With enough funding TWRC’s biggest goal is to build a state-of-the-art and eco-friendly treatment facility that will include office space and a meeting room. With best practices in mind, we aim to create a facility that will allow us to safely treat the many different species of animals that will come to us and be as ecologically responsible as we can while doing so.

Since this facility will be used for humans as well as animals, it will have to be connected to the Driggs city water and sewer systems. Once it’s constructed TWRC will be able to care for animals year-round and once they’re released give them the best chances of survival.

An ideal building would have a designated administrative area allowing for a separation between human and animal related activities. A two-story facility would allow for that arrangement. The upper story would be allocated to only human activities and would have a separate access through an outdoor stairway. A perfect way to properly take advantage of the magnificent location that TWRC is proud to call its home, would be for the new facility to have a porch facing the Tetons.

Facility wish list:

• Animal intake station:

An intake station would include a place where people who find an animal in need and are able to transport it safely can bring it in, without disturbing other patients. With proper procedures in place, they would fill out an intake form and the animal would then be transferred to the proper facility dependent upon its condition. An ideal intake room would also allow staff to interact with people and give them information and educational materials that support our mission.

• Examination room:

An examination room would include space for an examination table, a washing station, storage space for linen, crates and medical equipment and a setup for the use of x-ray and ultrasound equipment.

Ideally this room would have two doors- in case an animal needs to be isolated and should not be brought into an area where other animals are held.

• Laboratory room:

In this room samples (stool, blood etc.) could be examined and properly stored. This room will be equipped with sampling equipment and storage space, including refrigerated storage.

The goal is to have a washing station as well as access to safe disposal, to ensure a safe and hygienic work environment and to minimize chances for cross contamination.

• Animal care area:

Lined with storage cupboards, washing and food preparation stations and tables for cages and crates, in this room small cages will be housing animals in need of constant care. Ideally this area would have at least two zones that would allow a separation of mammals and birds.

• Isolation room:

Animals that might be carrying infectious diseases would be treated separately. This room should have a separate access so that cross contamination doesn’t occur. It is also important that it have a separate wash station and access to separate disposal of equipment and refuse. This room may also be used for animals that cause too many disturbances such as noise or exhibit aggressive behavior.

• Laundry room:

This room should also be accessed from the outside as well as from within the building since it will serve animals treated indoors, but also linen coming from the outdoor enclosures. For hygiene purposes, it will be best if dirty laundry from different parts of the facility does not bring about any cross contamination. An added aspect of having external access is to allow easy access to clothing lines that will be used weather allowing, in order to conserve energy and allow for disinfection by sunshine. Waste disposal will also be easier and more hygienic.

• Administrative area:

This area will include the following:

- Executive directors’ office

- Operations and Development director’s office

- Board room- this room can be used as a volunteer gathering area as well as a place where seminars and other educational activities can be delivered.

- Kitchenette

- On-call room for staff needing to be available for round the clock treatments

- Porch with view

- Fully equipped bathroom with shower

As we at TWRC strive to offer injured and orphaned animals a second chance at life, we need proper facilities to maintain our activities. TWRC’s property is ripe for development and the association aims to become as self-sufficient as possible. By developing a biodynamic infrastructure TWRC can achieve not only a significant reduction in animal feeding costs, but also reduce its environmental impact on the community we share with our human neighbors. A biodynamic facility would permit self-sustainability and environmental responsibility that would be a shining example for our local community.

For the next stage in TWRC’s development, our aim is to continue developing its facilities, landscaping its property and reducing operating costs, making the center more viable.

TWRC’s immediate goals for development:

• Animal Enclosures:

Construction of additional enclosures is key to helping more animals in need. The goal is to create low impact, low maintenance facilities, always using as many locally sourced materials as possible and supporting local businesses.

With our biodynamic ideas in mind, TWRC aims to build enclosures that will be as easy to maintain as possible. Depending on available resources, we will invest in Best Available Technology (BAT) solutions to animal care needs, maintenance considerations and ease of use.

• Water infrastructure:

Improvement of the water infrastructure on the property means running water to all the enclosures, which is essential to animal care. The initial goal is to connect them to water tanks that will allow the flow and recycling of water, which will reduce the costs of upkeep to the water tanks, cut down on labor and allow animals access to fresh running water.

In bird enclosures TWRC would like to install water lines with specially designed spigots that allow the birds to drink at will, a solution that significantly reduces water consumption. In those enclosures bird baths will also be installed and the hope is to create them like fountains so that the water can flow constantly, keeping it fresh and lowering the cost and labor of upkeep, while allowing the water to be recycled.

An upgraded water system will also allow for a biodynamic landscape project of planting fruit bearing trees and shrubs and vegetable gardens.

• Landscaping plan for the property as a self-sustaining and biodynamic facility:

Animal feed costs account for a very significant portion of TWRC’s operating budget, despite donations of throw-away food. Moreover, although commercial food can sustain animals, many patients need specific sources of nutrition. At TWRC we believe that introducing animals to their natural food sources leads to better care and eventual ability to integrate back into the wild. This is especially true with young animals since in essence, TWRC’s staff are surrogate parents for the orphaned wildlife it takes under its wings. Teaching a young animal how to forage for food on their own increases its chances for survival in the wild. Unfortunately, natural growing food is generally costly or can only be obtained by staff foraging for it.

By planting locally viable fruit-bearing trees and shrubs (e.g. chokecherries, Hawthorns, Service berries etc.), we can provide some of the animals with their natural food sources. Since these trees grow locally, once they take root they will not need to be watered, which further promotes TWRC’s sustainability plan. In addition, the plan is to create a vegetable garden and greenhouses, as additional sources of food to reduce expenditures as well as to reduce TWRC’s carbon footprint and increase self-sustainability.

After consulting with local nurseries, the cost of planting and installing 10 fruit bearing trees is approximately $5,000 that includes the cost of a mechanical excavator and labor costs necessary to plant in TWRC’s rocky property. This estimate does not cover the cost of an irrigation system necessary to maintain “balled and burlapped” (BnB) young trees. It is hoped that in the coming years funds will be found for garden beds and greenhouses as well.

• Worm farm:

Most of the songbirds and some of the mammals treated need a steady diet of worms. A worm farm on the property would further reduce TWRC’s food budget and increase it’s ability to be self-sustaining.

• Mice breeding program:

Our goal is to live capture and breed some of the plentiful field mice on the property to maintain a natural food source for many of the mammalian patients. During the summer of 2022 most of the food budget was spent on purchasing mice from lab-mice breeding programs. TWRC’s own breeding program is a positive investment in a future of self-sustainability and will provide animals with a natural source of food that is readily available.

• Planting evergreen trees on the edge of the property:

Evergreen trees surrounding the property will provide a natural barrier that will shield the animals from the ever-developing surroundings. They will also provide natural shade, serve as a wind buffer and once completely grown, provide sources of enrichment to the animals. The cost of installation is similar to that of the aforementioned BnB fruit trees.