WildCare Foundation: What's New

2004: A Recap
by Rondi Large, Volunteer Director

128 Ducks and geese were barely surviving, living in unhealthy conditions, when WildCare was called in for the rescue.

As we start preparing for the last season of this year, I can’t stop thinking about the two major rescues WildCare was called to action. Every one of the 3,500 animals that WildCare accepted this year is an individual rescue in itself. But, twice this year we were called to rescue animals from other supposed “rescues”. Although they were very different regarding the species and numbers of animals, they did have similarities. All the animals were in desperate need of immediate help. Of the 186 animals that WildCare accepted, all of them could be saved. Both situations were uninhabitable and neither one had food or clean water. There was one other similarity – the original people that took in these animals cared about them, but were in over their heads. I still have nightmares of the conditions we found.

Rescued from a cramped and filthy enclosure
where a white tail and a goat shared for 6 months.
The deer could only walk in circles. There was
no sign of food or water. Not even empty bowls.

But, what I remember most is the swiftness and professionalism that the WildCare staff displayed so that no animal was left behind.

I wonder, “How did conditions get so bad?” I look out over WildCare’s facility and I am very proud of what you, our contributors, our staff and volunteers have created. Then the answer is clear. We have had, and currently have, the workforce to ensure that every animal is cared for each and every day. Our staff ensures that no animal is overlooked, that no animal goes hungry, no animal has to sleep in wet or dirty conditions. I am so proud that the animals at WildCare have room to run, jump, play, and, yes, sometimes even cause trouble. That is expected from wild animals as they approach their full capacity to survive in the wild once more.

WildCare wouldn’t be able to respond to these emergencies if it weren’t for the experienced and dedicated staff that we are so fortunate to have! I wonder what would happen if the staff were gone, the volunteers gone. I know the animals would still be here, but their quality of care would not be.

You may ask why we need paid staff. It is simple: the quality of care would suffer. The animals would suffer. Our volunteers commit to just three hours, once a week. Imagine seeing your dog only once a week and he has food left in his dish. Did he not eat last night, or for several nights? Is he sick, or had someone else given him an abundance of food the night before? Did he eat his normal dinner and then another volunteer saw his empty bowl and caught that “my-bowl-is-empty-and-no-one-has-fed-me” look, so he filled the bowl for the second time that day. Those of us who have pets have surely fallen for the “pathetic look”; the wild ones are masters at it.

At the end of each year we ask you to financially assist WildCare in our mission which is to provide the best possible treatment and temporary care of injured, diseased, and orphaned indigenous wildlife and the subsequent return of healthy animals to their natural environment.

Yukon Animal Control truck is loaded with 120 ducks,
geese and 8 rabbis that were swiftly removed from filthy
conditions without food or water as a WildCare vehicle
waited off the property, ready for transport to WildCare.

You have always generously answered that call as can been seen by the year-end closing balance on the attached Table. You and WildCare have created the largest wildlife rehabilitation facility in the state of Oklahoma.

You have ensured that no wild animal in need is left behind. You have also made it possible for these animals to receive nutritious food, appropriate medical care, and a clean and dry place to rest. Without your support, all of the 3,500 animals we receive each year would have no hope at all. As you can see by our balance sheet enclosed, we have accepted, treated, and housed 3,500 animals this year with only $61,000 in monetary donations. This is only possible with the bountiful dry foods and produce that are donated daily, and the life-sustaining medical supplies and services that are donated each year. What also makes this possible is the volunteer labor which makes up 60% of our workforce. I hope you are as proud as I am for what your donations have accomplished!

But, I still have images of the conditions of those two rescues burned in my memory. I had never seen animals in such unimaginable, horrible conditions. We must ensure that WildCare animals will never have to suffer from lack of means to provide appropriate care.

If we were solely a volunteer organization, would the 400 to 650+ animals residing daily at WildCare get fed, cleaned, and medicated today? Keep in mind that as I write this it is 40 degrees outside, windy and raining.

