By Chelsea Meyer
Rock River Current
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DURAND — Did you know that Hoo Haven has rescued more than 140 bald eagles?

That is one of the many facts you will learn at the wildlife rehabilitation center’s free ice cream social from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. tonight.

If you’re an owl lover, or just wildlife lover in general, you and your family can come up and close to bald eagles, owls, foxes and other North American wildlife all while enjoying free soft serve ice cream and children’s activities.

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Hoo Haven is the only wildlife facility within 80 miles with a hospital on site, indoor aquatics center on site, and a flight pen facility to help to rehabilitate and release sick, injured and orphaned North American wildlife.

“It’s really important that the Rockford area comes and sees what we are doing with only their donations. We get no state or government funding,” said Donald Czyzyk, director of marketing and public relations at Hoo Haven.

On top of free soft serve ice cream, Hoo Haven will also have free self-guided tours of all the animals and a kids campfire story time.

“The people that donate are the ones that are making it possible for us to save bald eagles, making it possible for us to rescue pelicans that are injured and get them back to Florida. So it’s really important that people come out and see what we’re doing with their donations,” Czyzyk said. “That’s what it’s all about. We get no government or state funding, so it’s really important for us to give back and to host free events and let people see what they’re giving to.”

Hoo Haven is located at 10823 Cleveland Road, Durand.

Know before you go

What: Hoo Haven ice cream social

Where: Hoo Haven, 10823 Cleveland Road, Durand

When: 5-7 p.m. Thursday, July 14

More information: See the event listing on Facebook HERE.

This article is by Chelsea Meyer. Email her at chelsea@b103fm.com.