SOME OF TUCSON’S WILDLIFE RESCUERS


Tucson Wildlife Center, Inc. East Tucson 520-290-9453 • Mammals / Birds


Forever Wild Rehabilitation Center, SE Tucson 520-574-3579 •Mammals / Birds


Robert Brandner East Tucson 520-760-0574 Reptiles / Amphibians


Wildlife Rehabilitation Facility West Tucson 520-743-0217 • Mammals / Birds


Linda Stitt Central Tucson 520-795-5652 • Reptiles


rected my problem, so I could finally start living.”


She laid another sleeping bunny, no more than three inches long, into the cage. Every baby rabbit initially resisted being fed, but after being wrapped in a small soft towel and filled with warm formula they fell asleep in her hand. “I worked several jobs, managed a health food store, did some hotel management and furniture sales, and worked as a cor- porate travel agent for 12 years, none of which was satisfying. Fortunately, my husband’s business was success- ful enough that I could retire early. In 1995 I saw an article in the paper about Tucson animal rescue workers Janet and Lewis Miller; I volunteered with them, and fell in love with this calling.”


What If An Animal Red-tailed hawk 22 Tucson


Needs Help? What do you do when you find a hurt, sick, or orphaned animal? Most people feel so overwhelmed by the situation they do nothing. And, oddly enough, that’s usually the right thing to do. Most wild animals, Darlene says, don’t need human intervention. Humans are always a young wild ani- mal’s last hope for survival, never its best hope. If you find a healthy young animal that is able to walk and is fully furred or feathered, it probably does not need your help. Its parents are usually nearby, even if they are not visible to you. But if the animal has been orphaned, hit by a car, wounded by a dog or cat, or otherwise placed in a desperate situation, you must clearly take action. Go to forever- wild.org/faq.php to find out how to take action correctly. Arizona Game and Fish Depart- ment requires each rehabilitator to work with a veterinary hospital, so animals can be x-rayed if necessary, and surgery performed before the rehabilitator takes over. If you call one of the rescue organizations listed in the sidebar, you will be told which veterinary office to take it to.


Darlene Braastad holding an American kestrel


Lend a Hand Forever Wild runs on donations and


people power. Forever Wild is staffed by one full-time and 35 part-time vol- unteers; it survives on donations from people who appreciate the work they do, and on the $5 or $10 that people offer when bringing animals to be rescued. If you would like to donate your time or money to Forever Wild, contact them at 520-574-3579 or visit forever-wild.org. The bird I rescued 20 years ago


was lucky. A rescue organization fed it, raised it with other scrub jays, and released it into the wild after it learned to fly. Since that day I’ve rescued birds, possums, snakes, and even a desert tortoise. Knowing that organiza- tions like Forever Wild are out there to back me up has opened my eyes to the world of wildlife that lives around us. Once you hold the tiny, tremulous heart beat of a wild animal in your hands there is no going back.


Gary Payne is a freelance writer and editor. You can reach him at queru- lous1@gmail.com.


Photographs by Jerry Caires dba RazorCut Entertainment.


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