Orphaned bobcats get a second chance! Page 3

Volume 16 • Issue 1 • FALL/WINTER 2005

WILDLIFERELEASEAN ANNUAL PUBLICATION OF THE CHINTIMINI WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTER

The mission of the Chintimini Wildlife Rehabilitation Center is to provide care for injured and orphaned

wildlife and to foster a connection between people and wildlife through education. Copyright (c) 2005 by Chintimini Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission.

This newsletter is printed on 100% recycled post-consumer paper and may be recycled with white paper if the label is first removed.

http://www.chintiminiwildlife.org E-mail: cwrc@peak.org 541-745-5324

What’s InsideLetter from the Director................................ 2

Board Member News........................................ 2

Orphaned Bobcat Kittens.............................. 3

Great Holiday Gift Ideas.................................. 4

Foundation Support....................................... 4

Gardening for Wildlife............................... ...... 4

New President Message................................. 5

Wish List.................................................................. 5

Thanks to Volunteers....................................... 5

Memberships/Contributions..................... 6-7

Thanks Mt View School.................................... 7

Second Chances................................................ 8-9

Thank You's........................................................... 9

Salute to Phyllis Heil......................................... 10

Junior, Vulture Ambassador......................... 11

Sponsor Web Page........................................... 12

Editor.....................................................Jeff Picton

Writers......................................Melody Rudenko,

Chesney Sharp and Jeff Picton

Photos...........................................Karin Donoyan

Layout...............................Barbara Spreadbury

Printing....................................Cascade Printing

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTORJeff Picton

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PresidentMathieu Federspiel

Vice-PresidentKris Downing

SecretarySally Stafford

TreasurerJoy Linn

Board MemberKen Fletcher, DVM

Laurie GordonGary Hough

Barbara Spreadbury

VOLUNTEER STAFF

Education CoordinatorsKris Downing

Liz Lauth

Volunteer CoordinatorsMelody Rudenko

Brooke Abruzzesse

VOLUNTEERS are CWRC’s

infrastructure. To continue to have

a strong rehab center, we need your

help. Please consider donating some

of your time and talents to

help injured and orphaned wildlife.

Thank you.

To volunteer, call 541-745-5324

The next edition of "Wildlife Release" will be availble via e-mail and will also be posted on our website. If you would prefer to receive your next copy electronically please e-mail us at cwrc@peak.org and request this. We will be sure to put you on the list, and thank you ahead for saving postage and printing costs.

Director’s MessageThe mission of the Chintimini Wildlife Rehabilitation Center is to rehabilitate injured and orphaned wild animals by providing them with medical care until they can be healed and released back into the wild where they belong. Our goal is, in effect, to provide these animals with a second chance.

There are times however, when even the rehabbers need a little rehabbing. Last winter Chintimini had been experiencing some financial difficulties, a plight that was the subject of several articles in the local paper, the Gazette-Times. I am very pleased to report that, through a truly phenomenal outpouring of support from the community as a result of this media attention, Chintimini too has been given a second chance.

On behalf of all of us here at the Chintimini, I want to offer my heartfelt thanks to all of our supporters for helping to “rehab” our struggling organization. Thanks to your generous support, we have not been forced to make any cutbacks and have been able to continue to provide full care for our wildlife patients.

This means that every wild animal needing help is admitted, and provided with the best medical and nutritional care that we can possibly give it. This means that more animals will recover and get that second chance.

Many thanks to all of you who have contributed to our work by renewing your memberships, joining us for the first time, or donating food and supplies for animal care. I especially want to thank those of you who sent in touching letters of support - it was both humbling and refreshing to read the kind words that you had to say.

Chintimini is much more than a handful of individuals putting bandages on injured animals. It is truly a community effort. From the people who selflessly rescue injured and orphaned animals, to the many volunteers at Chintimini who work tirelessly to provide them with compassionate care, to the individuals and businesses who give us the donations that make it all possible, Chintimini is about people coming together for a common cause – helping the wild animals that are such an important part of this wonderful place we call home. In essence, you all are Chintimini, for we could not do this work without you.

Thank you all for showing us how much you value your wildlife, and for your support of Chintimini‛s services. And although the animals can‛t put it into words, I believe they thank you too by their very presence, and the pleasure they provide us through their beauty, their majesty, and their grace.

We are proud to be a part of this community, and plan to be around for a very long time. There are animals out there needing help, and we have a job to do. So with your support, and thanks, we will continue to provide quality care for Oregon‛s wildlife for many years to come.

