Year End Update and Fundraising Appeal

At the beginning of December, we launched our 2016 Year End Appeal with a goal of $40,000. As of now, we are OVER HALF WAY THERE with just under $24,000 in donations ! If you have given, THANK YOU. If you haven't, please consider a gift in any amount. There is still time to make your tax-deductible contribution for 2016.

You can make a donation online via credit card or PayPal, mail us a check, or visit the Wildlife Clinic and make an on site donation. Our goal is to begin the New Year in the BLACK.

Here again is our December 2016 Newsletter, in case you missed it.

Once again, 2016 was a record-breaking year. We took care of more than 5,000 injured and orphaned wild animals, up from 4,000 in 2015. To meet the increased need, we worked even harder than ever. We added volunteers, extended the hours of the Wildlife Clinic, launched a new website, and expanded our fundraising efforts. In most cases, we were able to give all the animals everything they needed.

The exception came with this North American river otter cub.

The otter cub was rescued in Rhode Island and transferred to another state, one with a facility for raising and rehabilitating this species.

North American river otters are semi-aquatic mammals with A LOT of energy. He needed otter playmates in order to mature properly.

Photo credit: Traer Scott

Even now, when things usually calm down, we are still busy.

For example, we took in this Great Horned owl that was entangled in netting around a baseball field in Middletown.

The owl was found lying on the ground, exhausted in the pouring rain. Fortunately, he survived the ordeal without serious injury.

He was treated for swelling in one of his shoulders with anti-inflammatory and pain medicine, and rest.

Photo credit: Ryan Healey

This black-bellied plover is another recent arrival.

The plover was found on Block Island with an injured wing and took the ferry to get to the Wildlife Clinic in Saunderstown, RI. He will likely spend the winter months with us.

Going forward, we expect next year to be even busier. For one thing, more people know about WRARI. For another, as development in Rhode Island continues, so will the number of animals that need our help. Human activity is the single greatest threat to wildlife across the state. Given the increasing need, our challenge in 2017 and beyond is to continue to grow the organization, which means raising more funds. Unfortunately, there are relatively few foundations and granting organizations in Rhode Island that support the care of wild animals, especially when compared to domestic ones. As such, we will continue to focus on individual donors like YOU.

As of today, we have raised 91% of the money we need to pay for this year 2016. We are asking for your continued support with a tax-deductible gift in any amount to help us raise meet our goal and start the New Year with money in the bank. Thank you for your past and future support. Working together we can save Rhode Island's wildlife. Happy Holidays from all of us at WRARI.