The Issue: Wildlife rehabilitators have long understood the need to educate the public about appreciating and living in harmony with wildlife. Moreover, rehabilitators have ready access to non-releasable animals who can help put a face on some abstract concepts and drive home an important message. In fact, it’s often the chance to meet a wild animal “up close and personal,” rather than the educational theme of the program, that draws a crowd. And that’s fine, because if we’ve done our job well, they’ll leave having been enlightened as well as entertained. Still, nearly everyone who’s stood before an audience—be they...
Bob Lindsay (1951-2011)
Bob Lindsay, 59, of Wichita Falls, died Monday, April 25, 2011. The memorial service with military honors will be conducted at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, 2011, in the chapel of Owens & Brumley Funeral Home. A family visitation will follow. Arrangements are under the direction of Owens & Brumley Funeral Home of Wichita Falls. Bob was born June 3, 1951, in Wichita, Kansas. He was a 1969 graduate of North High School and a 1970 graduate of Central Drafting and Technical College, in Wichita, Kansas. He earned an Associate of Applied Science in Engineering Technology from San Antonio College...
Aardvarks to Zebu: Post 1
Hello! We have a new column here at IWRC. Each month we will choose a challenging rehabilitation question and poll two to four experts on the topic. In this, our first post, we chose the question “Would you release a one-eyed diurnal raptor?” and asked it of three long time raptor rehabilitators, Louise Shimmel, Randie Segal, and Marge Gibson. If you have your own burning question, email me at director@theiwrc.org. The question just might find its way into a future post! _________________________________________________________ Aardvarks to Zebu: Wildlife Rehabilitation Quandaries and Conundrums _________________________________________________________ Would you release a one-eyed diurnal raptor? Louise Shimmel...
Andrea Rene Wickham
Andrea Rene Wickham (1957-2011) CUERO – Andrea Rene Wickham, age 53, passed away on Saturday, April 9, 2011 after a short, but difficult bout with cancer. She left this earth peacefully, surrounded by her loved ones. She was born on June 21, 1957 in Greenfield, Indiana. Andi was a beautiful and gentle soul and will be forever missed. Besides her devotion to family, Andi’s greatest passion was animals. She was a lover and caregiver of any animal in need. During her childhood, Andi took in orphaned animals such as deer (Belvedere and others), ferrets, vultures (Igor and others), owls, hawks,...
President’s Report Spring 2011
Dear Colleagues; Thank goodness we can do this electronically and don’t have to chop down any trees! It is just there seems to be so much to talk about. So let me begin with a Thank You. THANK YOU to our out going president, Dody Wyman. Dody devoted many years to the board of directors and began transitions that are paying dividends today. But she has not escaped and is chairing the Course Development Committee (CDC) – more about that group later. Now to our present board. Let me introduce everyone to you. Please check out the IWRC website for...
Nonda Surratt
Nonda Surratt (1954-2011) By MIWRA • March 29, 2011 HEBRON: A reception to celebrate the life of Nonda Lou (nee Ruckman) Surratt will be held from1:00 – 2:30 P.M. Friday April 1, 2011 in The Dawes Arboretum’s Firelight Room with a Service of Remembrance at 2:30 P.M., Pastor Tom Myers presiding. Nonda, age 56, passed away Friday, March 25, 2011 at Licking Memorial Hospital. She was born July 22, 1954 in Newark, Ohio to her parents James V. and Marguerite (Taylor) Ruckman. She graduated from Newark High School. While a student she was a member of the 4H Club and...
Queensland Floods
Queensland Australia has had massive flooding since late December. According to the Queensland Governmental website three quarters of the state is now considered a disaster area. Local wildlife rehabilitators have been hammered by the twin challenges of increased admissions and keeping their centers safe and dry. Rehabilitators are further hampered by the lack of appropriate food, especially fresh fruit, since the floods have destroyed many area farms and shops. More information is available on the MSNBC photo blog of January 7th, 2011.
Tortoise Shell Repair
By Lynn Miller, PhD I had the very great pleasure of visiting the SPCA Wildlife Care Center in Ft Lauderdale, FL recently. I was able to spend time in the clinic of this very busy facility, observing and aiding with cases covering a wide range of species and injuries. It was fascinating to say the least. One case I wanted to share with my colleagues who care for reptiles concerns a gopher tortoise with two old fractures in the carapace. On examining the wounds, veterinarian Dr. Stefan Harsch decided the dead tissue and debris in the fracture lines would impede...
Another US Spill
Oil Spills… We have all been very attuned to the horrible Deep Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. This tragedy has persisted for several months, and will continue for many months and years to come. I’d like to let you all know that the Gulf of Mexico spill isn’t the only one happening at this time. Most of you outside of Michigan may not be aware of the Kalamazoo River oil spill, which was discovered on Monday, July 26, 2010. A Canadian pipeline owned by Enbridge Energy Partners developed a leak in its 30-inch pipeline just outside of...
Day 8 – Leaving for Now
Day eight. Leaving was actually very hard to do. On the way out of the marina, I spotted tri-colored herons feeding along the side of the road, the alligators suspended in water, cypress trees and extraordinary vegetation, partially submerged cars and trucks from Katrina. Then the very warm thanks from everyone I met. Thank you for caring to come here and help, I heard it time and time again. Yes it was hard to leave, except when I got out of the air conditioned car. Then I was ready for home and open windows and my guys. But I will...