Although we are all still busy here at Evelyn’s Wildlife Refuge, during the winter months, wildlife rehabilitation generally slows down a bit. This offers us additional time to educate the public on the needs of our wildlife.
Evelyn's Wildlife Refuge believes in the importance of promoting awareness and appreciation of our native and migratory wildlife through education. It is only through knowledge and understanding that people will value, preserve and protect our environment, wildlife, and their native habitat, ultimately fostering a lifetime of care and respect for America's wildlife and natural resources.
Education is an essential part of the mission of Evelyn's Wildlife Refuge. We offer a variety of educational programs facilitated by trained staff and volunteers. The education outreach at Evelyn's Wildlife Refuge brings programs to school groups, churches, and community organizations throughout the Hampton Roads area and beyond. In recent months, we have visited the Plaza Middle School, Kemps Landing Magnet School for the Gifted, and Brandon Middle School. At one event, Pearl Beamer -- one of the Refuge’s raptor rehabilitators -- brought a non-releasable red-tailed hawk named Wa-Kon. (Wa-Kon means "sacred" in the Native American Language of Lakon.) Wa-Kon was a big hit with the 200 attending children.
Please visit our web site for more information and to schedule one of our education committee members to visit your organization. The goals of the educational program are:
To promote a greater appreciation for native and migratory wildlife and their natural habitat needs.
To foster awareness of the role of humans in promoting preservation and in providing healthy places for the wildlife to live.
Educating children about the importance of wildlife safety, habitat preservation, and providing healthy places for wildlife to live.
Wildlife Need a Little Help During these Chilly Times
The winter months are often not easy times to be outside. This is true not only for people, but also for our wildlife. For them, it is not only the chill in the air, but also the lack of food and water that can make this time of year most difficult. But we can all help.
Birds can lose 50 percent of their body fat during the winter trying to stay warm. Keep your bird feeders full and if you don’t own bird feeders, coat large pinecones with peanut butter and roll them in sunflower seeds. Attach a string to the top and hang them from trees. Suet, basically a block of fat, is also a good source of protein for the birds.
When feeding ducks at a pond or gulls at the beach, avoid feeding them bread or corn, which do not have enough nutritional value for wintertime eating. Instead, bring them dry dog or cat food moistened with water. They enjoy it and the extra fat is burned to stay warm and helps them replenish the water-repellent oil in their feathers.
Although we have had some unusually warm days this winter, this is not always true. Freezing temperatures can limit access to drinking water. Help the wildlife by providing a heated birdbath or drinking bowl. Replenish it daily and break up any ice that might form on it at least twice a day.
And the wildlife will also be seeking out a warm place to stay and your home may look very inviting. Unfortunately, this can be hazardous to both them and your family. Inspect your house for exterior openings. Look closely at trim board, siding, and vents. Search for signs of animal activity where pipes enter your house. Peek into your attic for signs of chewing, droppings, or nesting material. Amber Kimmich, a bird expert and Virginia based rehabber, recommends using ammonia to keep out uninvited wildlife. She suggests soaking rags in ammonia and putting them in pantyhose. Then hang them from rafters or around garbage cans.
And since you are not inviting them into your home, provide wildlife their own shelter and cover from predators. Build a brush pile of stray branches and twigs for ground-nesting birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and small mammals such as chipmunks, and rabbits. Chose an out-of-the-way spot, away from buildings. Begin your pile with larger limbs, add smaller twigs and branches, and top off the pile with leaves and other vegetation. Keep the pile loose, leaving lots of places into which the wildlife can snuggle.
With a bit of help from all of us, our wildlife can better endure these cold, winter months.
Stay warm!
Evelyn