Jeff Picton, CWRC Executive Director

Orphaned Bobcat Kittens Kept Us Busy at CWRC This Summer!By Jeff Picton, photographs Karin Donoyan

In mid-May of this last spring, we were presented with two furry little bundles of fierce energy in the form of orphaned bobcat kittens. Approximately six weeks old when they came to us, the kittens had become orphaned when their den was disrupted by logging activities near Eugene. The area that the mother bobcat had picked for her den site was clearcut and the den was discovered when the loggers were yarding out the timber.

The kittens were taken to the Willamette Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Eugene, but they did not have facilities for housing predator mammals and so the babies were transported to Chintimini. Ideally, the loggers should have left the kittens in the disrupted den over night, and the mother would quite likely have come back looking for her family and moved them off to a safe location. However, by the time the kittens were transported to Willamette Wildlife it was already late evening and nobody was able to take them back to where they were found that night. Since the loggers were going to resume work in the same area the next day, it became necessary to raise them ourselves.

The kittens were just about at the age where they were going to be weaned, and showed very little interest in milk, but ravenously tore into raw meat that we offered them. From there on they developed rapidly, and eventually were moved outside to one of our large chain-link enclosures, where they were started on live prey so that they could gain some hunting practice before being released back into the wild. Even though they did not have their mother to teach them, they instinctively knew what to do and quickly honed their hunting skills on the mice that we provided.

In late September, after the kittens had more than quadrupled their weight and had become lithe, powerful young bobcats, we loaded them up and transported them to a remote area where there was an abundance of available mice, rabbits, squirrels and birds for them to feed on. With hardly a backward glance, they ran off into the woods and the start of a new life. We wish them well.

For more photos of the bobcats, visit the photo section of our web site, www.chintiminiwildlife.org.

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An ideal gift available through CWRC!

Gardening for Wildlife

Native Plant FlashcardsBeautiful Photographs, Superb Illustrations, a wealth of gardening information

- 40 different plants, organized into 4 habitats- Specific tips on how to transplant and propagate

for success- All plants suitable for the urban garden; kid and

pet friendly too- Wildlife information such as butterfly host plants- Fully researched, tried and true information A good deal for the quality and quantity of information.

They are $15.00 each S/H $5.00 US Priority Mail. (Make checks payable to CWRC or call us to order, 541-745-5324 )

Visit our website to see other places around town where they are being sold for us!

More Holiday Gifts That Help WildlifeEvery year Chintimini participates in the Gifts for a Better World annual Holiday Bazaar, where we sell merchandise to support our animal care program. This year, Gifts for a Better World will take place from November 15th to December 5th at the Carriage House at the Benton County Fairgrounds. This year, Chintimini will be selling striking Blue

Heron Tee Shirts and Sweat Shirts by Earl Newman, beautiful note cards and bookmarks by La Rea Dennis-Johnston and Karin Donoyan, stunning birds of prey note cards by David Middleton. Also available 2006 calendars featuring CWRC animals by Karin Donoyan and delicious chocolate wild animals created by Burst’s Candies. New this year Gardening for Wildlife, Native Plant Flashcards. Come get your Christmas presents and support the care of injured and orphaned wildlife at the same time!

Many of these items can also be purchased online at our web site at www.chintiminiwildlife.org. Go to "Store" and then "Merchandise" to see our selection of gifts.

Foundation SupportMany thanks to the following foundations for their generous support of our work.Karen M. Schroth Foundation for Animals – $18,000 for an education bird housing facility

The Kinsman Foundation – $5000 for animal food and medicine

The Parisol Foundation – $5000 for general operations

The Hollione Foundation – $900 for general operations

OSU Folk Club Thrift Shop – $700 for purchase of an electrical generator

World Reach Inc. – matching $$ from Hewlett-Packard employees

Thanks for the support from the following Businesses and Organizations.* Hewlett-Packard Co. * Heller Financial * First Alternative, Inc. * Gifts For A Better World * Fuller & Morris Engineering, Inc. * African Violet Society of America * Coelo Company of Design * Oddfellows Barnum Lodge No. 7 * The Climate Source, Inc.* Albany Animal Hospital * Wilson Motors * Corvallis Volunteer Fire Department* Burst’s Candies * Oregon Home & Hearth * Valley Eye Care * Country Vitamins * Pacific Analytical Laboratory, Inc. * Paperworks Design * Cascade Printing * Pioneer Veterinary Clinic * Mouseworks * McLagen Farms* Richard Hendrick, CPA

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Message From the New President of the Board Mathieu Federspiel

This is my first letter to you as the president of the board of Chintimini. Some of you may know me or may have seen me around. I have been a friend of Jeff and Becky for many years, and have helped out Chintimini in the past, but always in the background. Somehow, Jeff talked me into this!

My first goal with Chintimini is to strengthen the Board and administration. Over the years the volunteering in animal care and education have remained strong, but the management has weakened and Jeff has been overwhelmed with these chores. I dislike paperwork as much as anyone, but good administration does make for a stronger organization.

