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.

V. 17, No. 2 Spring 2017

Caring for w

ildlife

for 39 years!

P.O. Box 38160, Tallahassee, FL 32315 = 5580 Salem Rd., Quincy, FL 32352www.stfranciswildlife.org = 850.627.4151

It’s raining baby owlsBy Sandy Beck

Wild baby season is in full bloom. At sun-rise, the air throbs with birdsong as male song-birds passionately sing to their mates.

St. Francis Wildlife is kept busy rescuingbaby birds that fall from their nests. When wereceive a call about a baby bird on the groundwe first try to determine the bird’s stage ofdevelopment. A nestling has a thin coat ofdown feathers. Older nestlings have down andtheir first flight feathers. Branchers, whichhave flight feathers and are almost old enoughto leave the nest, begin hopping on treebranches. Fledglings are just beginning to fly.

If the bird is a brancher, parents will con-tinue to protect and feed it on the ground untilit can fly. We advise the homeowner to watchfrom a distance with binoculars and to keepchildren, dogs and cats away.

If a nestling is uninjured, we advise peopleto return it to the nest. It is a myth that the par-ents will reject their young if humans touch it.Most birds have not evolved a good sense ofsmell (Turkey Vultures are an exception), andeven if they could smell you, their strong nur-turing instinct would prevail. If the nest isunreachable or destroyed, tie a plastic berrybasket to the shady side of a tree, line withdried leaves, place the nestling inside and

monitor it from a distance. If the baby is truly an orphan, or if re-nest-

ing is not an option, then we will raise it in ourwildlife hospital with others of the same species.

Re-nesting a bird of prey nestling — hawkor owl — is pretty tricky; its nest is usually atthe top of a tall tree, and the protective mothercan be aggressive. That’s when we call ourgood friend and valuable partner, BillArmstrong Tree Service. Bill generouslydonates his services, crew and equipment tohelp St. Francis Wildlife whenever we call.

This season, Bill and his crew have alreadyhelped us reunite three owlets with their families.Their stories are heartwarming.

Barred Owls on Concord RoadMickey Phillips stepped outside his office

at Adventures in Advertising and saw some-thing “white and fuzzy” on the ground.

“I looked up, saw an adult owl in the treeand realized it was her baby so I backed awayand called St. Francis Wildlife,” he said.

When Michelle Robinson arrived, sheexamined the baby from head to toe, whilekeeping an eye on the mother. The tiny, downyBarred Owlet was uninjured and needed to gohome.

When I received Michelle’s call, I tossed aplastic laundry basket in my car and arrivedshortly before Bill Armstrong, his wife PamHoumere, and their crew.

Ben Pellor operated the bucket truck thatlifted Michael Malone forty feet above theground. Michael reported that there were nosiblings, but the bucket could not reach the nest.

So Pam filled the laundry basket with driedleaves and twigs. Michael wired it to a nearbybranch and then returned for the owlet.

The mother Barred Owl (photo above)stood vigil in a nearby tree, never taking hereyes off her owlet.

Soon after the truck left, both parents werein the laundry basket caring for their owlet.

Continued: Baby Owls, Page 4

This nestling Barred Owl fell from its nest on Concord Road. Photo/Sandy Beck

Mother Barred Owl anxiously watches her nestling on theground. Photo/ Pam Houmere

Spring Event CalendarCome celebrate local wildlife with us!3rd Annual St. Francis WildlifeFest! Saturday,April 22nd, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m., at White DogPlantation (formerly Nicholson Farmhouse), 200Coca Cola Avenue, Havana. See page 3.Annual St. Francis Wildlife Baby ShowerSaturday, May 6, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., at the DowntownMarketplace, Ponce de Leon Park, Park Avenue &Monroe Street, Tallahassee. See page 5.In Concert for Wildlife Saturday, June 3, 1:00 - 4 p.m., at the Miccosukee Land Coop CommunityCenter, 9601 Miccosukee Rd., Tallahassee, DellSuggs and Rachel Hillman. See page 4.St. Francis Wildlife Behind-the-Scenes Visit FirstSaturday of every month, 12 noon - 1 p.m., at St.Francis Wildlife, 5580 Salem Road, Quincy (4miles west of Havana). Call for reservations: (850) 627-4151.Updated list of our events at www.stfranciswildlife.org.

