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To learn more about Wild Care, visit our website!
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June 1, 2017
Hello Wild Care Friends! Wild Care is currently caring for over 118 animals. We have been working diligently over the winter to prepare for their arrival. At our recent Wild Winter Night event in March, Wild Care raised additional funds to build a "Clinic Room Annex" in our antique barn. Thanks to your support, the room is built, and already houses
dozens of baby squirrels and more. We are thankful to Mark Finnochio and his partner Jim, of
Nauset Home Improvement & Property Management, for creating this beautiful, multi-functional room (photo left).
We are also grateful to Bob Long, Independent Contractor (
aka "The Guy"), for renovating our large songbird & dove aviary. Bob created an open roof - allowing ventilation, light, and access to the stars for our songbirds. The inside of the aviary was covered with mesh to prevent feather damage. Five juvenile Mourning Doves currently reside in our spacious new digs (photo right).
Thank you to our Wild Winter Night supporters for funding our Clinic Room Annex, including Dwight Larimer, who provided a $2,000 match to get the project started.
Aviary funding was generously provided by the Mary-Louise and Ruth N. Eddy Foundation.
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Mark Finnochio & Wild Care Animal Care Coordinator, Jennifer Taylor in our new
"Clinic Room Annex"
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Our newly renovated large Songbird Aviary. Funded by the Eddy Foundation
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Sincerely,
Stephanie, Executive Director
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DONATE TODAY - Spring is here!
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Spring is finally here and you know what that means -- BABIES!
Click here to donate.
Help us care for these orphaned babies. We'll keep them warm, fed, happy and we'll help them get back into the wild!
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Against All Odds
by Animal Care Coordinator, Jennifer Taylor
This February, Wild Care received a large female Red-tailed Hawk brought in by Chatham resident Tami Fulcher. It was found on George Ryder Road and could not fly.
Because the bird's body condition was excellent, and there was a small puncture wound in its breast, staff member Amy Webster immediately suspected that the bird had been shot. This was confirmed in an x-ray. We were fortunate that Dr. Rob Adamski and Dr. Priya Patel of the New England Wildlife Center were able to examine and treat the hawk immediately.
The bullet had gone through the right coracoid bone (collar bone) and lodged into the pectoral muscle. The coracoid is part of the shoulder assembly, and the pectorals are the wing muscles that power the downstroke. The vets determined it would be too dangerous to do surgery, but, because this animal was in such good health prior to the shooting, they decided not to euthanize it and to give it a chance to recover, hoping that the bullet would not travel and cause further damage AND that the broken coracoid would heal in a way that would still allow for flight.
NOT good odds...
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Red-tailed Hawk #115 in Wild Care's raptor aviary. Photo by Volunteer, Andrea Spence.
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With wound management, antibiotic injections, fluids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, splint changes, and physical therapy, our staff pulled this bird through! Of course much credit needs to go to Red-tailed Hawk #115 herself, for being an awesome patient with a great appetite, and a decent amount of tolerance for us humans.
#115 spent the last few weeks in our large elliptical flight aviary. We exercised her daily and watched her progress. Dr. Patel came to see her and was impressed. The bird flew very well once up in the air, but, Dr. Patel said she had to be able to take off from ground and fly up high without relying on branches, in order to be released. That was the challenge. Well, we took on the challenge and after two more weeks #115 was doing it!
We released this hawk last week while her rescuer looked on.
Happy Hawk!
P.S. It is illegal to shoot Red-tailed Hawks. They are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. We are grateful to the Chatham Police Dept. and the Massachusetts Environmental Police for immediately pursuing an investigation. If you have any leads on the shooting of this hawk, or detect illegal wildlife-related activities in your neighborhood, please contact (800) 632-8075.
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Radiograph by Wild Care Wildlife Rehabilitator, Amy Webster.
Taken at Eastham Veterinary Hospital.
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Orphaned Owl Finds a Foster Family
by Animal Care Coordinator, Jennifer Taylor
An orphaned Eastern Screech Owl in terrible shape, was found in a driveway by a man in Dennis and was brought to us. It looked like it was at Death's door. At first we thought it was blind. It's eyes were so sunken and dry from dehydration, along with having no response to visual motion and cues. He could barely stand. His
feces were unhealthy, & there were parasites on his body.
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Feeling fine and out of the box, the owl waits for his next meal. We found him to be adorable, but the feeling was not mutual. After his meals he would become snappy and fearful & retreat back to his habitat in true owl fashion!
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As with many patients we receive, our first mission was just to keep it from dying...
We gave several subcutaneous injections of fluids, and placed the bird into an empty bowl for a nest,
with a cloth over it, and provided gentle heat.
About
1/
2 hour later
I peaked under the cloth expecting to find him the same or worse, but instead, the little guy looked up at me and blinked!
After more fluids and a few more hours of quiet, he graduated from the bowl to a securely closed box. Within a couple of days he was eating wax worms and mouse pieces from forceps, and his recovery was quick. Within one week he was ready to go.
