The Adirondack Wildlife Refuge in Wilmington has been closed to visitors for nearly a year. This photo was taken in November 2021. (Provided photo — Emily Russell/North Country Public Radio)

The Adirondack Wildlife Refuge, a former wildlife rehabilitation refuge in Wilmington, is expected to open next week after nearly a year of being closed to the public.

While the refuge won’t legally be allowed to operate as a wildlife rehabilitation center anymore, new operators Kevin and Jackie Woodcock plan to continue the refuge’s educational efforts and rescue some animals that aren’t licensed by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

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Rehabilitation

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Adirondack Wildlife Refuge was largely a wildlife rehabilitation center under former owners Steve and Wendy Hall, until Wendy’s various licenses to keep and rehabilitate wild animals were ultimately either revoked or surrendered. Over the last few years, the DEC and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have reported numerous instances of non-compliance with state and federal regulations at the refuge, endangering Wendy’s special animal licenses. Wendy was denied renewal for many of those licenses, and she surrendered the last of her licenses with the DEC last summer, when the refuge closed to the public.

The DEC ordered the Halls to rehome the remainder of their DEC-licensed wild animals last fall. Wendy died of cancer in January.

The Woodcocks said in the refuge’s April newsletter that they won’t be doing wildlife rehabilitation right now, but that it hasn’t been ruled out for the future. The couple tried applying for a collect and possess license with the DEC, which would allow them to legally rescue and rehabilitate some wild animals, so they could revive the refuge, but the DEC denied their application. As of January, the Woodcocks said they weren’t sure if they’d reapply for DEC licenses in the future. The Woodcocks weren’t available for comment by press time Monday.

Kevin and Jackie said in January that they had a license to show USDA-licensed exotic and farm animals, and that they’d open up the refuge this spring with those animals “to teach the public about mankind and nature.” The Woodcocks wrote in the newsletter that they’re interested in rescuing farm animals and exotic animals formerly kept as pets.

“When animals are unwanted and abandoned, we will be the sanctuary that cares for them,” the Woodcocks wrote.

It was unclear as of press time Monday how many or what kind of animals are living at the refuge.

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Plans

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The Woodcocks wrote that education would remain their “top priority” at the refuge. Their newsletter outlines seven new programs for the refuge.

The couple advocates for pollinator conservation, and one of their programs focuses on educating people about bees, bats, butterflies and other fliers that are crucial to pollinating life on earth. The program includes the renovation of a 16-foot by 24-foot butterfly conservation house, according to the newsletter.

The Woodcocks also plan to construct a 50-foot by 50-foot maze with virtual reality elements that would teach people about how pollinators communicate.

Another project involves dismantling the refuge’s former bear enclosure and retrofitting the observation deck there to become an accessible bird watching tower. The couple also wants to make the refuge’s existing trails more accessible and add art installations there made out of recycled materials.

The couple is planning a couple of community outreach projects at the refuge, including all-expenses paid weekend trips to the refuge for three military families per year. The Woodcocks want to start a competition for kids, called the “Critter Camp Challenge,” who are involved in youth clubs like the YMCA or the Boys and Girls Club. Kids would write an essay to win a weekend trip to the refuge; three boys and three girls would be selected for two seperate weekend trips, according to the newsletter.

The newsletter also outlines a permaculture project planned for the refuge, which would educate people about composting, organic agriculture, water harvesting, natural building, soil enrichment, energy and waste management.

The refuge, located at 977 Springfield Road, is expected to open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 7. There’s also a celebration of Wendy’s life scheduled for May 21, when her ashes will be scattered at the refuge.