Wildlife Refuge Center
Carries on Legacy of Founder
By Liz Mc Master
Photos by Liz McMaster
The wildlife in our region is an integral part of our daily lives, one we dearly treasure. From Bald Eagles, gulls, ducks and owls, to the small mammals, deer and elk that grace our green forests and meadows, wildlife is as much a part of living in the lower Columbia region as the landscape itself.
The Wildlife Center of the North Coast (WCNC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Astoria, Oregon. Their mission is the rescue and rehabilitation of injured, sick, orphaned and displaced native wildlife and releasing them back into their appropriate habitat. Joshua Saranpaa is the current licensed rehabber and Executive Director. Joshua began at the center working with founder Sharnelle Fee in 2010 as a high school intern.
Sharnelle Fee founded the WCNC in 1997 after moving from Portland to the coast, where she set up shop working tirelessly to specialize in seabird rehabilitation. Unfortunately, Sharnelle passed away in September of 2015. Her incredible passion for helping animals, conservation, and education continues to thrive and grow. The staff at the Center are still working hard to promote Sharnelle’s legacy of helping animals in need with compassion, respect and professionalism. “It’s a partnership with our community, the work we do. It truly takes a village.” Says Lindsey Nicolas, Development and Communications Coordinator at the Center.
“Our typical average number of animals received yearly is around 2,000. In 2016 we only had about 540 come through our doors, which was surprising. We’d heard that other rehab centers were down in numbers last year too, but it threw us for a loop. We wondered if it was a combination of environmental factors, migration changes, and that perhaps people thought after Sharnelle’s passing that we closed down? 96 percent of the patients we receive are birds, most of which are seabirds found beached or starving along the coast. We receive some mammals as well, typically baby bunnies and squirrels. We had a river otter in 2016, as well as two porcupines.”
“This year we will be working to expand our community outreach, attending events up and down the coast to talk about what we do and let people know we’re still around and how they can get involved. Long term plans include expanding our education programs for all ages – pre-school through grade 12 as well as adult. In five years we hope to be open to the public with an education center. In the meantime, we’re working to improve our enclosures and therapy pools in order to continue to provide the best quality care to our wildlife patients.” Lindsey explains.
The work is not easy, with calls coming in at all hours, recoveries in remote and rugged areas, and some patients needing round-the-clock care. It is also rewarding, and can be downright entertaining, if somewhat frustrating. For example, a recent Barred Owl patient figured out how to open its cage door, then subsequently set about “trashing the break room,” a situation that resulted in the necessity of a closed door policy with a note attached. Lindsey says “we are continually amazed at the intelligence and determination of the patients we care for. “Bald Eagles are also notorious for finding a weak spot in their enclosures and attempting escape.
The most important message to the community in the lower Columbia region is, “We want people to know we’re still here taking care of birds and mammals in need. We hope folks will call us when they find distressed wildlife needing help.” Says Lindsey. If you find an injured or ill bird or wild animal, call the Center at 503-338-0331.
For more information on how to get involved through membership, volunteering, donating or advocacy, visit our website at CoastWildlife.org
Follow them on Facebook and Instagram; look them up as Wildlife Center of the North Coast.