Pam Houmereand BillArmstrong, own-ers of ArmstrongTree Service,volunteer theirtime, crew andequipment tohelp St. FrancisWildlifere-nest babyhawks and owls. Photo/Sandy Beck

Spring 2017

P.O. Box 38160Tallahassee, FL 32315

850.627.4151www.stfranciswildlife.org

stfranciswildlife@comcast.net

Board of DirectorsPresident

Pat SimmonsVice PresidentBarbara Barnett

SecretaryElenita Gomez

TreasurerPat Simmons

John L. Brennan III, Esq.Mitch Potter, DVM

Kelly CraftLynn Badger

Katharine GossmanIan Waldick

Allan FranklinLaura Phipps

Emeritus

Full and Part-time StaffDirector & Wildlife Rehabilitator

Teresa StevensonWildlife Caretakers

Kelley Gray, Michelle Robinson,Sissy Hosay, Shelby Boykin

Wildlife RescuersJustin Parrish, Jenny Decker,

Steven WrightAdministrative Assistant

Ann LewisOffice AssistantDiane Watson

Maintenance and RepairsAgustin Zuniga

Volunteer StaffEducation Director,

Newsletter Editor & Social MediaSandy BeckWeb Master

Robbie Estevez

Wildlife Matters, Newsletter of the St. Francis Wildlife Association page 2

Thank you from the bottom of our wild heart for these donations.

Because of space constraints welist donations of $100 or more;however, please know that weappreciate every single donation. SaintsThe Lewis Family FundJohn Brennan &

Elenita GomezPatronsKatharine GossmanKenneth HodgesJohn E. PhippsSoutheast K-9 Search &

RescueStewardsLaura ArmstrongRay Bellamy, M.D.The Apple Lane Foundation John & Iris DavisJudith & C. Henry DepewPaul & Jennifer GruberJames & Elyse LinnDr. Melanie Donofro,

Los Robles Animal HospitalGuardiansHavana Garden Club Kelly CraftVirlindia DossJacob PewittGerald & Alice HoneaJim & Bonnie JoyceRonald MeyerJorge & Merry OrtegaPatsy PaschalDiane SlaughterRuth SmithLinda M. WilliamsSponsorsHaute Headz of TallahasseeDave BrightAndria DialMike FrancisJudith LambNancy LinnanLynne Liska7G Environmental Compliance

Management, LLCCharles & Meredith ManningJohn & Peggy McRaeLarry NicholsBrooks and Almena Pettit Donald PhillipsTrevor PhillipsSherman PhippsSadler Family Fund Dr. Elizabeth SchilsonWilliam & Evelyn ShelleyJennifer SindtRobert & Thresia Williams

Dennis & Carol ZensenFriendsShirley Louise AaronMary AbbotCharles & Maureen AlldredgeLibby AllenMr. & Mrs. Angel E. AlvarezLinda AndrewsDouglas BaileyKristy Young’s BainbridgeMiddle School Social StudiesstudentsJeannie BarrettMelinda Bartoszewicz Tom BendleBeverly BenedixBarbara BradfordDebra BrigmanRon Bunting Deborah CaldwellWilliam & Sandra CalhounWilliam CarpenterGrete CaseDaniela CastilloChrist Presbyterian ChurchJames & Glenda ConleyNancy ContosBill & Stephanie CorryMichael DavidsonCharles DealMichael & Betty DeCarloJeff DodsonMargaret DollJames & Rebecca DonohueLorelei & Robert EnnisBarbara & Bob Bischoff-

FincherMarch & Sean FisherLoretta ForsterThomas & Marcia FriedmanElizabeth GardnerDelanah GebhartWayne Logan &

Margaret GibsonPam & Randy GreeneBenjamin GunterJohn HainesMichael & Judith HannaEric HaugdahlTerri Hebb & FamilyJohn & Betty HernandezSue HerringAnne HinsonBernadine HowellMaribeth HudsonRichard & Linda HysonPaul & Helen JessJerry & Susan JohnsDorothy & David Jones MDDavid KallenbornRae KellyTeneca KennedyGordon & Melanie

Longhurst KleinGrace LawhornMichael & Karen LawrenceRita LeBlancSandra LewisCharles & Carolyn LongSusannah LyleJeffrey MandelPatti McMullenJames & Nancy McNealKeith & Becky McNeillJohn MeadeDoug & Isla MilnerBelita MoretonGregg MortonNative Nurseries ofTallahasseeRobert & Mary OliveMary & Richard OlsonKevin PearsonMelinda RamseyGeorge & Ruth ReynoldsPaul & Doris RichterSherry RileyDebbie & Dave RingAllene Roberts

