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| Wild Bunch Newsletter - February 2006 Wild Bunch wishes to give you a brief update of our activities during the month of January. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Virginia organization devoted to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of native wildlife. 83 acres in The Northern Neck of Virginia near the Rappahannock River serve as our wildlife refuge. The officers and directors are Erika Yery, Pat Crusenberry, Diana O'Connor, Charlene DeVol and Bonnie Brown. Erika received no wildlife in January, but received many calls about wildlife that had woken up from hibernation or winter sleep due to the unusually warm weather. Wild Bunch Wildlife Refuge took in and cared for 1 Coopers Hawk, 1 Bald Eagle, 1 Screech Owl, 1 Robin, 1 Barred Owl and 1 Kingfisher. Now is the time of year we complete repairs at our wildlife facilities and obtain equipment and supplies that will be needed for the upcoming rehab season. Unfortunately, we have lost the help of several key rehabilitators from our area and, as a result, we are expecting even greater numbers of animals to come into our care. We are currently in the qualifying process for the Combined Federal Campaign program. This is a yearly charitable donation drive for federal government employees, that benefits a wide variety of non-profit organizations. If we are included in this event, we hope to gain additional revenue to help fund our operations. Bonnie and Erika attended a wildlife rehabilitation education class on Fluid Therapy & First Aid Pearls that was conducted by Dr. Anne Hiss of Town and Country Animal Hospital in Fairfax, Virginia. A wildlife rehabilitator herself, Dr. Hiss has provided us with invaluable assistance in caring for several of our most injured and sickest wild orphans. Before the class, we presented her with a series of photographs of some of our orphans she has treated. We included pictures of the young animals with their serious injuries and of them later after being restored to good health and ready for release. Dr. Hiss had asked for such photographs to use on a display board at the animal hospital. The purpose of the display is to make the public more aware of wildlife concerns and to raise donations for a fund that helps area wildlife rehabilitators and veterinarians defray some of the costs of emergency medical care for wildlife. We are very grateful to Dr. Hiss for all her efforts on behalf of wildlife. Erika was the speaker at the Samuel Tucker Elementary School on a program called "Animal Magnetism". It was an introduction to native wildlife and their benefit for 22 elementary school children. It is rewarding for us to be able to interact with young children and help them to understand the important role that wildlife plays in their lives. Learning to co-exist with our wild neighbors is so vital in our world. This month's True Story on the website "The True Story of Three Severely Injured Wild Orphans and Their Miraculous Recoveries." It provides the heartwarming stories of Lawnmower Boy, a tiny raccoon that came into our care after he had been run over by a lawnmower; The Little Girl, a fragile young raccoon that came to us with a broken and infected hip; and Mr. Fox, a feisty little red fox that had suffered severe abdominal wounds. The story provides information on the significant efforts taken by us and veterinary professions to save these little wild orphans. It includes photographs of the severely injured young orphans and then as successfully rehabbed and releasable animals. We want to thank everyone that continues to help our wild friends. We are grateful for the donations that make it possible to help so many animals. We could not manage the large scope of work we must accomplish without your help and support. Financial donations to the refuge can be mailed to Wild Bunch Wildlife Rehabilitation, 402 W. Alexandria Ave., Alexandria, VA 22302-4204. We rely deeply on your support and appreciate everything you do to help us out. |
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