If that isn’t enough, look also at the quantity of work that is accomplished by our staff each year.

Each animal at WildCare is fed each and every day. That means a food and water bowl is gathered from the enclosure, washed, and filled with food that is also freshly prepared each day. But that is only half of the job. As you know, if food goes in, something must come out and that must be picked up daily.

The WildCare staff fed and scooped up 178,100 dinners so far this year! That is an average of 593 meals per day. For comparison, WildCare serves twice the number of dinners that Meals on Wheels of Norman serves each day, with the same number of staff.

On top of the daily feedings are the constant feedings of the babies in the nursery. Babies start arriving as early as February, but this year they arrived in January. Every day more and more babies arrive. For the peak baby months, there are over 300 babies in the nursery demanding to be fed. Our nursery staff prepared 93,500 milk bottles this year for the wild, orphaned mammals! There is a tremendous amount of work and patience involved in bottle feeding orphans. That averages out to 346 bottles each day for nine months. If this were left up to only volunteers, they would never come back.

The nursery is not just for mammals. Baby birds make up 60% of the babies in the nursery. Baby birds get fed every 30 minutes for 14 hours a day. It is not uncommon to have 200 baby birds at one time. Approximately 280,600 baby bird meals were hand fed and then cleaned up after this year. It should be obvious that paid staff is imperative for the efficient and quality care that you expect from our organization!

Let me explain the makeup of the current staff at WildCare. WildCare has three full-time employees year round. Two have been with WildCare for over one year and one has been with us almost 4 years. Unfortunately, they are not highly compensated. Besides a nominal paycheck, the only benefits are the warm feelings when you help an animal on its journey back to the wild, or when a raccoon baby pees in your lap! I love and admire the dedication these individuals have for their job and for WildCare’s mission.

WildCare also has three part-time work-study students from The University Of Oklahoma. This is a great program where 3 students get to experience all that is involved in wildlife rehabilitation, and get paid for it. These students work 12-20 hours a week and are paid 75% by the University and 25% by WildCare. This is a great opportunity for us and for the students that we take under our wing.

Due to the heavy workload required by the babies, WildCare hires 3 full-time summer staff to fill the needs of the nursery. In summary, WildCare has spent $62,900 on salaries for 9 positions this year. (Did I mention that I’m a full-time, unpaid volunteer?)

So far in 2004, WildCare has received over $61,000 in tax-exempt donations. At the same time, we have accepted 3,500 animals with two more months yet to go. Of the $61,000, we have spent $3,400, or 3%, on Administrative Fees, including worker’s compensation. WildCare spent $4,600, or 5%, on Fundraising and Education, with $3,300 of that spent on two editions of our newsletter.

So far this year we have spent $79,600, or 92%, of our cash donations on the direct care of the animals. As you can see, we have spent more funds this year than we have taken in. This is only possible because of the generous year-end donations we received in 2003.

The 2003 year end funds also meant that the Eagles at WildCare now have the largest flight enclosure in the state. And that soon the 4 orphaned beavers that are growing quickly will have a 12-foot pond and lodges to stay in this winter. As you can see, not only did your donations feed, and medicate the wild ones they also increased our facilities so that these animals will be in the best possible condition when they are released.

At this time of year, when giving is on our minds, I want you to think of WildCare. I want you to think what it would be like for the 3,500 wild animals this year if they had no place to go. I want you to think what it would be like for me to ask you to wash 93,500 milk bottles this year. I want you to also think of those animals in need of rescuing, due to a lack of manpower to take proper care of them. Please take a moment and make a tax-deductible donation to WildCare so that WildCare will never need to be rescued in the years to come.

WildCare is pleased to announce the opening of the WildCare Endowment Fund with Smith Barney. Click here to learn more about making an online donation. You can also donate by calling Pylar Pinkston with Smith Barney at 1 800-527-5814. While we are planning for WildCare’s future, please remember the wild ones when disbursing stocks and bonds and in your will. A little bit of planning can ensure that WildCare lives on for many years, and the wild animals can have another chance at LIFE!

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