| WRR
Home > E-Newsletter: WRR Sanctuary
News > May 2008 > Hawk
Rescue a Successful Group Effort
 Hawk
Rescue a Successful Group Effort
by Krystal Mathis, Intern & Volunteer Coordinator
Being at the right place at the right time,
Shaun, a soon-to-be rescuer, watched, feeling helpless, as
a spectacularly beautiful hawk was hit by a car. His mate
just narrowly missed the same fate. The next horrifying thing
he saw was the car speeding away, leaving the hawk lying,
seemingly broken, on the ground. After a couple of seconds
spent staring in disbelief, Shaun quickly pulled himself together
and realized that he had to do something to help the injured
bird, so he called Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation (WRR).
The hawk was transported to the WRR clinic
where he was given the medical treatment he needed to make
a full recovery and be released back in his home territory,
where his lonely mate was no doubt mourning his loss. She
watched the car hit him and then watched his body being carried
away from her and their life together.
When the time came to release the hawk, he
flew from his transport carrier and soared straight to his
nest and his partner. He flew away without looking back at
the people who had so painstakingly nursed him back to health.
Knowing how overjoyed we were to see him home again, we can
only imagine the happiness the hawks experienced at being
reunited.
This scene plays out in a hundred different
ways every day of the year. Every day, WRR rescues wildlife
who wouldn't otherwise have a chance, and we rely on concerned
citizens and our volunteer base to make this possible.
WRR
volunteers rescue animals from many situations —
a deer caught in a fence, a young bird with a broken wing,
a skunk trapped in a dumpster, the list goes on and on.
In the case of the hawk, Shaun was the first
step in the battle to save that hawk's life. Shaun took the
animal to Castle West Animal Hospital, WRR's San Antonio drop-off
point and partner in our wildlife-saving goals. A WRR
volunteer picked the animal up from Castle West and brought
him out to WRR's sanctuary here in Kendalia. From there, our
vet staff tended to his
injuries and our animal caretaking
staff and interns took care of his daily feeding, cleaning,
and watering. It takes an army of caring people to help each
individual animal who is in need.
Survival is a gift — a gift given by
volunteers and others who have devoted their lives to animals.
The hawk's rescuer, Shaun, was on-site to witness the release,
knowing that had it not been for him, that hawk would have
surely suffered and died along the side of the road.
Would you like to play a life-saving role
for an animal in need? WRR is in need of Wildlife
Rescuers in the San Antonio area. You too can make the
difference between life and death for an innocent animal.
Contact Krystal Mathis at (830) 336-2725 x303
for volunteer information. Click
here to learn about all of the volunteer opportunities
at WRR and download an application.
|
