WildCare`s

Spring/Summer
Spring/summer 2005
T ER W I L L I G E R N AT U R E E D U CATI
AT I ON A N D W I L D L I F E R E HA B I L I TAT I ON
ON
Looking Back
Moving Forward
Dear Friends of WildCare:
It hardly seems possible that I have been WildCare’s
executive director for two years! It is rewarding to look
back on the many successes during this time, and exciting to look forward as we work toward the future of this
vibrant organization.
One of the things I’m most proud of is how
WildCare’s core programs—Terwilliger Nature Education
and Wildlife Rehabilitation—partner to provide outstanding learning experiences for children and the larger community. Our
Wildlife Ambassadors continue to become integrated into educational programs, including the Terwilliger Nature Van and Field Trips. Formerly for
exhibit only, these non-releasable wild animals provide children with meaningful and memorable wildlife encounters they may never experience in their
daily lives. In response to a wide range of questions, our Living with Wildlife
Hotline, operated by hospital staff and volunteers, provides residents with
informative and timely advice. WildCare’s Fishing Line Recycling Program,
one of our newest education initiatives, informs people about the hazards of
fishing line damage to wildlife.
This is our annual report issue, so it is with pride we share the accomplishments of the past year while we prepare for the busy season ahead. As
the days get longer, our hospital is buzzing with energy in anticipation of the
spring and summer baby season. The education department is actively preparing for summer camps and training our newest class of Terwilliger Nature
Guides, who will be leading hundreds of children on nature explorations later
this spring and fall.
On February 26th we had the biggest clean-up day in anyone’s memory to
“spiff” the place up. More than forty staff, board members and volunteers
spent all day painting, repairing and enhancing caging, weeding, adding fresh
gravel and furnishing to cages. Never have we been so well prepared for a
fresh start. I hope you’ll plan to visit soon!
On a sad note, Tommy Nordmann, our Van Naturalist, will be leaving us
to begin a new phase of his life with his New Zealand bride, Annmarie. With
Tommy “at the wheel,” the Nature Van has reached more children in challenged neighborhoods throughout the Bay Area than ever before. We will miss
Tommy and wish him and Annmarie the best of luck in their new home in
Florida. I hope to introduce the new Van Naturalist in our next newsletter.
Wishing you many outdoor
adventures, wildflowers and waterfalls
during the incomparable Bay Area
spring. Thank you for your thoughtful
and generous support.
Sincerely,
Karen J. Wilson
Executive Director
Cover images and credits: (center) Elizabeth Terwilliger on
her 95th birthday with daughter Lynn Ellen Terwilliger Farrell
and son John Terwilliger, Janis Wild; (clockwise from top
left) Felipe Santiago of the DMARLOU Foundation and
Executive Director Karen Wilson dedicate the new Wildlife
2 WildCare 415.453.1000
WildCare News
Volume 9, Number 1
Spring/Summer 2005
Administration and Education
415-453-1000
FAX: 415-456-0594
Wildlife Hotline and Hospital
415-456-SAVE (7283)
Website
www.wildcarebayarea.org
Email info@wildcarebayarea.org
Address 76
Albert Park Lane, San Rafael, CA 94901
Office Hours 9am–5pm
M-F
Exhibit Hall, Courtyard and Clinic Hours
9am–5pm seven days a week
Board of Directors
President Donald Humphreys
Vice President Janis Wild
Treasurer Vicki Rupp
Secretary Marilyn Freund
Debbie Benton
Barbara Elam
Holly Hollenbeck
Lisa Spencer
Lifetime Honorary Director
Elizabeth C. Terwilliger
Executive Director
Karen Wilson
WildCare Staff
Jan Armstrong
Joyce Bourasssa
Cindy Dicke
Marian Eschen
Jacob Fries
Alison Hermance
Julie Malet
Tommy Nordmann
Charlotte Patterson Melanie Piazza
Mary Pounder Paulette Smith-Ruiz
JoLynn Taylor
WildCare inspires a vital connection
among people, wildlife and the natural world.
Cover Photographs: See left
Editorial and Production: Jan Armstrong, JoLynn Taylor
Website Design: Melanie Donaghy, Davina Murray
WildCare’s newsletter is published three times a year (February, August,
November). Every effort has been made to ensure that the contents of this publication are accurate. We regret that we cannot be responsible for human error,
printing mistakes, or variations in individual workmanship.
Printed in USA on Orion Satin Recycled paper by Schumann
Printers, Inc., Fall River, Wisconsin.
POSTMASTER send changes of address to WildCare, 76 Albert Park Lane,
San Rafael, CA 94901.
Board President Don Humphreys (third from right), staff and
volunteers celebrate a hard day’s work. Photo JoLynn Taylor
Recovery Unit East, JoLynn Taylor; Wildlife Ambassador D.C.,
a Double-crested Cormorant, Patty Spinks; Terwilliger Nature
Camp necropsy class, Karen Wilson; Striped Skunk anesthesia, Melanie Piazza
Spring/Summer 2005
news and notes…
local heroe s…
-Marin Human Race May 7th!
Pledge forms are at the hospital
front desk, stamped and ready for you
to start collecting pledges. Challenge
your friends and family to pledge for
you to walk or run the whole 4-mile
course! It’s a great way to raise money
for WildCare while getting fit for summer. Board member Debbie Benton will
generously sponsor registration fees for
the first participants to sign up. Anyone
raising more than $40 in pledges will
receive a WildCare t-shirt, and fabulous
prizes will be offered to the people who
raise the most pledges overall!
Call for Interns!
Current volunteers and college students in biology, zoology, veterinary, or
related fields are invited to apply for
one of three internships in WildCare’s
hospital. Internships are unpaid and
require a minimum of 24 hours per
week. Three to four spaces are available; position reports to Director of
Animal Care. Contact Melanie Piazza.
Term 1: April 11 – July 11
Term 2: May 9 – August 15
Term 3: August 1 – October 24
Spring Baby Shower
Sunday, April 24, 1-4
Nudies at WildCare? Yes! Featured
at our Spring Baby Shower will be baby
Spring/Summer 2005
Last year volunteers raised over $3,600 for WildCare in one
festive morning. Can we top that this year? Photo by Stephen
Shaw
birds without feathers (“nudies”) and
baby mammals with their eyes closed.
Come to “ooooooooooooo,” and bring
a suggested donation of $7 ($5 for
members) or the equivalent value of
the following items to help us prepare
for the wild baby season.
•potted trees and large plants
•plain peanut butter, wheat germ,
cornmeal
•fresh berries, broccoli, lettuce,
apples, eggs, grapes, plain goat’s
milk yogurt
•walnuts, almonds, pecans in shell;
seasonal fruits and nuts: acorns,
persimmons, pyracantha berries
Shop—and Give—Wisely
Register for eScrip, and you’ll give
to WildCare every time you shop. This
activity requires no time, no additional
money, no thought. How could giving
be easier? Register at www.escrip.com!
Continued on page 7
Partnership describes the relationship between WildCare and
PG&E. When PG&E undertook
sponsorship for the 2004 Terwilliger
Environmental Award, it seemed as
though good partners had found
each other to promote environmental education and sustainability.
