All posts by : mwr-admin

The month of March allowed us to catch our Rehab breath as we prepared for the upcoming baby bird season, our busiest time of year. Now through early summer eggs will be hatching and new birds will be emerging from their nests. Some will require human intervention, but many are just going through the natural process of learning to fly. In most cases the parent birds are the best suited to care for their young. Before you take up a baby bird you thinks needs help, please check out this useful information.

As the month came to a close, MWR was able to successfully re-nest 2 baby owls that were found on the ground, and we are anticipating being able to re-nest a third baby owl in the near future. Learn more here.

Spring is the perfect time to enjoy our ARK trails and check out the new Bee Hotel donated to MWR by Logan May as part of his Eagle Scout project.

Patient Update:

This month we admitted 13 new patients into care representing 11 different bird species.

Sponsor Thank You:

A big Thank You to the following people who answered the call to sponsor our rehab patients through Sponsorship Sunday this month.

• Jeff Leathers
• Lisa O’Connor
• Jordan Gatlin
• Christy Milbourne
• Jackie Williams
• Erika Hastings
• Theresa Hissong

Your gift is life-giving for these animals. Keep an eye out for upcoming Sponsorship Sunday opportunities.

Program update:

MWR started the month participating in the Cub Scout Spring Fest at Camp Currier. Scouts got to meet education ambassadors Mochni, Hulk and Hazelnut, hear their stories and learn simple ways they can help our native wildlife. MWR loves to support our local scout programs.

At Part 1 of our Backyard Wildlife Habitat series, a capacity crowd learned how to provide shelter as one io the essential elements of turning their own yard into a healthy natural habitat for native wildlife. Each participant was able to build a beautiful cedar blue bird house to take home. Part 2 of this series is coming April 20.

MWR was a fan favorite at TupeloCon where we were able to share our mission and vision with so many enthusiastic people. Everyone especially enjoyed meeting our animal ambassadors and having their photos taken with them. Keep an eye out for MWR at future festivals and events.

Looking Ahead:

Summer is rapidly approaching, and we still have room in our Wildlife (June 24-28) and Nature Art (July 8-12) summer camps and we have REDUCED THE PRICE for each camp to $200. Plus, there is still time to apply for one of the Valery E smith memorial camp scholarships that will cover the full cost of the camp. Learn more at: https://www.mswildliferehab.org/events/

Part 2 of our Backyard Habitat Workshop series is Saturday April 20 at 10am. Learn how to provide food for native wildlife using native plants. We are excited to have Camp Creek Natives plant nursery sponsoring this workshop. Each registered participant will take home a custom native seed pack and select native seedlings to plant in your own garden. You can register for this workshop at: https://www.mswildliferehab.org/events/backyard-wildlife-habitat-workshop/

You can also visit MWR April 20^th from 9a-1p at the Desoto County Earth Day Festival located at the historic Desoto County Courthouse square in Hernando.

MWR is partnering with Jill Morris of Stars in Motion and offering a 3-week Yoga at the ARK program in the peaceful forest setting at our ARK Trails. This program starts on Friday April 26 at 8:30am. To register or learn more visit:

Other upcoming programs include:

Nature Photography Workshop with Melissa Gilbert, May 26.

and

The first annual MWR Golf Tournament, June 07. For team registration and sponsorship opportunities, go here.

Volunteers are the hands, feet and heart that power the MWR mission. We cannot exist without their generous contributions of time and talent. So, each month we appreciate one of our volunteers with a spotlight post.

Meet Stephanie Brock Allen,

Stephanie has volunteered with MWR since April 2022.

As a newcomer to the area with equestrian experience and a love of animals she applied as a volunteer and met with Wildlife Director Stephanie Hogan and late founder Valery Smith. It was an instant fit, and she began working with songbirds. Since then, she has learned to care for and handle our education birds as well. Stephanie also helps with events, birthday parties, administrative needs, maintenance projects, fundraising…………………………… Yep pretty much everything.