My second goal is to improve the financial base. We made it through a very hard time last year, thanks to the generosity of many people. But like many volunteer organizations, we are having a difficult time with cash flow. We have many regular donors and some regular fund raising activities, but we need more in order to maintain our current level of wildlife rehabilitation and education. But maintaining is not enough really, and we are discussing ideas for expanding to better meet the needs of this community in these areas.

It looks like 2006 will be a year of many changes for Chintimini, and I am glad to be a part of it. But I know that the real force that will allow this happen is the enthusiasm and commitment of all of the volunteers here at Chintimini.

W I S H L I S T

CWRC cared for almost 800 animals last year at an average cost of over $44.00 per patient. Our work is assisted by donations of equipment and supplies.

Your donations help ensure continued professional care for the injured and orphaned wild animals. All contributions are tax deductible as allowed by law.

These are a few essential items that we need on a regular basis for animal care at the Center.

Good quality canned & dry dog and cat food

All types of bird seed and grains

Puppy and kitten powdered milk replacer

Fresh fruit (in spring & summer)

Paper towels Toilet paper (for lining

baby bird nests) Bath towels Dish soap Laundry soap Bleach Floor cleaner Hand sanitizer

Memorials & Honorariums

You may wish to consider making a donation to CWRC in memory or in honor of someone special.

Enthusiastic Work Parties Help CWRC It takes many person-hours to keep Chintimini running, and sometimes we are fortunate enough to gather together a whole lot of bodies and get a great deal of work done in one day. This past year we had several work parties that resulted in hundreds of hours of volunteer time. Through the United Way of Benton County's Day

of Caring, employees from Hewlett-Packard worked all day doing construction and maintenance at the Center. A group of young women from Girl Scout Troop 227 in Newport drove all the way over to Chintimini and worked on baby bird baskets and perches for our cages. Students from Melissa Kilgore's biology classes at Linn-Benton Community College came out

several times to do maintenance and landscaping. Volunteers David Hohler, Rich Mueller and Hersch Crawford came out on numerous occasions to do special construction projects. We are very grateful to all of these good people for all of their efforts.

Rich, Hersch and David constructing a much needed storage room at the Wildlife Clinic

Memberships and ContributionsJuly 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005

Many individuals, corporations, and foundations have contributed to CWRC’s success.We would like to thank everyone who has supported our work.

Life ($1000+)Carolyn Aldwin Diana Gardener & Judson Parsons Andrew & Lauralee Martin Greg McLagen Cindy Noble Russ & Shirley Picton Nan Roos

Sustaining ($500+)Carolee S. Clark & Robert MayNorman Davison Jr. Brendan & Jennifer DunnGary & Pam Hough Joy & Scott Linn Betty & Gary Massoni Jean & Carl Niedner Frances & Dale Ramsay Lori Tully Alexis J Walker

Benefactor ($100+)Lois Abbruzzese Michelle & Alan Abramson Ann AdamsAnimal Surgical Specialties Marge & Ralph Alig Janice & Bryant Alleman Dana Bakley Jim & Nancye Ballard John & Ursula Barry Ann & Sarah Batten Elinor & Gilbert Beck Nan & William Beck Dick & Sally Bell Dale & Kaye Berggren Cynthia Bower Melissa Boyd Jim Brady Ed & Judy Brazee James & Beryl Brizendine Bill Brock & Clara BozievichDavid & Janice Brown Cheryl & Mark W. Brunson Kimberly Burke & Tim HoltHoward D. Burtchett Karyle Butcher Jane Byrne Meg Campbell Violet Campbell Jean V. Carley Michael & Elizabeth Caro Carleton & Paulette Carroll Darrell & Jean Christenson Pamela & Randy Comeleo Carol & Herschel Crawford Cindy Dahl & Chuck ThierheimerRich & Kristina Daniels Irving & Jean Dayton Andries & Lois De Geus Carroll & Gerry Dekock John & Nancy Dennis

Betty Dowless Lyle & Helen Ellis Elsie & Merlin Eltzroth Christine Escher & Thomas SchmidtCliff & Susan Fairchild Tom & Sally Farnham Jay Fineman VMD Mary Flahive & David FinchAnn & John Fox Kenneth & Martha Fraundorf Mary Fryer William Gilbert Betty Goddard Dawn & Doug Grafe Donna Gregerson Elizabeth Grubb Jim Hall Frank Halm S.J. & Pamela Hawkes Don & Virginia Helfer Marilyn Henderson & Michael MixEugene & Ruth Hogan David & Marcia Hohler Osalyn Houser & Larry FalkPaul Howard & Stacy DrakeNancy & John Hyde Jeff Igelman & Theresa GibneyGlenda Johnson Phyllis Johnson Scott Johnson Tom & Jane Jones

