Have You Explored the ARK Trails Lately?

With the cooler weather, it’s the perfect time to hike the ARK Trails! If you’ve noticed some overgrown areas along the trails, don’t worry—it’s not neglect. This is a deliberate effort to support native meadow habitats, which are vital for the survival of many native species. By allowing these areas to grow naturally, we create a thriving environment for wildlife to flourish. Learn more here.

The ARK Trails are located at 7001 W Commerce St, Hernando MS 38632. Open daily sunrise to sunset.

Patient Update:

This month we admitted 45 new patients into care representing 21 bird and 1 reptile species.

Sponsor Thank You:

This month, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our online supporters for their incredible
contributions. A big MWR THANK YOU to:

Your support ensures we have the food and supplies needed to care for our many patients. If you would
like to join our amazing supporters, please visit https://www.mswildliferehab.org/donate/
Thank you for your continued dedication to saving Mississippi’s native wildlife!

Program update:

• MWR wrapped up our Backyard Habitat Workshop series with Part 3, focusing on the
importance of water in supporting local wildlife! Participants created their own leaf mold
birdbaths, adding a new feature to their backyard habitats. A huge thank you to everyone who
joined us throughout the series—we’re excited about the habitats you’re creating to help our
native wildlife thrive. Small actions like these make a big difference!

• A big thank you to Jill Morris of Stars in Motion for leading the Autumn Equinox Yoga at the ARK
Trails! It was a perfect way to find personal balance as our planet did the same during its
seasonal cycle.

• We had a great time at the Hernando Water Tower Festival. Thank you to everyone who
purchased MWR merchandise to support our mission!

• MWR was delighted to contribute to the first annual Rock Bottom Naturefest in New Albany, a
successful expansion of the Tallahatchie River fest.

Looking Ahead:

Join us for MWR’s 5th Annual Trunk or Treat!
Saturday, October 19 | 1-4 PM
Dub Patton Recreation Area, Arkabutla Lake
FREE event for the whole family!
Bring the kids for an afternoon of Halloween fun:

• Stop by festive trunks for some treats!
• Meet incredible wildlife—birds of prey, reptiles, and creepy crawlies!
• Enjoy snacks from Funky Monkey and StaMar’s Concessions.
• Chill out with a MemPops treat.
• Snap a pic at our Photo Spot and enter our BEST Costume Contest!
• Face painting, fire trucks, and so much more!
Learn more

Stay connected:
Visit our website or follow us on Facebook to stay up to date with all our programs!

After an extremely busy summer, August allowed us a moment to catch our breath—just a little. This break gave us the opportunity to focus on exciting programming for the remainder of the year and to pursue important improvements to our facilities.

We also want to extend our gratitude to our generous supporters who helped sustain us through the summer, ensuring we have the resources to continue our vital work caring for Mississippi’s native wildlife.

Stay tuned for more updates as we roll out new programs and initiatives in the coming months! We continue to encourage everyone to take advantage of the cooler mornings and connect with nature on our two miles of hiking trails at the ARK Trails. Located at 7001 W Commerce St, Hernando MS 38632. Open daily sunrise to Sunset.

Patient Update:

This month we admitted 72 new patients into care representing 29 bird and 1 reptile species.

Sponsor Thank You:

This month, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our online supporters for their incredible contributions this summer. A big MWR THANK YOU to:

A very special thank you to H. David Bradley, who generously matched the $1,000 raised by Mephit Fur Meet as one of their supported charities at this month’s annual convention.

Your support ensures we have the food and supplies needed to care for our many patients. If you would like to join our amazing supporters, please click here.

Thank you for your continued dedication to saving Mississippi’s native wildlife!

Program Update:

Thank you, Mephit Fur Meet, for choosing MWR as one of your sponsored charities for this year’s event. We truly enjoyed meeting all the enthusiastic and creative participants. The funds raised will significantly impact our mission to save native wildlife.

Learn more about the education and outreach programs MWR offers by clicking here.

Looking Ahead:

Celebrate the Autumn Equinox with Jill Morris of Stars in Motion for a FREE community yoga at the ARK trails.

Visit us at the annual Hernando Watertower Festival on Saturday, September 28.

And we will be celebrating National Public Lands Day at the first annual Rock Bottom Nature Fest on Saturday, September 28, from 11 am until 4 pm at the Park Along the Tallahatchie River in downtown New Albany, MS.

