CRITTER CAMP

It’s no secret to ferret owners that these adorable little animals possess a magic that often leads them to opening their minds and hearts to a wide variety of unexpected things in life. When they move into your home, they burrow their way into your soul, and they bring with them love. So much love, in fact, that it changes you. It changes your idea of what a home could be. Should be. A sanctuary. A place of love. Never has this been more true than in the case of Beth Randall, owner and operator of a one of a kind exotic pet rescue, The Critter Camp, in German Valley, Illinois. It was founded upon the love of two foundling ferrets! Life has never been the same for Beth and her family ever since … and fortunately for anyone else who has passed through their doorway.

Beth, mother of two gifted daughters and two sons, has always enjoyed the company of pets in her life. But one day, she took in a little ferret rescue named Anastasia along with her friend Ferri, and they danced their way into her heart changing them forever. Once the family had gone beyond a menagerie of mainstream pets, then people started calling about other exotic animals they came upon in need assuming Beth could help. “This little one was abandoned and I don’t know what to do, nobody will take him. Can you help?” Knowing that no place existed that would take in such unusual animals, Beth found herself unable to say no. Word quickly spread. Later there were knocks at the door from curious people. “Can I pet the fennec fox?” “Can I see your ferret room?” The numbers of rescues quickly increased, so the family made the decision to do rescue work officially and became licensed. The facility offers a safe haven to the unwanted, homeless, sick and/or unadoptable, but also tries to be so as a last resort. They work hard to find a way to re-home potential residents before they come to live with Beth.

When lost little souls do find their way to the Critter Camp they find themselves in a unique place indeed. They are given the best of housing, first-rate vet care (sometimes on site), up to twenty volunteers and staff members to tend to them, and as much individual attention and love as Beth and her family can muster. Best of all Critter Camp shares their expertise in exotic animal care and advocacy with the community. When ever there is opportunity, Critter Camp provides educational presentations to local areas. Hands on tours are regularly offered several times a week to the public. And that is quite a memorable experience for most.

After an introduction to the facility outside and preparation, folks are invited in for a tour. First they see Shadow the arctic marble fox on the way to the barn. The barn houses what looks like guinea pig heaven, bunnies happily hopping around, and more. In the upstairs apartment where one of her daughters lives, they get to visit the iguanas, bearded dragons and other lizards. Afterwards they make way to the main home where each and every room is a sanctuary dedicated to a different species. Upon entering the main part of the facility, which is also Beth’s home, people are greeted by excited animals wagging their tails such as dogs, cats, and a favorite character named, Flash, the fennec fox. The sounds of voices and songs from various parrots fill the home. The tour is a very intimate experience. People get to experience the gentleness of the beardies, play peek-a-boo with a Macaw named Jackson, cuddle a degu, touch an adorable sugar glider, ooo and ah over kinkajous, admire tortoises and snakes, and feel everything from the soft skin of a hairless rat to the prickles of a hedgehog. Beth describes the grand finale, the ferret room which gives over two dozen ferrets a free range setting, with glee, “I warn people of poo near the door and we all go in. I also warn of any that may be hiding in sleep sacks on the floor (we keep them away from the door though) and I pick up a few ferrets for them to hold and play with. I also lock up Karma. She is our only biter (poor girl she was living in a homeless person’s car with them when they decided she needed a better life and brought her here!). I clean up stray poo while they enjoy the ferrets. Then we go back downstairs and do hand sanitizer, I answer more questions and give them informational handouts. Of course all along the way I tell them about each animal. Where they are from in the wild, how long they’ve been pets here in the U.S., if they make good pets, the care they need, etc.”

By keeping her fingers on the pulse of the local community and the exotic pet community at large, she is able to draw support offered from as far away as Singapore. Today, Critter Camp is home to over 240 animals of 30 different species. They’ve had to stop taking in ferrets, however because of a lack of space. But there is a very bright future for this haven, and because of the worldwide support, Critter Camp is very close to realizing its dream. A one of kind stand alone facility is currently slated to be built. Beth has meticulously made sure that all her ducks are in a row and everything is ready to go for when this phenomenal new facility is finished. But there is still much to be accomplished financially. Despite the obstacles ahead, Beth enthusiastically states, “a building contractor and labor are already completely donated. We just need a sponsor or major contributor to get the ball rolling!” The building which can house as many as 665 residents will be “green”, meaning it will leave a minimal footprint in the environment. The ferret room will be built to optimize the most hygienic/sterile environment as possible for the ferrets while also providing all the comforts of home with multi level cages, ferret condos, toys, bedding, hideouts, and a plexiglass wall for viewing set back by guard rails on the outside to keep visitors from disturbing the animals. To see the blueprints, plans, and details about amazing one of kind “Green” building in the making, see http://www.crittercamp.biz/SanctuaryPlans.html .

It’s beyond imagination that just two, tiny, little furry clowns started it all. And who inspired what is to come. Beths’ daughter, Cassandra, who is the main caregiver of the ferrets muses about that fact, “While I love all of them, and make a point to give each ferret attention, the first ferret we took in will always hold a special place in my heart.”

http://www.crittercamp.biz/index.html — Critter Camp Web Site
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMgC2PDeEHQ — Life at Critter Camp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mxs2nAp7kqw — Ferret room
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICBPqfuHrwQ – Staff Tribute
http://www.youtube.com/user/CritterCampMom — Main YouTube site