2008 was our first holiday season at Wild Things Sanctuary. The sign has since broken, the tree has fallen down, but I’m still standing, thanks to all of your support!
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Reflections on Wild Things Sanctuary
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Jayanthi Kallum feeds the fawns at Wild Things Sanctuary.
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Volunteering at WTS helped me understand the intricacies of wildlife rehabilitation and laid the foundation for my wildlife rehabilitation career. The two things about WTS that stood out for me were Victoria’s determined efforts to pursue continuous research on white-nose syndrome by keeping herself abreast of latest developments on the topic, and her passion towards raising awareness about the importance of bat conservation.
I strongly believe that wildlife rehabilitation can act as a gateway towards conservation by educating the general public, who are usually able to connect with individual animals, about the broader issues that wildlife species face and the remedial actions that they can take. Victoria constantly strives to do that by educating herself and spreading awareness. It brings me great joy to know that she went on to specialize on bats and continues to advocate for them. I wish Victoria and the Wild Things Sanctuary, all the very best in all their future endeavors. |
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Ithaca, New York, is home to the famous Cornell Bird Cams Red-tailed Hawks. In 2014 when E3, one of the year’s chicks, was injured, Wild Things was able to help get him to the Cornell Wildlife Clinic. He is now a hawk ambassador at Cornell’s Raptor Center. We are grateful that many of his fans have helped support our work. As Barbara Hodges writes from Florida:
I learned of Wild Things Sanctuary when you rescued E3. Since then, I am a steadfast fan! Cindy and Karel Sedlacek watch the hawks all year and monitor their well-being. Cindy writes: We’ve sought advice about pigeons to hawks and Victoria takes the utmost care with each case. Wild Things is the first place we call when we find an animal in distress, and we are very proud to support this organization. |
E3 the young Red-tailed Hawk, recovering at the Cornell Janet Swanson Wildlife Health Center (left), and months later as a hawk ambassador with the Cornell Raptor Program.
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Mama Sassy and babies. Sas inspired me to help bats.
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Wild Things opens so many people’s eyes about how bats are loveable and admirable, such as a female bat beating the odds to survive her own injuries and then adopting and caring for an orphan. -Miyoko Chu
Sassy the Big brown bat opened MY eyes to bats. She was a model patient, mother, welcoming committee for new patients, and adoptive mama to orphans. Getting to know this remarkable little bat was a big reason I decided to specialize in helping her kind. |
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Lowell Garner has been a supporter since Wild Things began. He has also come to our rescue repeatedly, like when he built a special outdoor enclosure for a sick fawn. This is just one of many times Lowell has stepped up to help us. We are very grateful to know him. He writes:
For those of us who care deeply about animals, having Wild Things Sanctuary in our community is a rare treasure. Every being they are able to save and reunite with the natural world—or better yet with a mother or mate—somehow evens the score against mankind’s disregard for other living beings. Our community has no idea how fortunate we are to have Victoria and her Wild Things. She works so hard; tough when you also have to keep up with a day job to pay bills. We owe her our deepest gratitude. |
When we took in a fawn with narcolepsy, the young deer needed an outdoor area so he wouldn’t acclimate to humans, but he also needed a soft floor in case he fell over. Lowell Garner dropped everything to build an enclosure, where the fawn was safe until he grew out of his condition.
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A young Mourning Dove is fed seeds at Wild Things Sanctuary.
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I learned about Wild Things 10 years ago when my young daughter and I found an injured Mourning Dove in our front yard. It was such a relief to find Wild Things because I don’t know what we could have done otherwise—can you imagine, finding an injured animal and having no way to help it? Wild Things contributes to a passionate community—a place where injured wildlife in need can have a second chance at being released back into the wild, and a place that helps us under¬stand, connect with, and help the animals that share our yards and neighborhoods. This is a kinder world because of people willing to care. Wild Things is a welcoming place where even the most unwelcome of wildlife—bats—can find refuge, and where all sorts of humans who bring them in can feel supported and that they are making a difference. -Miyoko Chu
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We couldn’t have made it through last winter without Meghan Roblee! Wild Things ended up overwintering 96 bat patients, and there were some nights we worked until midnight caring for all the animals. Meghan moved to Colorado last spring to work at Ethos Diagnostic Science. We miss her, but are very happy to hear she is hoping to pursue wildlife rehabilitation in her new state. I also owe her many thanks for teaching me some useful diagnostic procedures.
