How Bucksport's Wildlife Rehab Uses Donated Leaves

While many homeowners in may Maine look at a lawn full of leaves as an annoyance, there are some folks in our state that look at the same lawn as essential material to be used for good, and they'd be happy to take those leaves and needles off your hands.

Animal rehabilitation facilities like the Critterville Wildlife Rehabilitation center in Bucksport could put those items to great use over the winter.

Needles and Leaves, Critterville Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

They are in need of of exactly what's falling on everyone's lawn at the moment; clean dry leaves and pine needles.

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If you bag them up and drop them off, they utilize those materials to help make animals feel more at home while they are rehabilitating.

"We need about 50 bags to last until next fall."

"They are used in our cages and enclosures to provide a more natural environment for our patients."

That's not all they're looking for. If you have any frozen game meats, chicken or fish that you're not going to use, any newspapers or any fleece blankets, they can also use those at the facility, as well.

The facility services animals from Bar Harbor north to Aroostook County, and is one of only 3 wildlife rehab centers licensed to take care of fawns.

They take care of all kinds of animals, from large birds or prey and gulls to reptiles, turtles and snakes, and of course, mammals.

So if you're heading outside this weekend to bag up all those leaves and needles, and get them out of your yard, remember there's a place in Eastern Maine that could take your trash and turn in into treasure for some local critters.

Organizers says you can drop off donations to their facility, in front of the barn, at 1198 River Road in Bucksport.

17 Wild Animals You Could See in Bangor

A young moose was seen munching on trees in the Bangor City Forest recently. Here are some other animals that are known to live in the Bangor city limits, particularly within the Bangor City Forest, a 600+-acre preserve in the city.

Gallery Credit: Scott Miller