Stephanie says the reason she volunteers is, “I think as stewards of this earth we all have a responsibility to do good whenever we can. It is so rewarding when an injured bird that has been in our care recovers and can be released”.

Fun Fact: Stephanie has developed a strong bond with “Cornelius” the corn snake. She shared that most of here family thinks she is a little crazy to be so enamored with a snake but can’t help it because “he’s my main squeeze”.

Thank you, Stephanie, for all you do for MWR.

MWR is currently in need of dedicated volunteers to help in the following areas:

• Social media coordinator

• Wildlife Rehabilitation/ Animal care

• Baby Bird Brigade (Spring and Summer)

• Education programs

• Rehab patient transport

If you are interested in volunteering with MWR please complete this application 

https://www.mswildliferehab.org/files/MWR-Volunteer-Registration-Form.pdf

and submit to volunteer@mswildliferehab.org  

February saw a slowdown in our patient intake, but MWR was still busy providing conservation and environmental education programs. Thanks to the hard work of local community members and MWR volunteers and board members we were able to open the closed sections of the ARK trails to the public. We encourage everyone to enjoy the early signs of spring on all 2 miles of our ARK trails.

MWR was invited to participate in the Horn Lake High School student career program. Executive Director, Mykl Wallrath, and Wildlife Director, Stephanie Hogan, were interviewed for their YouTube channel providing inspiration and useful advice for students interested in wildlife conservation and rehabilitation careers

Patient Update:
This month we admitted 12 new patients into care including 10 birds, 1 snake and 1 turtle.

Sponsor Thank You:
A big Thank You to the following people who answered the call to sponsor our rehab patients through
Sponsorship Sunday this month.

• Jeff Leathers
• Lisa O’Connor
• Penny Gallenbeck
• Tammy Hill
• Marsha Klimetz

Your gift is life-giving for these animals. Keep an eye out for upcoming Sponsorship Sunday
opportunities.

Program update:
MWR supported the US Army Corps of Engineers’ week long Environmental Stewardship training program, providing a tour of our wildlife hospital to 40 staff members from all over the country. One person came all the way from Hawaii. The highlight of the day was getting to meet our ambassador education birds. Black vulture Vinny was especially a crowd pleaser. MWR is so grateful for the valued partnership we have with the USACE.

Kids and adults alike were fascinated to learn all about Isopods in our February workshop. Thank you MWR volunteer Natalie Rodgers for sharing your knowledge and personal collection of amazing isopods. Participants got to set up their very own mini habitat and select from a variety of isopods species to take home and raise. See more at MWR’s Facebook post.

Looking Ahead:
There are still spaces left to register for our upcoming Wildlife Summer Camp and Nature Art Summer camp. And we are taking applications for 2 full scholarships to each camp in memory of our founder Valery Smith.

Part 1 of our Backyard Habitat Workshop series is this coming Saturday 3/9 at 10am. Learn how to provide shelter for native wildlife and build a bluebird house to take home. There is still time to register for this workshop.

Learn more about these great programs at our MWR events page.

Volunteers are the hands, feet and heart that power the MWR mission.  We cannot exist without their generous contributions of time and talent.  So each month we will be appreciating one of our volunteers with a spotlight post.

Meet Penny Gallenbeck,

Penny Gallenbeck

Penny has volunteered with MWR since March 2022.  She began volunteering because of her love for birds of prey and falconry. 

She helps in almost every area of the organization.  As a registered nurse Penny assists with wildlife treatment and rehabilitation as well as collecting and transporting injured patients.  She also helps with MWR educations programs and fundraising events.  And she trains and cares for our education ambassador birds, having formed a special bond with Mochni the Red Shouldered Hawk.  She especially enjoys providing enrichment for our education birds and learning more about wildlife rehabilitation. 

