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Photo Credit: Laurie Pocher
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This spring and summer were the most difficult season in all of our 30 years. Anecdotally we see
challenges to local wildlife mounting such as a changing climate, domestic cats, and housing pressures causing injury and illness. A quick analysis of our data over the past two years confirms and reveals the top reasons for admission by percentages were:
- 51% car collisions
- 22% building/ development
- 16% domestic pets
- 4% direct and intentional harm
- 2% oil and pollution
- 5% natural causes
Although the injuries are glaringly caused by humans, it is YOU, our community that are calling our hotline about how to safely corral the 10 ducklings running confused because their mother was hit by a car. Or the volunteer that drives to New Jersey to release the chimney swift fledglings that missed their migration window. Or the local family that doubled their contribution to help fund our increased services.
As the daytime sunlight wanes and the orphaned animal caseload subsides, we turn our focus to strategic goals, updating protocols, educational programming and workshops, and of course the longer term and intensive medical treatment for the adult patients we will receive all fall and winter. If you haven't had a chance to support our efforts this year, click below to help replenish reserves lost during our unprecedented season. We truly couldn't do it without you!
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Announcing our Newly Designed Website
What?? Yes that's right, we have a newly designed website. Its been over a decade since the last update, and thanks to countless donated hours and expertise from our Development Coordinator, Emma, and her husband Roque Balina we have a new website that showcases our beautiful and professional work.
Click here to explore! Some of the new and exciting features include:
*Feel free to
email us and let us know what you think!
Tea for 2...or just 1
Speaking of websites and social media, we just have to share one of the best posts we've had on social media. We had a post this summer about co-existing with wildlife, and featured the several woodchuck patients that we had admitted that had been trapped and were dehydrated, emaciated, and on the brink of death. Our tips included putting a radio where unwanted mammals are nesting, putting out ammonia soaked rags, and types of fencing to use. The response was overwhelming, and here's the best feedback/response we got:
"We named ours! We only planted things in our garden that they won't eat. We decided to co-exist and now I love it when he visits. He gets an occasional groundhog-approved treat.... And sometimes a tea party."
Cheers to co-existence, and if you ever have questions on living peacefully among your wild neighbors please do not hesitate to call our Wildlife Assistance Hotline at 207-361-1400.
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Hello and Farewell
Erin Burns
It is with bittersweet emotion that we bid farewell to our longtime staff member Erin Burns. She is heading to Montana with her husband, and we are so excited for her to begin this new journey though we will miss her so! Erin came to Center for Wildlife in 2008 as a volunteer while attaining her B.S. of science in Biology. In the spring of 2011, Erin accepted a position as a Senior Intern at CFW, learning more about wildlife medical care and case management, and just as importantly leading, teaching, training, and guiding the many volunteers and interns to provide supportive care. Because of her background in science and ecology, and excellent teamwork and leadership skills we gladly offered Erin the Wildlife Specialist/Volunteer and Intern Coordinator position as soon as it opened up in 2012.
Some of Erin's best attributes are her positivity, patience, and passion for wildlife and the environment. Balancing care for so many patients, leading a shift of non-paid staff, while fielding up to 40 calls per day is no small feat, and Erin handled all of this pressure with grace. In her time at Center for Wildlife she has implemented and achieved:
- Intern housing interview check-list and site visit protocol
- Monthly volunteer and intern workshops with our veterinarian in residence and professional staff
- Obtained the International Wildlife Rehabilitator Council's certification (she was the only one with this certification in the entire state of Maine)
- Sought out professional development and attended conferences like the National Wildlife Rehabilitator's conference, and NH Loon Preservation Society workshops
Erin has a wonderful sense of humor, a great work ethic, and works very well in a team. She is excellent with the public, has compassion for others, and is always willing to "pitch in". We are excited for Erin to begin this next chapter of her life, and will always count her in the Center for Wildlife family. We've enjoyed following her cross country adventures already!
True to form, Erin left with communication to her volunteer and intern team
"It has been such a pleasure to work with all of you, and being the Volunteer & Intern Coordinator is my favorite part of the job. I love meeting new people all the time, and connecting with each and every one of our amazing and unique volunteers, interns, and apprentices. Although it's sad, and a little scary, to leave my home, family, and friends, I'm very excited about the adventure ahead, and appreciate all the support from my CFW family. Thank you everyone for 8 amazing years, and I promise to keep in touch and stay involved in CFW from afar!"
Farewell Erin, we love you!!
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Diana Dumais
We are delighted to welcome Diana Dumais to the Wildlife Specialist/ Volunteer & Intern Coordinator role. Diana just completed the 12-month Wildlife Care Apprenticeship in our medical clinic, and before that she served as a volunteer and intern in clinic for over 2 years. In all of her positions she quickly displayed her natural leadership and mentoring skills, along with her incredible passion for wildlife, empathy for those that need care, and dedication to learning appropriate care for the 190 different species that we treat.
Diana received a B.A. in Clinical Psychology from Keene State College in 2000 and an M.A. in Sociology from the University of New Hampshire in 2006. She spent the next eight years working as an Outreach Specialist for a non-profit community mental health center. In this role, she assisted adults from ages 18-80 with managing symptoms of severe mental illnesses while navigating all aspects of independent community living. While Diana's educational and career path led to work in human services, she always dreamed of working with animals and she decided to finally begin pursuing that dream by volunteering at Center for Wildlife.
