Wildlife Matters Quarterly newsletter of the St. Francis Wildlife Association St. Francis Wildlife is a local, nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of native wildlife through the rehabilitation of sick, injured and orphaned wildlife and public education since 1978. V. 14, No. 1 Winter 2015 Caring for wildlife for 37 years! P.O. Box 38160, Tallahassee, FL 32315 = 5580 Salem Rd., Quincy, FL 32352 www.stfranciswildlife.org = 850.627.4151 By Sandy Beck When pink azaleas and white dogwood flowers begin to bloom, Carolina Wrens carry nesting material to the hanging basket on your porch, and territorial Barred Owls shriek like banshees — staff and volunteers at St. Francis Wildlife sigh deeply and get one last, good night’s sleep. Why? Because these are signs that Wild Baby Season has begun. Baby birds are not cheep March through October, St. Francis Wildlife will rescue more than 1,600 orphaned wild babies. That is in addition to another 1,000 injured and sick adults. This is an expensive endeavor. Not just in terms of the endless hours dedicated staff and volunteers work. All these birds, mammals and reptiles require huge quantities of special diets, medical supplies, and more. Just how expensive are these babies? About $75,000. Unfortunately, like most non-profit organ- izations in this uncertain economy, our bank account has taken a painful hit. Just in tme for hatching babies — the Spring Hatch Match! An anonymous knight-in-shining-armor, who wants to ensure that St. Francis Wildlife has enough resources to make it through Wild Baby Season, will match every dona- tion we receive from March 1 st to March 31 st , up to $30,000! If all our current supporters, as well as local wildlife lovers who have not con- tributed recently, would make a donation now, St. Francis Wildlife will have no trouble giving every hawk, bobcat and opossum that is hit by a car; every bunny that has a run-in with a lawn mower; every fawn that gets caught in a fence; and every orphaned song- bird, owl, and grey fox — the care it needs and deserves. For four weeks only, March 1st to March 31st, your tax-deductible contribution to help local orphaned, injured and sick wild animals will go twice as far. $50 becomes $100, $100 becomes $200, and so on! We are counting on you to tell your friends, neighbors, and family about this opportunity to have their gift matched. How does it work? Mail a check to St. Francis Wildlife, P.O. Box 38160, Tallahassee, FL 32315. Donate online with PayPal at our web site: www.stfranciswildlife.org. Take your donation to our Wildlife Baby Shower, March 14th, at the Downtown Marketplace (See page 8. ) Your own Wild Match Party For a tax-deductible donation of $2,500 or more, we will present a wildlife program with six live owls and hawks at your location in Leon, Gadsden, Wakulla or Jefferson county in Florida, for you and your friends, family, school or business. To schedule your Wild Match Party, call us at (850) 627-4151. Together, we can do this. Together we will come through for the wild neighbors we all treasure. Spring Baby Hatch Match March 1 st to March 31 st , your donation to St. Francis Wildlife will be doubled! Baby fox rescued at Cascades Park When St. Francis Wildlife director and wildlife rehabilitator Teresa Stevenson received a call about a grey fox kit trapped in a deep drainage culvert at Cascades Park, she headed immediate- ly to downtown Tallahassee. When she arrived, Teresa quickly assessed the situation: The fox kit was wet, emaciated and looked weak, and the mother was nowhere in sight. She retrieved a 15-foot pole net from her truck and scooped up the baby. Teresa dried her, wrapped her in a warm blanket and brought her back to our wildlife hospital, where she was stabilized and given a stuffed cheetah to snuggle with (above photo). After a few weeks of nourishing food and TLC, the little girl was pronounced in great shape and set free in suitable habitat. PHOTO/Teresa Stevenson Orphaned baby Northern Mockingbird. PHOTO/Sandy Beck
Transcript
Wildlife MattersQuarterly newsletter of the St. Francis Wildlife Association
St. Francis Wildlife is a local, nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of native wildlife through the rehabilitation of sick, injured and orphaned wildlife and public education since 1978.
When pink azaleas and white dogwoodflowers begin to bloom, Carolina Wrenscarry nesting material to the hanging basketon your porch, and territorial Barred Owlsshriek like banshees — staff and volunteersat St. Francis Wildlife sigh deeply and getone last, good night’s sleep.
Why? Because these are signs that WildBaby Season has begun.
Baby birds are not cheepMarch through October, St. Francis
Wildlife will rescue more than 1,600orphaned wild babies. That is in addition toanother 1,000 injured and sick adults.
This is an expensive endeavor. Not just interms of the endless hours dedicated staff andvolunteers work. All these birds, mammalsand reptiles require huge quantities of specialdiets, medical supplies, and more. Just howexpensive are these babies? About $75,000.
Unfortunately, like most non-profit organ-izations in this uncertain economy, our bankaccount has taken a painful hit.
Just in time for hatching babies— the Spring Hatch Match!
An anonymous knight-in-shining-armor,who wants to ensure that St. Francis Wildlifehas enough resources to make it throughWild Baby Season, will match every dona-tion we receive from March 1st to March 31st, up to $30,000!
