of volunteers that help care for the animals. 

“You would be surprised, people who live here in Medford, they’ve lived here their whole lives and they still have no idea that we exist,” Franco said. “So the more people who know about us and know that we are a free resource, the more the wildlife are going to get benefits.”

Wildlife Hospital

Many of the volunteers help with Cedar Run’s wildlife hospital, one of only 18 in the state licensed to care for injured wildlife. The nonprofit now cares for more than 6,300 injured animals a year, from baby birds and squirrels to deer and turkey vultures.

A majority of the animals brought to the wildlife hospital are from people across the state who have found a sick or injured animal and brought them in to be assisted. Workers will then set up an indoor enclosure for the animals and give them food, water, and medication depending on what their needs are. As the team continues to care for the animals, they also test their ability to get back in the wild, the timing of which varies between species.

“We have some animals that are inside the hospital and then as they kind of work their way back out into nature,” said volunteer Kristin Groark. “We have outdoor enclosures to help them get used to the temperature and being back outside.”

Wildlife Housing Area

At the reserve, visitors can take a tour of Cedar Run’s wildlife housing area and see their “animal ambassadors,” permanent residents of the refuge that cannot be released to the wild due to certain injuries or habituations. Some animals include Jesse the red-tailed hawk, one of the oldest residents; Ember the red fox, a new resident with a spacious new enclosure thanks to close to $75,000 of fundraising; and Crogin the friendly fish crow, who will mimic and greet anyone with a squawk, saying “hi”.

Residents are cared for by the employees and volunteers of Cedar Run, who are committed to giving them a fulfilling life with large enclosures, a nutritious diet, and enrichment activities to keep them busy and playful.

Many of these animals were brought in due to human-related causes such as littering, automobile accidents, and habitat loss. Loss of these habitats can impact the carbon cycle, as animals play a key role in controlling the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere through processes like foraging, seed dispersal, and nutrient deposition.

Volunteering and Donating

Interested in helping out? Go to Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge’s website to sign up for an information session. No experience is required, but volunteers must be 16 years or older. Looking to donate? Check their list of ways to give. 

For updates on Cedar Run’s upcoming events, check the organization’s calendar or join its Facebook page.