Contributing ($50+)Linda Allen Susan Andrzejczak & Robert RobsonMarion & Ted Beers Rosemary & Ron Bell Valerie Bell Charles & Elizabeth Blass Kathryn Brazee Shirley Brennan John & Shirley Byrne Robert & Alcetta Campbell Betty & John Carter Edith L. Castleman Florence Chambers Robert Combs Mrs. Raymond Costello Herb & Linda Crew William & June Daley Sally Daly May Dasch Phillip & Virginia Denham Harold & Ruth Dickman Jay & Patricia Dixon Walter & Carroll Eichner Anna Ellendman John & Judith Ellingham Joe & Cindi Farmer Janet Farrell Burton & Betty Lou Fein Cheron Ferland

Roy Filby & Cathy GrimmRod & Ruby Frakes Herb & Marjorie Frolander Keith & Linda Gelbrich Anne Gillies & Michel RectorGerald & Mary Gleicher Susan Greenup Michael Gregory Sue Guss Kathy & David Hackenyos Lorene Hales & Nancy HaldemanMariellen Harper Phyllis Heil Mark Hixon, PhD Claire Huddleston Craig Huebing Carol & Michael Huntington La Rea Dennis Johnston Raymond & Betty Jones Ricky & Inge King Glenn Klein Nedra & Robert Knowles Steve & Katie Kohl Paula & Manlik Kwong Jim & Nancy Landkamer Carol Ann & Dick Lantz Janet & Robert Larkin Nate Larmand Robert & Nina Lawrence Charles & Dorothy Leach Karen Lee-Thompson & Todd ThompsonKent & Jeannine Leslie Aaron & Sara Liston Steven & Debbie Lohse Carlos Lopez David & Caroline Lorusso Louise Lowrey Janet Magedanz Patrick Magee Catherine & Jack Makarchek Leon & JoAnne Malkin Dennis & LaVerne Marker Collen & Mark Merickel Richard Merrill Kathy Merritt Gerald Mersereau Doug & Julie Meyers Winifred Moore Bronwyn Moore & Brandon PierceAl & Susan Mukatis Jerry & Lisa Namba Eugene Neville Phylllis Novack Theresa Novak Janet Ohmann Ken Ostby Robert Pabst William Pearcy Mary Perry Christine & Don Peterson Toby & Ronna Pomeroy Sandy & John Potter

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Charles & Jane Powers Zina Price John & Doreen Renoud Leslie Richards Jane Roberts Nancy & Michael Robinson Nina & John Roll Charlotte Ross & Darren EdwardsJoyce Sanders & James ConklinPeter Sandrock Peter Sanzenbacher Scott Schwartz Mary & Bill Simpson Julie Skeen Kent & Diana Smith Lowell Spring Mona St Marie Robert M. Storm Anita Summers Jeanette Swanson Susan Cameron TarletonFamily ($25+)Patty & Doug Adams Michele & James Adams Carol & Paul Adamus Sam & Cindy Aron Bill & Debra Atkinson John & Noreen Barrand John Bertani Mary Bolton & Karen HeroldLydia & Chris Bosley Susan & Todd Brown Carrie Burkholder & Tom OlsonThomas Burrell Daisy Cafferata Cynthia Cameron Violet Campbell James & Christine Cantey Patti & Milt Cardwell Rosalie Carl Eve Chambers Donna Champeau Ken Christensen Anne & Frank Clarke Mary & Jeff Clement-Hill Edward Conner Carol & Herschel Crawford Kim & Axel Deininger Maryanne & Wolfgang Dengler Andrew Dennis Dawn & Anthony Denyer Genevieve Downing Violet & Pamela Downing Joan & Keith Dunlap Lianne Dyche Gae East Ann & Jimmy Eggerton Marilyn & Rand Erway Karan, Karl & Jim Fairchild Joan Ferguson Rowena Fleming David & Elizabeth Fox Robert & Lorraine Garrison

