By Carole Loftin
An opossum is hit by a car and killed. Inside her pouch, a dozen babies cling to life. A kind person comes along on their daily walk – you! You bravely check the opossum’s pouch and find her tiny babies. You want to help them survive – but how?
The AWARE Wildlife Center is here to help. AWARE is Atlanta’s only all-species wildlife rehabilitation hospital. We take in around 1400 patients each year: injured birds from tiny wrens to majestic owls, mammals like flying squirrels, rabbits, and raccoons. We help reptiles too, from snakes to snapping turtles.
Our team gives each patient a thorough examination and then delivers the medical care they need: wraps, splints, antibiotics, fluids, and nutritional support. We even provide cosmetic camouflage for broken turtle shells. Our goal is always to return wildlife to live their best wild life. Every patient that recovers well enough to survive in the wild is thoughtfully released.
AWARE also delivers wildlife educational programs
Coyote
Some patients recover their overall health but are not able to survive on their own. They become Wildlife Ambassadors and stay with us to teach folks about peaceful coexistence with our native wildlife. They join our volunteers and experienced handlers on educational programs all around Atlanta. We offer paid private programs for school groups, scout troops, assisted living facilities, and individuals. You can also visit us at 1pm every Saturday and Sunday for a free tour at the AWARE hospital near Arabia Mountain.
We have eight full and part-time staffers supervising a team of around 80 animal-care volunteers. The volunteers give food, medicine, and special care for each beautiful creature. Volunteers typically commit to a weekly four-hour shift. It’s a great opportunity to learn, bond, and get close to wildlife! We accept volunteers as young as 16 years old to do this important work.
Join AWARE at Trolley Barn on October 23 for annual fundraiser and online auction
Fox kit
AWARE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit relying on the public for 100% of our funding. To support our patients or inquire about becoming a volunteer, visit our website at www.awarewildlife.org. We are a 4-star charity on Charity Navigator with a 100% rating. Tickets to our annual Wild Night Out event are available now. Join us October 23 at the Trolley Barn in Inman Park for food, drinks, music, and wildlife encounters – all in a beautiful historic setting. In conjunction with the in-person event, we will also have an online auction, accessible from our website, featuring experiences and art including three beautiful stained-glass pieces created by Woodland Hills residents and artists Francine and Charlie Gebus.
So, if you find adorable, orphaned opossums, or other wild creatures that may need help, contact our Help Desk using the form on our website. The Help Desk will respond with whatever guidance you need, such as how to safely bring the animal to AWARE or how (or if!) to re-nest a baby bird. They can also give advice on how to safely coexist with wild animals living near your home — and more, depending on your need.
Groundhog
Finally, keep in mind our favorite tip: never throw food waste out of your car window! Food, even though biodegradable, brings insects and small animals to the side of the road. The insects and small animals draw larger predators like owls and foxes. Directly or indirectly, one scrap of food can attract an entire food chain to a roadside, endangering all of them. More than 60% of AWARE’s patients come to us because they or their parents were hit on a roadway. Help our wild neighbors by always taking food waste home to the compost or trash, and please share this tip with family and friends.
