Wild thing, you make my heart sing, you make everything groovy, wild thing.
P.O. Box 713 * Ithaca, NY 14850 * (607) 200 4100 * wildthingssanctuary@gmail.com
WTS is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit public charity
In the coming weeks we will be hopefully be releasing some patients and then have room for more.
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Please note: In the interest of Wild Things' patients well being, WTS is not open to the public. It is also not permitted to stop by without permission or to drop off an animal without previously communicating with Wild Things. Thank you for understanding.
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Wild Things Sanctuary (WTS) is dedicated to helping native wildlife through rescuing and rehabilitating debilitated and orphaned/displaced animals until they are ready for release back into the wild. Eventually, WTS is also aiming to provide a sanctuary for non-releasable native animals.
WTS is also committed to improving the well-being of wildlife though public education; focusing on how humans can safely and peacefully coexist with native wildlife, and on wildlife’s importance to man and the environment.
What is wildlife rehabilitation? What does WTS do??
Debilitated animals usually end up with a rehabilitator after being discovered by a member of the public. At that time the animal is either transported to a wildlife rehabilitator or picked up by the rehabilitator.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RAISE A WILD ANIMAL AS A PET!!
It is both illegal and detrimental to the well-being of the animal. Click on one of the links at the end of this section or contact WTS to find a wildlife rehabilitator near you.
Before their return to the wild, animals must display appropriate species- specific behavior and abilities and be able tosurvive on their own. Especially important is that they recognize and be able to obtain appropriate foods and respond appropriately to potential dangers (flee or fight).
Depending on the degree of debilitation, un-releasable animals are either humanely euthanized or placed in licensed facilities that can care for them for the rest of their natural lives. They are often place in "display" or "educational" exhibits, such as in zoos or wildlife centers. Un-releasable animals may also sometimes be kept by a rehabilitator as a foster parent for orphaned and/or injured young wildlife. This requires an additional permit.
A typical rehablitation story involves the little skunk in the above picture. For two days people drive by a dead skunk on the side of the road and saw this little one sitting on top of the dead skunk, presumably its mother. A Good Samaritan called WTS and we went out to rescue this young animal, about a month old. At WTS it was introduced to other young skunks and given the proper nutrition, eventually being released into the Wild Woods.
To find a rehabilitator near you, try these links:
The Wildlife Rehabilitation Information Directory
Wildlife Rehabber.org
Wildlife Rehabber
Southeastern Outdoors
Wildlife International
New York Wildlife Rehabilitation Council
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The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) does not permit the public to enter the wildlife area, but you can see what a "typical" Wild Things day is like by watching this video:
Here is a little video of some of WTS' first patients & other animals in rehab 2008: |
2012 Fundraising thermometer!
Help us reach our goal! Help us raise enough money for the wild things AND for 2 paid internships this summer!! |
The Story of Wild Things Sanctuary
All my life I’ve wanted to help animals, and to learn more about them. I have a few degrees in animal behavior and cognitive & brain evolution, and have worked in various parts of the world studying different species. But something was missing. I felt constrained by academic boundaries, which frown upon focusing on individual animals, their abilities, relationships, needs and expressions. Also, although I love domestic animals, I am not a “dog” or a “cat person,” but a “wildlife person.” How could I combine all of my interests?
About this time I moved up to Ithaca, NY to attend Cornell University. I found out that there was a Cornell Wildlife Health Clinic (WHC) (www.vet.cornell.edu/hospital/wildlife) that needed volunteers. In no time at all I got my required rabies vaccination and was volunteering a few times a week. Soon the wonderful veterinarians there promoted me to a supervisor of the clinic, which enabled me to oversee the recovery of many different types of animals, with many, many different types of injuries. After medical treatment most of these animals need to go some place to recuperate and to learn to be wild again. Baby animals often don’t need medical help but someone to look over them 24 hours a day and get them ready for their wild world. Could I help with this process?
Yes! In 2007 I took the New York State Wildlife Rehabilitator exam (www.nyswrc.org) with a 99% passing grade! In August 2008 I was awarded my US Rehabilitation Federal Bird Permit (as most birds in the States are considered migratory species, rehabilitators need a federal permit to work with them).
With licenses in hand I decided to open Wild Things Sanctuary in an unfinished room in my house. But how the heck was I going to raise the money for Wild Things? To drum up a little publicity and cash I shaved my head, all 26” of hair, and made a movie of the whole crazy process. So far the short YouTube video advertising the event, and my website www.hairlesscrusader.com has raised over $4000! This has enabled me to buy many supplies, cages & aquariums. Plus people have generously donated supplies. Wild Things Sanctuary (WTS) officially opened 1 January 2008! Since then, several outdoor enclosures have been built and my indoor unfinished room is now a finished great little hospital/first aid/recovery rehab center. In May 2010 I received my license to accept NYS rabies vector species: raccoons, skunks and bats. This means that I am now licensed to work with all NYS animals. And in January 2011 my license was upgraded to a Class II rehabilitation license so that I am now able to teach others and guide them towards becoming wildlife rehablitators.
WTS received its incorporation status 6 February 2008, and in November 2008 the IRS deemed WTS a 501(3)c registered public charity. With its new non-profit status, WTS hopes to generate more ways to help more animals as it gives all donators tax-breaks, and will enable local businesses to donate supplies and manpower.
Take a look at the new Wild Things Sanctuary animal room!
 Feeding baby bunny in new animal room |
 Weighing baby bunny (~2 weeks old) |
WTS in the news!
Several local publications have featured stories on Wild Things Sanctuary. This one was run October 2009, see the press page for a copy of this article.
