Protect Native Wildlife in Maine and NH

We are so pleased to report on the progress of our on-going project; protecting local and native wildlife in Maine and NH.  As pressures on local wildlife continue to increase- rapidly developing roadways, increased encounters between domestic pets and wildlife, and pollution and other threats to our waterbirds- we continue to see an increase for demand in our services.  We are encouraged and inspired that as many members of our community want to help wildlife, and are working hard at sustainably answering this demand for services; while continuing to provide quality medical care and environmental education programming. 

Summer and fall often bring a large patient load as fledgling songbirds and raptors run into trouble navigating their first flights.  Their parents prepare them as best they can, but powerlines, vehicles, skyscrapers, and other non-natural construction can throw a huge wrench in their first lessons- especially those headed to South America!  We also prepare as best we can for the second litter of mammals in New England, and the large influx of orphaned patients we typically receive as squirrel, opossum, porcupine, and other small mammal moms run into fatal challenges- leaving entire litters of neonates and juveniles too young to survive on their own. 

Because of this large patient load, CFW typically recruits, trains, and provides hands-on experience to generally 10 interns and 20 volunteers each busy season (equating to about 1,200 non-paid staff hours each month); who in turn provide quality supportive care to our diverse species of patients.  This allows the professional staff to provide expert diagnostics and medical care, and pursue research opportunities.   

 When hurricane Irene hit, the typical support coverage wasn't close to enough! This devastating storm resulted in the rescue of hundreds of baby (neonate) mammals that needed to be fed from 6am-11pm, (YIKES!) on top of the regular busy summer season patient load.  As much as the center has an emergency response protocol, no one was prepared for the influx.  

 The professional staff brainstormed solutions and contacted as many local in-home rehabilitators as we could find. They were all at maximum capacity with baby mammals.  A plea for help went on the CFW Facebook page and our call was answered swiftly and with heartwarming enthusiasm. 

Amy Pierce, CFW's Volunteer and Intern Coordinator quickly got to work contacting folks, setting up training sessions, and organizing shifts of baby mammal feeders between the hours of 6am and 11pm!  The printed word can not express how immensely grateful our staff is by the outpouring of community support, without which would more than likely have resulted in CFW having to turn animals away, or compromise the quality of care given to our other patients.

This is just one example of many of the typical challenges our wildlife are facing, and what it takes to help them through it!  Although a hurricane is a natural occurence, when coupled with all of the other challenges our wildlife face it can mean catastrophy.  With your generous contributions through global giving, we are excited to continue our work with and for wildlife and our community! 

Links:

• Center for Wildlife educates community

Since February 2011, Center for Wildlife has admitted 462 birds, 270 mammals, and 25 reptiles that have been injured or orphaned due to being hit by a car, caught by a domestic cat, or other unnatural causes.  The rescuers, professional medical staff, and volunteers and interns all play a role in ensuring quality medical and supportive care and treatment for these patients.  With no state, federal, or municipal funding toward our services. donations like those from the GlobalGiving campaign play a vital role in supporting the care given to each patient from intake and initial examination, to prescription of course of treatment, ultimately to release. 

Center for Wildlife has kept a great database over the last several years that tracks and provides analysis on species admitted, reason for admission, date, and location of rescue.  In response to this data and trends in demand for services we have been able to increase non-paid staffing and have implemented a year-round Wildlife Care Internship Program.  This spring we hosted our first spring intern block, and with this addition were able to care for over 250 patients at a time, while accommodating an increased interest in hands-on learning experiences for college students.  We created a two-week orientation period with specialized workshops for interns and volunteers in areas like intensive care, small mammal feeding techniques, and raptor handling.  We have also increased staffing for our Wildlife Assistance Hotline which receives up to 70 phone calls per day!  Through our hotline we are able to assist the public with tips on living with wildlife, the risk of wildlife diseases, and how to safely rescue a wild animal in need.  This is allowing us to expand our impact and with good advice prevent patients from even having to enter the clinic. 

As we survey and analyze statistics and trends of our work and services, we have realized that we require more space for all of the various imperative functions that our rehabilitation, research, volunteer and intern, and educational programs perform.  We are excited to be the largest wildlife medical clinic and education center in Northern New England, and the opportunity that we have to expand our services to meet the interest and demands of the community.  We are looking forward to beginning the first phase of a capital campaign to update and expand our facilities that incorporates a