Agenda - 10-28-2002 - 1 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Why do we need a wildlife center in the Piedmont? Animal Protection Society of Orange County fired its wildlife staff and closed its center The time has come for wild animals and domestic animals to go their separate ways. The APS WRC operated for the past 5 years out of a shared building. The APS Animal Clinic operated out of the same 2900 sq.ft.building as the wildlife center. The result was barking and mewing predators being kept in earshot of recovering prey species. This kind of stress is not ideal for wildlife rehabilitation. Trend of animals coming to the APS WRC over the past 5 years • From about 600 animals that came to the Center in its first year of existance to the estimated 2000 animals that would have been treated in 2002 had the doors not closed Number of Sick,Injured and Orphaned Wildlife Brought to APS 2000-- Wildlife Rehabilitation Center 01-118090MV 1500 �� xt a �S " `M, per. 1000 * x y' ®#of Wildlife Soo 0 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 • More than 970 people brought wildlife to the former APS WRC in 2002. • Well over 100 species of wildlife have been treated at the APS WRC including a bald eagle,red cockaded woodpeckers,pileated woodpeckers and a peregrine falcon Increased development • Orange County's population has grown by over 25%over the past 10 years. Continued growth results in greater stress on our wildlife population and a greater need for education about wildlife and treatment of wildlife. • As people move into the area public health issues can become more important.Diseases such as west Nile virus show up in wild populations first. An active wildlife center with a trained veterinarian and public health professional will give our county an advantage in identifying these diseases early and protecting our citizens. • Economically important diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease have the potential for showing up in wildlife populations as well.