If all our current supporters, as well aslocal wildlife lovers who have not con-tributed recently, would make a donationnow, St. Francis Wildlife will have no troublegiving every hawk, bobcat and opossum thatis hit by a car; every bunny that has a run-inwith a lawn mower; every fawn that getscaught in a fence; and every orphaned song-bird, owl, and grey fox — the care it needsand deserves.
For four weeks only, March 1st toMarch 31st, your tax-deductible contributionto help local orphaned, injured and sick wildanimals will go twice as far. $50 becomes$100, $100 becomes $200, and so on!
We are counting on you to tell yourfriends, neighbors, and family about thisopportunity to have their gift matched.
How does it work?Mail a check to St. Francis Wildlife,
P.O. Box 38160, Tallahassee, FL 32315.Donate online with PayPal at our web
site: www.stfranciswildlife.org.Take your donation to our Wildlife
Baby Shower, March 14th, at theDowntown Marketplace (See page 8. )
Your own Wild Match PartyFor a tax-deductible donation of $2,500 or
more, we will present a wildlife programwith six live owls and hawks at your location
in Leon, Gadsden, Wakulla or Jeffersoncounty in Florida, for you and your friends, family, school or business. To schedule yourWild Match Party, call us at (850) 627-4151.
Together, we can do this. Together wewill come through for the wild neighbors weall treasure.
Spring BabyHatch MatchMarch 1st to March 31st, your donationto St. Francis Wildlife will be doubled!
Baby fox rescued at Cascades ParkWhen St. Francis Wildlife director
and wildlife rehabilitator TeresaStevenson received a call about a greyfox kit trapped in a deep drainage culvertat Cascades Park, she headed immediate-ly to downtown Tallahassee.
When she arrived, Teresa quicklyassessed the situation: The fox kit waswet, emaciated and looked weak, and themother was nowhere in sight. Sheretrieved a 15-foot pole net from hertruck and scooped up the baby. Teresadried her, wrapped her in a warm blanketand brought her back to our wildlife hospital,where she was stabilized and given a stuffedcheetah to snuggle with (above photo).
After a few weeks of nourishing foodand TLC, the little girl was pronouncedin great shape and set free in suitablehabitat.
Wildlife Matters, Newsletter of the St. Francis Wildlife Association page 2
Thank you from the bottom of our wild hearts for these donations.Because of space constraints we list donations of $100 or more; however, please know that we appreciate every single donation.
A special thank you to these veterinary hospitals
for their services= Allied Veterinary Emergency Hospital= Animal Eye Clinic = Alternative Veterinary Medicine= Bradfordville Animal Hospital= Mahan Animal Clinic= North Florida Animal Hospital= Northampton Veterinary Clinic= Northwood Animal Hospital
Shirley Louise AaronElizabeth D. AlfordCharles & MaureenAlldredgeKen & Carol AllmanLinda K. AndersonLinda S. AndrewsL&W Auto, LLCT. Earl & Jane BaconMrs. Mary Ann BarkerBarbara BarnettRaymond E. Bellamy, M.D.Carolyn & David BernathNancy Donovan & Susan BickfordUnited Way of the Big Bend, Inc.Carol & David BirnbaumNancy BivinsJoyce BoutwellJean Ann BowlingRobert B. BradnerDave BrightJames S. BrooksRuby G. BryantDeborah & Walter BunnellJudith O. BurgertSusan T. BurnWilliam and Sandra CalhounWilliam M. CarpenterJames and Kathleen CarrLinda and Frank CarterGrete M. CaseGen CemovicMiranda & Bill ChesserBillie June & Stephen ClarkPetina L. ClarkJohn McCarty & Jan CollierTeresa Bilek ColvinChanta CombsGlenda F. & James ConleyKent Brewer Consulting LLCStephanie W. CorryMs. Kelly CraftTimothy and Susan CrossPatricia CulbertsonEric Loevinger & Flora DanisiMichael DavidsonJohn and Iris DavisCharles and Maxine DealBetty & Michael DeCarloYueh-Lin DeGroveMoritz & Penny DehlerAnja DeLoachPaul DensonJudith & C. Henry DepewMartin DixJeff F. DodsonBilly DollarVirlindia DossRenee DuvalRobert & Cynthia DyarEducational Testing Service CaresEmployees
St. Marks Powder Employees Mark S. EvansGrayal E. FarrJulie FerrisLee Ann FerrisDebra S. FerstlerJohn FiedlerSean & March FisherKay & Bob FlynnC. David & Deborah FonvielleDLV Family Foundation, Inc. FSU Foundation, Inc. The Apple Lane Foundation The Duke Energy Foundation Daughters of the AmericanRevolution, Ft. San Luis ChapterConnie GaedeHavana Garden ClubElizabeth H. GardnerHester & John GehrmMs. Susan GlaserCarol Chenoweth & Mark S.Goldman
