Wild Care 's June E-News

View As A Webpage

JUNE 2023

Stephanie Ellis feeds the Osprey chicks.

PHOTO Kerry Reid

Harwich FD places two Osprey chicks into foster nest at Bud's Go-Karts. PHOTO by Sarah E Devlin

Osprey chicks ready to be placed into a foster nest at Bud's Go-Karts. PHOTO by Sarah E Devlin

Osprey chicks are placed in a foster nest in Brewster. PHOTO Kerry Reid

Watch the Osprey nest by the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History in real time

Empty Nester

Wild Care received two separate clutches of Osprey eggs from the USDA-APHIS that were removed from chimney nests in Falmouth and Osterville. The eggs were incubated at my home, and both clutches hatched two chicks that we placed into foster nests after they were a week old. The entire process has been exhilarating and stressful to say the very least! My heart is warmed by the amount of people that reached out to help give these chicks the best chance of survival in the wild and into a suitable nest with foster parents. This entire effort from hatch to nest took many weeks of hard work, some tears, and numerous resources.

Volunteer Carl Jacobs scouted out several potential nests for us, as did Kevin Friel and Barbara Pedian Schneider of The Osprey Project in Falmouth. The first two chicks are now safely in a nest at Bud’s Go-Karts in Harwich with the help of the Harwich Fire Department. The second set were placed in a nest at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History with the assistance of Bruce Beane, CCMNH Board Member and Volunteer. Sadly, one of these chicks passed away in the nest. We are not certain why. But our remaining single chick and the native chick to the nest nest are growing like weeds under very attentive parents.

We will be putting together a webpage dedicated to this incredible rescue story which will include all the details and amazing photos of this beautiful rescue mission.

Stephanie Ellis

Executive Director

WATCH Stephanie feed the Osprey chicks and talk about their rescue and care

BABIES! BABIES! BABIES!

Here are a few of the recent babies in our nursery...

American Robin fledglings

PHOTOS Kerry Reid

Baltimore Oriole fledgling

Eastern Screech Owls (juveniles)

Animal Ambassador Up Up

The one-and-only Garv!

Drawing winner Marlene Sharak

Wild Care Hosts a Wildlife

Baby Shower for Baby Animals

A great BIG THANK YOU to everyone that came out to support the Wildlife Baby Shower on Father's Day! We are still tallying it up, but by the truck-load of donations we received, we would say it was a big success!

It was so much fun to see all of the families, and friends enjoy getting a close look at our Animal Ambassadors, and learning more about what we do at Wild Care! Mallory the Mallard Duck, Garv and Terry the turtles, Up Up and Nickerson the Eastern Screech Owls all came out to meet everyone.

Guests were in for a treat, and enjoyed delicious vegan cupcakes from Herbivore Patisserie, yummy chocolate covered Oreos made by Gretchen Dietrich and the coolest ice cream ever from Good Times Cape Cod. They also took home Zinnia seedlings, and packets of pollinator seeds to start their own gardens.

Special thanks to UnderCover Tent & Party in South Dennis for keeping us covered, and Carol Wright for the beautiful decorations and flowers for our volunteers.

Everyone that brought a gift from the baby shower wish list was entered to win a basket full of goodies. CONGRATULATIONS to the winner of the basket drawing Marlene Sharak!!!

If you were not able to attend on Sunday, please consider making a donation. Our nursery is full of baby animals, and every dollar makes a difference.

Make a Donation to Wild Care's Baby Animals

PHOTOS Kerry Reid

WATCH the Common Loon in Wild Care's Therapy Pool

Common Loon Grounded

in Chatham Released

This beautiful male Common Loon in full breeding plumage was found grounded on a road in Chatham. Loons have legs that are set far back on their bodies which helps propel them while swimming, While this gives them an advantage in the water, they need to get a running start when taking off from land. This bird also suffered a puncture wound on its abdomen most likely from another male. He was treated with antibiotics and pain management, and given swim time in Wild Care’s therapy pool. We are happy to say that he made a full recovery and has been released.

This release was sponsored by Sarah Keith. Sarah is a realtor at Cape Cod Bliss Realty, and a Wild Care volunteer that is passionate about helping animals. She thought it would be impactful to tie the two together and sponsor a wildlife release as part of every property she sells. Thank you Sarah for this thoughtful gift, and all you do to help wildlife!

LEARN more about Common Loons

Our Newest Animal Ambassador Terry

Gets a New Sponsor!

THANK YOU to Inez Giles for her 2023 sponsorship of Terry, our Eastern Painted Turtle Animal Ambassador. Inez has been a dedicated friend to Wild Care for many years as part of our Fundraising Committee, and part of the Baby Bird Program. She is a kind, and compassionate person, and we are very grateful to have her support.