​

Fun Fact:  Penny was an avid skier/ bare foot skier most of her adult life.  She chose a ski boat over an engagement ring and says “I’ve never regretted that decision”

Thank you Penny for all you do for MWR. 

MWR is currently in need of dedicated volunteers to help in the following areas:

• Social media coordinator

• Wildlife Rehabilitation/ Animal care

• Baby Bird Brigade (Spring and Summer)

• Education programs

• Rehab patient transport

If you are interested in volunteering with MWR please complete this application 

https://www.mswildliferehab.org/files/MWR-Volunteer-Registration-Form.pdf

and submit to volunteer@mswildliferehab.org  

February is often referred to as the month of love and if you are short of a Valentine to show some love to you have no need to worry. Mississippi Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc. has got you covered. You can show some love to these sweethearts of ours with a $10.00 donation to go towards their care. If someone has done you wrong, you can secretly gloat how you had a mouse named after your ex fed to one of our education birds or snake. Or if love has you smitten, you can spread the love through your Valentine donation to the care of our education ambassadors.

Please donate HERE.

Volunteers are the hands, feet and heart that power the MWR mission. We cannot exist
without their generous contributions of time and talent. So each month we will be
appreciating one of our volunteers with a spotlight post.

Meet Charlie Crews,

Charlie began volunteering with MWR on October 31, 2013. As a longtime wildlife
enthusiast, Charlie found MWR on the internet and it peeked his interest as an
organization he would enjoy working with. And we are so glad that he did.
As one of our longest serving volunteers, Charlie has helped to build and maintain
animal enclosures and was part of the team that renovated the current wildlife hospital
at Arkabutla Lake. He even encouraged Home Depot to support the renovation. He
continues to help MWR with education programs, rehab rescues and releases.

Fun Fact:
Charlie shared that one of his most memorable experiences with MWR was “when we
got a call about a chicken running in traffic on Goodman Road, we were having to stop
traffic to try and get it and people were laughing at seeing us chase a chicken all over
Goodman road.”

Thank you, Charlie for your many years of dedicated service to MWR.

MWR is currently in need of dedicated volunteers to help in the following areas:

• Social media coordinator
• Wildlife Rehabilitation/ Animal care
• Baby Bird Brigade (Spring and Summer)
• Education programs
• Rehab patient transport

If you are interested in volunteering with MWR please complete the application form and submit to volunteer@mswildliferehab.org

Congratulations to MWR Wildlife Director, Stephanie Hogan, for her recent renewal as a Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator. This rigorous certification, administered by the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council, recognizes rehabilitators who achieve the highest standard of wildlife care through academic excellence.

Stephanie first achieved this designation in 2021 and is the only IWRC Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator in the State of Mississippi. Renewal is required every two years and involves completion of approved continuing education courses in the wildlife rehabilitation field.

Stephanie was personally chosen by MWR Founder Valery Smith as her successor for the Wildlife Director position. We are proud and honored to have Stephanie leading our daily wildlife rehabilitation program.

The Board of Directors of Mississippi Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc is pleased to announce the hiring of our new Executive Director, Mykl Wallrath.

Mykl brings a wealth of professional experience from all over the United States in leading environmental conservation and education. He was brought in to advance the mission of MWR and to lead the effort to build a state of the art Nature Center and the Valery Smith Wildlife Hospital.

“Valery Elizabeth Smith dedicated her life to saving thousands of animals and inspiring our community to protect wildlife,” says Mykl. “It is my honor to carry on her mission of caring for wildlife, inspiring our community, and leading MWR to accomplish her goals of a wildlife hospital, nature center, and flight cage.”

Please join us in welcoming Mykl to the MWR team!

Respectfully,

The MWR Board of Directors

• Wayne Spell
• Karen Brown
• Kate Friedman
• Donnie Chambliss
• Russ Kicker
• Brett Hogan

Thank you to Mark Randall at Desoto Times Tribune for the great article!