Last summer an accident
brought us together again. An
injured juvenile Peregrine Falcon
treated in WildCare’s hospital (see
page 6) turned out to be the offspring of a pair nesting on PG&E’s
Beale St. headquarters building in
San Francisco. No sooner had representatives of this major corporation heard about the falcon’s plight
than they made a gift to WildCare
to support the treatment of Patient
#1132 and the other animal patients
recuperating in our rehabilitation
hospital.
In 2005 PG&E again sponsored
the Terwilliger Environmental
Award. Just a few weeks later,
WildCare joined PG&E for another,
more dramatic rescue of a juvenile
Western Gull caught—dangling by a
length of fishing line wrapped tightly around its foot—on a very high,
115,000-volt transformer wire in
San Rafael. Using a large crane
truck, PG&E workers carefully cut
the fishing line, freeing the bird to
be taken to WildCare to recover as
patient #0072.
PG&E’s Marie Gaynor-Murphy
said, “2004 has been such an exciting year of partnership between
PG&E and WildCare, I don’t think
any of us will ever forget the magnificent release of the fully recovered Peregrine Falcon. WildCare
does such great work and is such an
asset to the Marin community.”
www.wildcarebayarea.org WildCare 3
the environmental approach…
Good Kids Do Good
ildCare’s already popular
W
Student Volunteer program, open to
dedicated students between the ages
of 12 and 17, is a real, up-close
introduction to wild patient care. It
offers the best of WildCare—a combination of environmental education
and wildlife rehabilitation to teach
those who will create a sustainable
future for us all.
Students who attend a one-hour
orientation with a parent and discover they are ready to commit to
the program sign a participation
contract, attend a five-hour training
and choose a three-hour shift that
will become theirs for the next tento twenty-week session. Then they
begin to learn on the job.
They learn the damage to nature
that thoughtlessness can do. They
learn what patient care really means.
For adult staff and volunteers,
patient care may well include some
dramatic life and death decisions,
but for all who work in this wildlife
hospital, most patient care consists
of daily attention to many small and
less adrenaline-producing details—
sweeping, cleaning, food preparation, feeding, recycling, garbage collection, and more cleaning. Without
that constant animal care and maintenance, even the best medical treatment can’t succeed.
The list of Student Volunteer job
details is lengthy and specific.
Students do not handle wild
patients, but provide an extra pair
of hands to adult volunteers. As
program participants learn, they
progress—with their adult supervisor’s confirmation of their skills—
from one series of tasks to the next.
Several important elements
make this program appealing to its
audience. It runs throughout the
year, after school and on weekends,
even offering daytime opportunities
to home-schoolers. If space is available for them (space is limited), students can participate in the session
Dishes, laundry and
cage cleaning—some
Student Volunteers
might not do it at
home, but everyone
does it at WildCare!
Student Volunteers
don‘t handle wild
patients, but provide
an extra pair of
hands to adult volunteers. Photos by Mary
Pounder
they choose. Few other adult-supervised volunteer programs available
to this age group build strength in
science, math, social skills, animal
care and responsibility. Working
with adults as peers, student volunteers build confidence while they
train in animal care, cleaning and
concern for nature.
Nearly 150 students have participated in this program to date. At
the present time, the Student
Volunteer spots are all filled. The
reason? The program is great! Kids
love it. WildCare staff and volunteers give them extensive training,
positive attention and solid support.
Food preparation isn’t all drudgery. If you don’t
like cutting up fruit and vegetables, there are
always live mealworms and paperwork to keep
things interesting! Photos by Mary Pounder
4 WildCare 415.453.1000
Spring/Summer 2005
Mrs. T’s Corner
Two former participants have
graduated to become adult volunteers at WildCare. Another student
who continues as a Student
Volunteer is Caitlyn Bishop, who
was chosen as one of only five 2004
Student Volunteer Caitlyn Bishop distinguished herself and WildCare this year
when she won the 2004 Hearts of
Marin Youth Volunteer Award. Caitlyn is
shown above at far left with three of the
other winners. At right, Caitlyn (center)
with WildCare’s Director of Animal Care,
Melanie Piazza, and Program Specialist,
Mary Pounder, who developed
WildCare’s Student Volunteer program in
2001. Photos by Karen Wilson
Spring/Summer 2005
Heart of Marin Youth Volunteers of
the Year. These awards, presented
by Tamalpais Bank and the Center
for Volunteer and Nonprofit
Leadership, recognize outstanding
contributions to Marin’s nonprofit
community. The Marin Charitable
Association has also recognized this
extraordinary program with funding
support in 2005.
Caitlyn, now 15, began to volunteer in WildCare’s hospital in the
summer of 2003. Those who work
with her have been impressed with
her commitment, maturity and professionalism. Her focus is clear, and
centered on others. When asked to
comment on her Student Volunteer
experience, Caitlyn wrote, “I have so
many great things to say about
WildCare that they cannot be put
into a single sentence or even a
whole page. I have learned so much
through my experiences… that I
have been inspired to become a veterinarian. I enjoy being around
everyone and every animal at
WildCare, and look forward to continuing my work there.”
Good kids do good. WildCare is
fortunate to have so many dedicated
Student Volunteers who learn well,
work hard, help save animal patient
lives and educate their families and
friends about the habitat we share.
“Teach children to love nature;
people take care of what they love.”
–Elizabeth Terwilliger
T
o honor those who, like Mrs. T,
share their love of nature with others,
WildCare presents the Terwilliger
Environmental Award each January at
the Nature Lovers Ball. This year’s
recipient is Zeva Longley, Environmental Education Specialist at San
Rafael’s Canal Child Care Center.
Zeva met Mrs. T in the 1970s, and
says, “I fell in love with her and the
nature she loved, and since that time
have dedicated myself to learn more
about the earth and my connection to
the earth, and to teach what I learn.”
According to former colleague and
friend GeorgeAnn Muntin, Zeva’s creativity, vision and commitment to
teaching children about the environment have led her to help children
become their best. Under her tutelage,
special needs children have become
focused leaders, crossing streams, confident in nature; overweight children
reluctant to move have become enthusiastic hikers and climbers; and children afraid of any insect or animal have
learned to approach them with care
and respect.
Laurel Hill, Deputy Director of
Community Action Marin, says that
Zeva has “created a wonderful program
at CCCC that addresses health advocacy, environmental justice, conservation,
physical activity and fun in the context
of environmental education.”
Each day at work Zeva takes children from asphalt to growing things,
from fear to confidence, from closely
built environment to nature.What better example could Mrs. T have hoped
to inspire?
www.wildcarebayarea.org WildCare 5
behind the scenes…
Safe, Sound and Soaring
compassionate rescuer (and
A
now a volunteer!), Kelle Kacmarcik
found a juvenile Peregrine Falcon
down and injured on a city street in
San Francisco last summer. Brought
to WildCare as Patient #1132, this
endangered raptor was found to
have suffered a broken wing
(radius), a damaged beak and
bruises, probably from an accident
when the bird fledged. The bird was
treated by WildCare volunteer
veterinarian Dr. Debra Scheenstra
and WildCare staff.
A leg band placed by the
Predatory Bird Research
Group, University of
California at Santa Cruz, indicated that this striking falcon was
one of the first two viable offspring
of a pair nesting on PG&E’s 77
Beale Street building, and attracted
special interest from PG&E and
its employees.
