Monday, December 17, 2012

2012 recap

Wow - it seems that just a short time ago we were ringing in the new 2012 year - now we are coming to a close. I am finishing the annual report for our nonprofit wildlife rehabilitation and community education organization and I am amazed at the dedication of our volunteers. Over 2,000 hours have been put in by these folks - they are juggling their personal lives with paying jobs and still making time to make efforts to save what we all love - this place called North Idaho.

We received just under 150 phone calls and this created 80 wildlife cases. We operate exclusively with volunteers so this was quite a feat. We provided care and information for everything from Pine Squirrels to Gold Crowned Kinglets and Osprey to Coyotes.

We went public at 15 venues - Earth Day Celebration, Fourth of July, Wild Wednesday monthly presentations, Christmas Craft Show, Dover Dog Days were only a few. The only way we could be caring for insectivore nestling birds which require feedings every 15 minutes for 16 hours each day and young mammals that need food for 12 hours each day is because we have great support.

We are grateful that our community supports us with their talent and time. In kind donations and financial contributions are the only way we remain open. We do not receive national, state, or local funds. We do however have wildlife permits from the USFWS Migratory Bird Service and Idaho Fish and Game. We also are a member of the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association. We are in good standing with the IRS and have a 501 (c) 3 status and Idaho state nonprofit incorporation status.

Since 2001 when we began the paper trail to start the first of its kind wildlife rehabilitation center of North Idaho we have been blessed in so many ways. We thank each and everyone of you that has supported us through the years and we wish you a Very Merry Christmas!              

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Please post a review for us and a chance to gain awareness!


If you love our work than tell the world! You have an opportunity to help us make even more of a difference in our community. GreatNonprofits-a review site like TripAdvisor-is honoring highly reviewed nonprofits with their 2012 Top-Rated Awards. Won't you help us raise visibility for our work by posting a review of your experience with us? 

Help us get a 2012 @GreatNonprofits Top-Rated Award, write a review of your experience with us! Take 2 minutes to review us for the @GreatNonprofits Top-Rated Awards! 

http://greatnonprofits.org/organizations/reviews/american-heritage-wildlife-foundation-inc    

Spread the word to friends and family. The winner(s) will be advertised in national media forum such as Parade & Huffington Post! Contest scheduled to end Nov 15th but extended until the end of the month.  

Saturday, June 23, 2012

JUNE jubulation & JULY jockularity

Thanks again to my boss at my paying job,  I am using the fast internet to access the blog. June is almost at a close but things are really hopping for July! First Friday at Panda Express on Best Avenue in CdA takes place in 13 days - print the flyer from our website. Yokes market has the community card available and when you shop there up to 5% monthly proceeds go to help the local wildlife. The third illustrated children's book is published on the lulu site. We are planning two fundraising concerts! If you can help us with organizing or planning let us know. The first clean up of our adopt a highway program will need to be soon - weather and schedules permitted. Board of Directors meeting is Monday. Fourth of July celebration  in Clark Fork and we want to be in the Parade in Sandpoint - let us know if you can help volunteer.
Last week we saw a Least Flycatcher in the yard. Perhaps it was one of our patients from last year returning to the summer grounds :) The young Raven was released a few days ago - it hung around a few days and ate the free food offerings. The coyote pup is growing like crazy! New enclosure almost done - should be in this weekend. Over 40 calls so far this year...as we are still 100% volunteer we are limited in our abilities to 'drive to pick up animals' and we are so grateful for the rescuers that are willing to take the injured and orphaned animals in need to our 'facility'.
Thank you to all those that are supporting us with their time and treasure! Current needs are Bleach, Paper Towels & Scotch Tape.
I'm sure there is more but I need to go assist customers! Enjoy the summer & thanks for caring!          

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

May Mayhem!!! American Heritage Wildlife Foundation operates on a 100% volunteer basis. Many of our supporters help us by supplying internet, that being said, we use dial - up. Thanks to an update by the blogger site, we must have google chrome as our browser to update this blog. We cannot download the required system because of the dial-up.  I have been unable to post, and am now using a friends computer to update.
We are still continuing the First Friday at the Best Avenue Panda Express fundraiser.
We have released our Raccoon and are seeking a location to release the Mourning Dove.It must be with a group that does not migrate away. There is a great deal more to tell, such as the highway clean up, a recap of our Earthday experience, and inform you of the 28 phone calls to render aide , but I will just post this.
If you can help us with being our Blogger - let us know.          