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In Memory of…….Gary Allums - Linda Allen Bernard & Barbara Minden - Jacqueline Barrington Brandy & Sherry - Marion & Ted Beers Gladys - Rosemary & Ron Bell Shadow - Connie & Dave Bella Sparki - Milt & Patti Cardwell Injured hawks - Carleton & Paulette Carroll John Carter -Betty Carter Tazz & Kiparu - Florence Chambers Talia - D.P. Couch Miko - Kim & Axel Deininger All the little creatures that can’t make it - Vi Downing Bonnie Hall - Jim Hall Charlie - Claire Huddleston June Hamblin - Dorothy Hyde Bronco - Alan Jeffers Harley Heaton - Glenda Johnson Rusty Picton - Tom & Jane Jones Raccy - Dale Edith Kraus Erma Brown -Elrene & David Kuenzli Bill Lowrey -Louise Lowrey The animals whose consciousness raised & awakened ours -Thomas & Margaret Meehan Amos, the red fox -Deborah Mills Lucille Donnelly -Liz O’Donnell Pippin -Dean & June Orton Patrick O’Shea - John & Carolyn Oshea Antonio Romero - Russ & Shirley Picton Rusty Picton - Russ & Shirley Picton Bridgit - Brandon Pierce & Bronwyn Moore Kenneth O’Bryan - William Popovich Sandra DeMers - William & Beverly Ratajak William Goldinger - William & Beverly Ratajak Kenneth O’Bryan - Albert Rhoades Wesley Richards - Leslie Richards Livi - Julie Skeen Nanci - James & Marilyn Smith Larry Dittmer - Jerry and Jan Steinbrink Pat Miller - Alexis J Walker Caleb - Deanna Walter Shadow & Anna - Patricia & Bernard Wohlwend JoAnn Wolf - Mike Wolf Joey & Joey - Sue Violette & Ken Rocco

Laurie Gordon Marjorie Goss Ann Grabe Lisa Greenfield & Michael HiltFrank Griswold Larry Hamilton Renee & Tom Hartsook Aggie Hill Priscilla & Yuji Hiratsuka Edward & Margaret Hoffman Kevin & Carla Holzworth Richard Hoyer Huber Family Richard & Libby Hunter Dorothy & Katie Hyde Gary & Clara Jarman Susan & Curtis Johnson Norman & Debora Johnson Crichton & Sheridan Jones Claudia Kelley Zoella Kelso Dale Kirk Lloyd & Christine Klemke Peter Kliewer Thomas Kosta Linda & Bill Kreutzer Kathy Ladd Mark Lee Lisa Lee Lorin & Josh Liddell Peter & Judith List Margaret & David Livesay Barbara & Russell Macal Deloras & Marvin Martin Cheryl Martinez Becky McKenzie Lew & Carol McLaren Pat & Kerby Miller Gail & Richard Millimaki Michael & Wendolyn Molk Mary Muir Adrene Niederlehner Ronald & Susan Noble Ken & Barbara Osher June & Laurie Padman LoErna & James Palmer Simpson George Parsons Roberta Pepin Carole Perkins Gwen & Robert Peterkort Donald Poole & Enid Clarke-PooleJacqueline Popp Noskov & Alexander NoskovSandra Ragan Frank & Jane Ragulsky Linda Rehn & Neil CoxPaul & Sherrill Richards Ellen Roberts Kristin & Gregory Rorrer Tim Sanders Nancy & Donald Sanderson Denise Saunders & Wolfe WagmanPaul Schlegelmann Gerald & Phyllis Schuytema Fred Senecal Barbara & Jeffrey Setmayer Ginny & Alan Shelden Anne Smith Robert & Patricia Smythe Mandy Sorensen

In Honor of……William Victa - Marge & Ralph Alig Joy Linn - John Barlow Joy Linn - Maretta Barlow Junior the Turkey Vulture - Violet Campbell Carole Meurett - Carol & Herschel Crawford Melissa & Caren Boyd - Irving & Jean Dayton Dick & Ruth Boubel - John & Nancy Dennis The Staff at 1st Presbeterian Church - John & Nancy Dennis Charles & Delores Seemuth - Ann & John Fox Mildred Gelbrich - Keith & Linda Gelbrich Katie Hibbs - John & Kristin Graves Chris & Deanna Jorgensen - Stephanie Jorgensen David & Jean Kliewer - Peter Kliewer Sally Stafford - Nate Larmand Dave & Linda Kliewer - David & Jean Kliewer Cindy Bower - Jeannine & Gil Lawrence Gordon & Sylvia Lisser - Warren & Susan Lisser Walt Scherf’s birthday - Lisa Namba Sabina - Dino Rinaldi Jim Ross Family - Andrew & Tania Ross Russ & Shirley Picton - Fred & Shanda Rowe Jessica & Eric Mason - Kim Schlessinger Bob & Aline Arra - Kim Schlessinger Lin Marie - Jeffrey & Barbara Setmayer Lily Marie Smith - Warren & Maryanne Staton Pat Ingram - Peg Urban Allison Walker - Fran Walker Victoria Hexter-Normandeau - Louise Van Slyke Kuna Patti - Lou Watkins Katherine Partridge - Susan Wechsler Elsie & Elzy Eltzroth - Caroline ZaworskiLeah Koerpen & Patricia Berman – in honor of Peg Cornell

CWRC depends on YOUR donations to keep us going. Please renew your membership today!

