WILDLIFE: Seeing increase in need

FROM PAGE 14

The fundraising initiatives come at a good time for Wildlife Inc., which relies solely on monetary and in-kind donations, and has seen an increase in need.

“Last year for the month of January we had less than 100 animals come in,” Wildlife Inc. volunteer Krista Carpenter said on Jan. 26. “There are five days left to this month and we’re already up to 135.”

Carpenter said the increased load has caused a strain not only financially, but on the emotional health of the volunteers as they are caring for more animals. She said volunteers are always needed.

“When you spend time tube feeding an animal you become attached and if they don’t make it, it’s very hard,” she said.

Another new fundraising initiative is the Adopt a Bird Program.

“Choose one of our Permanent Birds to symbolically adopt,” according to the Wildlife Inc. website. “These make great gifts.”

The “adoption” comes with a certificate that has a picture and name of your adopted bird.

Wildlife Inc. Education and Rehabilitation Center’s stated mission is to preserve and protect native wildlife through education and rehabilitation, and their ultimate goal is to care for, and release, native wildlife back into the wild.

Their headquarters and wildlife rehabilitation clinic is located in Bradenton Beach in the home and property of Gail and Ed Straight. It is not open to the public due to regulatory restrictions.

“This wildlife 'hospital' is a fully equipped clinic with incubators and cages needed to house, feed and rehabilitate wildlife. We have professional staff and volunteers who manage the feeding and care of the thousands of animals each year,” according to the Wildlife Inc. website. “We also receive calls from the public about injured animals and send trained staff out to assist and transport wildlife to our facility when necessary.”

“For as small as we are, we take in more animals than many of the big facilities,” Gail Straight said. “For example, if a facility only takes in birds, then they’re not helping mammals and reptiles. We take in all kinds of animals.”

Critter rescue can be purchased at https://www.facebook.com/WildlifeInc or www.wildlifeinc.org.

FEB. 18 & 19, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Admission $5

Proceeds benefit F.I.S.H. Preserve Kids 12 & under FREE

• Food • Live Music • Community Displays

• Kids Area • Nautical and Environmental Art

• A Fishermen’s Fashion Show

• Cortez Photo Contest presented by the Artists’ Guild Gallery of Anna Maria Island (AGGAMI). For further information please contact Carolann Garafola with AGGAMI at (908) 922-1973. The online submission deadline is Feb 8.

Parking: The Boy Scouts in partnership with FISH will offer on-site parking at the Preserve which is located one block east of the village, off Cortez Rd, for a $5 dona tion. Golf cart transportation to the festival entrance at 123rd St Ct W will be provided.

Park and Ride: FREE MCAT Bus service from Coquina Beach and GT Bray Park on 59th St W.

Off Site Parking: Available at Cortez Rd. Baptist Church (located at between 99th and 100th St and Cortez Rd) with Free Shuttle to Festival provided by The Monkey Bus.

FOR INFORMATION C ALL 941-301-4000

WWW.FISHCORTEZ.OR