Volunteering at Wild Things Sanctuary as a rabies-licensed wildlife rehabilitator opened up a new world to me of working with animals that have a strong instinct to hibernate. “Prog” (pictured above) was a special bat to me, and was extremely resistant in wanting to eat and gain weight after being rescued, so every week we would wake him up, warm him, and patiently feed him mealworms so that he could maintain an acceptable weight throughout the winter. I think this shows how much care WTS puts into each individual in their care. |
Meghan Roblee at Wild Things Sanctuary.
"Prog" the Big brown bat who didn't want to eat.
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One of the toughest decisions over the last 10 years was choosing to specialize in bat care. My reasons were sound: populations were plummeting because of white-nose syndrome, thousands are killed because of fear and misinformation, and New York did not have any bat specialists. Above, brothers Quattro (blue band) and Tre (yellow band) snuggle with other young bats before their release (bands are removed prior to release). These brothers were both under 4 grams, newborns, when they arrived at Wild Things Sanctuary.
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But, what about the other animals in need of help? What about the Wild Things supporters, would they feel let down? Five years on and I’ve never been sorry for making the choice. In 2018 alone I've cared for 167 so far—a good indication of the need for bat care—and people have been incredibly supportive. Lexie Richter is one such supporter. She writes:
Wild Things spreads compassion to the community. I will forever have a special place in my heart for bats thanks to Wild Things Sanctuary, who made me re¬alize just how truly incredible bats are. Bats all over the world are being threat¬ened by humans and environmental factors. The world needs more places like Wild Things to help rehabilitate, educate, and advocate for the bats! |
Emma Clausen was a young teenager when she volunteered at Wild Things. Now, she works at a cancer research lab and is applying to medical school. What does she remember about her time here?
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The time I spent at Wild Things was so much fun and honestly one of the most memorable experiences of my life. The most memorable patients for me were a group of baby opossums that had been orphaned. Before this I don’t think I had ever seen an opossum let alone interacted with one. I was really surprised by how cute and gentle they were. I think my favorite thing about Wild Things was just how dedicated [it is] to caring for patients and educating volunteers (and the public) about wildlife. It was very inspiring and motivating. I have always loved animals and Wild Things gave me a truly unique opportunity to help care for the creatures that need it most. |
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"Toad” the white-tailed deer fawn was born inside an enclosed field owned by the Hornbuckle family. His mother would jump the fence regularly to feed him, but the fence was too high for him to follow when she left. We were happy to help with advice, but also put Mary Hornbuckle in touch with expert deer rehabilitators. Mary writes:
You responded so positively and put me in touch with rehabbers more directly involved with deer. Wild Things has given me a sense of hope. Their obvious love and concern for injured animals helps me believe in the kinder side of the human species. |
"Toad" the white-tailed deer fawn waits for his mama to come feed him. Photo courtesy of the Hornbuckles.
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Delilah the Hoary bat.
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Delilah was a very special Hoary bat patient who taught all of us just how gentle a bat can be. Lisa Hills writes: Watching you care for and feed Delilah entranced my whole family, aged 7 through 50. As you fed her, you taught us about what dangers bats face in the wild and how we can help them. We all walked away wanting to help bats. My 10-year-old is now a bat champion because of what you taught him. Thanks for instilling a life-long love of taking care of animals. |
Duncan Yandell at Wild Things Sanctuary.
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Duncan Yandell volunteered at Wild Things a decade ago as an undergraduate at Cornell. Since then he’s juggled work as a scientist and a musician (he is quite a wild thing on the fiddle!), but is always on the lookout for wildlife in trouble. We are grateful that he comes back from time to time to help out.