Mountain View Eagles Support Eagle Rehabilitation!

Mountain View Elementary School, home of the Mt. View Eagles, has become a proud sponsor of eagle rehabilitation at Chintimini. A Leadership Council consisting of student representatives from each class at Mt. View voted to support Chintimini's work by raising funds through bake sales and soda can drives. Their efforts generated much needed funds to help support the care of injured and orphaned bald and golden eagles that are admitted to our Center. Thank you Mountain View, for all of your hard work and for caring about your wildlife!

A living Gift to WildlifeYou may wish to consider the advantages of a bequest to CWRCWe suggest the following language for use in wills: “I give, devise and bequeath to the Chintimini Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, having its principal offices at 311 NW Lewisburg Avenue, Corvallis, Oregon 97330 _________ (state amount/identify

property) for its general purposes.”

If you wish to restrict your bequest, we can suggest options.

Bunnies, Alligators and Second Chances- from the journal of a home care volunteerThe little bunny climbed up the side of the cage again and again, looking

for freedom. This time he would find it--tall, green grass in the dappled shade of the forest. I turned the cage on its side, so the part he climbed became the cage floor and then the forest floor. Just outside the cage he sat up, cleaned his face, and reached for a snack of fresh grass. Then he hopped over to a brushy rock pile to survey his new world. Finally! I had raised a bunny from infant to release after a summer of much learning, too much heartbreak, and indelible memories of the thirty-two orphaned rabbits cared for in my home.

I started working a volunteer shift at the Chintimini Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in the fall and learned over the slower winter months how to feed and care for the injured animals that came in. When a sign-up sheet was posted for anyone interested in doing orphaned baby animal home care, I enthusiastically signed up to do almost everything--bunnies, birds, squirrels, etc. (thankfully, baby alligators weren’t on the list). I have wild bunnies in my yard, but also many cats in my neighborhood. Each year I have watched helplessly as the cats find the bunny nests and haul the babies off one by one. I had a strong desire to learn what to do with the ones I found injured or orphaned.

In late March I got a call from the person who has taken care of orphaned rabbits (and many other species) for CWRC for the past seven years, Phyllis Heil. ‘I have four baby rabbits, just about a week old, do you want to take them?’ she asked. I agreed and got a quick, but thorough, course in the difficult task of raising baby rabbits. I had no idea how hard it would be.

When I got the bunnies, they still had their eyes closed and were shockingly small (less than three inches long). Phyllis gave me fleece hats to put them in, eyedroppers to feed them with, cages, heating pads, formula, and probably fifty bazillion other kinds of supplies along with a whole notebook of written material.

Once I was alone with the bunnies, I felt like I had just given birth to quadruplets. I was worried about their welfare and my lack of experience. I had to feed them every three hours at first, with the last feeding around midnight. Six in the morning came all too soon. Phyllis warned me repeatedly, as did the written materials, that bunnies can die of stress as easily as anything else. All the experts suggest very little handling and a very quiet environment. In spite of my best efforts, after 11 days, the bunnies began to die--first the largest, strongest one and then the others, one by one.

Over the summer I learned about what happens to bunnies when their nests are disturbed by cats and dogs, lawn mowers, rototillers and urban growth. I was disappointed by people who rounded up perfectly healthy bunnies with their eyes open and brought them to us, only to die of the stress of the capture. I was angered by the unnecessary deaths of bunnies that were taken from their nests because someone thought they would make good pets for their children, or because they might eat their vegetables.

After I grieved for the first four bunnies that died, I found myself becoming angry that I hadn’t been able to save them. I was

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determined to learn how to do it. I dedicated a lot of time and energy to learn as much as I could about bunnies over the course of the summer and took only the older ones from Phyllis after they were eating grass and dandelions. We were able to release 17 of these by the end of July.

In early August, Phyllis had a house full of animals and a friend of hers brought in a baby bunny that she had taken from a cat’s mouth. I said I would take it and prepared myself that it would go quickly. I fed it formula just like the first four babies, kept it quiet and rubbed its stomach with a soft cloth after each feeding. I dreaded the trip into its room each morning to see if it was still alive. Every day it was. And every day after it opened its eyes, it tried to climb the side of the cage and see what the world was like outside. It licked its lips after every formula feeding and when it got older and ate grass and dandelions it cleaned its face after eating. I felt like I did everything the same with this bunny as I did with the first four, but Phyllis reminded me that I had learned a lot since then. One thing I had learned was that you have no idea what a bunny has been through before you get it. They don’t always show any outward signs of stress. You don’t know if a mother abandoned her babies because they were weak or sick. You can’t always see the marks where the cat’s teeth punctured the bunny’s flesh and deposited the bacteria that can be a silent killer. You can’t tell from looking which is the healthiest one--the biggest one sometimes dies first. And Phyllis and I both laugh when we release them about how the big ‘tough’ guys seem to be the most timid when released and the little shy ones bound off with fearless abandon.

