ANTIGO - Earlier this week, we told you wildlife rehabilitation centers are going to the birds.

Half as many are open now as there were in 2002.

That puts more strain on the centers that are left, like the Raptor Education Group in Antigo.

"The burden really falls to those of us that are still left," said executive director Marge Gibson. "I think it really is important that people support the rehabilitators in our state. And in our area, especially the Northland, we have few rehabilitators in this area to service the large number of wildlife that we have."

Gibson said REGI relies heavily on volunteers and private donations.

She and her husband don't take a salary, and they've dipped into their retirement.

They've also gotten creative with supplies.

"We try to make the best use of absolutely everything that's available to us," she said. "For instance, the food that we feed our birds, we take roadkill an awful lot. We do programs like "Have a Heart" where hunters give us the heart of the deer after they capture it. We take bodies from trappers after they're done with the skins."

Gibson said you don't have to work with the birds to help.

They need volunteers for carpentry, groundskeeping, and other housekeeping tasks.

Visit the link below for more information.

Related Weblinks:
Raptor Education Group

Story By: Lex Gray