8/7/13 - A new habitat exhibit at the Howell Nature and Conference Center was made possible after a successful fundraiser last month. The 9th annual Family Fishing Derby was held July 27th on the Portage-Zukey Chain of Lakes and raised a record $1,000 to support the construction of a new mink habitat at the nature center. Proceeds of the fundraiser will be added to other donations to fund the construction, which is needed to make way for a permanently injured saw-whet owl adopted from a licensed rehabilitator in Oregon. Because of the center's national reputation for handling birds of prey, officials say they were a logical choice for the placement. The tiny owl is well-suited to the existing mink habitat with minimal renovations. The mink will move to an expanded habitat that will include a larger, deeper pond for the mammal to catch fish. The new habitat will cost an estimated $2800,
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