I began volunteering at Wild Things as an undergraduate, and it quickly became as much a sanctuary for me as it is for the patients. Over the years Victoria has tutored me in various aspects of the organization, from patient care and facility management to social media engagement, and I continue to draw upon those experiences throughout my life. As an organization, WTS provides an essential service through being a local interface for human-wildlife interaction; as a person, Victoria is a selfless champion for every wild thing she meets. |
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Bob McGuire is a sound recordist who chronicles wildlife. He writes: My fondest memory was being allowed to record the sound of a baby raccoon purring while it was being fed. I bet it is the only one in the world! Victoria has put together an amazing operation and kept it running all these years. I am especially proud that Wild Things Sanctuary has taken on the rehab of bats. The social media postings of cases is an extremely important educational tool to help people realize that bats should be appreciated. |
Victoria Campbell feeds a baby raccoon at Wild Things Sanctuary. Photo by Bob McGuire.
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When our third Northern long-eared bat arrived within a year—a species on the Endangered Species list due to white-nose syndrome—the state biologist told us that we get more of this species than anywhere in New York, even though they account for less than 3% of Wild Things’ patients. Releasing two healthy females this year gives hope to a crashing species.
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Wildlife rehabilitators often specialize in one type of wildlife to ensure that they can provide the safest and most successful chance of rehabilitation to the animals they care for. Even then, every year rehabilitators still lose some of their rescues, and they have to say goodbye to the successful rescues. It’s emotional work no matter the outcome.
Wild Things Sanctuary is unique in that it is the only bat rehabilitation facility for a large area in New York. If WTS is unable to accept a bat due to space, distance, funding, or any other reason, there is no other local option. As bat populations are still struggling to recover from white-nose syndrome, each bat that cannot be accepted is an additional loss to a struggling species. Imagine being a rescue in this position. -C.M. |
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Melissa Icaza volunteered as an undergraduate in 2011. This year she graduated from Tufts veterinary school and is currently doing postdoctoral work at M.I.T.
Thank you for the great opportunity you provided me, I was an extremely inexperienced, awkward volunteer and in hindsight I was likely more trouble than I was worth. However, by giving me the opportunity that you did, I was able to find the experience, motivation, and inspiration I needed to pursue my career. Since then, I’ve worked in zoo settings and in sea turtle rehabilitation and conservation. I’m now in vet school, looking to work with wildlife to further my potential contributions to the field. Your tireless efforts were and still are a source of inspiration for me. I hope that you continue give students the same chance you gave me, and one day I hope to be able to do the same. |
Melissa Icaza graduates from vet school. Photo courtesy of M. Icaza.
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A healthy Purple Finch stops for a snack at Wild Things Sanctuary.
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The Gregorys supported Wild Things Sanctuary before it was even an official rehabilitation center. Nerys writes:
Peter and I first met Victoria one very cold and miserable day at Thanksgiving many years ago, before she even opened Wild Things! We called many places for help, as we were very concerned that a Purple Finch was in distress. Victoria arrived with a net in hand, swooped the little creature up and put him in a box. An impossible feat for us! After treatment for conjunctivitis, she returned him to us and he was released from our deck and back into our neighborhood. How wonderful. Without this help he would have surely died a slow death. Wild Things is the very best organization for stranded, sick, or injured animals. |
A young Great Blue Heron recovers in Connecticut. WTS has been happy to support other rehabilitators who do not have the benefit of nonprofit fundraising. Photo by Linda Bowen.
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Linda Bowen is a licensed rehabilitator in Connecticut with an in-depth knowledge of waterfowl and bats. She never hesitates to share great insights and scientific papers with us, and helps put together our newsletter every year. Thank you Linda! She writes:
This juvenile Great Blue Heron was found near the Appalachian Trail in Connecticut by a hiker. It was weak from an overload of parasites and was having difficulty flying. WTS opened their pocketbooks to buy fish for him during his stay in rehab to regain his strength. Thank goodness that WTS was there to save the day. During this time of giving, your donation to Wild Things Sanctuary doesn’t just help WTS. The generosity of this wonderful nonprofit organization helps animals in trouble, no matter where they are. |