LEARN more about Terry here

Thank You for Your Service Julie O'Neil

We'd like to take the time to recognize Julie O'Neil. Julie recently stepped down as Wild Care Board Member after over 10 years of service! Julie has been with us as a volunteer since we moved to our current location in Eastham in 2003. She has served as Board Secretary and as a Director to the Board. She has volunteered for our Baby Bird Program, our Clinic, and as a Wildlife Helpline Volunteer, answering our busy phone line to assist staff.

Julie has a love of all animals, and a history being a wildlife ambassador. She spent 30 years as an independent photographer and writer, specializing in animal and family life. She also worked at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History for 7.5 years, volunteered with IFAW, the Cape Cod Bird Club, and Mass Audubon's Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. Wow!

Julie's kind heart, sweet personality and generosity make her beloved by all who cross her path. Julie has a special fondness for dogs and elephants. In her honor, and in celebration of her recent birthday, we adopted two orphaned elephants from Sheldrick's Wildlife Trust, in Julie's name. Thank you, Julie! We love you.

Nothing says summer on the Cape quite like watching a Cape Cod League baseball game! Head over to Eldredge Park in Orleans on Wednesday, June 28th for a fun night with the Orleans Firebirds as they show their support for Wild Care and the Town of Eastham.

Bring a Gift Card for Wild Care

Stop by the Wild Care table and say hello! We will be collecting gift card donations of any amount to purchase food and supplies for our animal patients from Shaw’s, Stop and Shop, Ace Hardware, Amazon, Chewy, Agway, CapeAbilities Farm, and Visa. Admission is free, and game starts at 6:30pm. Hope to see you there!

Van Rensselaer's Restaurant Hosts

Wild Care Night and Makes the Seagulls Very Happy!

We had a deliciously wonderful evening at Van Rensselaer's Wild Care Night. Thank you to everyone that came out to enjoy a meal and support Willd Care! THANK YOU to Diane and Peter Hall, owners of Van Rensselaer's for their generous donation of $900.00 from the evening’s sales!

Seagull Snacks

And thank you to Becky Alexander, Lead Line Cook at VR's and the "Mother of Seagulls". She loves gulls. She and her husband Chef Derek Langlois save all the fish and scallop scraps from the kitchen and donate them to Wild Care for "Seagull Snacks". Our gull patients and sea ducks get fed nothing but the best!

Photo: Diane Hall and Stephanie

Wild Care Goes to School

Monomoy Regional Middle School Learns - "What to Do, and What Not to Do When you Find Baby Wild Animals"

Wild Care’s Executive Director Stephanie Ellis gave a presentation to Monomoy Regional Middle School, Chatham about “What to do, and what not to do when you find baby wild animals.” In March students selected Wild Care as a Community Hero. We are truly honored by this recognition, and enjoyed getting to meet these budding wildlife advocates!

Wild Care Executive Director Stephanie Ellis Discusses the Harms of Using Rodenticides with Nauset Regional HS Green Club

Nauset Regional High School invited Wild Care’s Executive Director Stephanie Ellis to speak with the school’s Green Club about the harmful effects of rodenticides on wildlife. The students were encouraged to submit Letters of Testimony to the MA Joint Committee - Environment and Natural Resources in favor of several pending Bills aimed at regulating rodenticide use in MA.

We can all do something to give a voice for wildlife, and are extremely grateful to know that students like the NRHS Green Club also care deeply about the environment and all the creatures that inhabit it.

Read the letter submitted by Stephanie on behalf of Wild Care

Wild Care Receives

Penny Harvest Award From Ezra Baker Elementary

School Students

Students of the Ezra Baker Elementary School in West Dennis chose Wild Care as one of the recipients of their 2023 Penny Harvest. The goal of the Penny Harvest is for students to discuss issues that are important to them, and illustrate them on a slice of the student’s “Circle of Caring”. Students work together and decide on the charities that will receive a donation. “Every penny counts, every person counts, every voice matters.”. We are inspired by the thoughtful work that went into this project, and are so thankful for the generous $300 donation we received.

PHOTO ABOVE - Assistant Principal Ellen Flanagan on the left and the Cape Cod Five rep. on the right with the Circle of Caring

DONATE TO WILD CARE

Check out our Amazon and Chewy WISH LISTS and donate much

needed supplies to help the animals being cared for at Wild Care.

10 Smith Lane, Eastham, MA 02642

Email Us I. WildCareCapeCod.org

When in Doubt Please Call Us

508-240-2255

We Are Here To Help!