Watching the little ‘face cleaner’ bunny disappear into the forest for a second chance gave me back the hope I had at the beginning of the summer that I could, with the help of the many other dedicated rehabilitators at CWRC, be successful with the home care of wild baby rabbits. I feel I will do even better next year with the experiences of this summer behind me. This winter I’ll be sorting my supplies for next year and reading up on alligators. *Note to anyone finding baby rabbits If you find an injured bunny or you know the mother has been killed, put it in a small, ventilated box lined with soft material and place it in a quiet place away from pets, children and human contact. Do not feed it or give it any liquids. Then contact CWRC. Bunny mothers do not stay with their babies all the time, so an abandoned-looking nest may not actually be motherless. The best thing to do if you find a nest of baby bunnies that you think may be orphaned is to cover the nest with some twigs and grass. If, when you look at the nest the next day, the grass covering is undisturbed, then you know that the mother did not return. Remember...baby animals have a greater survival rate when raised by their mothers in the wild.

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Gifts In KindMany individuals and businesses help us with our work by donating much needed supplies and equipment. If you would like to help, please see our wish list on page 5 for some of our top needs.Albany Animal Hospital – medical suppliesAnderson’s Blueberries for donating blue-berriesAnimal Crackers Pet Supply for donating animal foodBlueberry Meadows for donating blueberriesEarl & Cherill Boissonou – rummage sale itemsMichael Byers – stainless steel kennelsEdward Bryan – rummage sale itemsLiz Caro – animal foodCascade Printing – printingDale Collins - animal care suppliesFirst Alternative Co-op for donating fresh produceMary Fryer – animal cagesGirl Scout Troop 227 - animal care supplies Heartland Humane Society for donating dog & cat foodJoy & Scott Linn - animal care suppliesSteven & Debbie Lohse – animal care sup-pliesLuther House - animal care suppliesJill Jackson – building suppliesMr. & Mrs. McGill – animal care suppliesDusty Moffit - animal care suppliesMouseworks – animal foodPaperworks Design – printingPEAK Internet – for providing internet servicePioneer Veterinary Clinic – medical suppliesCharles & Jane Powers – rummage sale itemsPizza Hut at Timberhill for discounts on pizza for our work partiesRadke’s Blueberries for donating blueberriesSafehaven Humane Society for donating dog & cat foodStoker’s Vitaworld for donating birdseed

Very special thanks and tremendous gratitude to all of the Chintimini volunteers who work so tirelesslyto make a difference in the lives of these animals

YOU ARE ALL VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE!

CWRC Salutes Phyllis Heil, Volunteer Extraordinaire

Conflicts with WildlifeBenton County Commissioners have once again shown how much they care about Oregon’s wildlife by allocating funds to Chintimini to help us educate and advise Benton County residents who are experiencing conflicts with wildlife. With this support, Chintimini is able to consult with people experiencing conflicts with wildlife and help them resolve these conflicts in a humane fashion so that the problem is solved and no harm comes to the animal.

For more information: Jeff Picton, 541-745-5324, ext. 6 at CWRC.

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The Chintimini Wildlife Rehabilitation Center is primarily a volunteer organization. Anywhere from 40 to 60 people at a time from all walks of life contribute nearly 10,000 hours of volunteer time to Chintimini every year. Many of them are students and so they come and they go, but a few individuals have been with us for many years and have become such integral parts of our organization that we wonder if we could ever survive without them.

One of these special individuals who has given her heart and soul to Chintimini, is Phyllis Heil. Phyllis has been with us for more than eight years, and during that time has worn many hats. She has been on our Board of Directors and on our fundraising and public relations committees, has helped at numerous special events and fundraisers, and is responsible for putting together and overseeing our annual rummage sale, which generates significant income for our animal care program.

But where Phyllis truly shines, is when she provides care for injured or orphaned baby mammals. When it comes to baby mammal care, Phyllis is truly gifted. Whether it is an orphaned squirrel, skunk, chipmunk or rabbit, there is no better place for them to be than in Phyllis’ caring and gentle hands. Her true specialty, and where she has no peers, is baby rabbit care. Baby

rabbits are by far one of the most, if not the most, difficult baby animals to rehabilitate. Their fragile digestive systems and tendency to stress out make their care a real challenge, yet Phyllis consistently pulls them through and gives them a second chance at life.

During its 16 years of existence, Chintimini has taken in and provided care for nearly 12,000 injured and

orphaned wild animals. Phyllis single-handedly cared for over 400 of these. That is what you call a significant contribution. Phyllis, we salute you and offer our heartfelt thanks for all that you have done for Chintimini and for the helpless little wild creatures that you love so much.