This was a great experience for our new summer interns.
They could not believe it was the same bird after only one day of warmth and fluids. The miracles of supportive care!
Unable to locate his real owl family, we transported him up to the Mass Audubon Blue Hills Trailside Museum in Milton, to Norman Smith. Norman unites raptors with foster parents in the wild.
Thank Goodness for Norm! We are certain this owl will do well with his new foster
family.
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Harbor Stage Company - To donate HALF the proceeds of their opening performance to Wild Care - June 16th
The Harbor Stage Company of Wellfleet will continue its tradition of
partnering with deserving Cape charities for their First Fridays "Pay-What-You Can" performances. This year,
the Comp
any will donate half the proceeds from their by-donation performance of "Everything is Established" on
Friday, June 16th
to
Wild Care, a
llowing patrons to enjoy a play while supporting two worthy Cape causes!
Read more about this special performance, and get your tickets now!
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WHEN
: Saturday, July 1st
WHERE
: Wild Care, Inc.
TIME
: 10 AM - 3 PM
WHAT
: A celebration of all our wild babies! Have a sneak peak at some of our enclosures, enjoy desserts and refreshments, and take home a party favor.
WHO
: Everyone is invited
Check our website for details coming soon!
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Dinner and Wine Pairing at Karoo - Raised over $1,600!
On May 10, 2017, Karoo South African Cuisine restaurant Owner and Chef, Sanette Groenewald, and Manager Kim Willard-Dubois hosted an exquisite 3-course dinner and wine pairing in honor of WILD CARE INC. The dinner generated over $1,600! Guests were treated to an intimate evening filled with traditional South African cuisine, and wine donated
by M.S. Walker Fine Wines and Spirits.
"We are so thankful for Sanette's generosity, and her love of animals," states WILD CARE Executive Director, Stephanie Ellis.
WILD CARE would like to extend a special thanks to Karoo owner, Sanette Groenewald, Manager Kim Willard-Dubois and their wonderful staff for hosting this event, and to all joined us for this intimate evening. To view pictures from the event,
click here.
Karoo is located on 3 Main St., Unit 32B. Eastham
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June 10th - SAVE THE DATE!
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Wild Care's 23rd Annual Wild Care Yard Sale!
Saturday, June 10, 2017 from 9 AM - 1 PM
Harwich Community Center, 100 Oak St., Harwich
Spring is here! You may have already started a big
clean-out of y
our garage and attic. When you discover treasures you are willing to part
with, p
ut them aside for Wild Care's Yard Sale!
We are accepting Yard Sale donations of usable, clean, and priced items on Friday, June 9th from 1-6 PM at the Harwich Community Ctr.
Click
here to see examples of item donations that we are accepting!
Seeking new treasures? You'd better come to our Sale on June 10th, we've got thousands of items to choose from!
Check out our
website or contact Jan Raffaele, Yard Sale Coordinator, at [email protected], 774-237-0797 for more information, and to learn about
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES for this popular and fun annual event.
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Volunteer & Wildlife Rehabilitator, Kristine Nickerson Beebe.
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Volunteer Spotlight
Wild Care is so grateful for our volunteers! If you look up "rabbit whisperer" in the dictionary, there will most certainly be a picture of Kristine Nickerson Beebe. Kristine is a licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator who has been volunteering with Wild Care for 25 years, and has provided home care for animals for 21 years. Kristine is our orphaned rabbit caretaker, and local rabbit expert. This year, she has already taken 58 orphaned rabbits into her loving care, her highest number of babies ever for this time of year. She has contributed over 101 volunteer animal care hours since the end of March.
For those of you who know Kristine, you know she is a joy to be around. Her gentle and kind nature provide her with a natural gift. She has an amazing way with animals. Orphaned rabbits especially - one of the most challenging animals to rehabilitate. We are grateful for Kristine's presence every day. She is a blessing to animals and people alike. We love you Kristine!
If you find a nest of rabbits, they are probably not orphaned. Check out our
website for tips on "What to do if you find Eastern Cottontail Rabbits." When in doubt, you can always call Wild Care's Wildlife Helpline at 508-240-2255.
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Wild Care's Executive Director, Stephanie Ellis |
Wild Passion: Caring for the Cape's Injured Animals
at Wild Care
We are delighted to announce that Wild Care is featured in the May Edition of the Cape and Plymouth Business Magazine!
We have posted the full article on our website. Please give it a read!
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Wild Care
10 Smith Lane
Eastham, Massachusetts 02642
508-240-2255
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About Wild Care
Since 1994, Wild Care has treated injured, ill and orphaned native wildlife for release back into the wild capable of independent survival, prevented wildlife casualties through public education and counseling, and engaged the community in conservation services through volunteerism.
Wild Care does not charge the public for our services. We accept wildlife regardless of a rescuer's ability to make a donation; and we never compromise quality of care or the dignity of an animal's life for fundraising purposes.
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