Alexa RocheMichael Buchler &

Nancy RogersJohn & Monica RosnerKay & James SauersBruce & Evelyn SpringerSmithMargaret SmylyBeverly SpencerBruce StaskiewsBetty SteffensThomas StrazullaKirk SwannerTara TanakaRonnie & Betty TappLarry TimmonsBlaine & Nicole TouchtonWild Birds UnlimitedDavid Moynahan &

Crystal WakoaClaude & Lauren WalkerChris & Tammy Webb Linda Sue WeeksMary WestJames & Sharon WolfeAnne WomackRhonda WorkTerry ZimmermanRichard ZornTaska & Donald ZornWanda Zubr-Erlebacher

In Memory ofThomas BlumelFromRaymond BlumelCedar, the Barred OwlFromMary PriceClaire, the blind OpossumFromMaureen Anne McCarthyGreta DonahueFromKatharine Gossman & PatSimmonsJames & Gwen GrissettFromPaul & Jennifer GruberBill MapolesFromBarbara MitchellCharlie & Peggy OutlawCharles “Chick” MihalichFromSara StaskiewsMary Beth Ward SavageFromLisanne CissonBetty GilesLarry & Nancy HaistenClaude & Lauren WalkerHelen StaskiewsFromBruce StaskiewsArchibald “Archie” WatkinsFromThomas & Jane BarronJohn & Pam CarpenterGinger & Jerome CoxFount & Beth MaySally & Allen McDanielIngrid NilssonSylvia OchsCharles & Genny RosenbergBetty SteffensDe Witt & Neddy Sumners Donna Legare & JodieWalthallJill Williams

Julie ZimmermanFromDebra ArantJoe & Sue BoydAnthony & Janet CarroMartha CrabbJonathan DonnellyTerri Hebb & FamilyMargery GildnerMark & Linda HebbChristine KempfTeneca KennedyK&L602, LLCDavid PooleSusan RedmonRebecca RobbinsBill & Nancy SchnitzerSylvan & Cheryl StricklandRhea VogelhutJack ZimmermanTerry Zimmerman

In Honor ofSandy BeckFromRichard & Linda Hyson Sandy & Bob BeckFromDr. Robert & Lorelei EnnisDebbie, Dave, Rachel & AdamRingRichard & Vanessa CrislerFromBetty Earnest Gene & Ginny DensmoreFromJo HarbersonMeegan & Liam GoffFromMatthew Goff Lou & Calynne HillFromBrooks & Almena Pettit Janice & JoanFromJim & Denise RodenboughLes & Dana LipseyPatrick & Phyllis McGuinessDana ZimmermanJulia ZimmermanFromJohn MeadePeanutFromJoel ValdesLisa PhippsFromJohn E. PhippsEmily ShawFromJorge & Merry OrtegaPat SimmonsFromDavid ParkerAll St. Francis WildlifeVolunteersFromJudith LambStaff members, left to right: Ann Lewis, Kelley Gray, Pepe the Opossum,

Teresa Stevenson, Michelle Robinson, Sissy Hosay. Photo/Sandy Beck

Spring 2017 Wildlife Matters, Newsletter of the St. Francis Wildlife Association page 3

T ICKETS1 adult— $15 2 adults— $25 School-aged children w/adult— $5

5 & under w/adult— freeEarly-bird prize for first 50 families!

EVERY DOLLAR BENEFITS ST. FRANCIS WILDLIFE!

Get WILD on Ear th Day!Saturday, April 22nd,9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

3rd Annual

St. Francis WildlifeFestat beautiful White Dog Plantation

200 Coca Cola Ave., Havana, FL SR-12/Havana Hwy. (formerly Nicholson Farmhouse)

WILD EXPERIENCES!Birds of Prey & Marsupial Magic St. Francis WildlifeOwls and hawks and our sweetest opossum.

Reptiles and Amphibians! FL Fish & Wildlife Conservation CommissionNative turtles, snakes, frogs, and an alligator!

Beautiful Butterflies Hairstreak Chapter ofthe Nor th American Butterfly AssociationLearn all about your fluttery neighbors.

Experience and Record Wildness Big Bend Group Sierra ClubMake and fill a nature journal with WildFest experiences.

Fish, Crabs, Starfish and More! Gulf Specimen Marine Lab Touchable critters from the Gulf of Mexico.

TOURS & PROGRAMS10- 10:45: T imeTravel at White Dog Tour White Dog Plantation, Gadsden County’s oldestfarm, and its beautifully restored historical buildings.Doug Croley is the great-great-grandson of Mr. Nicholsonwho bought this farm and built the house in the 1820s!