Jack Brennan & Elenita GomezKatharine E. GossmanKaren Graffius-AshcraftThe Sadler Family Fund, GrandRapids Community Foundation
Laurie A. GraselJohn H. GravesJewish Foundation of GreensboroJohn Greifenkamp, M.D.Amy GriffinPeg & Gary GriffinJeffrey Craig Shaw & Lynn GriffinOur Lady of Guadalupe FraternityBenjamin GunterJohn L. HainesKarin & Robin HamptonMichael & Judith Hanna
Bradley & Anna Marie HartmanEric J. HaugdahlChance & Joy HendrixSusan R. HenriksonBetty & John HernandezBetsy HewittWilliam & Kathy HirschRichard A. HixonMr. & Mrs. B.J. HodgeKen HodgesPeter & Ursel HomannAllie & Melanie HoweBernadine HowellKathleen S. HubbardCandace G. HundleyHelen Susanne HuntFrieda HutchisonThe Alternative Christmas Market,John Wesley United MethodistChurch
Susan & Jerry JohnsBarbara S. JohnsonAndrew Thomas JonesDr. & Mrs. David A. JonesRichard KearneyPaul & Deborah KeithRae KellyMichael & Deborah KennedyGeraldine M. KiddGordon & Melanie KleinRobert S. KlepperMichael & Susan KnightKathryn KonradMs. Audrey J. KuehlO'Brien Ladies GroupJudith LambPatterson Y. LambKristine Z. LamontJaneen E. LangleyMarion E. LasleyJennifer and John LaviaKaren & Michael LawrenceDave & Brenda LearRita LeBlancLinda & Ronald LeeBreno LeiteSandra LewisPattie Crenshaw & GlenLillibridge
James & Elyse LinnLynn LiskaDr. Charles & Carolyn LongDawn LucasSusannah LyleJeffrey MandelMeredith & Charles ManningHerb MarshallJimmy MartinBarbara MasonEdward & Wendy MathewsJacalyn MayneMarguerite McCauleyJean Williams & Daphne McClainRobin E. McDanielLeanna McEnearneyFranklin & Jean McGooganMichael McKinleyElsa & Meredith McKinneyJames & Nancy McNealJohn & Peggy McRaeRobin Fitzsimmons MengEnid H. MeyersCarol MilesDoug & Isla MilnerChuck & Patty MitchellPorter Scott MitchellBelita C. MoretonDr. & Mrs. Charles A. MorrisAnn & Donald MorrowCatherine Murray& Gregg MortonArianna MouradjianCrystal Wakoa & David MoynahanLarry & Pam NicholsKaren OehmeJarret & Sharon OeltjenLarry J. OvertonTalbot D'Alemberte& Patsy PalmerCeleste PaquetteCarolyn S. ParlatoGwynne Y. ParmeleePatsy A. PaschalSt. Stephen Lutheran Church,Pastor's Justice & Mercy Fund Karen Boggs Pelham& John PelhamEverall D. PerkinsDouglas PerryMargie V. PerryA.C. Phipps, Community CharitiesJeffrey S. PhippsJohn E. PhippsLaura PhippsMrs. Joyce Phipps
Barbara A. PonderKerri L. PostMary E. PowellSuncoast Garden Products, LLCSusan RalphMarian & Robert ReidGeorge & Ruth ReynoldsJohnny RichardsonRonald G. RicknerHarold C. RimesDeborah S. RingDiane RipandelliBruce RitchieJohn W. RobertsonDr. & Mrs. Jim L. RodgersMichael Buchler & Nancy RogersJessica RosenthalRichard & Donna RuscitoWilliam & Sheila RyanBette ScaringeKay & Clay SchnitkerTracy ScholesClaudia & John ScholzMs. Sharon SchwerzelFrederick J. Cuozzo& JJ SchweskaTina SeagerVivian ShartonSarah C. ShawFrances SheffieldEvelyn & William ShelleyPat SimmonsJennifer SindtMs. Diane SlaughterJoanne R. SnairTallahassee Film Society, Inc.Beverly B. SpencerElisabeth & Ray SpencerFred & Jayne StandleyBruce StaskiewsLuAnn StilesWilliam & Mary StimmelUnited Church of TallahasseeNative Nurseries of Tallahassee, Inc.Tara TanakaRonnie and Betty TappLarry J. TimmonsGulf Winds Track Club Robert T. TravisonJohnnetta TrescaGuy De La ValdeneRyan C. VenableTen Thousand VillagesJames & Virginia ViscontiFred VroomDonna Legare & Jody WalthallMs. Dorothy WebbMary A. WestEliot WiggintonStacy & Gene WilliamsDr. John L. & Linda M. WilliamsSamuel WisemanRichard & Jane WolfarthJames D. WolfeBob WoodwardByron & Chris WorkRhonda S. WorkSusan YeltonDavid & Mary J. Yon
IN MEMORY OFElizabeth Alice Quartz Hurd FromMarya and Kenneth KingFrederick and Kathleen SchmidtBill Bigler (Dr. William J. Bigler, Jr.)FromCarina BlackmorePatricia A. StokesSpringtime Tallahassee, Inc.Andrew Jackson Staff
Linda and Andres SantanaCarla & Jon CramerSusan YeltonBetty & Dean PickardRoberta M. HammondMr. & Mrs. H. C. HeathFromBarbara BarnettHelen StaskiewsFromBruce StaskiewsKaren Carter DreyfussFromDrs. Marci & Glenn BeckSally & Andrew Marks
Henry FullerFromKatie & W.C. WebbJack JohnsonFromKatie & W.C. WebbNorman BraswellFromMarylyn GresserGenny & Charles RosenbergDick & Phoebe IngramFred SchmidtJacalyn MayneLauren SampsonFromKatharine GossmanOtto SchweskaFromCharles N. McElroyBret & Jodi HartFrederick J. Cuozzo & JJSchweska
Friend & ArgosFromSue HenriksonZachary YordonFromSusannah Yulee Read LylePhilip Alfred PowellFromMary E. PowellDavid HowardFromSara StaskiewsMr. and Mrs TaylorFromWilliam and Kathy Hirsch
