Get up-close look at wildlife rehab at new CROW Education Center

Recently, the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife released a Snowy Egret that was found entangled in some fishing line back to the Egret's home at the Estero Aquatic Preserve. A couple of good Samaritans had brought the bird into the CROW hospital, where Dr. P.J. Deitschel and her staff nursed the patient back to health with anti-inflammatory medicine, Chinese herbs and other supportive care.

This fortunate bird was just one of approximately 4,000 wildlife patients that CROW treats every year. Former Sanibel Island resident Shirley Walter founded CROW in 1968. Since then, it has provided veterinary care for more than 60,000 of Southwest Florida's sick, injured and orphaned wildlife "behind the scenes" for 40 years.

CROW cares for shore birds, sea turtles, gopher tortoises, bobcats, armadillos, otters and owls, just to name a few. Its annual patient load has increased an astounding 400 percent over the past 25 years.

CROW's wildlife patients come not only from Sanibel Island, where the hospital is located; 84 percent come from other Lee County locations and beyond. CROW's mission is to rescue, care for and restore these animals to health so that they can be released back into their natural environment.

On Jan. 25, CROW will celebrate the grand opening of its new Visitor Education Center and the new, nearly complete wildlife rehabilitation hospital — the culmination of five years of fundraising and planning. The Visitor Education Center, which will undoubtedly become a new tourist destination, will enable CROW to give the public an up-close view of the incredible and worthwhile work its veterinarians, hospital staff, students and volunteers do on a daily basis. It will also serve to expand CROW's educational offerings and teach residents and tourists alike how they can live more harmoniously with wildlife and help prevent many of the wildlife injuries that humans inadvertently cause.

The center will immerse visitors in the world of wildlife rescue and rehabilitation with displays of the many types of wildlife CROW has treated, video and photos of hospital activity, a touch screen game called "Be the Vet," case studies, and a host of other interactive exhibits, plus a gift shop.

Additionally, CROW will soon open a new, upgraded 4,800-square-foot wildlife rehabilitation hospital, which will allow them to serve their patients more efficiently. Tours will be offered at the grand opening celebration.

As a long-time board member of this outstanding organization, I invite the entire community to celebrate the official grand opening of CROW's new facility at a free celebration on Sunday, Jan, 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Everyone who visits will enjoy the festivities and walk away more knowledgeable about protecting our native wildlife. — Geoffrey Roepstorff Fort Myers

Note: For more information about the opening of CROW's new visitor center, see page A18.