MWR is excited to announce that we are planning our fourth annual TRUNK or TREAT event for Saturday, October 19 from 1-4p at the Dub Patton Recreation Area on Arkabutla Lake. We are currently seeking local businesses and organizations to participate as TRUNKS. It is free and a great way to promote your business/ organization while supporting a safe community family event.

As summer ends and schools are back in session, MWR continues to take in over 100 patients each month. That’s a lot of mouths to care for, and we are incredibly grateful to all our supporters who make it possible for us to save our native wildlife. Check out this post to see some of the amazing animals we have cared for recently!

We encourage everyone to take advantage of the cooler mornings and connect with nature on our two miles of hiking trails at the ARK Trails. Located at 7001 W Commerce St, Hernando MS 38632. Open daily sunrise to Sunset.

Patient Update:
This month we admitted 109 new patients into care representing 31 bird and 4 reptile species.

Sponsor Thank You:
This month, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our monthly supporters. Your ongoing contributions are critical in ensuring we have the food and supplies needed to care for our many patients. A big MWR THANK YOU to:

If we could add 100 people giving just $10 a month, it would significantly help ensure we can continue to care for our many patients. If you would like to join this group and become a monthly supporter, please visit here.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to saving Mississippi’s native wildlife!

Program update:
We have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to connect with so many wonderful families at our local libraries this summer. This month, we visited:
Hernando
Amory

Education is an important part of our mission, and we are thankful for being a part of the MS
Homeschool Life Fair.

Learn more about the education programs MWR offers here.

Looking Ahead:
MWR is excited to be part of the annual Mephit Fur Meet convention labor day weekend at the Whispering Woods Hotel and Convention Center.

Join us Saturday, September 14, for part 3 of our Backyard Wildlife Habitat workshop series. Learn how to attract wildlife to your backyard by providing water and make your own leaf mold bird bath to take home. Space is limited and filling up fast. Register here.

Visit us at the annual Hernando Watertower Festival on Saturday, September 28.

And we will be celebrating National Public Lands Day at the first annual Rock Bottom Nature Fest on Saturday, September 28, from 11 am until 4 pm at the Park Along the Tallahatchie River in downtown New Albany, MS. More details coming soon.

MWR is excited to announce that we are planning our fourth annual TRUNK or TREAT event for Saturday, October 19 from 1-4p at the Dub Patton Recreation Area on Arkabutla Lake. We are currently seeking local businesses and organizations to participate as TRUNKS. It is free and a great way to promote your business/ organization while supporting a safe community family event. Learn more here.

Mississippi Wildlife Rehabilitation (MWR) is excited to announce we are planning our 4th annual Trunk or Treat event, and we would love for your business or organization to participate as a TRUNK!

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, October 19, 2024
• Time: 1 – 4 PM
• Location: Dub Patton Recreation Area @ Arkabutla Lake

Why Participate?

• Promote Your Business/Organization: This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your business or organization to the local community.
• Support a Safe, Family-Friendly Event: Help us provide a fun and secure Trick-or-Treat experience for local families.
• Creative Fun: Decorate your vehicle with a family-friendly theme! Kids’ TV and movie characters, superheroes, and other fun ideas are encouraged. Plus, we will have a “Best TRUNK” contest, so let your creativity shine!
• It’s FREE to participate.

What We Need from You:

• Decorate Your Vehicle: Make your trunk a festive and welcoming spot for kids. Themes should be appropriate for young children.
• Bring Lots of Candy: We anticipate over 2500 participants, so please bring plenty of candy. Consider also bringing small items like stickers, pencils, bubbles, or coloring books for children who cannot eat sugar or peanuts.
• Embrace the Spirit: Join us in making this event memorable and fun for everyone involved!

How to Get Involved: To confirm your participation as a TRUNK or to learn more about the event, please contact us at events@mswildliferehab.org.

We are excited to have you join us and contribute to a magical and safe Halloween experience for our community.

Thank you for your support!”

June turned up the heat for MWR both literally and figuratively. While temperatures hit summer highs, MWR was busy taking in new patients and connecting with over 1,000 North Mississippi residents through educational programs. To learn more about the education programs we offer, visit MWR Education Programs.

