November 3, 2017 at 4:26 p.m.
Wild Instincts receives 'Green Gift' from Cellcom to build enclosure for aquatic animals
Wild Instincts receives 'Green Gift' from Cellcom to build enclosure for aquatic animals
"Wild Instincts is the only wildlife hospital in Wisconsin licensed to treat all wildlife allowed to be rehabbed by law. As such, we get admissions and transfers from across the state. We have approximately 90 trained volunteer drivers that transport wildlife in need to our facility. Last year our drivers drove 19,214 miles enabling us to admit patients from 31 different counties across Wisconsin," Mark Naniot, director of wildlife rehabilitation, said in a press release. "In the last five years our admissions have increased steadily. We need appropriate enclosures to fulfill our mission of returning each animal to the wild."
The Green Gift from Cellcom will help build a new Versatube structure for a wildlife rehabilitation for aquatic animals such as small wading birds like bitterns and small herons, also for kingfisher, ducks, and even mammals such as mink, the release states.
"In Wisconsin, there are laws prohibiting un-permitted people from trying to care for wildlife in need," the release explains. "This protects the safety of both people and wild animals. The good news is that 70 percent of the animals brought to Wild Instincts are released back into the wild, well above the national average of 50 percent. Beyond their successful work rehabbing animals, Wild Instincts takes as many opportunities as possible to provide education."
"Every interaction with a person is an opportunity to educate that person on environmental stewardship and living in harmony with wildlife. Many times the connection they have to the particular animal they are reaching out to us about may be their first up-close and personal encounter with nature, whether it be a mouse or a bear, a hummingbird or an eagle," said Naniot. "Wild Instincts has three wildlife ambassadors and presents programs to schools, camps and civic groups to reach an even broader audience as well. In the last three years we've presented to almost 7,000 people. Our programs educate individuals what they can do to lessen injuries to wildlife and how to be good environmental stewards."
Wild Instincts was among 30 green organizations that received a share of the $40,000 in Green Gifts from Cellcom this year. The Green Gifts program launched in 2010 and uses funds generated from Cellcom's cellphone recycling program to fund green nonprofit initiatives. Customers and community members can bring in their old or unwanted phones to be reused and recycled. Cellcom sends the phones to recyclers who in return send money to Cellcom for the materials that were saved from the phones. Cellcom's Green Gift program completes the green cycle that starts with consumers being environmentally-conscious and donating their devices.
"Our service area is fortunate to be teeming with non-profits that are creatively using their resources to help the environment though education and activism. Donating your phone allows us to contribute to their efforts through our Green Gifts program and ultimately work toward a greener tomorrow," said Brighid Riordan, director of public affairs and customer experience initiatives at Cellcom.
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