Summertime Blues

It's not yet the middle of the summer and I'm already looking forward to the end. Although there has been a break in the number of birds admitted at the Center, the working conditions have become almost unbearable. I hear from folks all over the country that this year has seen an explosion of mosquito populations. That's pretty much always a given in South Florida, but they are much fiercer and numerous this year. Maybe it's the heat. The heat has been absolutely unbearable this year as we've reached record levels for week long durations at least twice that I can remember. Again it's a given that it's hot in South Florida, but when you work outside, 5 more degrees make it miserable.

All of these minor inconveniences aside, a rather catastrophic event tops my reasons for wishing the summer away, the closure of one the largest wildlife rehabilitation centers in South Florida. The Folke Peterson Wildlife Center is closing its doors due to lack of funding. Given the state of our economy and all of the other closures, why should we care about just one more? Given that thousands of people are out of work and major companies such as GM and Chrysler are in danger of disappearing forever, why does this stand out as particularly tragic?

For starters, Folke Peterson has treated approximately 5,000 animals per year. These animals range from squirrels, blue jays, ducks, herons, pelicans, hawks, owls, eagles, deer, and foxes. Faced with the closure of this center, citizens are now faced with driving to other wildlife centers that may be up to 50 miles away. Likewise, those that are unable or unwilling to drive will not have the option of Folke Peterson staff members picking up the animals. So how many of these animals will die a long suffering death in the street or be cared for improperly by well meaning citizens and either die or become permanently maimed? Half? One third? That's still 1-2 thousand animals a year. The faces of these animals that are not saved are the most heartbreaking consequences of the failure of our economy as it has affected those who would be able to donate funds to this facility. As the financially well off scramble to secure their uncertain futures, somewhere an animal with a simple injury that would be treated at Folke Peterson Wildlife is placed back in the wild to slowly starve to death or be devoured by a feral cat.

For humanity, why should this matter? These animals don't belong to us, and their survival doesn't affect ours. I have considered this matter many times, why do people rescue animals? In part, I believe that in many cases people feel helpless in their everyday lives or existence. They go about their business and everyday lives with little control over the greater scheme of the stock market, international conflicts, safety of their children when they go off to school, etc etc, you get the picture. When presented with an injured or orphaned animal, they are presented with an opportunity to do something greater, to change the world for THIS animal. For a moment, especially in these dark times, people are given a reason to hope, to see that there are moments in life when you CAN make a difference. Sadly without the help of Folke Peterson Wildlife Center, the light of hope will never exist for many of these animals and people who would help them. Depressing? Yes it is, but it is reality.

The effects of this closure are also far reaching in the South Florida community. There are those of us (myself included) that depend on the expertise and facilities that Folke Peterson Wildlife Center possess to assist with difficult cases or the overflow of wildlife. Likewise we have assisted them in times of overflow and in difficult cases. This was initially why Folke Peterson Widlife Center was created, to assist local rehabilitators and as a teaching facility. It has grown to what it is from that initial vision, and in 5 short years, that dream is now disappearing.

For myself, this is heartbreaking and feels a lot like a small knife in my heart and brings a lump to my throat when I think of the lights being turned out and the doors locked forever on this wonderful place of sanctuary and healing. For the people who have poured their hearts and souls into this place it is an unbearable sadness that I'm sure dwarfs mine by miles in comparison. They have stood by loyally to the very end, watching animals leave to their new homes and answering the phone only to tell people that they cannot help them with their injured wildlife. I know that this must be the hardest part for them is to go against what is infinitely ingrained in their personas, to help. As time ticks away, they still wait for that miracle that will save their precious center. There may be one.....I hope and pray that someone out there can still help.

Yes I can't wait for this summer to be over.