Peregrine
Falcon Facts
WildCare hospital staff, Melanie
Piazza and Cindy Dicke join Dr.
Debra Scheenstra for a last quick
check to be sure no feathers were
damaged in transport before
releasing patient #1132. Photos
courtesy of Craig Solin
6 WildCare 415.453.1000
The company made a generous
corporate donation to care for
this bird and other wild
patients in treatment at
WildCare.
After months of care
and therapy came the best part of
the story—the bird was released in
October.
•••
Peregrine Falcons are
considered to be the
earth’s fastest creatures. They can
achieve up to 240
miles per hour on a
dive.
•••
Following a population
decline from the 1950s
to the 1970s, the
subsequent ban of
eggshell-thinning pesticides, and an intensive
breed and release or
“hacking” program, this
falcon has begun to
reclaim its numbers and
its nesting grounds.
•••
Peregrine Falcons have
added new nesting sites to
their natural choice of cliff
ledges—tall city buildings
and bridges. From these
lofty heights the birds are
prospering on a diet of their
favorite prey:
urban pigeons.
•••
Spring/Summer 2005
WILDCARE ANNUAL REPORT 2004
FISCAL YEAR JANUARY 1, 2004 – DECEMBER 31, 2004
To The WildCare Community:
East, constructed thanks to the generosity of long-time supporters, the DMARLOU
Foundation and the Marin Builders Association. This new facility features separat2004 marked the 10th anniversary of the “birth” of WildCare—the result of
ed enclosures that can be linked, creating flyways
the merger in 1994 of the Terwilliger Nature
2004 INCOME SOURCES
and “swooping” space, and offers sun and predaEducation Center and the California Center for
tor protection.
Wildlife. 2004 was also a year of many achieveMembership/Donations
ments.
38%
Events In addition to our annual events,
4%
Earned Income
Nature Lovers Ball, Spring Baby Shower, Dining
Nature Education The generous support of
5%
Grants
for Wildlife, Italian Bocce Festival and Creatures of
the Alexander M. and June L. Maisin Foundation
In-Kind donations*
Myth and Legend, which provided revenue and an
enabled our Nature Van to reach new schools; most
14%
29%
enjoyable time, in 2004 WildCare threw a party
Special Events
of our popular summer programs were full.
10%
for some 200 people to celebrate Elizabeth
Wildcare’s dedicated Terwilliger Nature Guides were
Other Income
Terwilliger’s 95th birthday.
busy as China Camp was added to our Field Trip
2004 EXPENSES
Looking Forward In addition to its comsites. In 2004, Wildcare began a successful new
mitted staff and volunteers Wildcare depends on
after-school program in cooperation with Davidson
9%
the financial support of the community, primarily
Middle School, which was enthusiastically received
Wildlife Rehabilitation*
individuals. Wildcare is a valuable Bay Area
by the participating students.
19%
Education Programs*
resource. On behalf of the Board of Directors I
52%
Wildcare’s courtyard, home of our Wildlife
Development
thank you for your support in 2004 and look forAmbassadors, took on a new look. A generous priAdministration
20%
ward to your continued support in 2005 as
vate gift enabled the construction of a new multiWildcare enters its second decade.
*Includes
volunteer
hours
species habitat, which will be home to Mojave, a
California Desert Tortoise, and Willow the Wood
Note: Figures are unaudited at time of printing.
Duck.
A complete audited financial statement will be
Donald Humphreys
Wildlife Rehabilitation In 2004 Wildcare
available in April, 2005.
President of the Board of Directors
dedicated its completely new Wildlife Recovery Unit
NATURE EDUCATION
In 2004 over 40,000 Bay Area children and
adults experienced Terwilliger Nature
Education and other WildCare learning
programs. All developed a closer connection to nature and deepened their commitment to environmental stewardship.
TERWILLIGER NATURE
VAN PROGRAM
53 schools: 299 presentations
6,057 children visited
TERWILLIGER FIELD TRIPS
75 schools: 150 field trips
4,047 children involved
TERWILLIGER NATURE
CAMPS
24 camps offered
345 children engaged
Left to right: Examining owl pellets in holiday camp, playing Wildlife Jeopardy in Davidson
Middle School program, Student Volunteer with woodpecker snag, Van Naturalist at San
Annual Report 2004
TERWILLIGER NATURE KITS
48 schools
10,500 children served
JUNIOR BOTANISTS
123 children engaged
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
Hungry Owl Project, Adult
Hospital classes,Wildlife
Ambassador visits:
45 programs: 1,120 children
and adults participating
STUDENT VOLUNTEERS
95 participants
WILDCARE VISITORS
9,125 courtyard and museum
visitors
2,076 rescuers
LIVING WITH WILDLIFE
HOTLINE
5,520 callers
Domenico School, Field Trip at China Camp, JoLynn Taylor; Helping Hands for Wildlife Outdoor
Adventure, Mary Pounder; courtyard visitors, JoLynn Taylor
www.wildcarebayarea.org WildCare 1
CLINIC PATIENTS TREATED
In 2004 WildCare treated over 193 different
species of wildlife and gave 3,856 ill, injured
or orphaned animals a second chance.
