Wildcare Foundation

WILDCARE PROVIDES PEOPLE A PLACE TO BRING NATIVE WILDLIFE STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE WITH THE GOAL OF RELEASING HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS BACK INTO THE WILD. THIS INVOLVES THE PROVISION OF FOOD, WATER, SHELTER AND MEDICAL CARE.

WILDCARE ACCEPTED 7,217 ANIMAL PATIENTS REPRESENTING 264 DISTINCT SPECIES IN 2021. THIS WAS A RECORD YEAR FOR WILDCARE IN TERMS OF THE DIVERSITY OF PATIENTS TREATED. PART OF THIS WAS DUE TO WILDCARE ACCEPTING 85 ANIMALS FROM THE EXOTIC ANIMAL TRADE THAT WERE CONFISCATED DUE TO SEVERE ABUSE AND MALTREATMENT AT THE REQUEST OF THE CITY OF NORMAN AND THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION. ALL ANIMALS WERE TREATED AND THEN OVER THE COURSE OF 2021, REHOMED TO AZA ACCREDITED ZOOS AND GFAS ACCREDITED SANCTUARIES. THE SURVIVAL AND RELEASE RATE OF ANIMALS SURVIVING THE FIRST 24 HOURS IN CARE WAS 72.23%% FOR ALL MAMMAL PATIENTS, 57.9% FOR ALL BIRD SPECIES, 77.78% FOR ALL AMPHIBIAN PATIENTS, AND 91.29%% FOR REPTILE PATIENTS WITH AN OVERALL SURVIVAL RATE OF 68.42% WELL ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 50%. CARING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC RESCUE ANIMALS STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE FROM ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE OF OKLAHOMA; THEY BRING THEM TO WILDCARE BECAUSE THEY ARE INJURED, ILL, OR ORPHANED. THE VETERINARY TEAM OR SENIOR REHABILITATION STAFF ASSESS EACH ANIMAL'S CONDITION, AND THEN STAFF PROVIDE APPROPRIATE MEDICAL CARE, HOUSING, AND FOOD. STAFF CARE FOR AND MONITOR EACH ANIMAL PATIENT DAILY UNTIL THEY ARE FULLY DEVELOPED OR HEALED-THEY ARE THEN RELEASED BACK INTO THE WILD FOR A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE. WILDCARE MANAGES A LARGE PORTFOLIO OF LANDOWNERS THAT MAKE AVAILABLE LARGE SWATHS OF LAND ONTO WHICH PATIENTS ARE RELEASED. DESPITE THE PANDEMIC, WILDCARE REMAINED OPENED 365 DAYS IN 2021, SERVING THE SECOND HIGHEST NUMBER OF OKLAHOMA AND ADMITTING THE SECOND HIGHEST NUMBER OF ANIMALS IN THE ORGANIZATION'S HISTORY DUE CONTINUED EFFORTS TO REMAIN OPEN, MAINTAIN ADEQUATE STAFF LEVELS, AND USE NEWLY DEVELOPED ANIMAL CARE PROTOCOLS TO ENSURE ANIMALS, STAFF, AND VOLUNTEERS WERE KEPT AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE. WILDCARE WAS ABLE TO START PROVIDING IN-PERSON EDUCATION EVENTS; BUT CONTINUED THE EXPANDED REACH STARTED IN 2020 BY CONTINUING TO PROVIDE VIRTUAL EDUCATIONAL EVENTS. WILDCARE CONTINUED TO OPERATE ITS WILDLIFE HOTLINE ANSWERING ON AVERAGE 100 CALLS FROM APRIL THROUGH SEPTEMBER. IN 2021, 120 VOLUNTEERS DONATED 4,958.75 HOURS OF SERVICE (THROUGH NOVEMBER 30, 2021) TO WILDCARE WITH ITS ELEVEN-MEMBER, ALL- VOLUNTEER BOARD OF DIRECTORS DONATING AN ESTIMATED 360 HOURS.