11 - 11:45: Raptors of the Red HillsMeet several native birds of prey—hawks and owls. Listento their personal stories and learn how they hunt and survive.Sandy Beck is St. Francis Wildlife’s education director.

12- 12:45: In Cold Blood Get close up and personal with a wide variety of native turtles, snakes, frogs and a gator! Learn about their strangeways and how to safely appreciate your scaly neighbors.David Cook is a wildlife biologist with FWC.

1 - 1:45: Butterflies & Yummy Weeds Learn how to identify scores of edible, wild plants as well asthe butterflies that are flying, nectaring and basking on WhiteDog Plantation’s beautiful nature trail and wildflower field.Lydia Eldridge is a member of the Florida Native Plant Society.Eric Shaw is a member of the Hairstreak Chapter of the NorthAmerican Butterfly Association.

Tune in to nature withBelle & the BandBBQ Lunch

For both carnivores & herbivores Picnic under the oaks

Silent Auctionfor nature lovers

Animal Balloon Ar tistChildren’s Wild Ar t Contest,

w/ prizesSpecial Thanks to These Sponsors

White Dog Plantation Earl Bacon AgencyBrennan Law Office P.A. Bill’s Signs The Pod Advertising Barbara BarnettPat Simmons & Katharine Gossman

Spring 2017 Wildlife Matters, Newsletter of the St. Francis Wildlife Association page 4

Baby OwlsContinued from Page 1

Above: Lake McBride Great Horned Owls. Photos/Karon Strong

Lake McBride’s Great Horned Owls

Owls don’t build their own nests; they bor-row other birds’ nests or use tree cavities. AGreat Horned Owl pair recently moved into avacant Red-tailed Hawk nest on the shore ofLake McBride. But strong gusts that blew inwith a cold front destroyed half of the nest —the half that held a nestling Great Horned Owl.

Frank Amidon and his daughter Cyndi, afreshman at Chiles H.S., called us when theydiscovered the sad little owlet on the ground.

Wildlife rescuer Jenny Decker picked upthe tiny baby which was uninjured, but it wasalready dark, so we kept the owlet overnightand called Bill Armstrong who said, “We’realways glad to be part of the St. Francis rescueteam!”

When we arrived at the Amidons’ home inthe morning, I peered up at the nest throughbinoculars and saw a sleeping adult GreatHorned Owl (top photo).

Karon Strong put on his hard hat and gog-gles and rode up in the bucket truck to scoutout the nest, as the owl’s four-foot wingspansailed silently above his head into a nearby tree.

He discovered a second nestling sitting onwhat was left of the nest (middle photo)! Withone eye on big mama, Karon brought thenestling down, and we placed both babies in abox. Meanwhile, the Amidons filled a plasticlaundry basket with dried leaves and soft moss. Karon took the new nest up into the tree,

secured it to the branches with wire, and thenreturned for the two nestlings, who “flew” upto their new nest (bottom photo), followedshortly afterward by a relieved adult owl.

Barred Owls on Seminole DriveThis old Myers Park neighborhood is home

to poets, artists and other friendly people wholove their big trees and wildlife.

So when Kat Figley discovered a tiny owletjust after dawn on the ground next to her mail-box, she sprung into action, sending us a photoof the baby, which allowed us to determine thatit was a very young Barred Owl nestling.

When I arrived, the baby was on the groundbeneath its nest tree, a few feet from the road,with a concerned adult owl perched nearby.The nestling was uninjured.

When Bill Armstrong’s crew arrived, buck-et truck operator Ben Pellor lifted MichaelMalone up to inspect the owls’ tree cavity.After a few repairs to a broken side, where theowlet probably fell out, Michael re-nested thebaby. Within minutes the family was reunited,and cheers were heard on Seminole Drive!

Above photos: Seminole Drive Owlet Top: Bill Armstrong Tree Service’s Michael Malone, hold-ing nestling, with bucket truck operator Pen Pellor.

Photo/Sandy BeckBottom: Owlet back in his repaired tree cavity. Photo/Michael Malone.

Saturday, June 31 p.m. - 4 p.m.

In Concer t for Wildlife at the Miccosukee Land Coop

Community Center9601 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee

Del Suggs and

Rachel Hillmandedicate their music to help local

injured, orphaned, and sick wildlife.

T ickets Adults - $12Teens - $10

Litt le guys - free

Del Suggs is awidely celebratedsinger/song-writer, and guitarist fromNor th Floridawho has per-formed his “salt-water music” atthousands of colleges, universitiesand festivals across the UnitedStates and the Caribbean. Singer-songwriter Rachel Hillmanembraces both the vocal jazz shestudied at the FSU College ofMusic and her native Southernblues.