Diana's passion combined with her short and long-term project management, attention to detail, strong work ethic, and other qualities make her the perfect candidate for this role. She obtained her wildlife rehabilitation license earlier this year, and is excited to put her experience and passion to work healing our patients and taking our clinic volunteer and intern programs to the next level.
Click here
to learn more about Diana, and be sure to tell her congrats if you see her in the clinic or at an event!
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Artemis
We are ecstatic to give the public the first glance at our newest member to our education ambassador team, this gorgeous Northern saw whet owl! She was transferred to our facility from our partners at Tufts Wildlife Clinic and while it is a difficult and in depth process to decide to make an animal a non releasable ambassador, we are honored to be able to provide this beautiful bird
with sanctuary, a loving home, expert medical care, and the opportunity for thousands of individuals to connect with him and learn about his species. She is settling in so well, and loves walks with her new friends on the glove, along with "talking" back and forth with her lovely trill. Welcome Artemis!
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Maine Beer Company
In memory of Opal
Earlier this summer, we were able to bring Opal to meet the staff and brewers at our 1% for the Planet business sponsor Maine Beer Company's tasting room. They all fell in love with her silver fur, pink nose, and gentle persona. When it was time for Beer V in their hop beer season, we were honored that they chose Opal and her story to grace the label. Although Opal passed before the beer was released, they were delighted to share Opal's story and keep the beer in her honor. Thousands of individuals have learned about Opal and Virginia opossums as a result. Cheers to your memory, sweet Opal!
Visit to CFW
Maine Beer Company has been supporting our work through 1% for the Planet since 2014. Through their funding we have been able to help thousands of wild animals and reach thousands of community members. We were so excited when several of their staff, brewers, and owner David Kleban visited Center for Wildlife last month. If you haven't tried their beer yet, be sure to raise a glass to a company that chooses to "Do What's Right"!
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Empowering and Enriching
The Messenger: Songbirds as a Barometer for Environmental Health
Last week, we presented "The Messenger: Songbirds as a Barometer for Environmental Health" in partnership with the Nottingham Conservation Commission. As part of our "Year of Conversation" initiative, we were excited for our Education & Outreach Fellow Katie Brodeur to present with Willow, and have our executive director, Kristen Lamb, serve on the Q & A panel for this program that will bring up the sometimes difficult subjects and observations of the effects of human activity on wildlife and our own health. The documentary features recent and long term studies of the reasons for dramatic songbird decline, including light pollution, domestic cats, pesticides, and habitat loss. If you haven't seen the film, we highly recommend it!
The Wild Within: Animals Inspiring People to Survive and Thrive
As our Education and Outreach Coordinator, Sarah, got ready for her program on Tuesday she had butterflies in her stomach. She's been teaching for two decades, and the ambassadors she was loading up are friends new and old, so that wasn't the source of the butterflies. This day was different because she was presenting "The Wild Within: Animals Inspiring People to Survive and Thrive" at the York Hospital Oncology and Infusion Care's "Lunch and Learn" program. Sarah wrote the "Survive and Thrive" program as a survivor of cancer herself.
Inspired by the strength of our disabled ambassadors to maintain their beauty and strength through terrible injuries and recovery, and their ability to go on and teach and inspire others she thought this would be a perfect match for those battling cancer and their own trauma. And she was right! Feedback from the program was incredible, including our favorite observation: "One of the best presenters I have listened to...All of our lives coincide and interact no matter our individual circumstances and how we exist. If animals can survive under hardship, so can people."
**We look forward to applying for grant funding to build and continue both of these initiative to inspire deep connection between wildlife and people. If you are interested in learning more about how your group can get involved, or know of a foundation that would be interested in funding one of these projects, please contact Sarah!
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Upcoming Events
October 15th
(10:00a - 12:00p)
Wild Forest Managers with York Land Trust at Highland Farm Preserve
Come and meet some of our wild ambassadors who help us manage forests naturally! Gray squirrels help plant our oak trees, porcupines help manage growth of trees, and they don't ask for anything in return! Explore beautiful Highland Farm and learn about our wild partners!
Click here to learn more or reserve your spot today
(11-12p)
Owls of Harry Potter at the Portsmouth Public Library
Come and enjoy Harry Potter Day at the Portsmouth Public Library with costume contests, trivia, potions class, Mollivander's wand shop, face painting, photo booth, wizard food banquet and more!
Click here to learn more
(6:30p - 8:30p)
Halloween in Nature at Mount A
Ever wonder what those bumps, howls, hoots and screeches in the night really are? Come find out with our friends from the Center for Wildlife! Be sure to wear your Halloween costumes and you'll be able to take a picture with our live animal ambassadors. We will meet at the Learning Lodge for a program with the ambassadors, then grab your flashlight and join us on a twilight hike, calling for owls and listening for other animals that go bump in the night!
This event has a suggested donation of $7 per participant
**Email Katie to reserve your spot today
October 29
(4:30p - 6:30p)
Trick or Treat with Center for Wildlife
Come in costume and join us for trick or treating with the ambassadors, cider, bobbing for apples, and more!
This event has a suggested donation of $5 per participant
**Email Katie to reserve your spot today
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