IN HONOR OFThomas E. Cox & Joseph A. KojisFrom Fred VroomCayden BevisFromHeather & Todd BevisCayden’s friendsJay WhitesellFromImogene & Richard PhillipsMelissa Thorpe FromElizabeth TatumRobert Davis and Karen Howes FromOur Lady of Guadalupe FraternitySandy BeckFromDr. Stephen & Sharon MargulisMary Lou LewisThe Mildred Block Levin FamilyPhilanthropic Fund of theJewish Foundation ofGreensboro, NC
Sue Gross FromJune Wiaz & Barry MolineLaura & Lisa Phipps & Rick Kiser FromJohn E. PhippsTara Tanaka FromSusan HensleyRhonda Work FromByron and Chris WorkRichard & Vanessa Crisler FromBetty EarnestEmily Shaw and John ShawFromEdith W. GriffinMargaret FallonFromAmanda Fallon
Hospital staff: (clockwise from top left)Teresa, Michelle, Ann, Sara, Mary. Notpictured: Kelley. PHOTO/Tara Tanaka
Winter 2015 Wildlife Matters, Newsletter of the St. Francis Wildlife Association page 3
St. Francis WildlifeFest 2015April 25th, 11 am - 4 pm
Admission1 adult - $25
2 adults - $40 Teens - $5
12 & under free
Buy Tickets at:Native Nurseries
1661 Centerville Rd, Tallahassee (cash or check)
or Online (PayPal) www.stfranciswildlife.org
Details at www.stfranciswildlife.org
ALL proceeds benefit St. FrancisWildlife rehabilitation center.
Birds of PreySnakes
Reptiles Amphibians
Nature tours & activitiesfor the whole familyLive music & dancing
Lunch by Kool Beanz Café
Face Painting ArtistWild Raffle
Celebrate Earth Weekand GO WILD! White Dog Plantation
Meet some of our very special wild patients. Photos by Teresa Stevenson
A beautiful, female bobcat was hit by a caron Hwy. 90 and suffered head trauma. After twoweeks of TLC in our wildlife hospital, she hadfully recovered and we released her in her origi-nal swampy habitat, further from the road.
A Canada Goose arrived with a fractured leg. Dr. Steverson at Bradfordville Animal Hospital operat-ed. Then we received another goose who had been hitby a car; she had a fractured tail bone. In the hospital,we put them together so they would have company.Later, they were moved to an outdoor cage with a pool.
Anytime we took the goose with the broken leg tothe vet for a check up, the other one started honkingand did not stop until her friend returned.
When they recovered, we released them together,one limping a little and one with a crooked tail (theywere easy to spot). They swam away together. Wereturned four days later; they were there together. Onemonth later, they were still there together!
Three orphaned, baby screech owls wereraised at St. Francis Wildlife. When they wereable to fly and catch their own prey, they werereleased in their original habitat.
This gopher tortoise was hit by a car andhad spinal trauma. An x-ray showed that she alsowas carrying 13 eggs. We released her when shehad recovered and had also laid her eggs.
A baby opossum arrived with a fracturedfemur. She completely recovered and wasreturned to the wild when she was old enough toeat on her own and find her own food.
Winter 2015 Wildlife Matters, Newsletter of the St. Francis Wildlife Association page 4
Animals have always been my passion.While growing up in Jayuya, a small, beauti-ful town in the mountains of Puerto Rico, Irescued domestic animals.
After I received a BS degree inMicrobiology from the University of PuertoRico, Mayaguez Campus, I spent most of myfree time volunteering on conservation proj-ects and at a veterinary clinic. But never haveI had an experience like I am having now,volunteering at St. Francis Wildlife.
In, 2013, I moved to Florida to continuemy graduate studies and learned about St.Francis Wildlife.
I arrived at the beginning of baby sea-son. The first thing I learned was how to feedand care for baby squirrels and songbirds. Itis very exciting and rewarding to nurture suchfragile creatures and to see them open theireyes for the first time.
Teaching them to eat by themselves byencouraging natural behaviors is a delicatetask, but fun at the same time. When it isfinally time to release them, and I see themstrong, wild and free, I think, “Wow, we madethis happen.”
The first raptor I worked with was ababy Mississippi Kite with an injured wing.Since Mississippi Kites feed while flying, at
the beginning I had to hand feedhim while also being very carefulnot to imprint him.
Every day I found a new wayto encourage him to become moreindependent, stronger and wilder.It was also a race against time,hoping that he would be healedand rehabilitated in time to jointhe mass fall migration of hisspecies back to South America.
