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.
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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.