Both Del andRachel arethrilled to beable to usetheir music tohelp St. FrancisWildife’.

Spring 2017 Wildlife Matters, Newsletter of the St. Francis Wildlife Association page 5

Why NOT to stringfishing line aboveyour garden pondBy Sandy Beck and Emily Shaw

Don’t believe everything your read on theinternet. This applies to news as well asadvice.

Google “garden pond and predators” andyou will come up with a plethora of “wildlifeexperts” who recommend stringing transparentfishing line above your pond to discourageherons, birds of prey, and other predators.

Please, please, please do not do this.Recently, two beautiful Barred Owls wereinjured when they were snagged by monofila-ment line strung tightly above two differentTallahassee ponds.

One Barred Owl became entangled in fish-ing line above Jorge and Merry Ortega's backyard goldfish fish pond.

After cutting it free, the Ortegas called St.Francis Wildlife because the owl was unableto fly.

When Emily Shaw arrived she noticed thefishing line was wrapped tightly around thefeathers of one of its wings, and it wasexhausted.

Emily transported the owl to St. FrancisWildlife where it first received fluids. Thenstaff cut the line, reshaped the feathers, andfed the owl a nutritious meal.

The next morning, it was alert, clacking itsbeak, and had ripped its bedding to shreds. Inother words: Let me outta here!

Emily returned the owl to the Ortegas, whohad already removed the fishing line fromtheir pond, and released it.

Pat Jacobs has a beautiful nine year-old koifish in her garden pond. She recently decidedto try the fishing line technique to protect herfish from birds of prey. But when a BarredOwl landed on her pond, it too was entangled.

“I scooped him up with my leaf scoop,wrapped him in a towel and called St. FrancisWildlife,” Pat said.

Pat Simmons came to rescue the bird. Ithad a deep cut on one wing. After a week ofTLC at the wildlife hospital, it had recovered.

“They brought the owl back to my yardand released it. What an amazing experience.Of course, I removed the fishing line from thepond!” Pat Jacobs said.

“And I decided to become a volunteer. Iam learning so much. The staff is amazing;they never slow down. The compassion andpersonal attention they give to each animal isheartwarming.”

How can you protect fish in your gardenpond? A variety of native, aquatic plants willprovide hiding places for fish. In fact, theseplants have protected Pat Jacobs’ koi fish fornine years!

Thanks so much to the Ortegas and PatJacobs for caring about wildlife!

Emily Shaw releases the recovered owl beside theOrtegas’ garden pond, which no longer is covered byfishing line. PHOTO/Jorge and Merry Ortega

Help us celebrate our 39th Wild Baby Season at the annual

St. Francis Wildlife Baby Shower! Saturday, May 6

9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Downtown Marketplace,

Park Ave. & Monroe StreetPlease bring a baby giftfrom our Wish List

on Page 8. = Live animals! = Learn how to help wild babies

= Wildlife t-shir ts & children’s books= Raffle for a hand-made quilt = Face painting.

SponsorsThe Fix-It-ChickCrenshaw LanesJim FinnDavid BrockTallahassee Water Color SocietyTallahassee Senior CenterPainting With a TwistDecent Pizza

FoodBetty TappBonnie HolcombDecent Pizza

Organizers and VolunteersPat SimmonsBarbara BarnettAnn DelRossiBetty TappKatharine GossmanShelby BoykinSteven WrightDebbie MorningstarDonna AnolchickLinda Young Cavell Kyser David Beck Mike Fine

Bowing PinArtistsAllen MooreSue WilliamsLeila ShufflerVictoria MendenhallMacey HumphreyReid ScarboroSamuel RosensteinHannah CrissmanMitch MusgroveDarcy AbbottGlen McCaffertyGale PoteatSusan StrattonSusan LesterNancy BanksYoshiko Murdock

We love visiting Native NurseriesVolunteer Mary Miley and Twiggy, our Barn Owl(above), and volunteer Shelby Boykin and our GreatHorned Owl, Bubo greeted visitors at NativeNurseries’ Wildlife Encounter event. Photos/Sandy Beck

Our first Bowling for BunniesOver 40 people

packed CrenshawLanes on the FSUcampus, Feb 19, tobowl or shoot pool for SFW.

Local artists painted oldbowling pins for trophies,friends baked goodies, andDecent Pizza donated 10 pies.We extend our humble thanks to themany who made this event a bouncingsuccess for our orphaned and injuredbunnies and their friends. It was loadsof fun too.

