A couple of critters paid a special visit Saturday to the Bill Emerson Memorial Visitor Center in Lake Wappapello.
John and Carolyn Watkins, founders of the Watkins Wildlife Rehabilitation program, presented a few of the animals they are rehabilitating, and shared a great deal of animal conservation information with visitors.
John, Carolyn and about 20 other volunteers work together at their non-profit rehabilitation center in Sedgewickville, Missouri. They have 50 years of animal rehabilitating experience, caring for eagles, deer, bears, coyotes, foxes, reptiles and even baboons.
The animals at the event were Hank, a 3-year-old red fox. Hank was given to John and Carolyn as a weak little pup, barely able to hold his head up, they shared.
They were able to nurse him back to health. Hank stays with the group full-time as he has brain damage and cannot fend for himself in the wild. John said Hank makes for a great animal to be in his presentations, and he is very well-behaved.
They also presented a group of baby opossums that had been surrendered to the shelter. The babies will be nursed to full health and released back into their natural habitats when they are old enough, the group shared.
The Watkins Wildlife Rehabilitation organization’s mission is to respond, rehabilitate, reintroduce and educate. They rush to the care of any orphaned, sick, or injured animal, according to the group. Once an animal is back in good health, the volunteers will release them back into the wild where they belong.
The Watkins shared they love to educate the public about their program and talk about the procedures they go through for rehabilitating different kinds of animals.
They are always on the lookout for conscientious volunteers and generous donors for their program. They happily accept meat, vegetables, baby cereal, pedialyte, fleece blankets and monetary donations. They ask that those willing to donate contact the office at 573-866-3436. Those who are interested can learn more on their website at watkinswildliferehab.org.