Rehabilitation from the Inside Out:
Focus on Nutrition

October 7-8, 2011
Lansing, Michigan

Causeway Bay Convention Center
6820 South Cedar Street
Lansing, Michigan  48911

 It was a busy but wonderful weekend.  We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.  Information about the 2012 conference will be posted soon!

Nonda, age 56, passed away Friday, March 25, 2011 at Licking Memorial Hospital.  She was born July 22, 1954 in Newark, Ohio to her parents James V. and Marguerite (Taylor) Ruckman.  She graduated from Newark High School.  While a student she was a member of the 4H Club and the Licking County Raiders and Rough Riders.  She was also a member of the American Quarter Horse Association and competed in equestrian events throughout Ohio.  Her love for animals and the outdoors were the corner stones of Nonda’s life.  She volunteered with the State of Ohio as a wildlife rehabilitator and did speaking engagements for the National Wildlife Rehabilitation Association throughout the U.S. and Canada.  She was on the board of the Michigan Wildlife Rehabilitators Association.  In addition to her love of animals she was an avid outdoor photographer.

Nonda is survived by her loving husband and fellow outdoor enthusiast Donald W. Surratt; her loving mother Marguerite Miller and step-father Russell D. Miller as well as a great aunt; cousins and many friends who shared her love for animals and the outdoors.

The family request, in lieu of flowers, tributes and memorial gifts in Nonda’s name be given to Dawes Arboretum, 7770 Jacksontown Road S.E., Newark, OH 43056; the place Nonda was so fond of and brought her peace of mind.   Several of her closest wildlife rehabilitator friends have set up a fund to collect enough to have a bench placed at Dawes in Nonda’s memory.  Please visit this page if you wish to participate.

The Surratt family requests on-line condolences via www.brucker-kishlerfuneralhome.com and clicking obituaries/view full details/guest book entry.

From Field to Release:  Finding Your Way & Moving Forward

It was another great time with incredible speakers and we thank everyone who attended.  Hope to see you next year!

 NOTE:  Updates will be posted as information becomes available.

BACKGROUND

On Monday, July 27, 2010 a 30-inch pipeline belonging to U.S. affiliate Enbridge Energy Partners transporting crude oil from Griffith, Indiana to Sarnia, Ontario spilled 19,500 barrels of oil into Talmadge Creek, which flows into the Kalamazoo River.   A state of disaster was declared on Tuesday.

 The EPA estimates over 1 million gallons of crude oil spilled into Talmadge Creek; the site currently includes a 25-mile stretch of the Kalamazoo River, which is at higher than average levels due to heavy rain falls. The site area lies between Marshall and Battle Creek and includes marshlands, residential areas, farmland, and businesses.

RESPONSE

Wildlife cleanup efforts has been contracted to Focus Wildlife.  They are an emergency resource development organization that works with government, industry, and NGOs to address region-specific emergency wildlife issues.   Their offices are located in Anacortes, Washington and North Vancouver, British Columbia and they are charged with coordinating all wildlife rescue efforts here in Michigan.

 A temporary, emergency wildlife center was created on Monday; the first animals came in on Tuesday.  The center is intended to be operational 7 days a week.  Michigan’s Wildside Rehabilitation and Education Center in Eaton Rapids is one of the primary local organizations working with Focus Wildlife.

VOLUNTEERING

If you are in Calhoun County and wish to volunteer your services you may simply dial “211″ to register.  Outside Calhoun County you may call 269-565-4159 to register.  The “211 coordinator” will contact you, making note of your qualifications and then work with Focus Wildlife on a continuing basis to make volunteer assignments.

 When asked for your qualifications, be sure to state if you are a Michigan-licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

 You may also register online at the HandsOn Battle Creek website ( http://handsonbc.org ).

 It is strongly suggested that you avoid calling any single person directly about volunteering.  Registering by calling one of the numbers noted above is the best way to keep the process as streamlined and effective as possible. 

 To report oiled wildlife:  800-306-6837.  A crew will be dispatched to collect them (if possible); they are then brought to the wildlife center for triage.

The Causeway Bay in Lansing left no doubt about just who was in town:

The pre-conference IWRA Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation course was held at the nearby Wildlife Disease Laboratory; is this not a great classroom?

The inimitable Robyn Grabowski was our instructor:

We had a full house for the Friday night roundtable session with the DNR.  Dennis Knapp and Dr. Dan O’Brien shared the latest happenings and fielded questions:

Saturday was busy, filled with both breakout and general sessions:

Oh, wait a minute.  That was down the hall.  Or was it?

Lots of laughs, for sure, but also lots of learning.  Nonda Surratt hosting a general session:

Carol Akerlof sharing her knowledge about raising songbirds:

Many thanks to both presenters and attendees!  This small taste can’t really convey how special you all made this conference.

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