ARACHNIDA 1
Spider
AVES
2,970
Albatross, Laysan
Auklet, Cassin’s
Blackbird, Brewer’s
Blackbird, Red-winged
Bluebird, Western
Bobwhite
Bufflehead
Bushtit
Canvasback
Chickadee, Black-capped
Chickadee, Chestnutbacked
Chukar
Coot, American
Cormorant, Brandt’s
Cormorant, Doublecrested
Cormorant, Pelagic
Cowbird, Brown-headed
Crow, American
Dove, Mourning
Dove, Ringed TurtleDove, Rock
Duck, Ruddy
Duck, Wood
Eagle, Golden
Egret, Great
Egret, Snowy
Falcon, Peregrine
Finch, House
Finch, Purple
Flicker, Northern
Flycatcher, Ash-throated
Flycatcher, Pacific Slope
Fulmar, Northern
Gadwall
Godwit, Marbled
Goldfinch, American
Goldfinch, Lesser
Goose, Canada
Grebe, Horned
Grebe, Pied-billed
Grebe, Western
Grosbeak, Black-headed
Gull, California
Gull, Glaucous-winged
Gull, Heermann’s
Gull, Herring
Gull, Mew
Gull, Ring-billed
Gull, Western
Harrier, Northern
Hawk, Cooper’s
Hawk, Red-shouldered
Hawk, Red-tailed
Hawk, Sharp-shinned
Heron, Black-crowned
Night
Heron, Great Blue
Heron, Green
Hummingbird, Allen’s
Hummingbird, Anna’s
Hummingbird, Rufous
Jay, Scrub
Jay, Steller’s
Junco, Dark-eyed
Kestrel, American
Killdeer
Kingfisher, Belted
Kinglet, Ruby-crowned
Kite, White-tailed
Kittiwake, Black-legged
Mallard
Mockingbird, Northern
Murre, Common
Nuthatch, Pygmy
Nuthatch, Red-breasted
Oriole, Bullock’s
Oriole, Hooded
Owl, Barn
Owl, Great Horned
Owl, Northern Saw-whet
Owl, Western Screech
Pelican, Brown
Petrel, Murphy’s
Phalarope, Red-necked
Phoebe, Black
Pigeon, Band-tailed
Pigeon, King
Pigeon, Racing
Poorwill, Common
Quail, California
Rail, Virginia
Raven, Common
Robin, American
Sapsucker, Red-breasted
Scaup, Greater
Scoter, Surf
Siskin, Pine
Sora
Sparrow, Fox
Sparrow, Goldencrowned
Sparrow, House (English)
Sparrow, Savannah
Sparrow, Song
Sparrow, White-crowned
Starling, European
Storm-petrel, Ashy
Storm-petrel, Black
Swallow, Barn
Swallow, Cliff
Swallow, Northern
Rough-winged
Swallow, Tree
Swallow, Violet-green
Left to right: North American Ringtail, Melanie Piazza; Hoary Bat with pup, Marian Eschen;
Peregrine Falcon, Marie Gaynor-Murphy; Kestrel chicks, Stephen Shaw; Acorn Woodpecker
2 WildCare 415.453.1000
Swift, Vaux’s
Swift, White-throated
Tanager, Summer
Tanager, Western
Thrush, Hermit
Thrush, Swainson’s
Thrush, Varied
Titmouse, Oak
Towhee, California
Towhee, Spotted
Turkey, Wild
Vireo, Warbling
Vulture, Turkey
Warbler, Nashville
Warbler, Townsend’s
Warbler, Wilson’s
Warbler, Yellow-rumped
Waxwing, Cedar
Woodpecker, Acorn
Woodpecker, Downy
Woodpecker, Hairy
Woodpecker, Nuttall’s
Woodpecker, Pileated
Wren, Bewick’s
Wren, House
Yellowthroat, Common
MAMMALIA 845
Bat, Big Brown
Bat, California Myotis
Bat, Hoary
Bat, Mexican Freetail
Bat, Pallid
Beaver
Bobcat
Chipmunk
Coyote
Deer, Mule
Fox, Gray
Fox, Red
Gopher, Botta’s Pocket
Jackrabbit, Black-tailed
Mole, Broad-footed
Mouse, Deer
Mouse, House
Mouse, Pocket, California
Mouse, Salt Marsh
Harvest
Muskrat
Opossum, Virginia
Otter, River
Rabbit, Audubon’s
Cottontail
Rabbit, Brush
Raccoon, Northern
Rat, Black
Rat, Brown
Rat, Kangaroo,
Heermann’s
Rat, Wood, Dusky-footed
Ringtail, North American
Shrew, Pacific
Skunk, Striped
Squirrel, Eastern Gray
Squirrel, Douglas’
Squirrel, Fox
Squirrel, Ground
Squirrel, Western Gray
Vole, California Meadow
REPTILIA &
AMPHIBIA 40
Lizard, Northern
Alligator
Lizard, Western Fence
Rattlesnake, Western
Salamander, Arboreal
Salamander, California
Tiger
Snake, Common Garter
Snake, Common King
Snake, Gopher
Snake, Ringneck
Snake, Western
Terrestrial Garter
Toad, Western
Tortoise, Desert
Turtle, Red-eared Slider
Turtle, Three-toed Box
Turtle, Western Pond
chick, Sandra Christensen; North American Raccoon dentition, JoLynn Taylor
Annual Report 2004
1 TO 49 HOURS
102 Volunteers
50 TO 99 HOURS
Laila Al-Jamal
Shannon Alsup
Logan Anderson
Lilith Aquino
Kristin Ataras
William H. Barnaby
Mary Kate Beck
Bridgette Berg
Barbara Beth
Ronnie Bogart
Kate Bordisso
Mary Boudreaux
Suzanne Bourque
Emily Boyles
Kristen Breck
Evan Brooks
Caitlin Brown
Christina Buechele
Michelle Burt
Yolanda Cabral
Doug Cauble
Christine Caulder
E. Oscar Chambers
Terry Citti
Dene Colbert
John Contini
Jim Cornelius
Crystal Cox
Mary DeLap
Valerie Dennis
Jennifer Dong
Morgan Farrer
Dave Faulstich
Duane Fitzgerald
Ian Freda
Alison Fuller
Camille Gazeau
Irina Goldshlag
Lynn Gotler
Janet Grady
Carol Haan
Candace Hale
Margrit Hall
Dominique Hanchette
Leah Hansard
Chris Hawkins
Jason Horstman
Beth Iitti
Emily Kearney
Ginny Kelly
Steve Kirschenbaum
Brian Kjolby
Freeke Kohl
Jerry Kohl
Maria Kuder
Linda Lam
Eileen Lau
Kim Leslie
Sarah Low
Margareta Luff
Justine MacLean
Natasha Malt
Diana Manis
Britt Murray
Soo-Hi Nayer
Anaka Nazareth
Liz Neville
Barbara Novak
Pat O’Sullivan
Laurie Oman
Willie Parrett
Kay Peacock
Andrew Pedersen
Eileen Perkins
Jesse Petersen
Tina Phi
Myfanwy Plank
Heather Polley
Barbara Pritchard
Sharon Procyk
D. James Pyskaty
Lidia Rajeff
Maria Rowell
Maggie Rufo
Jeanetta Salbo
Nancy Schroeder
Susan Seefeld
Karen Sherman
Lara Snelling
Daniel Southwood
Susan Southwood
Lynne Spillinger
Paulanne Steinbeck
Phillip Swartz
Mara Unger
Rolf Ursin-Smith
Piera Von Glahn
Linnea Vonahn
Anna Webster
Rachel Wells
Sarah Wheeler
Nina Wooderson
Daniel York
Barbara Young
100 TO 149 HOURS
Annette Anzalone
Adam Bien
Brittany Bonstin
Lani Chan
Sarah Collings
Arlene Davis
Darren Davis
Olga Doctors-Cahn
Page Drummond
Diana Gallagher
Shirley Gans
Stephanie Helbig
Lynn Hutton
Chris Jeans
Cassidy Lang
Toni Madigan
Tracy Manheim
Trinka Marris
Joe Mayberry
Elizabeth McNally
Kathleen Moore
Melanie Piazza
Juanita Reynolds
Arthur Richardson
Joyce Rietveld
Theo Selig
Brenda Sherburn
Angela Siletto
Lee Sveinson
Kendra Walker
Lynn Webb
Colleen Weiss
Jan Wild
Laurie Wilson
Nancy Wright
Left to right: Western Rattlesnake anesthesia, Melanie Piazza; feather imping, Arlene Davis;
picking persimmons for animal food, JoLynn Taylor; foster care squirrel feeding, Alison
Annual Report 2004
VOLUNTEER SUPPORT
In 2004 more than 300 volunteers donated
over 35,000 hours of their time, valued at
over $314,000. We thank them all.
