Wildlife Rehab Musings by Karen at Mountain Wildlife Rehab

After apprenticing with Lynne McCoy, a local rehabber with 40+ yrs of experience, I passed the qualifications when TWRA inspected our wildlife rehab area and granted my permit in April 2020. My ReHubby and I live in Wears Valley, TN and are using our love of wildlife and the area we live in, to give back to our community by rehabbing local wildlife. Our mission is to educate on peaceful coexistence with our native wildlife and to assist and rehab wild critters. Our 'facility' is an outbuilding (half of ReHubby's workshop) and a wildlife enclosure we are building. This year we built an pre-release pen for squirrels. We also added a 50' x 18' x 9' chain link fence with a 'hot wire' and 3' chain link perimeter guard, to create an enclosure protecting the pens from roaming predatory wildlife. As one of few rehabbers in the area with a Rabies Vector Species (RVS) permit, which requires additional training, paperwork and receiving the rabies vaccinations, I found racc***s were the ones who needed us most and we cared for many orphans in 2020. In preparation for next Spring's flood of babies, we are working, as our building fund allows, on building the Coonie Clubhouse which will be a pre-release pen. The enclosure will have a small pool with drainage system (made from a donated shower drainpan), an easy to clean floor, hardware cloth walls, and a tin roof. Nesting boxes will also be made to keep the orphans cozy and dry within the pens. There is a great need for wildlife rehabilitation in this area. We receive calls and critters from the public and also coordinate with the UT Vet School to take wildlife needing rehabilitation after they have treated them. Wildlife Rehabilitation, although permitted by the State, is not funded by the state. Our work is volunteer and we welcome the support of other wildlife lovers. We can be reached via Facebook at Wildlife Rehab Musings by Karen, by phone at 865-774-1046, and by email at [email protected]. Our mailing address is Mountain Wildlife Rehab - Summerville, PO Box 6366, Sevierville, TN 37864

We are thankful for your support and interest in sharing our wildlife rehab adventures!