I was not there when he wasreleased; there were too manyother animals that needed attentionin the hospital. However, Iwatched with joy the video ofSandy Beck finally letting him flyfree, and I cried. I still wonderwhere in the world he is now andwhat he is doing. It is inexplica-
bly rewarding to know I played a part. What is the best part about volunteering
at St. Francis Wildlife? I don’t have a singleanswer. Of course, working with wildlife isamazing, but so is the opportunity of workingwith a wonderful, friendly staff who arealways willing to teach me and help me andwith whom I share a love of animals.
Every day at St. Francis Wildlife I fall inlove with wildlife and find a new reason toprotect it. Every animal released back to thewild is a small, personal triumph. I will cher-ish this experience forever.
Cecil Torres-Castro feeds two young Mississippi Kites.PHOTO/Tara Tanaka
St. Francis Wildlife volunteers realize privilegesfew people enjoy By Teresa Stevenson
Whether your interest is a one-time proj-ect or a long-term commitment, workingfrom home or at our wildlife hospital —there’s a place for you at St. Francis Wildlife.And whatever your skill is, we can use it!
One-time jobs could include clearing atrail, painting, pressure washing, buildingcages, mowing or sewing.
If you have just a few hours here andthere, you could transport wildlife from vet-erinary clinics to our facility, clean cages, dolaundry or help at one of our public events.
If directly caring for wildlife is whatinterests you, you must be reliable, at least18, and have no immune deficiency diseases.You also need your own health insurance,transportation and the ability to commit to ashift of least four hours per week.
Animal care volunteers study our volun-teer manual, and then work alongside a staffmember or experienced volunteer.
While it is an amazing experience tofeed baby animals, much of our time is spentcleaning — what goes in, always comes out!
St. Francis Wildlife volunteers realizeprivileges few people enjoy — up-close andpersonal experiences with wildlife. For moreinformation or to schedule volunteer training,please call us at (850) 627-4151. We need you!
Every animal released backto the wild is a small, personal triumph.By Cecil Torres-Castro
Dr. Kitty Remington ofNorthhampton Animal Hospital, is picturedhere with “Jamaica,” the disabled Red-tailedHawk, a treasured member of our educationprogram. Dr. Remington is one of several local veterinarians who generouslydonates her time and resources to help St.Francis Wildlife’s injured, orphaned and sickanimals.
Winter 2015 Wildlife Matters, Newsletter of the St. Francis Wildlife Association page 5
850.229.0229www.electronet.net
The best little spot inTallahassee to store your stuff
2424 Monticello Dr.Tallahassee, FL850-385-7266
Meet Pat Simmons,new president of St. Francis WildlifeBoard of Directors By Sandy Beck
In 2006, when Laura Phipps was invitedto join our Board of Directors, she acceptedimmediately and soon was elected as president.
“St. Francis Wildlife has always helpedme with the animals I have found over theyears. I just gave money and came to all thefunctions, but I never volunteered,” she said.
For the last nine years, Laura has beenan exemplary board president, involved innearly every aspect of St. Francis Wildlife.She also provides a safe release site for reha-bilitated wildlife on Ayavalla Plantation.Skunks, owls, deer . . . many displaced ani-mals have found refuge on the Phipps plantation.
This year, Laura turns over the role ofpresident of the Board to Pat Simmons.
Pat works at the Florida Department ofHealth as a field representative for viral test-ing and develops and conducts training. Sheis a passionate animal lover who has volun-teered and worked with many local organiza-tions, including St. Francis Wildlife, theTallahassee Museum, and the TLC animalshelter, and does volunteer search and rescue.
Her buddy, Pete, a beagle hound mixadopted from the Tallahassee-Leon
Community animal shelter (one of her fourrescued pets), and she are certified trackerswho switched from searching for missingpeople to missing pets.
“Over the past five years, Pete and Ihave helped over 400 people recover theirlost critters, reducing the number of animalswinding up in local shelters and keeping fam-
ilies intact. Today, we arewinding down our searchcareers as I concentrate moreof my time on St. FrancisWildlife,” Pat said.
“About 40 years ago,Mary Jane Mahoney [aka MaryJane Shaw], who started St.Francis Wildlife, asked mypartner and me if we wouldlike to learn how to raise babysongbirds, squirrels and opos-sums. We jumped at the oppor-tunity, and I have been activein one capacity or another eversince.”
What does Pat see as St.Francis Wildlife’s greatestneeds?
“St. Francis Wildlife(SFW) has diligently servedthe communities of Leon,Gadsden and Wakulla for fourdecades, but today, like manynon-profit agencies, SFW
faces an economic crisis. “To maintain our level of service, we are
working extra hard to seek the continued andenhanced support of our communities. To thatend, the board is introducing new opportuni-ties for SFW stewardship.
“I hope SFW will also continue partner-ing with local governments and enter intonew partnerships with other wildlife agencies.
“I'd like people to know that every timethe injured owl or opossum you find on theroad is given a second chance to live and thenis released back into the wild, this is madepossible only because of the dedication of ourgreat staff and volunteers and your donations.
“To ensure that our services will contin-ue for another 40 years and beyond, pleaseget involved. Give whatever you can give. Dowhatever you can do. But get involved.”