150 TO 199 HOURS
Anne Ardillo
Richard Berenter
Anne Boeri
Darla Deme
Cynthia Folkmann
Susy Friedman
Sunny Hill
Randy Hust
Denise Jones
Emily Kearney
Lynda Larsen
Lillian Lessler
Andy Loumbas
Celeste McAdam
Billie McGinnis
M.L Oxford
Corwin Parker
Mary Pounder
Katie Robinson
Linda Schmid
Raya Smith
Becky Smith
Alicia Snow
Don Thoman
Vicki Van Meter
Carson Young
Brenda Goeden
Livia McRee
Daniela Neville
Sarah Parker
Sarah Pattison
Jeanine Richardson
Dede Sabbag
Françoise Samuelson
Lori Saul
Lyanne Schuster
Stephen Shaw
Cathi Sim
Janet Sinnicks
Eric Slessinger
JoLynn Taylor
Victor Ullrich
Rebecca Yee
500 TO 999 HOURS
Mary Blake
Marian Eschen
Diana Manis
Cathy Perry
Monique Phillips
Marianna Riser
Jacquelyn Walton
1000 PLUS HOURS
200 TO 499 HOURS
Anne Barker
Caitlyn Bishop
Amy Blower
Lucy Burlingham
Sandra Christensen
Stephen Eding
Chelsea Fischbach
Vanessa Glidden
Veronica Bowers
Coral Cotten
Alexandra Godbe
Christine Margle
VETERINARIANS
Ken Bacon, DVM
Robert Erteman, DVM
Debra Scheenstra, DVM
Hermance; Terwilliger Nature Guides at Bothin Marsh, Alan Nayer; food preparation in the
clinic, JoLynn Taylor; volunteers admitting an animal in the clinic, JoLynn Taylor
www.wildcarebayarea.org WildCare 3
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
In 2004 over 3,089 individuals, businesses,
corporations, associations and foundations
provided the funding to support WildCare.
We thank them all.
$100,000 AND HIGHER
Estate of Eva Zuber
$25,000 - $99,999
DMARLOU Foundation
The Alexander M. and June
L. Maisin Foundation
$10,000 - $24,999
Anonymous
County of Marin
William H. Donner
Foundation, Inc.
Susan Gray
Glenn and Virginia Haldan
The Kanbar Charitable Trust
Marin Community
Foundation
Pacific Gas & Electric
Company
$5,000 - $9,999
The Bothin Foundation
Frog Crossing Foundation,
Inc.
Seven Springs Foundation
Vehicle Donation Processing
Center, Inc.
$2,500 - $4,999
Anonymous
Barbara and Richard Elam
Walter & Elise Haas Fund
Donald and Virginia
Humphreys
Center for Volunteer and
Nonprofit Leadership
Arthur H. Kern
Rathmann Family
Foundation
Unbroken Chain
Foundation
$1,000 - $2,499
Tommy Angell
Linda Applewhite and
Marshall Miller
Eva and Howard Arneson
Veronica Bowers and Lance
Groody
Mary M. Bachman and
William Downing
Joseph Barton and Jodie
Hawley
Deborah P. Benton
Barbara and Carl
Buoncristiani
Lorraine E. Cantor
Sanford Cipinko
Ransom and Glena Coleman
Thelma Doelger Trust for
Animals
Mary and Paul Elliott
The Margot Fraser Fund of
the Marin Community
Foundation
Marilyn Freund and Robert
Bloomberg
Fred Gellert Family
Foundation
Beverly George
Lisa and Douglas Goldman
Fund
Suzanne V. Golt
Mary M. Griffin-Jones
Holly and Christopher
Hollenbeck
Donald Hunt
Elizabeth Jennings
Kathleen and Joseph Jolson
Jean and Jack Kronfield
Juliet Lamont and Phil Price
Robert and Arabella
Levorsen
George Lucas
Marin Charitable Association
Marin County Wildlife &
Fisheries Advisory Committee
Frank and Eli Friedman, JoLynn Taylor; Nature Lovers Ball silent auction gift
basket, Bob Bloomberg; a music benefit at 19 Broadway in Fairfax, JoLynn Taylor
4 WildCare 415.453.1000
Robert and Frances Mayberry
Jane Miller
The Outdoor Art Club, Inc.
LouAnn Partington
Noel and Jeffrey Perkins
Frederick and Saga Perry
John and Ingrid Peterson, Jr.
Eleanore and James Plessas
Marvin Prager
Victoria Ann Rupp
Schultz Foundation
Lisa Heinz Tighe
Herb Walkup
William and Carollee Webber
Wells Fargo Bank
Karen Wilson and Todd Tash
Janet H. Willis
$500 - $999
American Express
Foundation
Anonymous
Patricia and Peter Arrigoni
Seth and Amy Barad
Burke and Jacqui BodaKeegan
Shirley and Peter Bogardus
Philip K. Brewer
Maynard and Katherine
Buehler
Hanna and Bruno Burgherr
California Land Title
Francine Castner
Terry and Zeo Coddington
Jeanne and Howard Cohn
David and Rebecca Conant
James A. Coyle
D’Argenzio Winery
Wendy and John Doughty
Kenneth Drexler
Martha and Anthony Eason
Environmental Federation of
California
Robert Erteman, DVM
Marian and Ingrid Eschen
Margaret Feldstein
Lindy Fung
Carole Haan
IBM International
Foundation
Amb. L. W. “Bill” and Jean
Lane
Philip A. Lathrap and
Roberta Davis
Sandy Lerner
Julie Malet
Marin Sanitary Service
Eugene and Sally Martens
Gordon and Betty Moore
Foundation
Tim and Nancy Muller
Soo-Hi and Alan Nayer
Richard and Charlie
Nerviani
Northern Trust Bank of
California
John and Tracy Novick
Carol Olwell
M. L. Oxford
Park Place Venture
Mary Pounder and
David La Tour
Randall Museum Friends
Prentice and Paul Sack
Seal Rock Inn
RoNelda and Larry Simmons
Brian and Suzanne Swift
Don and Helle Thoman
Daryl Thorogood
United Way of Tri-State
Unity in Marin
Ted and Betty Von Glahn
Janis L. Wild
$250 - $499
Ted and Helen Abe
Julie Allecta
Winifred & Harry Allen
Foundation
Ambrosia Pizza and Pasta
Anonymous
Architectural Coatings
John R. Arnold
Robert and Patricia Atkinson
Nancy Baker
Bank of America
Foundation, Inc.
Nancy Barbour
William H. Barnaby
Bartley & Bartley Insurance
Bruce Bell
Albert and Pamela Bendich
Alison Bers and August
Kleinecke
Mary Blake and Bart Miller
Margaret Bluth
Ronnie Bogart
Marilyn Brite
Jean Burns
Neil and Mary Burton
Robert and Elza Burton
Bus Stop Sports Bar
Meredith Cahn and Samuel
Doctors
Kristine and Martin Cain
Vicke and Glenn Campbell
Edward and Janis Cherry
Chevys, Inc.
Sandra and Coy Christensen
Gretchen and Robert
Christophel
Karen and Robert Coman
Ruth Lynn Craig
Maria Cunningham
Trudy Dixon
Carol Donohoe
Diana Dormas
Laurence Dreyfuss
Electra Foundation
Thomas Fegette and Nancy
Thomson
Leticia and Ford Fish
Jenna Fisher
Elton and Ruth Fox
Alison and Brock Fuller
Richard E. Gagnon
Patricia and James Gibson
Golden State Lumber, Inc
Maureen Groper
David Guggenhime
Charles Haas and Barbara
Moran
George and Candace Hirsert
Karl and Georgyn Hittelman
Martha and Peter Hollenbeck
Jack L. Hunt Automotive,
Inc.
