Why the Wildlife Rehab Center No Longer Admits Animals at 1504 Union Ave NE

Updated

The Wildlife Rehab Center (WRC) stopped admitting animals at 1504 Union Ave NE in Grand Rapids, MI because the organization retired along with its founders, Peg and Roger Markle. The site states plainly that animals will no longer be admitted at that address. The decision followed Roger Markle's serious 2022 accident in the barn; he recovered, but the event made clear it was time for the Markles to retire, and WRC retired with them.

What changed at the Grand Rapids location

For more than 30 years, WRC operated as a reliable resource for injured and orphaned wildlife in the Grand Rapids community. It grew to rescue over 4,000 animals a year, all on a one-acre urban property at the founders' residence.

The site now carries two clear notices:

  • Animals will no longer be admitted at 1504 Union Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI.
  • Wildlife help is still a click away through a new organization.

The closure is framed as bittersweet: the founders dedicated their lives and their home to hundreds, and eventually thousands, of wild animals, and the organization's legacy is described as a reminder that every life deserves a second chance.

Where to get wildlife help now

WRC's volunteers and rehabilitators pledged to continue the rescue work through a new organization, described on the site as WRC's "daughter" center: the West Michigan Wildlife Center.

  • Phone: 616-361-6109
  • The site directs visitors to follow the West Michigan Wildlife Center for ongoing wildlife help.

If you found an animal and were heading to Union Ave

Do not bring the animal to 1504 Union Ave NE — it will not be admitted there. Instead, contact the West Michigan Wildlife Center at 616-361-6109 before transporting anything, so you can confirm whether they can take the animal and get instructions for handling it in the meantime.

Why the site still matters

The page is less a service listing now and more a record of the organization's history and a handoff to its successor. It credits volunteers, donors, and supporters for making the work possible, and it keeps the founders' mission visible even though the original center has closed.