| Meet our Volunteers |
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| Volunteers make Mississippi Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc. a tremendous success. With your kind donation, you support the work of MWR and all these volunteers to provide care and rehabilitation or education training. |
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Dr. Lynn Cox and Staff of All Animal Hospital Dr. Lynn Cox and the veterinary technicians at All Animal Hospital in Olive Branch, MS have repeatedly donated their time, facilities and expertise to saving the lives of countless injured wild animals and birds in DeSoto County. They have performed surgeries, taken x-rays, set broken bones as well as administered medications to heal wounded wild animals and birds - all without compensation. // Below are photos of Dr. Lynn Cox and Technician Tammy Vannelli with a Great Horned Owl. The generosity of All Animal Hospital as well as many other veterinary clinics around NW Mississippi has been crucial to MWR's success. Not all veterinarians are proficient in wildlife care, however most will refer injured wildlife to MWR or another veterinarian appropriately. Dr. Cox's surgical expertise and interest in wild species have been especially valuable as MWR has admitted a number of birds and animals who have tangled with barbed wire, been shot or hit by a car. MWR and the wildlife of Mississippi owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Dr. Cox and everyone at All Animal Hospital. |
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Ronelle May Ronelle is a very special volunteer. As the Assistant Director Responsible for Mammals, she is MWR's primary rehabilitator and point of contact for mammal rehabilitation. Since moving to rural NW Mississippi from South Africa (where she worked on a reserve that specialized in Rhino breeding), she has acquired skills and expertise with a number of Mississippi's indigenous species. In this photo, Ronelle is holding a gray fox kit. Ronelle is certified and trained to work with a number of vector and non-vector mammals. She has successfully fostered and rehabilitated four fawns, 42 raccoons, two bobcat kittens, a red fox, two gray foxes, 21 skunks, three fox squirrels, two flying squirrels, 15 Eastern Gray Squirrels, several rabbits and an assortment of various orphaned songbirds. Ronelle is assisted in her work by her husband Buzzy. Being a foster mother is hard work that can only be measured in love, commitment and passion for the orphaned and injured wild animals that would have died without her care. With more and more people moving into Mississippi, habitat loss has become critical. The areas where wildlife need to eat, house and thrive in is being eliminated and Ronelle feels that helping to care for these wild animals is a small repayment for enjoying where we live. |
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Nancy Fachman Nancy's primary interest is in raptor rehabilitation. She is a valuable resource to MWR as she is so knowledgeable about these majestic birds. As a subpermittee under MWR's Federal License, she is authorized to rescue, stabilize and transport them to MWR's main facility for care - and provide continuing care for them as they heal there. Nancy is also actively involved in many education programs. She handles many of the education animals at events such as the Strawberry Plains Hummingbird Festival, Conservation Days and school programs. She and her husband Gary live on seven acres and enjoy tending to their horses. Nancy is 'always' willing to help do whatever she can for MWR. She is seen here tending to a Mississippi Kite with a broken leg. |
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Andi Lehman Andi Lehman is a Senior Educator who has volunteered for Mississippi Wildlife Rehabilitation in many areas since joining the organization in 2003. A past president of the Executive Board, she is currently serving on the Advisory Board for the establishment of a nature center in DeSoto County. Andi is shown here at Sardis Lake with one of MWR's Education Animals, Zelda, a non-releasable Barn Owl under federal permit to MWR. While Andi has enjoyed rehabbing a few songbirds and mammals over the years and, most recently, Schmitty, a Speckled King Snake with a broken back, she donates the majority of her time to MWR for wildlife and conservation education or fundraising. Joining her for most programs and festival appearances are Reyn and Russell Lehman shown here, respectively, with a Corn Snake and with a Gray Rat Snake at Strawberry Plains/Audubon. Together with James Bryant, local reptile breeder and MWR advocate, the Lehmans are endeavoring to raise public awareness for the value and benefits of wild snakes. At their home in Hernando the family cares for six snakes as well as for Promise, the Virginia Opposum under state permit to MWR and the beautiful Zelda . All three Lehmans are assisted, encouraged and supported by husband and father, Dan, without whom their participation would not be possible. |
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Kate Friedman Kate is an educator rather than a rehabilitator, so is currently serving as Education Director for MWR. When not volunteering for MWR, she works for Strawberry Plains Audubon Center. Kate has been involved in environmental education for over 15 years and has trained birds of prey and other avian species for many years. She takes reservations for education programs and schedules MWR educators to present the many programs conducted by the organization. Kate believes that live animals grab the attention of the audience, young and old, creating a sense of wonder and appreciation. |
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Kimberly Coryat Kim does not rehabilitate wildlife but instead donates her skills with the computer. She is seen here with Judy, her nine-year old Jack Russell Terrier. As our Webmaster, she is responsible for the format and implementation of MWR's web site, as well as graphic design, photo enhancement and editing of content. Her husband John, through his company USNaviguide, LLC, donates the server space. Kim loves all animals and wished to do something for MWR. After attending volunteer orientation, she realized she does not have the time required to devote to wildlife rehabilitation. She is a full time pilot for FedEx Express so travels frequently and works odd hours. She also owns ChecklistComplete, an airline interview prep company. Web pages can be written in the middle of the night; animals in rehabilitation need feeding on a strict schedule! |
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Are You Considering Becoming a Volunteer
Wildlife Rehabilitator? |
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Mississippi
Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc. is the only state-licensed
facility for wildlife rehabilitation in Northern Mississippi. It
is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization serving the following Mississippi
counties: Alcorn, Benton, Bolivar, Coahoma, DeSoto, Grenada, Itawamba, LaFayette, Lee, Lowndes, Marshall, Oktibbeha, Panola, Prentiss, Tallahatchie, Tishomingo, Warren, Yalobusha. MWR relies solely on the generous
donations of people like you - we receive no federal, state or municipal
funding and all of our staff are unpaid volunteers. Your donations
provide us with the means to continue helping the animals. All donations
are tax-deductible and go directly towards helping the animals! |
Mississippi
Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc. |
© USNaviguide, LLC 2005-2008 All Rights Reserved |