Nassau sanctuary a haven for orphaned, ill, injured wildlife


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HILLIARD, Fla. (AP) — Jonathan Howard was once an avid hunter.

Nowadays, when he and his wife Mendy climb into bed, a 3-week-old orphan fawn named Crystal climbs in with them.

Crystal is but one of about 60 animals that Howard, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, and his wife care for on their property in rural Nassau County. A total of 200 animals have been in residence at one time or another so far this year.

"I'm in remission," Howard said, with a laugh, of his hunting days. "I'm atoning for my sins."

His atonement is called the Ark Wildlife Care and Sanctuary, a nonprofit that provides care, treatment and shelter to orphaned, surrendered and/or injured wildlife. The goal is to eventually release the animals into their native habitat, once the babies are old enough and the ill or injured animals are recovered enough to make it on their own.

The Ark also is a lifetime haven for animals that cannot be returned to the wild, such as Hank, the raccoon with no eyes, and Squiggy, the squirrel with a food allergy and teeth that line up improperly.

Howard, 50, a full-time training specialist at the Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center in Hilliard, is the primary caretaker, with support from Mendy, a mail carrier, and a band of friends and volunteers.

"I couldn't do it without my wife," he said. "She is wonderful."

A battle with kidney cancer in 2009 — and a fawn arriving in his front yard two years later — led Howard to wildlife rehabilitation.

The health crisis, he said, "changed my outlook on life." During his research on what to do with the orphaned fawn, he found there was a need in the area for more havens for wild animals in need.

He connected with a wildlife rehabilitator in Orange Park, who allowed him to foster the fawn under her supervision. Howard said that first fawn "became part of the family" until returning to the wild, and he went on to care for other animals.

He then went out on his own.

Howard became a wildlife rehabilitator in 2013.

The Ark was incorporated and received a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission permit in 2014. The state requirements are at least 1,000 hours of experience or at least an 80 percent grade on a written examination, followed by a site inspection.

Howard said he had the required experience, but also took the test and provided references, just to cover all his bases. He scored 100 on the test, he said.

"Individuals who possess wildlife in Florida must be licensed and meet all safe housing and humane treatment standards," said Rob Klepper, spokesman for the commission's Law Enforcement Division. "When all is in order, the FWC issues a permit."

The initial permit was renewed in January, according to commission records.

The Ark was welcomed by Nassau County Animal Services, said agency spokeswoman Ruth Killmeyer.

"We send people all the time for help. Since we can't capture or help wildlife, we always refer citizens to them," she said. "They seem to do a great job."

Animals are brought to the Ark by people who find them injured or had them as pets and no longer can handle them and from fellow rehabilitators.

The sanctuary cannot — or will not — accept a few animals.

No birds, because they require a special permit the sanctuary does not have, and no coyotes.

"We don't do coyotes," Howard said. "There are too many of them."

Some arrivals are easy fixes. Others are not.

Major medical care is provided by volunteer veterinarians Michael Payne in Callahan and Alicia Emerson in Port Orange. The sanctuary has a small but fully equipped triage building for surgery and other procedures.

But Howard has become well-versed in animal diseases, their symptoms and how to treat them, as well as the recommended diets and other care. He delivers tender, loving care when necessary.

He is now using his lunch break to come home and feed a baby squirrel and baby rabbit who are just a few weeks old and need to be fed every four hours or so. And he's been known to sleep on the floor comforting an ill fawn.

"If they've got the will to live, I'll do everything I can to help them," he said.

Running a wildlife sanctuary is tough and time consuming, said Don Musser, a longtime Howard friend who also works at the traffic control center and is an Ark officer and volunteer. He said Howard's last vacation was likely in 2009, when he was in the Keys, became ill and later was diagnosed with cancer.

The worst days at the Ark, he and Howard said, are when the last resort is necessary: an animal cannot recover from an injury or illness and has to be euthanized. The ones they can save — the ones who leave after being nursed back to health or growing up, and the ones that stay — keep them going.

"That makes everything worth it," Musser said.

"There is no feeling like it . It's good for the soul," he said. "There is nothing more rewarding."

As Howard and Musser approached, fawns excitedly gathered on the other side of a wooden gate that opens up to Howard's backyard deer enclosure.

They knew it was feeding time.

Howard placed four baby bottles full of deer milk in a self-serve holder and four fawns immediately started drinking. He held bottles upside down for two other fawns to drink and placed another bottle between his legs for a third fawn.

They clearly viewed Howard as their mother.

With some sanctuary animals, however, such interaction up close and personal may or may not be wise.

For instance, Hank, the raccoon with no eyes, can be lovable but also can be moody.

"Sometimes he has an attitude," Howard said. "Some days you couldn't pay me to get in there with him."

___

Information from: The (Jacksonville) Florida Times-Union, http://www.jacksonville.com

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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