Thursday, April 5, 2012

APRIL ADVENTURES

April Showers bring May Flowers & babies!
Hello Everyone
April is a busy time. April 8 is Easter. April 15 through 21st is National Volunteer Week. April 22 is Earth Day. It is also the time to start planning our gardens. Additionally, we see lots of activity with our returning feathered friends. Yes, Spring is a time of excitement! Here at American Heritage Wildlife Foundation, we are excited to announce to you several activities and events.
There is an online contest for ‘green’ charities. If you love our work then tell the world! You have an exciting opportunity to help us make even more of a difference in our community. GreatNonprofits – a site like Amazon Book Reviews or TripAdvisor – is conducting a campaign to identify the top-rated green nonprofits in the country. Won’t you help us participate in the awards by posting a review of your experience with us? All reviews will be visible to potential donors and volunteers. With your help, we can gain greater visibility in the community. It’s easy and only takes 2 minutes! Go to:
http://www.greatnonprofits.org/reviews/write/american-heritage-wildlife-foundation-inc/campaign:green-2012

In two days, its PANDA time again. The first Friday of each month, we have a fundraising opportunity at the Best Avenue Panda Express in Coeur d’Alene. Go to our website http://www.ahwf.org and find the Panda Icon on our ‘get involved’ page. Click on it and it will link you to a flyer that needs to be printed and presented. AHWF receives 20% of the proceeds - feel good about eating out!
We have just signed up with the eScrip program. We can announce that we are recycling laser & inkjet cartridges, old cell phones, iPods, laptops, digital cameras, GPS devices, as well as CD’s, DVD’s, Blu-ray’s, and video games (with their cases). AHWF will send in the items regularly and earn much-needed funds to help the local wildlife. Please arrange to bring the items to our facility or request a collection bin for your business.
Another exciting program is the Yokes Market Community Card program. It is a free and simple fundraising opportunity. The next time you are getting your groceries, go over to the customer service desk and ask for an eScrip Community Card. You can either call the phone number printed on the back or go online to ‘register the card’. No personal information is requested, only your name and which charity you are interested in the proceeds being donated to. When you go shopping present the card before you pay and depending on your total, AHWF could earn up to 5%. You also have the opportunity to track your progress online. There is an added bonus for us if you use your AHWF Capital One Credit Card (the link to apply is on the www.ahwf.org website as well).

We are looking for volunteers for the annual Earth Day celebration on April 22nd. We need people to ‘man the booth’ or to paint small designs on the faces of the children! This has proven to be a very lucrative fundraiser for us. When the weather breaks, we will enjoy the crisp morning air and clean up our 3-mile section of scenic highway 200. Many hands make for light work so please sign up! Additionally, we have our first of two membership meetings. You do not need to be members to attend but if you want to vote on any of the issues at hand you must be a member. The AHWF website has the categories of membership.
Thank you for your continued support of your local injured and orphaned wildlife charity. Because of you, we can continue to keep the Inland Pacific Northwest WILD.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

March Merriment

If you missed the Board of Directors meeting on the 12th, it was a great session. If you have been bird and mammal watching this week to honor national wildlife week - what a variety! Here at the Foundation we have seen American Robins, Varied Thrush, Three Chickadee species, Black headed Juncos, Pine Siskins, Cassins Finch, Song Sparrow, Red Breasted Nuthatch, Pileated Woodpecker, Pygmy Nuthatch, White Nuthatch, Hairy Woodpecker, Ravens, Golden Eagles, A Moose, A Snowshoe Hare, Wild Raccoon Tracks, & White Tailed Deer.

Monday, January 30, 2012

Two Adventures planned for February

Friday February 3rd from 11A.M. all day until 10P.M. PANDA EXPRESS on BEST AVE will be hosting a fundraiser for American Heritage Wildlife Foundation. Enjoy a great meal and 20% of the proceeds will benefit your local wildlife rehabilitation organization! Please go to our website to print out your flyer - this must accompany your order for our group to qualify.

Friday February 17th to kick start the Great Backyard Bird Count event we are giving a presentation at the Clark Fork Library 10 AM and the Sandpoint Library 1 PM. We will give general information of the common species you are most likely to see this time of year. This is a free event and we will have printouts of the data collection forms. The Great Backyard Bird Count information can be viewed at www.gbbc.birdsource.org.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Recovering Patients

The two patients recovering this winter with us are a male Raccoon and a Mourning Dove.
The dove had a broken wing that healed incorrectly but we were hopeful that it could adapt to re-learn how to fly. Progress has been made with lift, distance and landings. The wing is still not able to extend fully so we are looking for areas where other Doves that do not migrate. We plan a release in the spring. Currently the bird is being kept in our heated room animal infirmary and therapy is done daily.
The Raccoon is quite a character. Daily he is provided a variety of enrichment opportunities such as scents inside boxes suspended, or eggs inside tire swings, etc. He is kept in an very large enclosure that has limited exposure to humans. We want to keep him as wild as possible and make sure he does not get acclimated to humans. We are planning to release this spring near a fishing hole with lots of crawdads!