Annual Golf Tournament
We started the month with our first Annual Golf Tournament, which was a huge success! The weather was amazing, and fourteen teams competed for prizes donated by local businesses like Mesquite Chop House, Lucky Dog, Zaxby’s, Tops BBQ, and Cooper Hotels. Check out our Facebook page for more.

Patient Update
This month, we admitted 117 new patients into care, representing 34 bird and 5 reptile species. So far, MWR has cared for more than 400 wildlife patients in 2024.

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:

• Elizabeth Montcalm-Smith
• Wendy Darlene Caldwell
• Dana Young Alvarez
• Marie Reed
• Lisa O’Conner
• Stephen Folks

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

Program Update
At the beginning of the month, MWR participated in the Desoto County Soil & Water Conservation District summer camp. Learn more on Facebook. MWR supported several of our local libraries’ summer reading programs this month. Check out the links below to learn more:

• Southaven
• Senatobia
• Pontotoc
• Smithville
• Coldwater
• Olive Branch

MWR had the unique experience of presenting an education program in the 150-year-old Courthouse Museum in Iuka, MS. See more on Facebook.

Our Wildlife Summer Camp was a huge success. Fifteen enthusiastic campers got to meet a variety of live animals and participate in fun activities and crafts while learning all about wildlife. Read more about it.

We completed the month at Hernando Taekwondo’s after-school program. Check it out on
Facebook.

Looking Ahead
We still have a couple more library programs this summer. Come check us out at:

• 7/17 Hernando
• 7/18 Amory

We are working on more exciting and informative programs for the fall. Keep following our website and Facebook page for program announcements.

An amazing group of campers spent a week at the ARK exploring the fascinating world of wildlife. Each day, we covered a different group of animals.

Monday: Birds

Campers had an exciting day learning all about birds. They met Athena the barn owl, Marshmallow the barred owl, Rufous and Hazelnut the screech owls, Mochni the red-shouldered hawk, and Hulk the red-tailed hawk. The Bird Beak Buffet game helped them understand how the shape and size of a bird’s beak indicates its diet. They took a deeper look at raptor diets by dissecting owl pellets, learned how to use binoculars, and went on a short birding hike.

Tuesday: Arthropods

Campers learned the basics about these essential invertebrates, distinguishing insects from arachnids and millipedes from centipedes. Meeting the live specimens, especially the giant hissing roaches, was a big hit. Campers applied what they learned by building their own arthropod crafts. Equipped with nets and viewing boxes, they hit the trails to find species to complete their BUGGO board.

Wednesday: Mammals

Campers learned what makes a mammal a mammal and investigated pelts and skulls. Special guest Deb Waz from the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science led a discussion and craft on animal adaptations. Campers played the role of scientists, identifying different species in the Skull Maze, and learned to identify the presence of mammals by examining tracks and scat.

Thursday: Amphibians

Campers explored the unique features of amphibians and observed live examples of both exotic and native species. They performed an experiment to see how an amphibian’s absorbent skin makes them bioindicators, providing important information on the health of a habitat. They looked at the differences between frogs and toads, competed in a frog vs. toad relay race, learned how each frog species has a unique call, and tested their identification skills with an audio challenge. A nature hike completed the day.

Friday: Reptiles

After an introduction to reptile traits and the primary groups of reptiles, campers enjoyed a presentation by Davis Ruffin from Magnolia Exotics. Davis shared his extensive collection of native reptiles and his vast knowledge of these often-misunderstood animals. Campers then got creative, painting their own wooden snake to take home.

Each day of camp ended with a tasty lunch from one of our generous sponsors. Campers reinforced their learning with a game of Jeopardy and captured the day’s events in their journals. It was a great and WILD week.

Thank you to our sponsors: Whataburger, McAllister’s Deli, Domino’s Pizza, Habanero’s
Restaurant, Sonic, and Chick-fil-A.

A special thank you to our amazing volunteers: Kate Friedman (Board member/ Education Director), Carrie Moyers, Leah Steen, Lauren Lee, Jonathan Patrick, Brett Hogan (Board member) and Stephanie Hogan (Wildlife Director).