We would also like to welcome JudyGillan, Ann DelRossi and Dr. Mitch Potter toSt. Francis Wildlife’s Board of Directors. Welook forward to introducing them in the nextissue of this Wildlife Matters newsletter.
As a St. Francis Wildlife education volunteer for manyyears, Pat Simmons has helped teach the public about“Bubo,” our disabled Great Horned Owl.
PHOTO/Sandy Beck
Welcome home TeresaStevenson!
Our director and wildlife rehabilitatorreturned to Florida after spending one yearexperiencing Alaskan wildlife and wilderness.She volunteered with U.S. Fish & Wildlifeand traveled the entire state in a camper withher two dogs. Here she is with a baby squirrelwith a fractured jaw for whom she made anElizabethan collar!
Winter 2015 Wildlife Matters, Newsletter of the St. Francis Wildlife Association page 6
We offer innovative wildlife programs presented by an award-winning educator that meet the needs and interests of a variety of audiences—school groups, special events, club meetings and conferences.
We presented more than 60 Wild Classroom programs in 2014. Our programsfeature live birds of prey and reptiles from St. Francis Wildlife and promote anappreciation and understanding of native wildlife. Post-program lesson plansare available for teachers. During the school year, our calendar fills up quickly,so we recommend scheduling early.
E. O. Wilson2701 N. Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32303850-385-5141
I love Barred owls. I love their soulful,brown eyes and the way they sail through ourmoonlit forest on silent wings. I love theirhomebody ways. These large, round-headedowls never roam far from the nest site wherethey raise their babies every spring.
I am often lulled to sleep by a pair’s inti-mate exchange: Who, hoo, hoo-hoo — whohoo, hoo-hoo AWW. But then suddenly, oneswoops down and lands on a branch aboveCedar’s cage, and the owlsong erupts into a
cacophony of cack-les, barks and mon-key-like screams.Translation: “Thisis our forest! Leaveimmediately beforewe kick your feath-ers to Georgia!”
Cedar — ourdisabled, residentBarred Owl —hoots back loudly,“I was here beforeyou were born. Iwas here beforeyour mama wasborn. And I am notgoin’ anywhere!”This girl is a sur-vivor, and she hasspunk.
Now, I do notclaim to be a fluentspeaker, but after26 years, I have apretty good graspof the local BarredOwl dialect. How
did I come by this?Almost 30 years ago, St. Francis
Wildlife rescued two adult Barred Owls.Victims of separate automobile collisions,each had one badly damaged wing that wasirreparable. For the next few years, the dis-abled owls lived at St. Francis Wildlife.
When a grant from the Florida AdvisoryCouncil on Environmental Education fundedSt. Francis Wildlife’s first education programand I became their educator, these two BarredOwls, who had bonded, became my assistantteachers.
With the required federal and statewildlife education permits in hand, my hus-band built a large, outdoor enclosure on ourwooded property, and the owls moved in. Wenamed the smaller male, “Cypress” and thelarger female, “Cedar” — female raptors arealways larger than males.
Over the years, more disabled animalsjoined St. Francis Wildlife’s Wild Classroomprogram — owls, hawks, crows, opossumsand others. But Cypress and Cedar were pioneers.
These owls have taught thousands in ourcommunity, children and adults, to appreciate
their amazing adaptations — extraordinarynight vision, acute hearing, raucous andunnerving language, powerful feet and sharptalons, soundless flight — and how to coexistwith our nocturnal neighbors.
Like all owls, Barred Owls mate for lifeand become exceptionally attached to theirpartner. They cuddle and preen one another,even when they’re not actually breeding.Cypress and Cedar were no exception.
When Cypress passed away severalyears ago, Cedar grieved. But her “job”pulled her out of her depression. More thanany other member of the Wild Classroom,Cedar appears to enjoy visiting schools. Atpublic events, she relaxes on her perch andgazes intently at every visitor. In fact, weoften hear, “Is she real?”
So, how long do Barred Owls live? Ingeneral, wild animals have relatively shortlifespans; 80 percent will not see their firstbirthday. Finding enough food, avoiding pred-ators, dodging cars and power lines — it’s atough life. If a Barred Owl lives five years, ithas a pretty good chance of living anotherfive. According to the Cornell Lab ofOrnithology, the oldest Barred Owl on recordwas about 24 years old. Cedar was an adultwhen she arrived at St. Francis Wildlife, soshe is at least 30 years old.
I sometimes wonder if Cedar wasunlucky to have been hit by a car or lucky tohave survived and lived an exceptionally long“second life” as a wild teacher.
What I do know is that besides being anextraordinary ambassador for her species,Cedar has taught us, by example, how toaccept what life deals out with personalcourage and grace.
One BarredOwl’s remarkablestoryCedar, at least 30 yearsold, may be the oldestliving Barred Owl in theUnited States.
By Sandy Beck
Above, Cedar and her friend Cypress in 1989. Photo/Sharon Broderidge. Below, left: Cedar and an admirer at a recent event at Native Nurseries inTallahassee. Photo/Sandy Beck. Below, right: Sandy introduces Cedar, an owl with a disability, to Katie, a child with a disability, and her teacher Laurie Brennan at GretchenEverhart School.
