SPENCERTOWN, N.Y. (WRGB) — A wildlife refuge in Columbia County is receiving much-welcomed money from New York State.
Lucky Rehabilitation Center with the help of Assemblywoman Didi Barrett has secured a $10,000 state grant to aid in its mission of caring for sick, injured, and orphaned animals with the goal of one day releasing them back into the wild.
“Most rehabilitation facilities are donor funded or privately funded, so this is a big step.” said director and founder Maria Geel. “We’re hoping this can open it up for more rehabs to reach out to the state and receive a little more help from the Department of Environmental Conservation.”
The facility, set on a picturesque, shaded property surrounded by woods, is home to birds, deer and even reptiles.
MORE: Local Eagle Scout’s project promotes town’s history
A current patient is a porcupine named Gandalf. She (yes, she) was found emaciated and injured on someone’s pool deck.
“We actually had to take out a stethoscope to see if she was still alive.” Geel said. “She is really an amazing comeback story because we didn’t think she was going to make it.”
Right now, volunteers at the center are the temporary caregivers of several orphaned fawns.
MORE: Keeping the beat at 90: Drummer chases world record
“Most of the fawns, their mothers were hit by cars,” said Geel. “These guys are still being bottle-fed, and some are still on medications. Once we don’t need to be working with them or handfeeding them, they will no longer be able to interact with people at all and they will be released into the wild and they do become wild deer.”
Geel says Lucky Rehabilitation Center is always accepting volunteers and if they choose to, will help someone work towards becoming a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
“I always try to tell people that there’s really no net loss in wildlife rehab.” Geel says. “Anything here that comes through our doors would not make it without any help.”