Wildlife rehabilitator conducts training at Humane Society animal shelter

WARWICK — The Warwick Valley Humane Society is best known for providing shelter and adoption services for ordinary household pets like cats and dogs.
But it is not uncommon for its animal control officers to rescue a variety of local birds and animals and even an occasional exotic creature like a Chinese Water Dragon.
On April 20, Barbara "Missy" Runyan, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator who runs a not for profit organization, Friends of the Feathered and Furry Wildlife Center, in Hunter, provided an afternoon lecture and workshop for the staff at the society's animal shelter.
Runyan works closely with the Department of Environmental Conservation on cases involving bear, fox, coyote, deer, turtles and so forth.
"When we get a call for an injured hawk or other bird of prey, or any other wild critter," said Suzyn Barron, president of the Warwick Valley Humane Society, "we call Missy for instructions. She will often ask us to rescue the animal or have someone bring it to us, so we can get it to her, preferably that same day."
During her lecture, Runyan spoke of the well-intentioned people who unknowingly interfere with nature and remove the baby or babies from the nest or move the tiny fawn.
"It is imperative to call before acting in what may not be the best interest of the animal," she said. "An adult deer who cannot get up after an accident with a car cannot be saved. A baby fawn is not abandoned by the tree close to your house unless you see that mom is deceased or it looks sickly and has flies around it."
Runyan also cautioned that people should put their bird feeders away until winter as the bears are emerging and the birds can find their own food now.
"Let wild be wild," she said.
Runyan also shared many of her own experiences in helping injured or ill wildlife and gave the Humane Society staff a crash course in the anatomy of a Red Tailed Hawk, which she brought with her for a demonstration.
She explained the do's and don'ts of capturing, handling and "boxing" them up for transport.
"Under her tutelage," said Barron, "we are able to quickly assess an injured animal and relay this information to her prior to transport. And like it or not, one of her messages was that the rehabilitated animal should be returned to it's own neighborhood where it was found. And if an animal is not able to be rehabilitated, such as a hawk with a severely damaged wing, which cannot be repaired, that animal's life is over in the most humane way possible, rather than be subjected to an unnatural existence in a cage."
After the lecture and workshop, Runyan released a rehabilitated owl, found a month ago on the side of Belcher Road.
She explained that he was suffering from head trauma, most likely from being hit by a car or glancing off of a car. Once he was able to not only fly but also soar, he was ready to go.
"This session was both enjoyable and a great learning experience for our staff," said Barron.
For additional information about Friends of the Feathered and Furry Wildlife Center call 518-989-6534 or visit www.fffwildlifecenter.com
For the Warwick Valley Humane society call 986-2473 or visit: www.wvhumane.org.
- Roger Gavan