Twin Harbors Wildlife Center (THWC) in Montesano began as a vision on paper by Dr. Sonnya Wilkins after being chosen as a Fellow for Partners 4 Wildlife in their 2018/19 inaugural year. The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine conceptualized the wildlife center for her fellowship project. But what started as a theoretical exercise quickly transformed into reality when Wilkins recognized the region’s urgent need for wildlife rehabilitation. She also knew of a wildlife center in McCleary that had closed years earlier amplifying the need.
“They were seeing over 2,000 animals per year when they closed, and that left a huge deficit in our area,” shares Wilkins, president, creator and co-founder of Twin Harbors Wildlife Center. “Before THWC opened, people would have to drive two to three hours to get help for injured and orphaned wildlife.”
Every animal at Twin Harbors Wildlife Center undergoes a tailored rehabilitation process. It begins with an intake appointment and a thorough examination. “Depending on why the animal was brought to us determines the next step,” says Amy Bledsoe, assistant rehabilitator and volunteer coordinator at Twin Harbors Wildlife Center. “If it is an orphaned baby with no injuries, then after the exam, it is set up in the appropriate indoor enclosure based on its size and needs.”
If the animal is injured or ill, further tests are performed. Care varies per species and treatments range from surgery and medication to cage rest or, in some cases, humane euthanasia. Once recovered from injuries or at the right size, animals are moved to larger outdoor enclosures to prepare for release back into the wild. Weather, season and time of day are critical to ensuring recovered wildlife can readjust to their environment with minimal stress.
“The goal of wildlife rehabilitation is to return recovered wildlife to their natural habitat as soon as they are capable of living independently,” explains Bledsoe. “Keeping patients wild is key, and while in our care we take every precaution to minimize human interaction with recovering patients.”
Local Wildlife Rehabilitation
Since opening in 2019, Twin Harbors Wildlife Center has treated more than 1,400 sick, injured and orphaned wild animals.
“Our top three mammal species each year are the eastern cottontail, eastern gray squirrel and the Virginia opossum,” shares Bledsoe, “These ones are always the top three each year,” she adds. “Our top two raptor species would be the bald eagle and the barred owl.”
Each animal’s story is unique. In July 2023, Twin Harbors Wildlife Center treated a bald eagle suffering injuries from a territorial fight from another eagle in Lacey. “This was our ninth bald eagle that year,” says Bledsoe. “He required six surgeries due to extensive injuries. While he was learning to fly again, a female eagle started perching outside of the flight pen and was constantly talking to him, and he was talking back.”
After several days, the bond between the eagles was apparent, and the female eagle would visit daily. “We’ve seen her visiting the wildlife center periodically over the past few years,” continues Bledsoe, “and she’s never had a mate with her.”
This love story had a happy conclusion when Twin Harbors Wildlife Center received permission from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services to release the rehabilitated eagle onto the wildlife center’s property so the two love birds could stay together. “She visited him on the day of the release,” shares Bledsoe, “at which time he was released, and they flew off together.”
In November 2023, another heart-felt case involved a female juvenile porcupine named Tipsy. Tipsy was observed repeatedly tipping over while walking. Wilkins took the animal to Tacoma for an MRI and learned she had cerebellar hypoplasia, a neurological condition affecting movement. “The center was given the approval to keep Tipsy for the rest of her natural life,” says Bledsoe. “Once our educational center is funded and built, along with Tipsy’s outdoor modified enclosure, the public will be able to schedule an appointment to come and see Tipsy to learn more about the wildlife in our area.”
Grays Harbor Wildlife Education & Community Collaboration
Twin Harbors Wildlife Center’s mission extends beyond rehabilitation to education and community collaboration. With no paid staff, volunteers are integral to running the center and take on roles ranging from feeding and baby care to fundraising and community outreach. A volunteer professional wildlife photographer and videographer document the center’s work. These efforts have led to the creation of a 2025 wildlife calendar (available for purchase) and training videos that enhance public understanding of Twin Harbors Wildlife Center’s mission.
“We have over 50 active volunteers,” says Wilkins. “We train and add volunteers year-round, as our volunteer orientation starts on our website. We have recently built a garden and are now growing a lot of our own vegetables to not only save money but to also offer the wildlife in our care organic, pesticide free, fresh food.”
Educational initiatives have already made an impact. Local Girl Scouts learned about non-toxic plants and foraging, while Boy Scouts built squirrel boxes and gained insights into squirrel behavior. “We hope to build an educational center within the next few years,” says Wilkins. “This will allow us to further our commitment to education and outreach, which is key to fostering a culture of empathy and respect for wildlife.” To learn more about the center and volunteer opportunities, or to donate, visit the Twin Harbors Wildlife Center website.
