A Belief Worth Fighting For

by Hnue Yang, Fall 2006

     Many injured and orphaned wildlife arrive at our door, each with a different story to tell.  The patients barely hanging on have a chance to be released back into the wild where they belong.  Many people do not realize the amount of time and effort involved in the care of the injured and orphaned once they are handed over to us.  I personally did not realize this until I began working here as an intern in May.  My experience as intern has changed my outlook on this line of wildlife conservation.

     I have never truly understood the area of wildlife rehabilitation.  My views on wildlife conservation are sometimes not what people expect or want to hear, especially people who are deeply or spiritually connected to wildlife and all the mystery and beauty of each individual creature.  When my journey began as an intern here, I observed many reasons why anyone would involve themselves with wildlife rehabilitation, both the education and the labor of caring for the 700 to 1000 patients we take in each year.

     Having the opportunities to catch and hold a bald eagle, hand feeding squirrels, birds and fawns, calculating drug doses and giving them to patients, having a great horned owl perched on your hand while giving a speech -- these are just some amazing chances that few will ever be able to do in their lifetime.  For many wildlife rehabbers and educators, it is that very reason that they enjoy and are involved in this area of wildlife work.  A reason deeper than that comes to my mind now that I have witnessed and dealt with wildlife rehabbing.

     At times, many patients do not make it, or are euthanized for reasons that are in the best interest of the individuals.  Despite that fact, every life that comes through our door deserves the chance to live to their fullest extent.  Fighting for this belief through education and rehabilitation is worth all of the time and effort given by all the educators, rehabbers, volunteers, and interns.  I have gained a much higher respect for this field than when I first began, and I am grateful to have had this opportunity.