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AVIAN FLU UPDATE
Keela
It’s with great sadness that the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center announces the sudden passing of our beautiful seven year old red fox Keela. Keela was raised by a family and came to us as a surrender when they knew they could no longer properly care for her. Since she was an adult and had never lived in the wild, she was not releasable as she wouldn’t know how to survive. Continue Reading
Archie
Archie, Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center’s oldest screech owl, passed away on Friday, March 14, 2024. Archie arrived at The Center in Hampton Bays, NY, in December 2017 after being struck by a car. Her injuries were severe enough that she was deemed non-releasable. Archie quickly became a staff and visitor favorite, captivating all who met her with her calm demeanor, gentle touch on the glove, and her expressive eyes and face that melted hearts.
Over the years, Archie participated in countless educational events, and while we lost track of the exact number, many of those who met her never forgot her. She made lasting connections during school and library programs across both Forks and became a press favorite whenever stories were written about The Center.
As an Eastern Screech owl, a relatively common raptor in the area, Archie was often more heard than seen, with her leaf-like camouflage coloring blending into the surroundings. Their haunting trill, often heard at dusk, became a signature sound associated with her. These owls live in tree cavities, old woodpecker holes, or hollow stumps, and their 270-degree head rotation and asymmetrical ears help them track prey from great distances.
In the past year, Archie’s injuries became more debilitating, and arthritis made it difficult for her to stand upright. As a result, she stopped participating in programs last summer. However, she continued to delight visitors, often found perched in her favorite tree or observing the world from her inside cage, and occasionally strolling the trails at Munn’s Pond County Park with the Education volunteers.
Archie will be deeply missed by the staff, the visitors, and we believe, even by the other owls and animals at The Center. We hope she is now soaring freely, without pain or injury, enjoying the flight she was once unable to fully experience.
ELSA IS RELEASED
Three days after she was plucked from the icy waters of Southaven Park in Yaphank by our own Ryan G, working in tandem with Strong Island Animal Rescue, Elsa was released back in the park after making a full recovery at the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center hospital. WNBC was at the release and broadcasted this story with a happy ending. We’re hoping Elsa will rejoin her family and stay off the ice in the future.
Our Icy Deer Rescue
On Tuesday, February 11th, we received a call at The Center about a deer on the ice on a pond in Southaven County Park in Yaphank. We sent our in-house animal rescuer, Ryan Gilmartin, to the pond, where he was met by Freddie Floridia of Strong Island. Together the pair pushed a boat onto the ice and while Frankie broke the ice with a shovel, Ryan pushed the boat forward. As they neared the deer, who had by now broken through the ice and was treading icy water, she flipped on her side and almost gave up. With a last push of adrenaline, the pair reached the doe and hauled her on to the boat. Spectators and county park police on shore helped pull the boat back in and get the deer up to the waiting van to bring her back to The Center in Hampton Bays. Back at The Center the deer was treated slowly and carefully for hypothermia. She was so wet and cold, no one realized she was a Sika Deer, an Asian breed, who was brought to Long Island about 100 years ago, until later that evening. (Unlike White Tailed Deer, the Sika are smaller and often darker in color with slightly longer coarser hair. They primarily live in Southaven Park). That night, as Frankie was telling her daughter about the rescue, they decided it should be named Elsa after the Frozen Princess. The story of Elsa has captured the imagination of the people of Long Island and the press, who are all looking for good news to come from the constant snow and freezing temperatures.
The hope is to release Elsa back to the park as soon as possible, once we know she is warmed up and healthy to go home. Hopefully she will have learned her lesson about walking on thin ice!
If you would like to contribute to Elsa’s rehabilitation, please click here . Any amount is appreciated, and will help feed, medicate and house Elsa and other injured animals until they are well enough to go back to nature. Thank you for caring about Elsa and her many wildlife friends.
For news coverage about Elsa’s rescue, click on links below.
Allen Didn’t See His Shadow!
On February 2nd, almost 150 people came to see if the Eastern End of Long Island’s most famous groundhog, Allen McButterpants would see his shadow or not. We’re happy to say that Allen did not see his shadow! So, we should be getting an early Spring! Thank you to everyone that stopped by.
Happy New Year from EAWRC!
Our End of the Year campaign featured videos with our staff and volunteers describing “Why They Do What They Do”. Check out our new Youtube page to see these videos, and a video compilation of some of our 2024 releases.
Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center’s End of Year Appeal
Why We Do What We Do
At the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center, we dedicate our efforts to rescuing, rehabilitating, and ultimately releasing injured and orphaned wildlife on the East End of Long Island. With a committed team of just 13 staff members and over 140 volunteers, nearly 3,000 animals are brought to our center each year. Every individual in our community shares a profound passion for the wildlife and environment unique to the East End. During this season of giving, we are excited to share the stories of our community members and their journeys into wildlife rescue. Discover what inspires them to donate their time and resources to our cause, and learn why it’s crucial for us to protect these magnificent creatures every day. We invite you to enjoy these stories by watching the videos, following our updates on Facebook and Instagram, or visiting the Center in person. If possible, please consider making a donation to support our continuous efforts to assist the animals and educate the public about our cherished wild companions.
