Story Published:
Jan 19, 2007 at 5:26 PM PDT
Story Updated:
Sep 2, 2008 at 11:10 AM PDT
ASTORIA, Ore. - Hospitals are for the sick and injured. The one that Sharlene Fees runs near Astoria is no exception, although her patients are exceptional.
A sharp-shinned hawk that was hit by a car, a juvenile great blue heron that was found nearly starved, a small raptor called a "Merlin," that is missing a wing or a red-tailed hawk without a leg.
The list goes on and on! There are scores of birds and most are rarely seen so close.
Fees has been at this for seven years; helping heal more than 2,000 wild animals each year at her Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic of the North Coast.
Sometimes her hospital, an old fifty foot long trailer, is filled to the brim with sick and injured critters.
She told KATU, " Our exam room has been turned into an intake room as well - with birds in every nook and cranny."
That much was true last year when nearly 1,000 common murre chicks were fed and rested at her clinic until they were strong enough to survive in the ocean.
Local ODFW wildlife biologist, Herman Biederbeck, told KATU that Fees is the difference between life and death for many wild animals.
"A lot of wildlife is just trying to survive. There's probably thousands of birds that are washing up and getting sick and she's doing what she can. She provides a tremendous service to our region."
Fees calls her commitment "payback" for the actions of other people who often shoot to kill but only wound animals.
Volunteer Katy Dwyer told KATU that it's a thrill to help: "Oh it's just the fact that I get to be out here doing this. I mean I get to handle red tailed hawks and peregrine falcons and numerous other endangered species."
Fees serves a region that stretches from Lincoln City to the Long Beach Peninsula and now time is taking a toll on her buildings and equipment. Add in a shortage of volunteers and it's tough to make ends meet seven days a week.
Rather than throw in the towel, Fees has another idea: "We need a hospital! I mean we really need a hospital right now! A better place to rehabilitate that would also enable us to be open to the public with an education room."
So Fees is on the move to raise more dollars. Her goal: nearly $400,000 so a bigger hospital and more public interest will mean even more survivors. Critters at risk need all the help she can give them.
"We're (people ) are a very difficult species to live with and so I want to be more than a consumer. I want to give back to this earth and make up for things that I did consume. It really doesn't take that much for a species to go extinct."
Fees adds that there is much that she and others can do - and - make a difference for wildlife. If you'd like to learn more about the Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic of the North Coast, call 503-338-0331.