Benefit ConcertChintimini was pleasantly surprised last winter when former volunteer Maggie Herron and her brother Dustin contacted us to tell us that they had put together a benefit concert and that all we had to do was show up! Many thanks to the fine musicians in Old Growth, A Fragile Shade, and Morgan’s Door who came all the way from Portland to donate their time and skills for this event. And a big thank you to the good folks at the Odd Fellows Hall in Corvallis for being excellent hosts, the Gazette-Times for providing us with great media coverage, and all of the concert attendees who came and enjoyed the music.

11

We often hear naturalists speak of the beauty and wonder of the natural world. The subjects of their prose are typically beauties such as red-tailed hawks and young fawns. Never do the scholars glorify the beauty of my favorite animal, the vulture. Many people laugh when I comment on the intrinsic beauty of vultures, but most have never had the chance to know a vulture. Humans fear the unknown, and what could be more unfamiliar than the vilified vulture. Since most people never have the desire or the opportunity to meet a vulture, I take it upon myself to make the introduction.

I would like to introduce my favorite member of the vulture race, Junior, the nine year old turkey vulture living at Chintimini. Junior has been with us for nine years as an ambassador in our education program. He lives at Chintimini because one of his wings does not fully extend, preventing him from soaring to look for food or migrating south in the winter. I’ve had the privilege of working with Junior for a few years, and through my experiences with him I can relate to you the true beauty and magnificence of turkey vultures.

I will admit that vulture beauty is not obvious to everyone, it takes a true connoisseur of nature to understand what makes vultures beautiful. When most people meet Junior for the first time they see a big black bird with a bald red head that subtly reminds them of there own mortality. But when they stop and look further they see his black feathers shimmering blue, green and purple in the

sunlight. His rosy head is dusted with fine black feathers, very soft to the touch. His complexion changes with mood and temperature, from a soft peach to a deep red like the endearing blush of a shy child. His eyes are dark amber reflecting pools filled with curiosity and mischief.

Most people realize that appearance isn’t everything. After the initial impact of Junior’s good looks people are typically struck by his personality. Vultures are highly intelligent problem solvers, and very social in nature. These traits make Junior constantly curious and a notorious trouble maker.

After meeting your first turkey vulture, admiring their beauty, and sharing a laugh, it is natural to want to understand why they are so remarkable in form. Turkey vultures eat carrion. This may not seem important at first glance, but the entire turkey vulture form is adapted to fill this niche. Most significant of these adaptations is their method for finding food. If your dinner is dead you must use something other than your eyes and ears to find it. Turkey vultures follow their noses to food, and can boast a sense of smell that is the strongest in the entire animal kingdom. Their bald heads and naked legs make digging into each meal a tidier business. Vulture cuisine is often seasoned with a variety of bacteria. To digest these nasty little stowaways the turkey vulture has a specialized digestive system that can handle food containing colonies of Ecoli, salmonella, botulism, cholera, and anthrax. Not only are these bacteria safely digested, but the acidic nature of the turkey vulture digestive tract actually converts bacteria into a cleansing substance; yes, I am talking about poop. Turkey vulture poop has astringent qualities, and these clever birds regularly defecate on their legs to clean up after a large meal.

I hope these interesting facts about turkey vultures make it easier to admire their beauty and endearing personalities. If not, just imagine a world with out vultures. What would happen to all the carrion and bacteria the vultures clean up? I hope you can now share my enthusiasm and call yourself a true connoisseur of nature’s beauty.

Make a Difference in the Life of an Animal! Sponsor one of CWRC's resident or rehab animals groups.

We are often asked, “What is the easiest way I can help the wildlife at CWRC?”We have just the answer: Why not sponsor one of the resident animals groups at the Center?

CWRC endeavor’s to release back to the wild as many rehabilitated animals as possible. Many of the patients at the Center need long term care before this can happen. Adopting or sponsoring is a great way to help them as they recover.

You can also choose to sponsor one of the educational birds of prey that live at the center that need to be cared for and looked after every day of the year. Sponsoring one of them today can make a difference to their lives. Your sponsor money will help go towards providing your chosen animal with a safe, secure environment and plenty of Tender Loving Care.

How to get there: http://www.chintiminiwildlife.org/,select “Getting Involved” and then “Sponsor Animals”.Grateful thanks to our dedicated President and Web Master Mathieu Federspiel for developing this for CWRC.

NON-PROFITORGANIZATION

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CORVALLIS, ORPERMIT NO.50

Chintimini WildlifeRehabilitation CenterP.O. Box 1433 • Corvallis, Oregon 97339