The best little spot inTallahassee to store your stuff.

2424 Monticello Dr.Tallahassee, FL850-385-7266

“Until he extendsthe circle of his com-passion to all livingthings, man will nothimself find peace.”

Alber t Schweitzer

Spring 2017 Wildlife Matters, Newsletter of the St. Francis Wildlife Association page 6

Saving one animal may notchange the world, but it will changethe world for that animal.

Softshell Turtle, hit by car, with a fractured shell. Photo/Jenny Decker

Cottontail bunny, orphaned. Photo/Sandy Beck

Great Horned Owl, orphaned. Photo/Sandy Beck

Mallard, unable to walk well. Photo/Sandy Beck Grey Squirrel, orphaned. Photo/Sandy Beck

Red Fox, Orphaned Photo/Sandy Beck

Red-tailed Hawk juvenile, weak and thin. Photo/Sandy Beck

Bald Eagle, hit by car. Photo/Teresa Stevenson

At St. Francis Wildlife,it’s so easy to fall inlove. Meet some ofour new patients.

Spring 2017 Wildlife Matters, Newsletter of the St. Francis Wildlife Association page 7

Donation Form: Please renew your annual support.Mail your check to: St. Francis Wildlife Assoc., P.O. Box 38160, Tallahassee, FL 32315Or make a secure online donation with PayPal at www.stfranciswildlife.org.

Name_____________________________________________________ Date_________

E-mail Address________________________________________________________________

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.)

To make this donation in honor of someone else (for a special occasion, memorial, etc.) please include a note with the honored person’s name and the name and address of the person to receive acknowledgement of the gift. Your gift will also be noted in our next “Wildlife Matters” newsletter.

Please check the appropriate box and return this form with your tax-deductible donation.Donor Levels: cAngel $35 cHero $50 c Friend $100 c Sponsor $250 cGuardian $500

c Steward $1,000 c Patron $2,000 c Saint $5,000 c Other ____________

Please contact me about: cVolunteering cYour “Wild Classroom” wildlife education programs. 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.

St. Francis of Assisi Wildlife Association, Inc. Registration #: CH4537.

What did 70 wildlife lovers do?By Pat Simmons They just raised $6,732 in our Go Fund Mecampaign! Every penny is being used to makeneeded repairs to our 35-acre hospital complex. Right now, we are repairing the private roadbetween Salem Road and our hospital. Why isthis necessary? Consider the effects of a rough,bumpy ride on an injured animal or a flooded,impassable road to our wildlife hospital.

When Karen Albritton, of Albritton ElectricService in Tallahassee read about our Go FundMe campaign, she contacted Greybar ElectricalSupply. Then at no cost, Albritton and Greybarinstalled a breaker box, so we can safely use adonated generator, and additional outlets allow-ing us to simultaneously use lights, heating padsand an A/C unit in the hospital!

Other local businesses that have recentlyhelped improve SFW are Reiff ElectricalServices, which restored one of our septic tanks,and Salem Construction, which put a new roofon our wildlife rehabilitator’s residence andrepaired water damage at discounted rates.

The Go Fund Me campaign is still on becauseso much work still needs to be done.

To donate to Go Fund Me, please go towww.stfranciswildlife.org. You’ll find the linkbeneath the beautiful wildlife video. Thank you!

St. Francis and his opossum friend in front of our oldwildlife hospital in the woods. Photo/Sandy Beck

We cared for 3,531 wild birds,mammals and reptiles in 2016

Create a personal legacyBy Pat Simmons

Next year, SFW will turn 40 years old! Thisis a fabulous feat for any non-profit.

We are deeply grateful for the money andsupplies we receive each month, but we arealways struck by the legacy donations that comein every so often.

Legacy or heirloom giving is the single mostimportant way to insure that St. Francis Wildlifewill continue to serve our community. Examplesinclude establishing a bequest, beneficiary desig-nation, memorial or tribute gift in your will ortrust. Please consider asking your financial advi-sor or estate attorney how to provide for St.Francis Wildlife when you set up your retirementbeneficiaries, will, or trust.

Short-term giving is easy as pie: Fill out theform below and send a check; set up a monthlysubscription account in PayPal; purchase our t-shirts, children’s books, and other items;fundraise with co-workers, or conduct a supplysupply drive (Wish List on page 8).

Any of these options will help SFW to con-tinue rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing thou-sands of wild animals and will give you anenduring legacy as well personal satisfaction.

