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From the April 2004 Conservationist

Animal Hospital

By Gerry Rising

Wildlife rehabilitation can be very rewarding; seeing an injured animal restored to health and released is an uplifting experience. A turkey vulture flying once more, its injured wing fully healed; a skunk no longer limping with a badly injured paw; a horned grebe swimming again after being frozen in the ice; each raises the spirits of people involved in its care.

Rehabilitators treat orphaned, sick, and displaced or injured wild animals and arrange for their veterinary care in hope of releasing them back in their natural habitat. The tasks required of a rehabilitator can take over their lives, as evidenced by the story of the Messinger Woods Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (MWWRC).

Concept to Concrete

In 1996, Mike and Noreen Olek faced the problem of balancing their personal lives with their desire to help injured and/or displaced animals. The Oleks would no sooner schedule a dinner out with friends and a badly injured fox would be brought in needing immediate care. They'd plan to attend a school function with their child only to realize one of the crippled birds they were housing needed to be rushed to a vet.

To resolve these problems, they came up with a grandiose idea: Why not work together with other rehabbers to build a rehabilitation center where they could share responsibilities and even offer a broader range of services to animals? Fortunately, Edith Messinger, a fellow rehabilitator, offered the Oleks 30 acres of land on which they could build their center. Messinger and her family also gave them use of an old barn in which they could maintain temporary quarters.

Thus the Messinger Woods Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, a non-profit organization in the Town of Holland in southern Erie County, was born. Its staff has now burgeoned to a core of 20 licensed rehabilitators, seven veterinarians, and more than 150 willing and enthusiastic volunteers who aid the rehabbers and help with other tasks, such as grant development and fund raising. Approximately 800 contributing members help fund the center.

MWWRC opened its new facility in May 2003, and now boasts not only the usual features that animal rehabilitators must normally provide in their homes-rooms for holding animals and storing supplies, a reception office and workspace-but it includes a hospital as well. It has a surgical ward, x-ray facilities, a laboratory and a pharmacy. Veterinarians staff this clinic and provide the rehabbers with service and technical advice. Last year, more than 800 animals were treated. Many were release in an extensive remote wildland deeded to the center by Hilda Wheeler.

Success and Heartbreak

Like all rehabilitation center, MWWRC meets both successes and failures. There was Harry, the great blue heron with a twice-broken wing. Unlike most herons, he was docile and responded well to treatment, and his unique personality charmed the staff. Against all bets he made a complete recovery and is back in the wild again.

And there was Icarus, the overambitious peregrine falcon who left his family aerie too soon and spiraled down to land on city pavement. Kept from human contact as much as possible, he quickly matured. Soon released from atop a Buffalo skyscraper, he soared off to rejoin his more cautious siblings.

But here was also Hercules, the fawn with serious head and leg injuries. Monitored around the clock, he fought back valiantly but eventually succumbed, leaving his many care givers distraught.

Giving Back to Nature

Messinger Woods president and executive director, Mike Olek, remains committed to giving back to nature. "Our human development is reducing natural habitat and forcing these wild creatures into harm's way," lamented Mike. "Most of the wildlife we admit were injured directly or indirectly by people. We humans have medical insurance, our pets have owners to offer special care, but wild animals must rely on the kindness of a few, and then only if they are fortunate enough to be found and rescued. Our center and the generous people who support it are a testament to what people can do for our wildlife heritage when they pool their efforts."

Messinger Woods' success provides an innovative and instructive model for animal rehabilitation across New York State and beyond, and certainly demonstrates the power of people working together toward a collective vision-a vision that, in this case, has proven beneficial to both people and our animal neighbors.

If you care, leave them there!

It's best not to disturb any wild animal in its natural habitat. Every year, many well-intentioned people upset the lives of young or injured wildlife. They take fledgling songbirds, young rabbits or other animals from the wild in a mistaken attempt to "save" them. It is also illegal to possess wild animals in New York State unless you are a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. If you find an orphaned or injured animal and want to locate a DEC-licensed wildlife rehabilitator in your area, call your DEC Wildlife Regional Office.

Wildlife Rehabilitator Exam

Each spring, DEC offers a required exam for those who with to become licensed wildlife rehabilitators. Rehabilitators must be willing to invest significant time, money and effort in handling, housing and providing necessary care to animals. DEC encourages anyone interested in being a rehabilitator to obtain experience as an assistant to a licensed rehabilitator prior to taking the exam. Applicants must be at least 16 years old, and must submit two character references. A DEC regional wildlife staff member will interview prospective applicants. Individuals who have been convicted of violating Environmental Conservation Law are not eligible to take the exam. DEC offers a study guide and an examination manual to teach applicants about the practice of wildlife rehabilitation, including technical requirements for licensed volunteers. These study materials were developed by wildlife rehabilitators, veterinarians, and biologists as an aid to exam preparation and are available to applicants for $15 a set. For additional information, call DEC at (518) 402-8985 or write: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Special Licenses Unit, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4752.

Photo: Leo Curran