Wild Care – The Future of Cape Cod’s Wildlife

October 20, 2016.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Stephanie Ellis, Executive Director, WILD CARE Inc.

Phone: (508) 240-2255 office, [email protected].

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WILD CARE – THE FUTURE OF CAPE COD’S WILDLIFE – October 20^th, 2016

Eastham, MA. October 20, 2016. The Staff and Board of Wild Care Inc. in Eastham are deeply saddened by the news of the closure of the Cape Wildlife Center in Barnstable.  Wild Care has collaborated with the Cape Wildlife Center for many years, exchanging animals, and sharing expertise to ensure that staff are cross-trained between organizations, enabling both groups to provide the best possible animal care Cape-wide. Together the two rehabilitation centers have offered residents of Cape Cod quality care to injured, orphaned or ill wildlife in need, from Provincetown to Falmouth.

Wild Care Executive Director Stephanie Ellis stated that geographically, the two organizations have been positioned to respond quickly and effectively to the needs of all of the Cape’s wildlife, and have also provided tremendous educational resources to Cape residents regarding wildlife encounters.  Educating the public on strategies to avoid animal-human conflicts and make potential wildlife encounters positive and mutually beneficial has been an important goal of both Centers. With the rich diversity of native animals on Cape Cod, practically every visitor and resident here has had some kind of wildlife encounter, and staff and volunteers at both the Cape Wildlife Center and Wild Care have helped to preserve wildlife by reducing human-wildlife conflicts, and by helping to build tolerance and appreciation for native wildlife that share our home.

The loss of the Cape Wildlife Center will leave a huge gap in the services provided to wildlife, and also to the residents of the Cape and Southeastern MA.  Wild Care Executive Director, Stephanie Ellis, has been in contact with Deb Millman, Executive Director of the Cape Wildlife Center, to offer help in any way possible to help with this transition, and to continue to provide these valuable services to the public.  Unfortunately, Wild Care is not in a financial position to expand its facility to absorb the 2,000 additional patients that Cape Wildlife Center receives annually.  “Wild Care currently admits 800 to 1,400 patients each year, and in our current facility, we do not have room for expansion,” states Stephanie Ellis.  “Wild Care does not receive state, federal, or municipal funding. We rely heavily on donations from the general public and private donors to help us run our wildlife hospital. We are going to need additional support from the community to care for what may potentially be hundreds of additional songbirds, seabirds, and small mammals that come through our door annually due to Cape Wildlife Center’s closure.” Large mammals will be referred to the New England Wildlife Center in Weymouth. “They have veterinarians on staff who are knowledgeable of these species, and also have the facilities that meet the requirements needed to house large species such as raccoons, skunks, coyotes, foxes and otters.”

If the public has wildlife-related questions or has found wildlife in need of rescue, they may contact Wild Care at 508-240-2255 www.wildcarecapecod.org  or the New England Wildlife Center in Weymouth, 781-682-4878, www.newildlife.com.

To provide monetary support. Please visit Wild Care’s website at www.wildcarecapecod.org. Donations are much needed and welcomed.

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WILD CARE’s wildlife rehabilitators treat birds, mammals and reptiles brought to the center, with the goal of releasing them back into the wild when they are capable of independent survival. Through public education, WILD CARE works to prevent wildlife casualties and works to engage the community in conservation through volunteerism. Since our founding WILD CARE has accepted over 22,000 wild creatures, representing over 275 species of native birds, mammals & reptiles.