Our heartfelt thanks to wildlife photographerTara Tanaka and to Mary Huggins and SusanTeisciero (pictured) and their Wild BirdsUnlimited store for hosting our Close EncountersWith Owls event and to everyone who bought raffletickets. Congratulations to Kay Phillips who wonTara's sublime Barred Owl photo (behind Mary,above). The raffle and event raised $1,295 for St.Francis Wildlife — which will buy two incubatorsjust in time for baby season!

Most Common Problems1. Orphaned (1,406) 2. Hurricane Hermine(324) 3. Nest or habitat destruction caused byhuman activity (269) 4. Domestic cat attack(256) 5. Collision with motor vehicle (251) 6. Dog attack (213) 7. Collision with windowor wall (57) 8. Entangled in fishing line (10)Nocturnal Raptors—Owls64 Barred Owls, 8 Eastern Screech Owls, 10 GreatHorned Owls Diurnal Raptors2 Bald Eagles, 10 Black Vultures, 3 Broad-winged Hawks, 4 Cooper’s Hawks, 11 Mississippi Kites, 1 Osprey, 45 Red-shoul-dered Hawks, 14 Red-tailed Hawks, 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 12 Turkey Vultures

Examples of Songbirds and Woodpeckers 28 Blue Jays, 60 Brown Thrashers, 86 CarolinaWrens, 4 Hermit Thrushes, 3 Wood Thrushes,40 House Finches, 2 Indigo Buntings, 10 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, 15 ChimneySwifts, 20 Eastern Bluebirds, 20 NorthernCardinals, 80 Northern Mockingbirds, 8 Northern Parulas, 6 Pileated Woodpeckers, 5 Red-headed Woodpeckers, 5 Yellow-belliedSapsuckersExamples of Shore Birds 3 Anhingas, 1 American Coots, 4 Black-belliedWhistling Ducks, 2 Common Loons, 1 Double-crested Cormorant, 3 Great Blue Herons, 1 GreatEgret, 2 Ring-billed Gulls, 2 Pied-billed Grebes, 1Horned Grebe, 27 Wood Ducks, 1 Wood StorkExamples of Mammals103 Cottontail Rabbits, 31 Grey Foxes, 2 Evening Bats, 1 Hoary Bat, 2 Red Bats, 8 Brazilian Free-tailed Bats, 1 Red Fox, 29 Southern Flying Squirrels, 32 White-tailedDeer, 109 OpossumsExamples of Reptiles2 Alligators, 26 Box Turtles, 5 Florida Cooters,3 Garter Snakes, 12 Gopher Tortoises, 1 GlassLizard, 9 Softshell Turtles, 21 Yellow-belliedSliders

Spring 2017 Wildlife Matters, Newsletter of the St. Francis Wildlife Association page 8

St. Francis WildlifeAssociation

P.O. Box 38160Tallahassee, FL 32315

Non-Profit OrganizationU.S. POSTAGE PAIDTallahassee, Florida

PERMIT NO. 236

If you find sick, injuredor orphaned wildlife . . .= Call us at850.627.41518:30 am - 5pm.= After 5 pm,call our “After-hours RescueHotline,”850.933.2735. = Take it toour wildlife hospital, 5580 Salem Rd.Quincy, FL (4 miles NW of Havana), 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Directions at: www.stfranciswildlife.org.= 24/7, take it to the Northwood AnimalHospital, 1881 N. Martin Luther King Blvd.,Tallahassee or to Allied EmergencyVeterinary Hospital, 2324 Centerville Rd., Tallahassee. Or, during their regular businesshours, take it to North Florida AnimalHospital at 2701 N. Monroe St., Tallahassee.

Important Information= Use a box with air holes punched in thelid. Place a t-shirt or blanket in the box (nevera towel), place the animal in the box and tapesecurely. Keep babies warm with a heatedplastic water bottle wrapped in a t-shirt. Keepit quiet, and handle as little as possible. = NEVER give it food or water.= NEVER handle rabies vectors: such asraccoons, foxes, or bats (even babies). CALLUS. Birds and reptiles do not carry rabies.Squirrels, opossums and rabbits are rarelyrabies vectors, but it is still wise to use gloves.= When calling to report an animal hit by acar, note exactly where it is, and, if possible,remain with the animal until we arrive.

