As part of our continued stroll down Memory Lane, I found several articles written by Carleen Cote about students who have raised money for Duck Pond Wildlife Care Center. Here is one from August 4, 2001:

"On June 12, fourth graders from Windsor Elementary School, with teachers Julie Clark and Sheila Ready, visited the Center to see the young baby wildlife. They saw fawns, foxes, raccoons, a porcupine, squirrels, as well as the long -time residents - hawks, owls, and the adult deer.

Along with the excitement of seeing the young animals, they were extremely excited and proud to present me with a check for $350. The students had prepared posters depicting wildlife and made presentations to students about their posters. They challenged all grades to see which grade could raise the most money. Through the fundraiser, students increased their math skills by sorting and counting the coins and dollars that had been collected. They were very excited to tell me that they had raised the $350 in one week! This is the second year that Windsor Elementary School students selected our Center to be a recipient of their fundraiser - and their donation has gone a long way in providing food and medical care for the critters brought to the Center.

Winslow Junior High School's eighth grade students in Linda Voss' class also selected our Center to receive the money they had raised as part of a community service project. Each student selects an organization to donate their funds to and, for the third year, we have been the fortunate recipients, with more than $200 donated this year to help feed the wildlife.

As I reported in an earlier article, China Primary School students and Friends of China Schools also made a very generous donation to the Center. All of these students are to be commended for their unselfish donations and the hard work they do to raise funds, and for their thoughtfulness in selecting the wildlife at our Center to benefit from their efforts. Thank you, students! Your thoughtfulness will always be remembered and appreciated."

I'll be sharing more of Carleen's articles over the next few months as Don's health concerns prevent him from accepting or assessing any wildlife or phone inquiries right now. He has been working with Wilderness Miracles Rehab in Bowdoin (Kathi at 207-720-0074), Misfits Rehab in Auburn (Jen at 207-212-1039; she accepts bats and mice), Bridget Green in Wiscasset (207-631-0874), Critterville Wildlife in Brooklin (845-549-2407), and Saco River Wildlife (207-702-1405). Pam Meier at Mid-coast Maine is a turtle rehabber and can be reached at The Turtle's Back (203-903-2708). Please check these websites for a rehabber close to you: www.mainevetmed.org/wildlife-rehabilitation or www.maine.gov/ifw/fish-wildlife/wildlife/living-with-wildlife/orphaned-injured-wildlife/index.html In addition, you can contact your local Animal Control Officer through your town office. Phone messages and emails are not being monitored at this time.

-by Jayne Winters, Natural Resources Council of Maine member from South China, Maine

Critter Chatter also appears monthly in the Town Line newspaper