In a month when we pay tribute to our country’s fallen heroes May has certainly been busy for MWR. Community events, education workshops and patients, patients, and more patients. Learn more below. As babies continue to hatch and leave their nests we want to remind everyone not every baby found on the ground needs someone to help. Please check out this link for useful information to determine when it is best to intervene or to let momma and daddy bird do their thing. https://www.mswildliferehab.org/wildlife-resources/

Patient Update:
This month we admitted 144 new patients into care representing 36 different bird, 6 turtle and 3 snake species.

Sponsor Thank You:

This month we want to give a special thank you to those sponsoring our first annual MWR Golf Tournament on June 7th.

$1000 Raptor Sponsors:

• Memphis Stone & Gravel
• SkyLake Construction
• WT Solutions

Hole Sponsors:

• Alicia Teeter-The Firm
• Stockton Mortgage
• Performance Lawns
• Haley Albonetti & Associates
• Custom Remodeling
• Urban Arch
• Shelter Insurance-Alan Cook
• Guaranty Bank
• Signs & Stuff

Food and Beverage Sponsors:

• Jason’s Deli
• Tops BBQ
• DC Team @ Crye-Leike Realtors
• Clark Beverage

All proceeds from this event support MWRs mission of wildlife conservation and rehabilitation.

Program Update:

We are grateful to the Senatobia Rotary Club for inviting us as a guest speaker.

Thank you to Jill Morris with Stars in Motion for leading our Yoga at the ARK program.

MWR was a crowd favorite at the Five Star City Festival in Tate County.

Pollinator Palooza at Camp Creek Natives was a great day connecting with the many participants
interested in creating healthy habitat for native wildlife.

MWR is thankful to Melissa Gilbert for sharing natural talent and expertise in our Nature photography
workshop.

Looking Ahead:

Our Wildlife Summer Camp (June 24-28) is just a couple of weeks away and we still have some spots
available. Take advantage of our reduced camp fee and register today.

MWR will be supporting several library summer programs in June and July. Come check us out at:
6/5 Southaven
6/11 Senatobia
6/12 Pontotoc
6/17 Coldwater
6/18 Olive Branch
7/17 Hernando
7/18 Amory

Spring has sprung. The temperatures are rising, the flowers are blooming, and MWR has seen a steady stream of new patients this month. We have also been very active in the community participating in local festivals and providing education programs. Learn more in the Program Update below.

This month we honored MWR founder Valery E Smith who was called to her heavenly home in April of last year. As a memorial tribute we shared stories and pictures from many of those whose lives were uniquely touched by Valery’s powerful spirit. See the full content here: https://www.mswildliferehab.org/news/

And just a reminder as we continue into baby bird season, not every baby found on the ground needs someone to help. Please check out this link for useful information to determine when it is best to intervene or to let momma and daddy bird do their thing. https://www.mswildliferehab.org/wildlife-resources/

Patient Update:

This month we admitted 102 new patients into care representing 28 different bird and 4 turtle 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
• Diane Sales
• Rick Vanelli
• Tyler Hollingsworth
• Laura Haulum
• Theresa Hissong
• Allie Smith
• Lindsey Vick
• Anita Rush
• Ally Downen
• Searcy Cunningham
• Cassandra Truan

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

Program update:

MWR had a HOOT at the Memphis Botanic Garden’s Family Campfire Night. We enjoyed meeting many enthusiastic families and sharing a variety of nocturnal creatures with them including insects, arachnids, reptiles and of course owls.

This month MWR provided education programs to Funschooling Nature Co-op and Point Day School. We always appreciate the opportunity to connect with local families, teaching and inspiring them to help protect native wildlife.

Participants in part 2 of our Backyard Wildlife Habitat workshop series, A Bountiful Buffet, learned to provide a variety of natural food sources for native wildlife and were able to take home native seeds and seedlings to plant in their own yards. Creating these native habitats will be an impactful benefit to the survival of our local wildlife.

MWR had a great time participating in the annual Desoto County Earth Day Festival at the historic County Courthouse Square in Hernando. We especially love being a part of our local community events.

We were especially honored to be invited to the annual Blue Block Party for the Arc Northwest Mississippi, held in Olive Branch. It is a privilege to support their mission advocating for and providing programming for people with disabilities.

The month ended with the first session of Yoga at the ARK with Jill Morris. We hope to offer this program again in the fall.

Looking Ahead:
School is almost out, and our summer camps are the perfect activity for your 8-12 year old. We have
REDUCED THE PRICE for each camp to $200 and still have some spots open for our Wildlife (June 24-28)
and Nature Art (July 8-12) summer camps. 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 Here.

