Donna, You're right, it is a problem getting hold of someone during peak rehab season, and can be extremely frustrating for callers trying to find someone who can help. As I previously said, most rehabbers are home-based. With limited space and resources, they do fill up quickly. Also, some rehabbers do suffer from burn-out by mid-season, or are so overwhelmed, they dread hearing the phone ring. However, I do get annoyed when calls are never returned. I make the effort to return each and every call I get, and if I can't take the animal, I refer callers to other rehabbers. I do have an answering machine, as I cannot always pick up the phone every time it rings. I'm usually in the middle of feedings or working on an injured animal, and will not interrupt those to answer the phone. Sometimes, I'm out on a rescue. My outgoing message advises people on what to do, which if followed, can save many lives, and it has been appreciated by many. With more and more habitats being consumed by humans and new housing, human/wildlife conflicts also increase. And sadly, there just are not enough rehabbers around, especially those working with birds other than raptors and waterfowl, which are self-feeders. Songbird young require feedings every 15-30 minutes from sunrise to sunset. And this goes on from April til August/September. It is a huge committment of time and intense effort and one that not many are willing or able to do. We need many, many more good rehabbers to meet the ever-increasing demand for such services. Also keep in mind, that most rehabbers do this work voluntarily, without any salary or funding from any town, state or federal agency. On top of rehabbing, many work for income. Too often, there just aren't enough hours in the day. Many of us have no social lives, lose sleeptime and miss a lot of meals during peak season. So, it takes enormous committment and dedication along with a solid base of knowledge and skills to be a wildlife rehabilitator. Most of us do the very best we humanly can considering what we have to deal with. The CT Wildlife Hotline is an excellent resource for locating rehabbers and humane solutions for wildlife problems: (203) 389-4411. I can be contacted at (203) 637-9822 for wildlife calls, which is the best way to reach me. During peak rehab season, I don't check e-mails more than once a day and usually early morning. If any of you out there are interested, we can always use volunteers. Meredith Sampson Old Greenwich -- "Sunshine" <sunny19682@comcast.net> wrote: Part of the problem I have with this is that 9 times out of 10 it will take hours just to get a properly qualified person to call back - especially during peak times of the year and weekends. I can tell you of numerous times when making contact with someone met with success only after no less than 15 different calls to those listed on the DEP website, or complete failure because no one called back - whether it be that the person was unavailable, or unable to take in another critter due to the number already being cared for. It's awful when someone like me cares enough to know an animal/bird is sick or injured and in need of help and you are on the phone waiting knowing how every minute is critical. What do you do? Ignore it and carry on? Does this mean I put myself in danger? Absolutely not, but common sense should dictate. I've had situations requiring help from a "pro" and I've been faced with answering machine after answering machine or get passed from one phone number to the next with what I have felt were vital minutes clicking away. It's no fault of the rehabbers - but it is frustrating for the people who want to do the right thing in seeking the proper help. I agree with Carol - common sense despite the laws should dictate. I'm not casting stones to the rehabbers - bless you all for the hard work. If my life were better organized and not so nutty, I would take the courses myself because people always seem to call me for help because they know how much I love nature and all the beauties it offers and do my best to put the sick/injured back to where they rightfully belong - and as our population continues to explode and wildlife is forced to be in contact with humans in closer proximity than in the past, more an more wildlife issues will require many more 'qualified' people to help deal with them. Donna Lorello Branford _______________________________________________ This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For subscription information visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org _____________________________________________________________ Click to make millions by owning your own franchise. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2121/fc/Ioyw6i3m6eOu1XSyxRgd453lBVpmS86UO3Eu36ql5gRMbMnfO4pNmU/