Winter 2015 Wildlife Matters, Newsletter of the St. Francis Wildlife Association page 7
Donation Form Mail To: St. Francis Wildlife Association P.O. Box 38160, Tallahassee, FL 32315
Home Address_________________________________________________________
City_______________________________ State_______ Zip Code_______________How would you prefer to receive our quarterly newsletter, Wildlife Matters? ____ I prefer to have a printed copy of Wildlife Matters mailed to my home.____ I prefer to read it on-line. (It is a large PDF file.)
Please check the appropriate box and return this form with your tax-deductible donation.
Donor Levels: cChickadee $35 cBunny $50 cBluebird $100 c Screech Owl $250 c Fox $500
cGopher Tortoise $1,000 c Fawn $2,500 cPeregrine Falcon $5,000 c Bald Eagle $10,000Please contact me about: c Volunteering c Education Programs (Winter 2015)
From March 1 - March 31, 2015, your donation will help wildlife twice as much!
Your tax-deductible donation to St. Francis Wildlife ensures that we’llbe only a phone call or a short drive away when you find a baby bird in youryard or see an injured fox on the road.
St. Francis Wildlife is the largest and most respected wildlife rehabilita-tion facility in north Florida. We’ve provided this invaluable service to ourcommunity for 37 years, but we can’t do it without your help. Please renewyour annual support for St. Francis Wildlife today by sending a check withthis Donation Form (below) or by making a secure online donation withPayPal at www.stfranciswildlife.org.For your tax-deductible donation, you will receive: our Wildlife Matters
newsletter and the satisfaction of helping local wildlife unable to care for them-selves. And now, from March 1 to March 31, a generous, anonymous donor willmatch every donation, up to $30,000. So your $100 automatically becomes $200and so on. For details, please see the Spring Baby Hatch Match on Page 1 of thisnewsletter. Thank you!
A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800.435.7352) REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT,
APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
Most Common ProblemsNest or habitat destruction,orphaned, collisions with motorvehicles, cat attacks, dog attacks Owls44 Barred Owls, 11 Eastern ScreechOwls, 11 Great Horned Owls Diurnal Raptors4 Bald Eagles, 4 Broad-wingedHawks, 4 Coopers Hawks, 9 Mississippi Kites, 2 Osprey, 23 Red-shouldered Hawks, 17 Red-tailed Hawks, 8 TurkeyVultures, 8 Black VulturesExamples of Songbirds,Woodpeckers and Blackbirds36 Blue Jays, 186 Carolina Wrens,5 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds,27 Chimney Swifts, 85 NorthernCardinals, 84 NorthernMockingbirds, 36 Eastern
We cared for 2,907 wild birds, mammals and reptiles in 2014 St. FrancisWildlifeReceives DukeEnergy grant
Bobby Pickels,Duke Energy’sDistrict Managerfor NorthFlorida, presentsa $5,000 checkto St. FrancisWildlife’s director, TeresaStevenson and“Rudy,” a Red-shoulderedHawk. Thankyou, Duke, foryour very gener-ous donation!
Gift Certificates• Stone’s, Lowe’s or Home Depot • Native Nurseries • Wild Birds Unlimited• Panhandle Pet Supply• Costco• Squirrelsandmore.com• Foxvalleynutrition.com• Walmart or Target
Food/Feeding• Unsalted peanuts in the shell • Raw, hard-shelled nuts, like walnuts,pecans, hickory • Black oil sunflower seed • Wild bird seed • Keet seed• Cat and dog food (dry and canned)• Baby food: only fruit, vegetables, and
chicken (no noodles, beef, gravy, etc)• Eggs • EXACT powder (formula for baby
birds)• ESBILAC powder (puppy formula)• Plain and fruit yogurt• Live or dried worms and crickets• Deer pellets• Happy Horse pellets• Waterfowl maintenance pellets• Waterfowl starter mash• Ziploc bags (quart & gallon, freezer)• Jar lids, all sizes, plastic only• Plant pot saucers, all sizes, plastic or
ceramic• Heavy, stoneware bowls that animals
can't knock over
Cleaning Supplies• Laundry liquid detergent (unscented)• Bleach, unscented • Heavy-duty 39 gallons trash bags • Paper towels • Dish soap• Pine Sol• Odoban • Scotch-brite heavy duty scrub sponges• Surgical gloves (medium size)• Hand sanitizer• Rakes• Heavy duty hoses
Animal Housing• 10-gallon aquarium tanks with tops
• Heating pads, not automatic shut-off• Humane live traps • Baby blankets • Unfrayed T-shirts, sweatshirts, pillow
cases, top sheets, towels, baby blankets. No buttons, zippers, elastic.
If you find sick, injuredor orphaned wildlifeYou can—
= Call us at850.627.41518:30am to5pm.
= After 5pm,call our “After-hours RescueHotline,” 850.933.2735.
= Take it to our wildlife hospital, 4 miles NW of Havana, between 8:30 AM and5 PM. Directions at www.stfranciswildlife.org.= Take it, 24/7, to the Northwood AnimalHospital, 1881 N. Martin Luther King Blvd.,Tallahassee (just north of the Post Office).
