Sanibel Island has a well-deserved reputation as being a haven for wildlife. Laws, speed limits, lighting, are all focused on helping and saving our 4 legged and winged creatures. The moment you drive on to the island, it is obvious this is a very different kind of place and that wildlife is king. Be honest, where else have you seen signs warning of low flying owls? In fact, have you ever seen such an exciting sight as a low flying owl?
Residents and visitors always have their eyes peeled and ears open for any sights or sounds of distress, and when they find one, they know exactly where to turn. The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife aka C.R.O.W is the go to resource for any concerns about wildlife on the island. Fully equipped to handle any intervention or emergency, the staff and volunteers at C.R.O.W have found, handled, cured and released hundreds of animals and birds over the long years of their existence. And although seeing and visiting the patients in hospital has many restrictions, C.R.O.W now offers a new page on their website where they carefully detail the status of any bird or animal admitted. Looking at recent arrivals, it is very touching and encouraging to see the good outcomes for wildlife that would not have had a chance without the intervention of this wonderful organization. Perusing some of these on the website, it is of special note that there is a wide variety of wildlife admitted. here is great detail on each admittance, with wildlife from all over the area
There is great detail on each admittance, with wildlife from all over the area taken in and cared for lovingly. For example, there is the Sandhill Crane, still in the hospital who was found on a Fort Meyers Golf Course with multiple gun pellets in its legs, wings, and thorax. These are beautiful birds, protected in Florida, and to think someone would deliberately maim such a creature is pretty disturbing. But the Crane is now doing well, and it is anticipated he will make a full recovery and be released. But more often than not the patients were not harmed by man but by nature, such as the young Screech Owl who apparently fell from his nest or the baby River Otter who was abandoned by his mother. In these and many cases handled by C.R.O.W, it is the human who has prevented further injury and death by bringing the ill or injured creature to C.R.O.W.
The number of wild life captured and cured is awesome. Since its beginning in 1968, over 100,000 birds and mammals have been brought to C.R.O.W. We are happy to report that most made it and were able to live their life back in the wild. Bravo, C.R.O.W!