Jeri Lynn and Jeffrey Johnson
Robert Kaliski
Constantine Kanis
Mary Kass
Kevin Kaster
Janet and Damon Kerby
Patricia and Kurt Kvam
Vincent and Amanda
LaManna
Marlene R. Langer
Brian and Gail Lanigan
Patricia and Richard Locke
Patricia and Lance Lollini
Ross C. Lovington
Justine MacLean
Marin Luxury Cars. Llc
Marin Solar
Andrew and Kathleen Mecca
Mechanics Bank of San
Rafael
Sharon and Steven Mulkeen
Ruth and Edmund Nash
Dolores and Richard Nave
Patricia and Alan Negrin
Gordon and Liz Neville
Sheila and Chris Nielsen
William K. Nisbet
Mary O’Brien
Jolyn O’Hare
Richard A. Passanisi
Peter Pepper
Jessie Peterson
Patricia Post and Martin
Vanderlaan
Peggy Tate-Poulos and David
Poulos
Michael A. Randolph
The Redwoods
Kimberly and Mark Resnick
Mary Roberts and Guy Diehl
William Robinson
Raymond C. Romano
Loreto Ryan
Dede and Richard Sabbag
Debra Scheenstra and David
Curtis
Richard A. Schiller
Delanna and Ray Schneider
Schumann Printers, Inc.
Christine Scott
Selig Education and
Environmental Fund
Diana W. Singer
Gail Smelick
Margaret Spence
Gary and Cathy Spratling
Caine and Anthony Starelli
Christine Staub
Ann and Ellis Stephens
J. D. Sullivan
Kathleen Taft and Doug
McConnell
Terwilliger Family
Kay Tsenin
Elfriede A. Tucker and Doris
Tucker
United Way of the Bay Area
Sharon Vick
Cynda and Chandu Vyas
Erika and Loren Walden
Edward and Jean Wall
Coralyn Weesender
Stephanie Weiss
Jane and Dean Woodman
Rose and Edwin Zacher
Jamie Zank
$100 - $249
572 donors
$1 - $99
2,262 donors
IN-KIND
GOODS AND
SERVICES
In 2004, WildCare
received over 500
donations of goods
and services from
more than 400 individuals and businesses valued at
greater than
$100,000.
Annual Report 2004
news and notes continued…
volunteer
ex t r a o r d i n a i r e …
Above: the new venue at the Presidio Officers’ Club in San Francisco for the
Nature Lovers Ball is a winner. Right: Zeva Longley was this year’s recipient
of the Terwilliger Environmental Award. Photos by Bob Bloomberg
V
What a Party!
WildCare’s 2005 Nature Lovers Ball
at The Presidio Officers’ Club was fabulous! The 2004 Terwilliger Environmental Award went to Zeva Longley,
Environmental Education Specialist at
San Rafael’s Canal Child Care Center.
Doug McConnell of Bay Area Backroads
acted as Master of Ceremonies, presenting the award on behalf of WildCare
and The Pacific Gas and Electric
Company, sponsor of the $2,000 award.
The evening sparkled with sumptuous food from Insalata’s, live music
from Funksway, and a stunning silent
auction. Thanks to event chairs Mary
Blake and Jan Wild, sponsors, guests,
auction donors and shoppers for making this great party a very successful
event. Funds raised will go to support
WildCare programs in the coming year.
Local Girl Makes Good!
Congratulations to Dr. Monie Yee
on her graduation from veterinary
school at U.C. Davis. Monie began volunteering at WildCare in 1995, and
after interning, worked for several years
here as a Wildlife Technician.
In 1999 she decided to go one
step further and entered veterinary school. We are also honored to say that it was at
WildCare that she performed
her first surgery as a fullfledged vet—removing a fish
hook from the Great Blue
Heron featured on page 11.
Dr. Monie Yee and Cindy Dicke prepare to
remove a fish hook from patient #0006.
Spring/Summer 2005
The Future is Yours to Give
If you are thinking about the
future, you can make sure that
WildCare will be there. You can
include WildCare in your will, estate
plan or charitable remainder trust. You
can see that children are taught to love
and respect their environment, that ill,
injured and orphaned animals are treated, and that the habitat you know and
love is protected. We can help. Contact
us at 415.453.1000, ext.13.
Corrections
Charles Jo’s Marin Beverage Outlet
was inadvertently omitted from the
Nature Lovers Ball newspaper thankyou ad. Thank you so much, Mr. Jo!
We’d like to correct two errors
made in the last newsletter. The S.F.
Zoo’s Eagle Breeding Program did not
end in 1995; it continues today. The
California Center for Wildlife had three
Executive Directors in the 1970s and
early 1980s—Bruce Blake, Alice
Katzung and the late Sammie Dunn.
eronica Bowers is a uniquely
dedicated volunteer. She specializes
in the foster care of insectivorous
songbirds, from hummingbirds to
woodpeckers. She accepts birds
from four other centers, and her
former guesthouse is now a small
hospital. Here she raises the babies
that need to be hand-fed every 30
minutes for 14 hours a day, and
nurses the injured adults who
require intensive specialized care.
Veronica juggles the feedings, cage
cleanings and treatments; her husband Lance transports birds on his
way to and from work. In summer
she may have 60 baby birds in care,
and 30 more outside in her aviaries.
As if all she does isn’t amazing
enough, Veronica does all of this
demanding and generous work out
of her own pocket, and is a board
member of the Madrone Audubon
Society, Sonoma County Chapter.
She owns and operates her own
chocolate shop, La Dolce V, where
she displays literature to help educate the public on wildlife, and frequently donates her delicious products (like a specially designed
“songbird bar”) and proceeds to
help WildCare raise funds.
Veronica joined us in 2002, and
we know how lucky that we are to
have her on our team. Probably
more important to her are the real
beneficiaries of her hard work and
dedication: the hundreds of birds
that she saves each year, giving
them a second chance at life back in
the wild.
www.wildcarebayarea.org WildCare 7
living with wildlife...
415-456-SAVE!
W
ildCare’s “Living with Wildlife”
hotline volunteers take hundreds of
calls each year from people in our community who have questions about... living with wildlife. Here are a few of our
most frequently asked questions.
Natural History Information
Q: I just saw a huge white rat in my
garden! Are my pets in danger of getting rabies?
A: That “big white rat” was probably really an opossum, and they are not
considered a rabies-vector species.
Although most mammals can catch
rabies, the majority of them are unlikely to be able to pass it on, because the
illness makes them susceptible to predators before they have the chance to
bite someone. The predators that eat
them, however, are often bitten in the
process and are a greater danger. Be
certain your pets’ vaccinations are current and that they are safely locked
indoors at night.
What You Can Do for
Wildlife in Spring
Do...
WildCare if you are uncertain
•callwhether
an animal needs help.
your pets away from fledgling
•keepsongbirds
and other wild babies.
for denning families before
•check
sealing crawl spaces.
Don’t...
wild animals
•relocate
•trimcan'ttreesseethat may hold nests you
•kidnap a healthy wild animal.
Nuisance Animals
Q: Something is digging
up my lawn. What is it
and how can I stop it?
