Lots to C.R.O.W about on Sanibel Island

Those of us who know Sanibel well, know that even on our small peaceful island, danger and death for wild life is part of the normal cycle.

Many of the island's creatures, such as sea turtles and several bird species, have very large numbers of offspring to ensure that some of them make it to maturity.  Predators in the sea and on land create the need for prolific reproduction.

But attacks do not always kill and the number of accidents that our sweet animals and birds encounter are not always caused by other wild life.  In some instances, they are caused by cars, some by careless fishing habits and in a few situations, there is no readily explainable cause for the injury.

The one thing that remains constant, however, is that when an injury does occur, we are not left wringing our hands in frustration.  Sanibel's Center for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, CROW is always there to help.

In just the last few months alone, heroic efforts were made to save a wide variety of creatures. 

There was the simply adorable bobcat kitten who was saved from the brush fire and nurtured by CROW. 

And the gray fox who had a bad leg wound , again rescued and rehabilitated.

Any number and variety of birds, such as pelicans,  have been pulled out of the sea with fishing line hooks creating such problems that they never would have survived in those situations.  Their conditions improved significantly as a result.

And, of course, the celebrity of rescues, Ozzie the American Eagle, found the greatest care at CROW.  It probably brought tears to a lot of eyes to see so magnificent a creature pulled back from the doors of death and then released into the wild again.  What a joy that was!

For those interested in where, when and how CROW does its magic , their website does provide updates on all their patients and there are daily details of happenings on their website as well.

We love all our neighbors on Sanibel, most especially those who are stewards of our land and our wild life.  Those are the most special of all.