Many Of Our Community Members Want To Know How They Can Help

Wildlife 2nd Chance Wildlife Rescue was founded in 2010 by Crenna Blevins, a wildlife enthusiast who recognized the need for a dedicated rescue and rehabilitation in our community following the tragic oil spill that happened in 2010 in the Kalamazoo River here in our local community of Marshall Michigan. 

The Kalamazoo River oil spill occurred in July 2010 when a pipeline operated by Enbridge (Line 6B) burst and flowed into Talmadge Creek, a tributary of the Kalamazoo River near Marshall, Michigan. A 6-foot (1.8 m) break in the pipeline resulted in one of the largest inland oil spills in U.S. history (the largest was the 1991 spill near Grand Rapids, Minnesota[1]). The pipeline carries diluted bitumen (dilbit), a heavy crude oil from Canada's Athabasca oil sands to the United States.[2] Cleanup took five years.[3] Following the spill, the volatile hydrocarbon diluents evaporated, leaving the heavier bitumen to sink in the water column. Thirty-five miles (56 km) of the Kalamazoo River were closed for clean-up until June 2012, when portions of the river were re-opened.  Full story can be viewed by opening the external link:  Kalamazoo River oil spill - Wikipedia  

Unfortunately, the damages done to the water source effected the wildlife habitat of the Kalamazoo water basin - From the fish, and frogs, turtles, and numerous species of waterfowl ~ ducks & geese, songbirds and birds of prey, Owel's, hawks and the like were all tragically effected by the oil spill contamination. Opossums, racoons, muskrats, fox, deer and yes even coyotes were heavily affected by the habitat destruction and heavy equipment used to clean up the toxic waist

New to Wildlife rescue, Crenna met up with other rescues and rescue workers who donated their time and supplies working on the project. 

Many of the animals had to be washed and rinsed by hand. Nursed back to health and released when rehabilitated.

Crenna fell in love with helping animals have a second chance at life, and continued on apprenticing under one of the local state licensed wildlife rescues.

After Crenna acquired the skills and training necessary, and her study of the State Of Michigan Department Of Natural Resorces (DNR) guidelines and ethics, Crenna followed the proper steps in acquiring the proper licensing and permits for taking in wildlife.

Since then, we have rescued and rehabilitated thousands of animals from all over the region. 

Crenna's Wildlife's 2nd chance rescue has become a valuable asset, known to the local community of wildlife enthusiast and law enforcement offices here in Michigan & has continued on in giving wounded wildlife medical care, and more commonly, giving orphaned babies a temporary adopted home and care following the mother's untimely death often due to roadside accidents, as well as other side effects of human interactions. 

Springtime baby season is our busiest time of the year as you can imagine. Similar wildlife enthusiast who want to help out, often donate their time in trade for the experience of working up close to the wildlife needing care. 

Just Saying - Volunteers are always appreciated around this time of year!

Many of the animals that are brought to our little sanctuary are nursed to health, or in case of the orphaned babies - are nursed to the age they can start being independent ~ These little ones are soft released on our property. 

"Soft Release" is where the enclosure is opened, and the animal can choose to leave on its own, however food and water is readily available for them as they truly adapt to accepting and embracing their individual journey, their 2nd chance into wildlife!

We are committed to providing the best possible care for every animal that comes through our doors.

That being said ~ It is important for everyone to understand that we are not miracle workers!

All too often we get a mangled animal often due to vehicle impact or perhaps an animal with damages done by other wildlife predatorial animals who sustain their own life by hunting and preying upon those lower in the food chain, or perhaps a Houshold dog or cat that mulled some animal in their yard! 

It happens! 

Sometimes these animals do have a second chance, and we will help them if we can! 

MANY DO NOT GET THAT SECOND CHANCE!  

Sometimes the animals taken in are just under too much shock or trauma for them to continue on living. We provide the most peaceful surrounding we can for their passing!

When we make the statement: 

"We are committed to providing the best possible care for every animal that comes through our doors"

Sometimes the best care for that animal and always our last resort for that animal's care, is to be what we call mercy dispatched or euthanized! 

We endeavor to make our website as transparent and as informative as we can!

The majority of the wildlife care is out of pocket as we are not a large facility! 

Many of our community members have found that they can help in a small way by donating monetarily directly to the care of an animal dropped off into our care. 

Other individuals enjoy making a purchase through our posted Amazon list of needed items that get shipped directly to our sanctuary address:

Wildlife's Second Chance Resue

6324 Baseline Rd 

Bellevue MI 49021  

Links will be added in the near future to this website. 

As for now this website is new as we enter the 2025 season and still under construction!

Our love for animals extends beyond just caring for wildlife.

Besides Wildlife rescue, we have a small 10-acre property that is home to many animals. 

We have our dogs, cats ~ WE ARE NOT A DOMESTIC ANIMAL RESCUE OR SHELTER! 

We do work with other local rescues in our local area and can help with the communication and networking. We will add the automated information to this website soon!

We have some exotic animals in our care and too many Barnyard farm animals to name ~ many are rescue animals as well!

For photos and more information about animals in our care ~ Please see the site navigation tab buttons below!

Crenna Blevins-Epler along with her Husband Jeremiah Epler, married on the sanctuary property in 2020. 

Together they have adopted 3 special needs handicap children that also need constant care!

We add this little information in here simply because many individuals call our rescue with expectations of critter removal or extraction from property! 

Our rescue is not a critter or pest removal service, nor can we just leave our home to come rescue animals at the drop of a request! 

Our children are handicap and it's one thing to offer these animals care as we do proper intake on our property ~ It's another thing for the "expectation" for us to load up 3 handicap children and do an extraction of an animal or to come get an animal! 

In most cases through communication with Crenna, our community of wildlife enthusiast are able to bring the wildlife subjects to our location!

Sometimes under certain circumstance, assistance off site can be scheduled when Crenna's husband is available off duty from his day job. 

For photos and more information about animals in our care ~ Please see the site navigation tab buttons below!