Advice and Guidance

Raccoons in the attic or opossums under the deck? The expertise of the Wildlife Center is always available by phone or in person. In addition, most common questions and concerns are addressed under the "Need Help?" tab. In the case of unwanted wildlife in or around your home, it is best to speak to someone with Wildlife Rehab and Education before intervention since relocation can be a death sentence. The professionals at Wildlife Rehab and Education can often provide solutions that don’t require separating babies from their mother or trapping animals for relocation. Experienced volunteers are available at 713-861-WILD (713-861-9453), 7 days a week during ...

Education

The peaceful co-existence of humans and wildlife is an essential goal of the WR&E Wildlife Center. Humans are only one part of the planet. Humans must learn to work with Mother Nature and not against her. Interrupting the natural system causes more harm than good. When wildlife is removed from the environment it causes an unnatural result and often causes additional problems for a homeowner such as an overabundance of snakes, mice, rats and cockroaches. Environmental education and assistance is available by trained individuals for phone inquiries on a variety of questions relating to injured or orphan birds and mammals. It is not uncommon for ...

Our Programs

Wildlife Rehab and Education has interrelated three missions: Rehabilitation of orphaned and injured wildlife with the goal of release back into the wild in a physical condition that optimizes survival. Share our message of peaceful co-existence; respect for ourselves, each other and our environment; responsible stewardship of our environment and wildlife ecosystems through varied educational experiences. Oiled Wildlife Response allows us to educate industry in the prevention and effective response that will maximize the survival of affected wildlife. Our Oiled Wildlife Response team is available to respond to emergencies along the entire Gulf Coast. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="621" caption="A Place to Grow A Place to Heal ...

Meet our Education Ambassadors

The Great Horned Owl pictured here with his caretaker, Sharon Schmalz was Wildlife Rehab & Education’s oldest educational ambassador. He peacefully died in his sleep during November of 2008. His mesmerizing golden eyes were photographed by amateur and professional alike. The public usually responded to the eyes first, talons second then finally to his sheer presence. WR&E does not name our ambassadors out of respect for their wild nature. WR&E also feels bestowing a human name on a wild animal sends a mixed message to the children and adults attending our educational lectures where they are told that almost all wildlife ...

Rehabilitation

[caption id="attachment_911" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Nursing Beaver"][/caption] Wildlife rehabilitation is the care of injured or orphaned wild animals with the specific goal of returning them to their native habitat with an optimal chance of survival. This involves emergency care, long-term rehabilitation, conditioning for release and ultimately, release back into the wild. Wildlife rehabilitation is a humane and rewarding endeavor, which benefits both wildlife and people. Caring for individual animals, we gather information that is relevant to the entire species and gives us a better understanding of how these creatures relate to our world in its entirety. The state-of-the-art Wildlife Rehab and Education Centeris located ...

Oiled Wildlife

The WR&E Wildlife Center has a team of State and Federally permitted and experienced wildlife rehabilitators that can care for all species of birds and mammals including endangered species during an oil spill involving wildlife. The management team is OSHA certified and ICS trained. The trained staff is prepared to respond to oil spills involving wildlife 24-hours-a-day. Professionally trained managers handle a major oiled wildlife response that includes state and federal officials, regulatory agencies, local wildlife rehabilitators and local citizens. Personnel are available to set up an on-scene wildlife response facility, with the option of using the WR&E Wildlife Center. Wildlife Rehab & Education is ...

Presentations

WR&E offers a wide variety of experiences and presentations to enhance and promote community awareness of and respect for our wild heritage. On-site - Presentations at the WR&E Wildlife Center are encouraged. Our trained speakers and Education Ambassadors are available at the Wildlife Center to provide educational programs. To meet our Education Ambassadors click here. We have an educational tool named the "Peaceful Coexistence" house at the Wildlife Center that simulates several solutions to common ways wildlife gain access to buildings. The center also has a presentation room that can accommodate large groups (50+) as well as small. Please contact our education coordinator at Presentations@wrande.org to ...

Letter from the Director – Fall 2008

September 18, 2009 by cyndi
Filed under Letter from the Director

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Thank you!
Sharon Schmalz, Executive Director
The devastation that Ike wreaked is difficult to comprehend. Many animals and birds were displaced and injured, but because Ike struck at the beginning of the squirrel’s second litter of the year, that population has been hit the hardest. Hurricane Ike brought us over 1500 squirrels! During the three week period [...]

Tags: Education Ambassadors, flight cage, Flying Squirrel, Fox Squirrel, Galveston, Galveston County, Gray Squirrel, Harris County, Houston, Hurricane Ike, mammal, Oil Spill, Oiled Wildlife, raptor, water bird, wildlife

Hurricane Ike Squirrels

August 22, 2009 by cyndi
Filed under Squirrels, Wildlife Rescue

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WR&E Rises to the Challenge – with a little help from our friends!

The Wildlife Center was spic and span for our Annual Open House when all eyes shifted to the Gulf and Hurricane Ike. Any Gulf Coast hurricane makes rehabilitators anxious, but Ike seemed determined to follow in Rita’s footsteps. Executive Director, Sharon [...]

Tags: Flying Squirrel, Gray Squirrel

Squirrels, Squirrels Everywhere Squirrels

August 20, 2009 by cyndi
Filed under General, Species Article, Squirrels

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By Cyndi Bohannon

Squirrelly –adjective; eccentric, cunningly unforthcoming, reticent, odd, crazy, unpredictable, jumpy, restless or nervous…….a pretty unflattering description all things considered. However, the adjective actually describes behaviors that with respect to evolution are extremely advanced.

The squirrel’s bizarre zigzag / double back flight from danger seems random and indecisive, but is brilliant in light of [...]

Tags: Fox Squirrel, Gray Squirrel, mammal, squirrel, wildlife