Recap of 2022 = Annual Report

 

2022 Annual American Heritage Wildlife Foundation Report

In 2001, the paperwork process began to create the first 501c3 nonprofit incorporation with the two-fold mission of providing immediate and necessary care for the injured or orphaned local native wild animals and providing education to our local neighbors about conservation and cohabitation. AHWF was created to keep Idaho wild; our vision has been to present the present as a present for future generations.

By 2019, our dozen volunteers provided nearly three dozen outreach opportunities, responded to 100 individual animals, answered more than 400 telephone calls, donated close to 4,000 hours. During the 'baby season' from Mid April through Mid September we committed nearly 500 hours every month. We appeared to be making an impact and gaining influence with our community and the vision to create the first inland northwest nature center.

March 2020 began the national pandemic. This local charity, like so many charities and businesses alike have been struggling ever since. We experienced shortages – namely volunteers, but the demand for our unique services skyrocketed. The primary reason is the overwhelming influx of human population. Ninety (90%) percent of patients are admitted because of human causes. We view that as an opportunity to teach citizens topics of cohabitation and how to be a good neighbor to the native neighbors.

The two-acre parcel of land upon which AHWF is located and the Nature Walk guided pathway was created had a wide diversity of native neighbors calling this habitat their home also. It is certified with NWF with native plants, shrubs, trees and also water features. For years we shared every Winter with a mother Moose and her yearling calf bedding down underneath the Cedar trees, watched herds of White-tailed Deer mingling and resting in the front yard during heavy snowstorms. Cotton tailed Rabbits would scamper through any time of year. The native Pine Squirrels had their two batches of offspring annually. The families would be seen racing up and down the trees and loud conversations heard often. Northern Flying squirrels were also seen. Little Brown Bats consumed mosquito and other flying insects at night and Violet Green Swallows at day. Northern Alligator Lizards laid their eggs in the forest, Rubber Boas and Common Garter Snakes birthed their live young, and several species of native Frogs were also seen as well as heard. Snails and Slugs, Beetles and Ants, Bees and Hornets, Butterflies and Spiders all found a home here. The symphony of dozens of songbirds and woodpeckers could be heard morning and night. From Solitary Vireo to Lazuli Bunting, Western Tanager to Pileated Woodpecker, White Crowned Sparrow to Cedar Waxwing, Steller’s Jay to Common Nighthawk and so many others including the ‘common’ birds such as American Robin, Black Capped Chickadee, Red Breasted Nuthatch, Dark Eyed Junco, House Finch, Pine Siskin, Gold Crowned Kinglet, Winter Wrens, and Varied Thrush. Rufous, Calliope and Broad Tail Hummingbirds all made nests, consumed insects and drank nectar from the wild vines. Tracks from Coyote, Black Bear, and even Cougar were left in the mud of the adjacent parcel of land. That three-acre property (which we had hoped to acquire) offered a seasonal pond upon which migrating ducks would come. A quiet respite place with cattails and sedges. Raptors found shelter and food on this parcel. Shark Shin Hawks would grab a quick meal. A Great Horned Owl had taken up residence. Flammulated Owl could be heard on summer evenings. Great Blue Herons, Bald Eagles and Osprey as well as flocks of Canada Geese were frequently spotted overhead on their way to the nearby Clark Fork River. Golden Eagles and even Turkey Vultures were seen gliding on the wind with seemingly little effort. Other cohabitants of this land were the Raccoons, Striped Skunks (who were passing through as they always do), Flammulated Owls, Voles, Moles, Gophers, Shrews, White Footed Mice, Woodrats, Ruffed Grouse, Wild Turkey and Common Ravens.

As I reflected upon what once was and I look out now and listen to the present - I am deeply saddened. That time was a fairy tale which I struggled to maintain but one human can only accomplish so much.  To assist you with perspective: One full time trained and experienced volunteer was able provide quality care for twenty individual animals, depending upon species and time of the season the patient is admitted. The first few years of operations, one full time and two part time volunteers were able to maintain operations including a few outreach programs, responding to the two hundred inquiry telephone calls from the public, and provide quality patient care for fifty individual patients. During the last five years, the need to do more has skyrocketed. The demand to provide care for more patients, provide more educational lectures and learning opportunities, provide more fundraising events, provide unique ways to connect and promote awareness has become unambiguously obvious. The annual number of calls is now around 400. The number of patients would easily surpass 200 individuals if indeed each animal in need were able to be accepted. AHWF volunteers had been offering three dozen different outreach opportunities plus maintaining six online locations as well as mailing updates to the members four times a year. 4,000 hours were recorded as being volunteered and it was still not enough to meet the need plus expand!

