Janet Matheny and her assistant, Lanni Grano

If you have an interest in wildlife, especially wild birds, then this guest expert is someone you would want to get to know better, as well as the organization she represents. Janet Matheny is Director and Operations Manager for Wildlife Rescue of the Florida Keys. It is a satellite operation of the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary located in Indian Shores, FL. Ms. Matheny said that they are the largest wild avian hospital on the East Coast of the US.

Seacampers were immediately captivated by her presence and that of her assistant, Lanni Grano, and wandered what was in the animal cages that were stacked in front of them. It became obvious to audience of the campers, that they had brought some wildlife friends along to help educate everyone. Ms. Matheny began by explaining how she got involved with wildlife rescue and shared that most everyone who becomes a professional gets his or her start the same way: by volunteering. That is how she got started over 30 years ago, as a girl of ten. She became a full-time manager of Wildlife Rescue three years ago and now devotes most of her waking hours, and including evening hours, to rescuing and rehabilitating birds in distress. 

Their goal is to rescue, rehabilitate, and ultimately release sick and injured birds into the wild those birds and other wildlife back into their natural environment. Although most of their work is with avian wildlife, they will respond to all reports any wildlife in distress: saltwater crocodiles, whales, and ocean sunfish, to name a few. Of course her operation requires a constant source of money. They rely almost entirely on donations and fund raising efforts for the approximately $300,000 needed annually.

After providing some background information, Ms Matheny queried the campers if they wanted to see some of the wildlife creatures that they care for at their facility. Unfortunately most of the birds that they brought with them are relegated to a life at the rescue center, due to debilitating, permanent injuries. The beautiful and endearing wildlife she brought along included a cattle egret, a baby-laughing gull, and two screech owls. Two baby mockingbirds and a two-day old grackle. Campers were invited to touch and to hold them. In addition to their many releases each year, the rescue shelter is home to a number of permanent residents who will never be able to return to the wild; they include 116 pelicans, 2 red-shouldered hawks, 2 broad-winged hawks, 42 seagulls, and 2 screech owls.

She believes that the reason why so many rescues have to be performed each year is the impact man has had upon the fragile Keys environment. One major problem is the prevalent use of monofilament fishing line, which can entangle in the birds and cause their eventual death without their intervention. A shocking display Ms. Matheny shared was a clear box holding the monofilament, hooks, and lures that she and her volunteers have removed from birds. Other marine debris, such as floating “ghost nets” and plastics entrap seabirds and shore birds. Birds, causing illness and often death, ingest many plastics and other human trash.

Discarded fishing line is such a problem that they have placed boxes in specific areas and continually encourage fishermen to place their old line into them so that they are removed as an environmental hazard. The speaker encouraged that campers and staff become proactive and help this cause by petitioning their elected officials, wherever they live to have monofilament recovery boxes placed and maintained in areas frequented by fishermen in their home locale.

If you live near a wildlife rescue operation you might want to consider volunteering your time to save help wildlife and gain personal satisfaction from your efforts. Certainly Janet Matheny has discovered that this is profession. She enjoys taking care of wildlife and releasing them back to their natural environment. To learn more about this important operation please consider visiting their website at: www.suncoastseabirdsanctuary.com.