Critter Chatter – Reminiscing, Part V

I continue to share more of Carleen Cote’s past articles because Duck Pond Wildlife Care Center isn’t accepting any wildlife or phone inquiries right now. I found several about the generous efforts of local students to help support the rehab center. From August 2005:

“For two years, China Primary School students have selected the Wildlife Care Center as the recipient organization to benefit from their community service requirements. Lisa Jones called to tell me that the students were very enthusiastically looking forward to collecting supplies for the wildlife. What could we use? My suggestions included dry and canned dog food, dog biscuits, towels, whole corn for deer, shavings. In June, the students and chaperones arrived to deliver their bounty – dog food, cat food, biscuits, whole corn, towels, and shavings. All that we could hope for. How proud these youngsters were, to know that they were contributing to the care of Maine’s wildlife. Thank you, students, for thinking about the wildlife at our center. Your generosity is truly appreciated.”

However, China Primary School students’ generosity didn’t end there:

“In November, Lisa Jones called to tell me that third-grade students would hold a bake sale on December 5, with the proceeds benefitting the wildlife at our center. I attended the bake sale to meet and thank the students for remembering the wildlife. This is the first time students have held a bake sale to benefit the Wildlife Care Center; Mrs. Vivarelli’s third grade class raised $100. Thanks also to moms, dads and the student cooks for preparing all the goodies. Thanks to all who purchased these goodies.”

Student fundraising efforts haven’t been limited to Windsor and China:

“In December [2005], I was contacted by Lynn Durost, Vassalboro Community School, and she told me her fifth-grade students had a donation for the Wildlife Care Center. She would like for me to come to the school to answer questions the students had about the work we do with the wildlife and to accept their donation.

On December 22, I visited with the students. Mrs. Durost read a letter the students had written to the principal asking if they could make a donation to our Center rather than exchange Christmas gifts. Mrs. Durost explained that any fundraiser money is usually donated to a fund to replace playground equipment. The principal granted permission and also said the school would match any money raised. The students asked many interesting questions and graciously invited me to stay and partake of their Christmas goodies – desserts and punch. Thank you to these fifth-grade students for generously foregoing their gifts to make a gift to the wildlife, and to the school for matching their gift. A donation of $62 was received.”

I hope that you find these thoughtful, kind and generous acts of giving as inspiring as I do. Teaching younger generations to care about animal welfare, whether domestic or wildlife, is vital to developing and maintaining a compassionate community. In my humble opinion, something we all could use more of.

Wildlife rehab facilities are typically nonprofits that primarily depend on personal resources and outside donations. For any students who would like to help fundraise for such an important cause, please be advised that Duck Pond has been working with Wilderness Miracles Rehab in Bowdoin (Kathi at 207-720-0074), Misfits Rehab in Auburn (Jen at 207-212-1039), Bridget Green in Wiscasset (207-631-0874), Critterville Wildlife in Brooklin (845-549-2407), and Saco River Wildlife (207-702-1405). Pam Meier at Mid-coast Maine is a turtle rehabber and can be reached at The Turtle’s Back (203-903-2708). Please check these websites for a rehabber close to you: www.mainevetmed.org/wildlife-rehabilitation or www.maine.gov/ifw/fish-wildlife/wildlife/living-with-wildlife/orphaned-injured-wild- life/index.html. In addition, you can contact your local Animal Control Officer through your town office.

—by Jayne Winters, Natural Resources Council of Maine member from South China, Maine

Critter Chatter also appears monthly in the Town Line newspaper