Saturday, March 19, 2005 |
Dan Deuel with a femal juvenile bald eagle. The victim of a gunshot wound, the young eagle was permanently grounded as a result of its injuries in 1995. For the past eight years, she has participated in Free Flight's outreach program.
Free Flight mission statement: In the spirit of world peace, Free Flight Bird and Marine Mammal Rehabilitation Ltd. is dedicated to the rehabilitation of injured and orphaned wildlife and to the education of the public, with an emphasis on conservation, preservation, responsibility and respect.
The private, non-profit wildlife clinic provides medical attention, as well as temporary homes and rehabilitation services to injured and orphaned birds, mammals and marine mammals.
Director Dan Deuel founded Free Flight at his home on Coquille Point in 1976 "to take care of a few oiled birds," and this season the facility celebrates its 27th year of service to the community and region.
Since its inception, the clinic has cared for thousands of animals, from bald eagles to bear cubs to harbor seals. The dedicated, volunteer staff is trained in rehabilitation techniques, with six staffers holding state and federal permits for these activities. Several veterinary hospitals located throughout Coos, Curry and Douglas counties provide their medical expertise, time and resources to help Free Flight return rehabilitated animals to the wild.
Deuel and the other volunteers focus on rehabilitating and reintroducing releasable animals into their natural habitats. Another of Free Flight's primary functions is to provide people with information about the natural history of our wild neighbors.
To promote education on animal behavior and habitat, Free Flight offers educational lectures and tours of the facility, introducing guests to its permanent residents, which have suffered injuries that prevent their release back into the wild. It also provides outreach programs at schools and in other venues. Tours and lectures are available by appointment and can be arranged by calling 347-3882.
Strict guidelines enforced by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service must be met before an apparently-injured animal can be rescued. Many that may appear to be injured are actually displaying normal behavior for their species.
Marine mammal pups should be left alone in their natural habitat, and not approached or moved. It is a violation of federal law to approach or disturb a marine mammal.
If an animal is suffering from an obviously human-induced trauma, such as a bullet wound, dog attack or boat strike, the observer should call the Oregon Stranding Network toll-free at (800) 452-7888.
Free Flight receives no local, state or federal funds, and relies solely on public support, making community involvement crucial. Work is under way on a project to fund and build a new Free Flight Wildlife Clinic, which would enable volunteers to continue to serve the emergency medical needs of wildlife with the highest quality care available.
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