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Sister volunteers Sharlene and Marlene Silva
are all smiles at a Wild Care event.
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Volunteer Kristine Beebe has dedicated
over 30 years to rehabilitating baby rabbits.
| Volunteer Dick Collins with owl boxes he made. Right: Animal Care Coordinator Jennifer Taylor | |
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Wild Care Volunteers Gave over 5,000
Hours in 2023!
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Wild Care volunteers are the best around, and always willing to step up for all of the many needs we have throughout the year! And there is always a need, in fact in 2023 our volunteers put in an amazing 5,294 hours! We could not do what we do without them. They help with animal care, clean-up, enrichment, events, maintenance, computer work, animal transport, and so much more.
We would like to recognize some of our volunteers that go above and beyond with the time they dedicated to Wild Care in 2023. Dick Collins, and Kristine Beebe each volunteered more than 300 hours! Kristine is our go-to for baby bunnies, specializing in orphaned Eastern Cottontails, and Dick Collins takes care of the many projects around our old house, barn, and outbuildings. Lynda Morini, Amy Sanders, Barbara Bradley and Margaret Emslie each volunteered more than 200 hours. We are so incredibly grateful for ALL of our volunteers, and everything they do!
Stephanie Ellis,
Executive Director
Learn more about volunteer opportunities here
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Some talks require pre-registration. Space is limited.
Get all the details on individual talks here
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Upcoming Wildlife Winter/Spring
Talk Series
Join Wild Care in-person this March and April for some interesting and informative talks all about wildlife. Meet a few of our animal ambassadors, learn some “coyote smart” tips for coexisting with coyotes, find out how to attract birds to your backyard, learn about the importance of wildlife rehab, follow the story of Osprey chicks from eggs to wild fostering, and take a photo journey to the magical Galapagos Islands!
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It's a Date...
The Winner of the Valentine’s Date
With Garv is
Kris Johannes
It was a shell-ebration of love at Wild Care this Valentine’s Day! Thank you to everyone that donated and received an e-Valentine from Garv! We raised $550 for Wild Care!
Congratulations Kris Johannes the lucky winner of our “Win a Date With Garv", Cape Cod’s most shell-eligible bachelor turtle!
Special thanks to Carol Wright for her thoughtful donation and sending “Valentine’s love to critters and all who help them”.
If you love turtles like we do
(and who doesn’t?), check out this article in the WRAM newsletter by Executive Director, Stephanie Ellis for some interesting turtle facts.
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After a Month in our Care, Northern
Gannet Flies Free
This gorgeous gannet was rescued in Scituate in early January, and released after nearly a month in care. The bird had a plastic ring around its wing that was cutting off circulation. The wing was swollen and had small wounds, but fortunately no fractures. Pain management, antibiotics, loads of Herring, and swim therapy at Wild Care, and this beauty is now back in the wild.
This release was sponsored in memory of Ethel Violet (Jackson) Dikeman who was born in 1893 and was very active with Mass Audubon.
Learn more about
Northern Gannerts
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A Feisty Opossum named Papa Bear Heads Home
Opossum Whisperer, rehabber, and Wild Care Volunteer Peg DiMauro answered a call from a Mansfield rehabber named Eddy about an adult opossum that was hit by a car, and had made its way up a tree where it remained in the pouring rain for hours. Worried that the animal was suffering from injuries, and that it might not survive the night, Eddy the rehabber was able to capture and keep it overnight. The following morning the rehabber transported the opossum to Cape Cod. This big, beautiful animal fortunately did not have any open wounds, but it appeared that it’s jaw would not close. Peg attempted to do an initial exam but this opossum wanted no part of it, and began lunging and hissing, so she placed it in a dark, quiet place to de-stress. Once at Wild Care it was examined by Dr. Larry Venezia who found its jaw was aligned with no fracture.
After being cleared for release Peg spoke with the Mansfield rehabber and they met at a Mansfield conservation reserve with several ponds, about ¼ mile into the woods. When they opened the crate to release it, the opossum burst out the door leaping with no hesitation. He climbed up and down a tree, jumped over a log, and left no doubt that he knew where he was going – and that was clearly back home! They watched as he bounded away, legs propelling him like a rabbit- a beautiful alpha male, strong and beautiful. It was an extraordinary release with extraordinary people who chose to rescue a misunderstood species late at night in the rain.
Please drive carefully, many opposum babies are born in February!
Learn more about these beautiful and beneficial animals
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Wild Care's Expansion Project is Under Way
Our dream of having more space to help wildlife is getting closer! Construction is under way to create a dedicated animal in-take area, and a well functioning cleaning room to help our staff and volunteers work more efficiently. This additional building will free up space in our existing building for animal care, and provide an accessible educational experience to the public as they drop off wildlife patients for care.
