The Wildlife Science Center, a wildlife research and education facility in Columbus Township, has received the prestigious Silver Eagle Award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Serviceís Great Lakes-Big River Region. Deputy Regional Director Charles Wooley presented the award to the Wildlife Science Center Director Peggy Callahan during a ceremony on Oct. 5, at the center.Recognizing people and organizations that have made an impressive contribution to wildlife conservation and management, the Silver Eagle Award is the highest honor given by the Serviceís Great Lakes-Big River Region.
ìThis award honors the Wildlife Science Center for its larger contribution to wolf contribution,î Wooley said. ìFor if it werenít for facilities like this, we would not be in a position to propose removing the gray wolf from the Endangered Species list in the first place.î
The Wildlife Science Center has been a key contributor to wolf conservation in the Midwest. Established as a federally-funded wolf research facility, the center houses 37 gray wolves and 10 red wolves, using these captive wolves as educational tools and assisting state and federal environmental agencies in the United States and Canada by accepting animals that would otherwise be destroyed.
The center is involved in the captive breeding program for the Mexican gray wolf and the red wolf as well as the eastern population of gray wolves, which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed to remove from the Endangered Species List.
The center also conducts training for wildlife biologists and is involved in wolf research. The centerís primary goal is to provide education programs for students from kindergarten through high school.
In addition to more than 40 wolves, the Wildlife Science Center is also home to raptors, bobcats, black bears and gray fox.
On July 16, the Wildlife Science Center provided the setting for Interior Secretary Gale Nortonís announcement of the Fish and Wildlife Serviceís proposal to delist the Eastern population of the gray wolf.
ìNot the least of these contributions was the extraordinary effort in partnering with us on the announcement of the proposed delisting of the wolf in July,î Wooley said. ìThe Wildlife Science Centerís contributions of their grounds, staff and volunteer time to set up for and execute the event are among the reasons they were honored.î
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