Despite assorted radio interviews & podcasts on local stations, newspaper & magazine interviews, and seven books written as a means to educate, entertain, & foster empath this community as a majority appears to be deaf to the to the pleas for help. Listen to the 2021 KRFY radio interview or the 2022 podcast from SCRC & the BCDB article with the founder.

The level of volunteerism had fluctuated so greatly the board of directors made the decision in 2015 to hire university students as summer interns. These on-site full-time animal patient care providers received a weekly stipend for providing consistent continual care as well as assist and instruct the daily volunteers. Some years the students were able to excel under the pressure while others collapsed. The ultimate responsibility for every volunteer, student intern, educational presentation, informative blog, social media post, teaching opportunity, fundraising event, awareness campaign, telephone call and email, board of director agenda and authoritative agency report, as well as the very life of each wild animal patient lies upon the shoulders of the founder. Bear in mind, the founder works five days a week at a paying job as well as 365 days a year volunteering for AHWF. 

You may be surprised to hear over the past nine years the majority of applications received are not from Idaho universities! The students seeking careers with wild animals are from places like Maine, New York, Ohio, Montana, Oregon, Texas and even Ireland. In 2023, AHWF was incredibly blessed to hire two amazing interns. Each student was able to commit to eight weeks. These two students were absolutely sent by the heavens. Caring, compassionate, dedicated, devoted, energetic, engaged, courteous, and curious. They fanned the nearly dead ember of belief that there are still good people on this earth who appreciate the native wild animals and want to help. 

Nearly 400 calls, emails and messages were responded to. Patients were cared for from January through September (when the Idaho state permit expired and was not renewed until January). We had several volunteer taxi drivers, and two retired citizens assisted with patient care at the end of summer. Thanks to a group of determined volunteers, the Clean Comedy Show and Silent Auction reappeared after two-year hiatus. This was the only major event which took place. We did partner with the City Nature Challenge event once again and attempted to solicit volunteers for the twice annual adopt a highway cleanup for the three-mile section of scenic highway 200 which has been claimed by AHWF for over 15 years. The demand to help our community is being heard but without help of community, AHWF cannot respond. As the saying goes “everyone wants to save the world but no one wants to help mom do the dishes.” Good intentions are fabulous; they guide to stay on the path of being good however the only way to see good happening around you is to jump in with both hands and feet and do good. So much more could have been accomplished had we, your local nonprofit – the only charity with this vital mission, had your help. The predominant factor of limited manpower allowed only three dozen patients to be accepted. Our traditional ‘baby’ season no sooner had begun than we were forced to refuse to admit any more patients. This condition is called Code Black and defined as the influx of patients being too great for the limited resources. We must find ways to collaborate with and expand this vital mission if this region wishes to keep Idaho wild. New residents may see North Idaho as a wild space full of species, however ask the residents who have lived here for twenty or more years. The wild spaces are shrinking and the wild species populations are declining. Once prolific and ubiquitous animals are now seldom heard. The landscapes are full of free roaming cats and dogs, trees and shrubs removed and replaced with green grass lawns, seasonal ponds filled with dirt and open fields sectioned off so more homes could be built. Where have all the sounds of nature’s symphony gone? They have been silenced by the citizens who continue to believe Ego instead of Eco. The people who insist on fireworks, balloons, trimming treeing before looking for nests, driving carelessly, “rodent” poison, littering, trapping, and outdoor cats as well as attempting to care for a wild animal as a DIY just google it project. 

Through the consistent generosity shown by our donors – many of whom have been contributing for years, we are able to offer two dozen part time seasonal job positions.

• Total expenses $22609.82
• Total revenue $28634.93
• Marketing and Fundraising (including comedy event) $2,789.60
• Amazon smile (ending 02/2023) raised over $300. IGive and GoodShop still active. EScrip(yokes) $45.39

 

We would like  to continue the monthly library lectures, be able to offer guided tours for the nature walk, see local shops with our merchandise, receive greater returns from the online shopping programs including igive, escrip, bird magazine and wine cellars as well as the bring back those entertaining and engaging events and activities which were so enjoyable in years past.  Should we continue to create large naturalistic animal recovery enclosures?

In a few short weeks we will mark the three-year anniversary since the mandated global isolation began. Perhaps in a few short weeks you will mark your calendars on ways you are willing and able to reach out and help keep Idaho WILD. Other groups are working wonders for their causes including environmental laws, land preservation, domestic animal rescue but only AHWF has the mission and dual focus as well as experience and authorization to be wildlife custodians.   

Now in the present moment, human kind sits impaled on a crossroads facing an uncertain future. Will we rise to the challenge of climate change? or the opposite of that? Will computers learn to delete us? and if they do how will we get ourselves out of the recycle bin? Can human kind learn to exist at peace with itself? or are all of us right now living through the final hours, minutes and seconds of civilization? No matter what happens it will happen right here on this glistening space rock called earth.  – Philomena Cunk mockumentary host.