News

April 23, 2008 - Funding Needed To Keep North Georgia Wildlife Sanctuary Open -- by Jennifer Allen

The Ellijay Wildlife Rehabilitation Sanctuary's mission is the health care, protection, and release of wild animals, from the smallest mammals and reptiles to the largest carnivores and birds of prey. Recently the Sanctuary lost its funding and after twenty years of serving the Southeast, may be forced to close its doors.

Currently, the sanctuary cares for 5 of the rarest "big cats" on the North American continent, the Eastern Panther. This represents 10% of the known population. These cousins of the Western Cougar only exist in the wild in a small area of the Florida Everglades and were recently declared extinct in Georgia. One of the goals of the sanctuary is to repopulate and reintroduce the Eastern Panther into the wild.

In addition, the sanctuary cares for over 65 other animals that have come into their care after being injured in the wild. Each spring, the sanctuary's population of animals can soar by over 50% as orphaned animals are brought into the sanctuary, from baby squirrels and raccoons to birds of prey, fawns and bear cubs. Each of these requires specialized hand-feeding so they can be reintroduced into the wild. Thus, the need for donations is greatest right now.

EWRS is proud to announce that their environmental education programs are now aligned with the Georgia Performance Standards for grades K-12.

If you can help, the time is now! Please go to www.2wild2tame.com and click on the donate now button. Or if you like, call the Ellijay Wildlife office at (706) 276-2980.