Sun
Herald, The (Biloxi, MS)
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March 20, 2004
Section: A
Page: 3
Wildlife rehab society wins recognition
WRANPS honored by Mississippi Wildlife
Federation
State group honors Pass-based nonprofit
THE SUN HERALD
Biloxi Sun Herald
Each day, volunteers around the state
working for the nonprofit Wildlife
Rehabilitation and Nature Preservation
Society field as many as 40 phone calls
seeking help for injured pelicans, hawks
or opossums. Some calls come in for
little things like gardening advice or
to report a suspicious noise in the
attic. |
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But often, the
call is a matter of life and death for a
victim of the narrowing gap between
neighborhoods and roadways and the few
remaining wildlands of the state.
That
involvement, as well as the intensive
outreach the group does with
schoolchildren and community groups,
earned it the Affiliate of the Year
honor from the Mississippi Wildlife
Federation.
The Mississippi
Wildlife Federation, the state's largest
and oldest wildlife rehabilitation
organization, is the state arm of the
National Wildlife Federation.
The recognition
was given for the group's "dedication to
preservation and education about our
precious wildlife," a recent MWF press
release said.
Formed in 1983
and based in Pass Christian, the
wildlife rehabilitation society has
active chapters in Jackson, Natchez and
Ocean Springs.
The
organization hopes to do more than just
respond to individual crises, but to
educate Mississippians how to better
live in harmony with wildlife.
"With each new
development, wildlife habitat is
destroyed," a news release from the
group said. "WRANPS knows that only
through education can we all learn to
live with wildlife and protect their
homes."
The group reached an estimated 30,000
people with its message last year and
aids an average of 2,000 animals per
year, according to the release.
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Copyright (c) 2004 The Sun Herald
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