A: It is most likely
raccoons, skunks or
opossums looking for
Rebecca Yee is one of WildCare’s Hotline volunteers who advises callers how to resolve
the luscious grubs they wildlife conflict issues. Photo by JoLynn Taylor
can hear moving in your
feeding it and calling to it. Should I
well-watered turf. The best solution is
bring in in?
to rid your lawn of the grubs. With no
food source to attract wild animals,
A: Unless it has been caught by a
they will search elsewhere. Garden sup- cat, probably not. You are witnessing
ply stores can help you find non-toxic
the natural behavior of a young bird
products to do the job.
that has just fledged. They discover
they can fly to the ground, but haven’t
Q: I hear something scratching in my
yet learned how to take off. The parent
attic or crawl space. I think there are
birds call to it and encourage it to learn
rats. How do I get rid of them?
the other half of the flight skill. Keep
A: Many wild animals will take
advantage of an opening in a warm, dry cats indoors for a few days; the parents
will continue to feed the fledgling,
house. Small gnawing animals such as
which will soon discover it can soar!
rats or squirrels can chew into areas in
Q: I found an injured animal on the
need of repair and pave the way for
road. What should I do?
larger animals like skunks and raccoons. As a homeowner, you have two
A: If it is a dangerous animal, such
options. You can kill the intruders or
as an adult deer, bobcat or coyote, a
you can exclude them. Relocating wild
local animal control officer (in Marin,
animals is no longer a legal option in
the Marin Humane Society) will be disCalifornia—even for professional
patched to bring it to WildCare for furNuisance Wildlife Control Operators!
ther care.
(NWCOs). Of the two choices, the only
If it is a smaller, less dangerous anione that works is exclusion. Killing the
mal,
such as a bird or a young animal,
intruder without fixing the problem
you
can
bring it to WildCare yourself.
will just invite another animal to your
Follow
these
guidelines:
door (or attic)! Using poison is very
toxic to the environment. Besides the
1. Don’t get out of your car if there is a
danger to pets and children, it enters
chance you could be injured or cause
the food chain and can kill other
an accident. Call the Marin Humane
species that feed on carrion (and who
Society at 415-883-4621.
doesn’t love a free meal?)
2. Protect yourself first. Use gloves and
a towel or blanket to get the animal
Sick, Injured or Orphaned
into a ventilated, closeable box.
Animals
Remember unconscious animals can
wake up quickly.
Q: There is a baby bird on the ground.
I think it is injured because it is hop3. Keep the animal warm. Do not give
ping around and the adult birds are
it food or water.
4. Transport it quickly and quietly to
WildCare—minimum talking and no
radios.
Whose Baby is That?
The babies are: 1) Turkey Vulture; 2) North American Ringtails; 3) Western Gull; 4) American Kestrel (orphaned); 5) Northern
Raccoons; 6) Barn Owls; 7) Short-tailed Weasels (orphaned); 8) Mexican Freetail Bat; 9) Western Gray Squirrel.
8 WildCare 415.453.1000
Spring/Summer 2005
just for kids...
Whose Baby is That?
ll of these baby animals
A
were brought into WildCare by
1
2
3
Sandra Christensen
Mike Trotter
Melanie Piazza
someone who found them.
Some of the babies are
orphans and will have to go
into foster care. But most of
6
7
Write the baby’s
number in the
white box on its
mom’s photo.
Answers on
page 8.
LouAnn Partington
8 JoLynn Taylor
5
9
Spring/Summer 2005
Mexican Freetail Bat Bob Bloomberg
Sandra Christensen
4 Steven Shaw
Sandra Christensen
the babies were found when
their mothers were out getting
food. Now their moms want
them back! Can you help reunite
the babies and their moms and
tell us which are the orphans?
JoLynn Taylor
Western Gull
Archive
Western Gray Squirrel Lucy Burlingham
Turkey Vulture
©
2004 Tom Greer
North American Ringtail Melanie Piazza
Barn Owl
Northern Raccoon
Sandra Christensen
Archive
www.wildcarebayarea.org WildCare 9
the environmental approach…
No Line Left Behind!
by Melanie Piazza, Director of Animal Care
A
mong the most heartbreaking
wildlife cases we see are those that
could easily have been prevented.
Prime examples of such preventable
10 WildCare 415.453.1000
suffering are those patients that have
swallowed a fishing hook or become
tangled in discarded fishing line.
Sandy Trapp
Animals entangled in fishing line
suffer from a variety of problems; the
monofilament line is shipped to Berkley
restricted ability to move can lead to
Recycling Collection Center in Iowa
drowning or starvation, vulnerability to
where the plastic will be recycled into
predators, infections and even limb
other products.
amputation as the animal struggles
Cardboard bins are provided free of
against the line. The increasingly large
charge by the recycler. WildCare is the
number of cases we see are just the
first facility in the Bay
ones lucky enough to
Area to have a monofilbe found and rescued.
ament line recycling bin
Like other forms of
available to the public!
thoughtless behavior,
Similar bins will be
discarded fishing line is
installed indoors in
also a danger to
tackle, bait and sporting
humans. There have
shops. For outdoor use,
been cases of divers
PVC recycling bins with
who have run out of air
instructions in both
before they were able to
English and Spanish
free themselves from
will be installed at varientanglement. Boaters
ous locations. Forester
are familiar with the
Engineering in San
damage, risk and
Rafael has agreed to
expense of line tangled
donate enough PVC
in propellers or a boat’s
pipe to make 30 bins
motor or bilge pump.
which will be conAnd of course the environment always suffers Cardboard bins like the one above are provided structed by WildCare
volunteers.
when littered. Plastic
free of charge by Berkley Fishing. WildCare
Our first partner in
monofilament can persist in the environment volunteers will construct PCV bins like the one this new program is
below. Photo courtesy of Monofilament Recovery The Marin Municipal
for up to 600 years.
& Recycling Program
Water District. MMWD
has requested bins for
WildCare Fishing
each
of
Marin’
s
reservoirs. They will
Line Recycling
monitor and empty the bins regularly.
Program
So, with a little luck and a lot of
WildCare’s new
hard work, it is our hope that
pilot program is modWildCare’s Fishing Line Recycling
eled on a monofilament
Program will be a success in Marin,
recycling program that
and that the program will eventually
has been successful in
spread throughout the entire Bay Area.
Florida. (Visit
Wildlife, environment and humans
www.fishinglinerecywill only benefit!
cling.org.) The used and tangled
If you would like to be a part of the WFLRP team, know of
Left: Pictures tell it all. It’s disheartening to treat the same
funding sources, or have contacts in the fishing community
preventable injuries over and over. Photos by Melanie
that could assist us in this effort, please contact me at
melaniepiazza@wildcarebayarea.org.
Piazza, Mary Pounder, Stephen Shaw, JoLynn Taylor
Spring/Summer 2005
#1654
Raccoon #1669 arrived at
WildCare on December 5 after Doug
Crowhurst reported the injured animal
to the Marin Humane Society.
Examination
at WildCare
#1669
revealed that
the young
male had been
shot in the
face with what
is thought to
be a shot gun.
Five steel projectiles were
Stephen Shaw
lodged in his
head and body. The animal seemed
blind in one eye; he staggered and circled to the left when trying to
walk and was unnaturally docile.
Medical staff were able to remove
two of the pellets. Volunteer veterinarian Ken Bacon advised
against any attempt to remove
those lodged in his brain.