As anyone who’s ever lived through a renovation or building project of their own knows, it’s an exciting time full of thoughts of how amazing it will be once it’s finished, but it’s also a time of the unexpected, inconveniences, and budget worries. It has been a few years since we started turning this dream into reality. The timing of the start of construction in winter was meant to have the least noise, and impact on operations, and be up and running for our busy spring and summer season. We know we will look back on this and wonder how we did without it, and be thankful for everyone that helped make this dream a reality to help our wildlife!
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Puppy Dies After Ingesting Rat Poison
The sad truth about using rodenticides or rat bait to control rodent populations is that it creates a much further reaching danger than intended. The use of rat poison can endanger the lives of domestic pets too. Recently The Boxer Rescue Inc., a rescue group in Grafton, MA tried everything they could to save a sweet Boxer puppy after it ingested a Bromethalin based rat poison. It was not clear how the dog ingested the rodent bait, but please let this be a reminder that wildlife, pets, and even children can become poisoned by these products from first & secondary exposure. This sweet pup lost its life unnecessarily.
Read the full story and Wild Care’s interview
in the Worcester Telegram
.
Poison is never the answer. Get humane rodent control solutions
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A Miraculous Recovery for a Northern Cardinal
This male Northern Cardinal was brought to Wild Care after it was injured by a vehicle strike. The bird suffered massive head trauma and severely swollen eyes. Our staff placed the bird into oxygen and provided intensive care for several days. It was touch and go. The first photo shows the bird one week after admission. We are thrilled to share that this bird made a complete recovery and was released. This is what it's all about! Fly free, red bird...
This release is in honor of Laura Runkel of Wellfleet, for her love of wildlife,
and continued support
of our work.
Learn more about
Northern Cardinals and
listen to their calls.
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Red-tailed Hawk
With Broken Leg Recovering Nicely
This stunning young Red-tailed Hawk was found in Harwich after the homeowners observed it in their backyard for several hours and noticed its leg looked broken. Volunteer Lynn collected the bird and brought it to Wild Care. X-rays showed it was suffering from a dislocated hock joint on its left leg. The leg joint was relocated by Dr. Larry Venezia and a splint was applied. After only one day the hawk began grasping food with that foot! It is eating well and has advanced to a larger space in our Elliptical Aviary where we hope it will be released soon.
If you would like to
sponsor the care and release of this beautiful bird, please email Stephanie.
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Wild Care Volunteer and Local Realtor Sarah Keith
Ties her Passion for Wildlife With Home Sales
Sarah Keith, realtor at Cape Cod Bliss - Real Estate, and dedicated Wild Care volunteer is passionate about helping animals. She has found a thoughtful and impactful way to bring the two together by sponsoring a wildlife release in celebration of every property she sells. “I cherish the wildlife around Cape Cod! This is my way of saying thank you to the sellers, and celebrating the community we share.” said Sarah. This past month she sponsored the release of two of our recent patients. Thank you Sarah for this generous gift, and all you do to help wildlife!
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Canada Goose Receives Care After Vehicle Strike
in Wellfleet
This beautiful Canada Goose was found injured on a road in Wellfleet. Its eyes were swollen, it was weak and dehydrated but could stand and was appropriately hissing at us. It was quarantined and tested negative for Avian Flu. We gave it fluids for a few days and medicine to help the swelling. Fortunately his lead test came in with a low number! (That is always great news with geese who very often are sick with lead poisoning due to ingesting lead pellets and fishing sinkers when feeding.) His appetite was good, he recovered well, and was released.
This release was sponsored by Sarah Keith in honor of the sale of 232 Tonset Road in East Orleans.
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Great Black-backed Gull Recovers from Avian Flu and is Released
This Great Black-backed Gull was found in Provincetown so weak that it could not stand for six days. The bird tested positive for avian influenza, and required intensive care while it was in quarantine. With care, and attention from our staff, we were thrilled to see the gull become stronger and start to stand on it’s own two feet!, A few weeks later, this now feisty bird tested negative for avian influenza, made a full recovery. and was released.
This release was sponsored
by Sarah Keith in appreciation
of the sale of 48 Wading Place Path, Chatham.
Watch as this beautiful bird
flies off into the sunset
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Wild Care’s Stephanie Ellis and Jennifer Taylor to Speak at the Wildlife Rehabilators' Association of Massachusetts - WRAM Annual Conference
Stephanie Ellis, Wild Care Executive Director, and Jennifer Taylor Animal Care Coordinator will both be speakers at the Wildlife Rehabilators' Association of Massachusetts - WRAM Annual Conference. March 16 & 17, 2024. The conference will be virtual and registration is now open. You do not have to be a member or a Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator to attend.
Registration and more information here
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Check out our Amazon and Chewy WISH LISTS and donate much
needed supplies to help the animals being cared for at Wild Care.
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