Important Information= Transport wildlife in a warm, dark boxwith holes punched in the lid. Keep it quiet,and handle it as little as possible.= NEVER feed it or give it water.= NEVER handle raccoons, foxes, bats orany mammals (even babies) that could carryrabies. CALL US. Squirrels, opossums and rab-bits are very uncommon rabies vectors.
= When calling to report an animal injured on a road, note exactly whereit is, i.e.“1.4 miles west of exit 27 on the northside of I-10,” and, if possible, leave a marker,such as a towel tied to a tree limb.
For more information about wildlife rescue:www.stfranciswildlife.org
Wildlife MattersEditor and Layout
Sandy BeckWriters, Photographers & Artists
Sandy Beck, Sharon Broderidge, Brian Bryson, Lincoln Karim, Teresa Stevenson, Tara Tanaka,
Cecil Torres-Castro
ProofreadersLouise Barker, Barbara Barnett,
Bob Beck, Judy Gillan
PrintingPost Searchlight Printing, Bainbridge, GA
Mail ProcessingModern Mailers, Tallahassee, FL
This newsletter of the St. Francis Wildlife Association is mailedto our supporters and is also available at local businesses and online atwww.stfranciswildlife.org. To place a business ad or to send letters to
Calendar of Events Saturday, March 14, 9 am - 2 pm 13th Annual Wildlife BabyShowerDowntown Marketplace, Park Avenue & North Monroe Street= Help us celebrate our 37th Baby Season. = Live animals! = Learn how to help wild babies. = Unique t-shirts and children’s books forsale. = Please bring a baby gift from our Wish Liston Page 7, or a monetary donation. Allmonetary donations will be matched (doubled!) by an anonymous donor!
Saturday, April 18, 9am - 4 pm Wakulla Wildlife Festival, “Wings Over Wakulla”Wakulla Springs State Park. Please visit ourtent with our spectacular birds and uniqueitems for sale. We will also present two raptorprograms, Owls Are the Tigers in the Sky at10:30 am and Talon Talk at 2:00 pm. For ticket prices and other details, go to: www.wakullawildlifefestival.com
Saturday, April 25, 11am - 4 pm St. Francis WildlifeFestCelebrate Earth Week with St. FrancisWildlife at beautiful White Dog Plantation. Please see Page 3 and www.stfranciswildlife.org for details.
= Modern Mailers for their mailing services.= ElectroNet for our web site & email.= COSTCO for donating fresh produce.= DQP for discounted printing services.= Post Searchlight Printing, Bainbridge, GA,for discounted printing of this newsletter.= Gulf Winds Track Club for donating the pro-ceeds of their annual Prefontaine 5K Forest Run.=Donna Hansell for donating a new refrigerator = Stewart TV & Appliances, Quincy, FL, fordonating a microwave and refrigerator.= Ron&BettyTapp for donating a new utility trailer.= Sharon Mukoyame for donating a new generator.= Justice Administrative Commission fordonating 2 large stand-alone copiers, 4 ergonom-ic office chairs & 2 overhead projectors. = Donna L. Antolchick, “The Fix-it Chick,”for donating free paint and her time to paint theinside of our wildlife hospital.= Tallahassee Film Society for donating pro-ceeds from their showing of “Pelican Dreams.”= Cayden Bevis for donating his birthday pres-ents to the animals at St. Francis Wildlife!= Katharine Gossman for donating a truckloadof brand new hospital and office supplies.= Good Shepherd Parish Vacation BibleSchool children for raising & donating $230.07!= United Church of Tallahassee members andfriends for their generous donation.= Annika and Max Kolar for donating pro-ceeds from their lemonade stand to the animals.= Daughters of the American Revolution,Fort San Luis Chapter for their fundraiser andvery generous donation.
Is bird hurt or sick (unable to flutter wings; bleeding, wings drooping unevenly; weak or shivering; attacked by cat/dog?)
Is bird feathered?
No Yes
Call St. Francis Wildlife (850)627-4151
NoYes
It’s a fledgling.(Normal behavior to be hopping on ground; parents are still feeding it.)Is bird safe from cats, dogs and people?
It’s a nestling.(needs help!)Can you find the nest?Is it intact?
Make a substitute nest. Poke holes in bottom of berry basket/margarine tub; line with dry grass, the old nest, or pine needles; hang from original or nearby tree.
Put baby in nest.Observe from a distance.Are parents visiting nest?
NoYes
Call St. Francis Wildlife (850)627-4151
Leave the area.Baby is OK.
Adapted from Healers of the Wild: People Who Care for Injured and Orphaned Wildlife, By Shannon K. Jacobs
injured, call St. Francis • Wildlife. If baby is separated from the mother and youknow where she is, place baby close by so she can hear it. Watch from a distance.If the mother is not found or does not claim the baby within an hour, call St. Francis Wildlife.
A baby’s best chance for survival
is its mother
No Yes
Put baby back in nest.Observe from a distance.Are parents visiting nest?
No
Yes
Leave the area.Baby is OK.
No Yes
Leave the area.Baby is OK.
Put bird in bushes or on a tree limb nearby.Watch from a distance.Are parents nearby?