This Saturday, May 11, MWR will be at two different events. From 9a-3pm visit us at the 5 Star City Fest in Senatobia and from 10a-4p you can see us at the Camp Creek Natives Pollinator Palooza in New Albany.

Join us at the ARK, Saturday May 26 from 10a-noon for our Nature Photography Workshop with Melissa Gilbert. Learn more and register Here.

And we are only a month away from the first annual MWR Golf Tournament, scheduled for June 07 at
the Wedgwood Golf Club in Olive Branch. For team registration and sponsorship opportunities visit Here.

A year ago today, the beloved founder of Mississippi Wildlife Rehabilitation went home.

Valery Elizabeth Smith will always be missed. The last year has been hard, but we carry on, knowing she would have wanted us to keep saving these animals, whom she loved so much.

“I cannot help but think how blessed I am to be able to be a part of all that I love and hold dear.”

-from The Call of the Wild, by Valery Smith

Today officially marks one year since Valery Smith’s passing. We have something special coming up, but before that, here are two stories of other animals with whom Val shared a very special connection. There are countless others to be sure, but here are Val’s Little Helper and Val’s Most Memorable Release.

Wind Dancer:

“Wind Dancer” was another of Val’s favorite education ambassadors, an amazing American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) whose Native American name was Nyuol al shi aa^eh, which translates to wind dancer. He was admitted to MWR in 2004. Someone had kept him in a small cage for a year, leaving him imprinted and causing his muscles to atrophy without regular exercise. Unable to ever fully recover his flight, he was deemed non-releasable. But Wind Dancer was an excellent education ambassador.

He also turned out to be a great foster dad! One day Val admitted a fuzzy, white, bright-eyed nestling Kestrel into care. Wind Dancer became quite vocal when he saw the baby, so Val decided to see if he would foster the baby. She cautiously placed the baby bird in a large container inside Wind Dancer’s cage. He immediately began to feed the baby! He would then spread his wings, jump in the with the baby, cover it up, and keep it warm and safe. That was the beginning of Wind Dancer’s foster dad career. If Val had baby songbirds in the same room with Wind Dancer, she had to keep them covered. Otherwise, Wind Dancer would be obsessed with them, and not in the usual sense of birds of prey!

One day while Val was busy, the cover slipped between Wind Dancer and a nest of four baby Robins and Val heard Wind Dancer being very vocal and making sounds she had never heard before. When she went to investigate, the four American Robins had with their mouths open in Wind Dancer’s direction. She saw him run over and pick up half a mouse and try to stuff it through the bars to feed the Robins. As cute and funny as it was, after that she was always careful to keep the cage covered, but he was a smart little Kestrel. When baby birds in rehab began to vocalize a feeding call, he was the first to sound the alarm and let Val know that someone needed to be fed!

Shula, the bald eagle:

“Shula” is the name given to the American Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) by her rescuers. It means “peaceful one” or “perfect one” in Hebrew.

In November 2019 a family of four were watching three eagles flying above them when someone noticed a fourth bird on the ground and unable to fly. MDWFP officer Austin Tallant was called and arrangements were made to transport the eagle to MWR’s ARK Wildlife Hospital where Dr. Stefan Harsch and Val dedicated the next two months to giving the eagle the best care they could.

She almost did not make it. The bird had a severe electrical burn on its leg, and despite a lingering infection from the hot wire, her loss of appetite, and a negative reaction to some of her medications, the eagle miraculously made a full recovery. One of Val’s pieces of advice to new rehabbers was, “Be patient, give it time.” That proved true with Shula!

The weather was beautiful on the day of the release. We returned to the field where Shula was found. A small group of folks were invited to attend the release. Officer Tallant pointed out the location of her nest across the lake on a levee. When Val opened the crate door, Shula walked out and looked around as if to get oriented. She took flight and circled not once, but 4 times over our heads. On the fifth circle, in the sky to the left of the release site… there they were! The other three adult bald eagles, obviously one pair and a single eagle without a mate, circling in the distance. All of a sudden one of the three broke away and flew straight toward Shula! By that time, she was flying over the lake, toward the nest site on the levee. He flew straight to her and they both disappeared over the tree line. Shula was back together with her life mate. It was a breath-taking, beautiful release.