For more information about wildlife rescue:www.stfranciswildlife.org

Wildlife Matters

Editor and LayoutSandy Beck

Writers, Photographers & ArtistsSandy Beck, Kris Bass-Peterson,

Brian Bryson, Jenny Decker, Pam Houmere, Michael Malone, Pat Simmons, Emily Shaw,

Teresa Stevenson, Karon StrongProofreaders

Barbara Barnett, Louise Barker, Bob Beck, Craig ShawPrinting

Post Searchlight Printing, Bainbridge, GAMail Processing

Target Print & Mail, Tallahassee, FL This newsletter of the St. Francis Wildlife Association is mailed to

our supporters and is also available at local businesses and online atwww.stfranciswildlife.org. To send letters to the editor,

email: stfranciswildlife@comcast.net

Gift Certificates• Stone’s, Lowe’s or Home Depot • Native Nurseries• Wild Birds Unlimited• Panhandle Pet Supply• COSTCO• Squirrelsandmore.com• Foxvalleynutrition.com• Target or Walmart Food/Feeding• Unsalted peanuts in the shell • Raw, hard-shelled nuts, like walnuts,

pecans, hickory, acorns • 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 (baby bird formula)• Plain and fruit yogurt• Live or dried worms and crickets• Waterfowl maintenance pellets• Waterfowl starter mash• Ziploc bags (quart & gallon, freezer)• Jar lids — peanut butter kind only• Plant pot saucers• Heavy stoneware food bowls Cleaning Supplies• Laundry detergent (unscented) • Bleach, unscented • Heavy-duty 39 gallons trash bags

• Paper towels • Dawn dish soap• Pine Sol• Odoban • Scotch-brite heavy duty scrub sponges• Hand sanitizer• Rakes• Heavy duty hosesAnimal Housing• Heating pads, not automatic shut-off• Humane live traps • Baby blankets • T-shirts, sweatshirts, pillow

cases, top sheets, towels, baby blankets.

• Soft toilet paper or soft tissue• Fur coats and stoles Maintenance• Lumber: plywood, 1x2s, 2x4s, etc. • Tools • Hardware clothOffice• Sticky notes• Clip boards• White, letter-size printer paperBig Wishes• Incubator • Golf cart • Weed Whacker• Gasoline pressure washer• Tractor • Wildlife Rescue Vehicle — a van or

SUV in good repair

Wildlife Wish ListWish List also online at: www.stfranciswildlife.org/Donate.html.

Please take items to St. Francis Wildlife, Northwood Animal Hospital or Allied Emergency Veterinary Clinic. Call St. Francis Wildlife about large items.

1881-B N. MLK Jr. Blvd. Tallahassee, FL 32303

(850) 385-8181

2701 N. Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32303850-385-5141

= Target Print & Mail for donating their mailingservices.= ElectroNet for our web site space & email.= Law, Redd, Crona & Munroe, P.A. for doing ourtaxes pro bono all these years!= Albritton Electric for donating their electrical workin our wildlife hospital.= Greybar Electrical Supply for donating the sup-plies that Albritton used in our hospital.= New Leaf Market for donating fresh produce thatfeeds our animals.= Mark and Laurie Forare, our great neighbors whohelp maintain our property with their tractor.= Bill Armstrong Tree Service for sending his crew andtruck out to help us return owls and hawks that fall fromtheir nests — no charge at all!= Donna Antolchick, The Fix It Chick for repairs.= Bill’s Signs for donating our banners.= Gerry Phipps for a washing machine.= Linda Gallager for a washing machine.= Jacob Meister for a washing machine.= Southeast K-9 Search & Rescue for giving us itsfunds when the organization dissolved.= Reiff Electrical Services for restoring one of ourseptic tanks at a 50% discount = Ronnie & Betty Tap for new incubator lids to keepour babies warm.= John Wesley United Methodist Church forincluding us in its Alternative Christmas Market.= Bainbridge Middle School Social Studies stu-dents for holding a fundraiser for St. Francis Wildlife. = Mike & Nancy Thomas for repairing an incubator,purchasing a new incubator, and donating formula andbirdseed. = Nancy Thomas for painting our songbird, reptile,mammal & ICU rooms and donating the paint. = Mike Thomas for cleaning and repairing the watertank filter system that serves the entire hospital. = Donna Hansell for animal care, cleaning and somuch more.= Dale Finch for making so many repairs to our hos-pital, facility, and outdoor animal cages.

= Allied Veterinary Emergency Hospital= Animal Eye Clinic = Alternative Veterinary Medicine= Bradfordville Animal Hospital= Dr. Morgan Guoan (volunteers at St. Francis Wildlife’s hospital)= North FloridaAnimal Hospital= Northampton Veterinary Clinic= Northwood Animal Hospital

Our sincere thanks for your donations and hard work . . .

Thank you to these veterinary hospitals and caring doctors for donating their services to help

St. Francis Wildlife