Spring/Summer 2005
Stephen Shaw
On December 27,
when Raccoon #1654
had finally healed and
regrown enough fur in
the injured area to
withstand the winter
temperatures outside,
she was cautiously
introduced to raccoon
#1669. Young raccoons
are a social species; it was hoped the
two handicapped animals would bond,
keep each other warm, and encourage
physical improvements in each other.
The strategy worked. Both animals
showed steady improvement over the
next month. WildCare staff felt they
would make a more successful return to life in the
wild if they could be given
a supported release
together. A WildCare volunteer close to where the
animals came from was
able to provide that support, and on February 21,
the pair was released.
©2005 Erin Lubin
Great Blue Heron (#0006) was
captured by Keith Fraser at the Loch
Lomond Bait Shop and admitted to
WildCare on January 6, 2005. Fishing
line was wrapped around his lower
beak and a hook lodged in his upper
ventriculus. This bird was well-known
to patrons and staff at the bait shop,
who had watched him grow up as one
of “the locals.” They affectionately called
him Nasty, Jr.—the offspring of an older
bird they now referred to as Nasty, Sr.
for his fierce territorial behavior.
The line was cut and surgery
removed the hook; nearly a month of
antibiotics and supportive care prepared him for release. A band was
placed on his leg by the International
Bird Rescue and Research Center, and
he was returned to his neighborhood
on
February 2.
Nasty, Sr.
was on
hand for his
son’s homecoming, but
didn’t offer
much of a
welcome.
WILDLIFE NEEDS YOUR HELP.
he long daylight hours of
T
spring and summer mean long
hours of work at a busy wildlife
hospital. At this time of year,
orphaned wild babies need care
from dawn to dusk, and we need
volunteers who will
help clean, feed and
care for them!
As a WildCare
volunteer, you will
be trained to help in
Melanie Piazza
The plastic was removed from her
festering wounds and she began a
month of wound treatment and antibiotics. Xrays showed malformation of
her spine; prognosis for release was
guarded.
Stephen Shaw
Two Raccoons
were admitted last winter with serious injuries
caused by human carelessness and cruelty.
#1654
Bonnie Jo Cullison had
watched Raccoon #1654
for several weeks foraging with her mother and
a sibling as the young
animal grew larger and
larger within the constricting rings of a sixpack holder. Unable to
get close enough to
remove the piece of trash, this caring
rescuer finally managed to humanely
trap the suffering animal on November
22 and the Marin Humane Society
brought her to WildCare.
Melanie Piazza
patient
gallery
His wounds were
cleaned and he was
given supportive care
for several days before
he was moved to an
outdoor run to provide
the opportunity to
climb and redevelop
damaged neural pathways. His prognosis for
release was guarded.
all aspects of animal care, from
working directly with the animals to
doing support tasks like laundry,
dishes and answering phones. All
training is provided; no prior experience is necessary.
Call 415-453-100, ext.21 or
email volunteer@wildcarebayarea.org
to learn more.
Just four hours a week can
make all the difference to the recovery of an injured wild animal!
www.wildcarebayarea.org WildCare 11
April - August, 2005
S c h e d u l e o f E ve n t s
Museum and Courtyard
Programs
Terwilliger Nature Camps
Summer Camps, San Rafael
Wild Moms and Dads
June 13-17, 9am-noon, ages 3-4
Helping Hands for Wildlife
June 20-24, 9am-3pm, ages 10-12
Radical Reptiles
June 27-July 1, 9am-3pm, ages 7-9
Creatures of the Night
July 5-8, 9am-noon, ages 5-6
Wet and Wild
July 5-8, 1-4pm, ages 5-6
Helping Hands for Wildlife
July 11-15, 9am-3pm, ages 8-10
Awesome Avians
July 18-22, 9am-3pm, ages 7-9
Helping Hands for Wildlife
July 25-29, 9am-3pm, ages 8-10
Nature Detectives
Aug 1-5, 9am-noon, ages 5-6
Creepy Crawlies
Aug 1-5, 1-4pm, ages 5-6
Into the Woods
Aug 8-12, 9am-3pm, ages 6-8
Planet Protectors
Aug 15-19, 9am-3pm, ages 7-9
Animal Neighbors
Aug 22-26, 9am-noon, ages 3-4
Summer Camps, China Camp
Wildlife Adventures I
June 27-July 1, 8:30am-2:30pm, ages 8-10
Wildlife Adventures II
July 18-22, 8:30am-2:30pm, ages 10-12
Wildlife Adventures III
Aug 8-12, 8:30am-2:30pm, ages 10-12
Wildlife Ambassadors*
Ambassadors in the Courtyard FREE
Pool Bird feeding: daily 12:30 & 4:30pm
Raptors: daily 3-5pm, except
Thursdays
Corvids: every third Saturday, 1-3pm
(April 16, May 21, June 18, July 16, August 20)
Terwilliger Nature Guide
Programs
Fall Nature Guide Training
September 17–November 19
$50.00
Events
Spring Baby Shower*
Sunday, April 24, 1-4pm
Suggested donation $7 ($5 for members)
The Human Race
Saturday, May 7, 8-11am
Dining for Wildlife
Tuesday-Wednesday
May 17-18, 6-9pm
WildCare at the Farmers’ Market*
Marin Civic Center
Alternate Sundays, 7:45am-2pm
April 10 & 24
May 12 & 29
June 12 & 26
July 10 & 24
August 14 & 28
Joys of Hiking
Thursdays, 9:30am-2pm $45.00/series
Series VI: March 31, April 7, 11, 21
Series VII: May 12, 19, 26, June 2
Call 415-454-3250 or
415-883-4182
for reservations.
Wildlife Rehabilitation
Programs
New Volunteer Orientations
Orientation for Adult Volunteers, 1-5pm
One-hour orientation followed by
100–Introduction to Wildlife
Rehabilitation
$40.00
March 12
April 9
May 14
June 11
July 9
August 13
Orientation for Student Volunteers
Pre-registration is mandatory.
May 24 or 25, 7-8pm
FREE
Classes for Volunteers
101C–Zoonoses
$10.00
April 14, 6:30-8:30pm
May 19, 6:30-8:30pm
June 16, 6:30-8:30pm
July 14, 6:30-8:30pm
102–Basic Songbird Skills
$10.00
April 20, 6:30-8:30pm
May 25, 6:30-8:30pm
June 22, 6:30-8:30pm
July 20, 6:30-8:30pm
201–Wildlife Handling & Restraint $10.00
May 4, 6:30-8:30pm
June 8, 6:30-8:30pm
202A–Captive Care for Wildlife $10.00
April 27, 6:30-8:30pm
June 1, 6:30-8:30pm
June 29, 6:30-8:30pm
July 27, 6:30-8:30pm
203–Baby Mammal Care
$10.00
April 30, 1:30-3pm
207–Necropsy
$10.00
July 16, 1:30-3pm
217–Diet, Development and Related
Health Issues in Raccoons $10.00
May 21, 1:30-3pm
*Pre-registration is required for all programs and events except those noted with an asterisk.
Call 415-453-1000
Non-Profit Organization
U. S. POSTAGE
PA I D
Columbus, WI
Permit No. 73