Author: Christina Tsirkas

Posted on

Building new pathways for students with dyslexia

For many students with dyslexia, the hardest part of school isn’t reading—it’s believing they can succeed.

“They struggle with confidence,” says Dr. Irene Arshad, founder of Wise Owl Tutoring. “They’re terrified of being called on to read out loud because they know they’re going to struggle, and that embarrassment can stay with them.”

Dyslexia is a learning disability that affects how the brain processes written language, making reading, spelling, and writing more difficult. It’s not related to intelligence. “It’s a language processing and sequencing issue,” explains Arshad. “It’s not that they can’t read. It’s that they’re not processing it. They’re not remembering it.”

According to Arshad, dyslexia is more common than many parents realize. She often identifies signs of the learning disability within minutes of meeting a new student—including adults who were never diagnosed as children.

Some early warning signs include difficulty remembering the alphabet, confusing similar letters, avoiding reading or writing, and struggling to recall events in the order they happened. Younger children may also have trouble with fine motor skills, such as tying their shoes.

In the classroom, those challenges often extend far beyond reading.

“I have students that, when they come to me, have never passed any required state exams or college entrance exams,” Arshad says. “They’re required to pass these tests to graduate, and that becomes incredibly discouraging.”

As an educator with a Ph.D. in educational technology, Arshad has spent years studying not only how students learn, but how technology can help them learn differently.

The first step is evidence-based reading intervention. Certified in both the Orton-Gillingham and Wilson reading intervention methods, Arshad focuses first on building foundational reading skills before introducing engaging learning activities. She compares the process to traveling to the grocery store.

“For most people, there’s one straight road to get where they’re going,” Arshad says. “For students with dyslexia, that road is closed. Reading intervention builds a new road—a new neural pathway—so they can still reach the same destination.”

That concept is rooted in neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to form new connections through learning and practice.

To strengthen those new pathways, Arshad combines reading intervention with technology she designs herself. One of her most popular creations is an Alice in Wonderland–themed digital escape room that transforms reading practice into an interactive adventure.

“We have so many learning platforms out there, but nothing really caters to students with dyslexia,” she says.

Students advance through colorful animated scenes by answering reading questions correctly and unlocking new levels. Along the way, built-in accessibility features—including dyslexia-friendly fonts, animated line readers, syllable breakdown tools, and digital annotation features—allow students to interact with text in ways that support how their brains process language.

The games continue to evolve with student feedback. In fact, the Alice in Wonderland theme came from one teenager who said it was her favorite story.

That same student had never passed a standardized test and was at risk of not graduating high school. After receiving reading intervention and working through the interactive lessons, she not only passed her required exam, but went on to excel on additional college entrance tests.

“She looked at me and said, ‘This is actually so easy. I just didn’t know how. Now my brain has a structure,’” Arshad recalls.

For Arshad, technology isn’t replacing great teaching—it’s amplifying it. By combining research-backed reading intervention with thoughtfully designed digital learning experiences, she’s helping students discover that dyslexia isn’t a limitation. Sometimes, all they need is a different path to learning.

For more information, visit wiseowltutoring.org.

Posted on

Just may be the ‘Lunatics’ you’re looking for…

Billy Joel famously sings, “It just may be a lunatic you’re looking for.” Well, if you’re looking for a talented rock band that covers classics from the ’70s through the ’90s—one that does an incredible rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain”—it’s The Lunatics you’re looking for. And yes, they perform Billy Joel’s “You May Be Right” with a cheeky lyric substitution reminding audiences of that.

The Lunatics are composed of four pillars of solid talent: lead singer “Jess,” drummer “Marlee,” bassist David Carrey, and guitarist Anthony Angelone.

The group was originally formed by sisters Jess and Marlee, who’ve had a passion for performance and rock music since they were kids. “Both of us have been listening to rock music our entire lives, and that’s been a passion of ours. We’ve always wanted to do this,” says Jess of starting a band. “We really enjoy that type of music, so we got into playing it,” adds Marlee.

Marlee and Jess met Carrey and Angelone through Pro Jam nights at Cheers Restaurant and Bar in Fort Lauderdale and Pipers Pub in Pompano Beach. “Pro Jams are events where you can get up and play with professional musicians. You just sign up, almost like karaoke,” explains Jess, who used to sign up as a vocalist. “It’s a great opportunity to meet other local musicians.”

“A lot of times the people who sign up for these jam nights are looking for other musicians to form a band,” adds Marlee.

“Dave was the house bassist at Cheers, and we went to Cheers multiple weeks in a row and we ended up forming the band with him,” recalls Jess. “And then we met Anthony at the Pipers Pro Jam.”

The band’s name also came together naturally. Jess and Marlee were drawn to the word “Luna,” while bassist Carrey—better known onstage as “Crazy Dave”—inspired the other half. Together, they landed on The Lunatics. Today, each member embraces the nickname onstage, becoming Crazy Jess, Crazy Marlee, Crazy Dave, and Crazy Anthony.

Between them, these four musicians have plenty of talent and experience under their belts. Jess, who has a classical background, has been singing since she was 6 years old. She has performed with the Miami Ballet and sung backup vocals for Josh Groban. “I was previously a classical vocalist and switched over to rock so I could form a band with Marlee,” says Jess.

Marlee has been playing drums since she was 9, and she’s well known in the local music scene for her timing and groove. “Some of her fans call her ‘Pocket’ for that reason,” says Jess.

Dave is a veteran musician in South Florida and has toured the country with successful tribute bands. Anthony is also well known in the local music scene, having played in many tribute and cover bands.

Once the lineup was complete, the band’s first performance was a showcase at Cheers. “They have a band that they feature for a 30- to 45-minute set,” explains Jess. “We did that first. That was our coming out.”

Since that showcase, the band has seen plenty of positive momentum.

They’ve only been together for one year, and in that time they’ve built a seven-hour set list that includes hits from artists like Tom Petty, The Beatles, The Police, No Doubt, Paramore, 3 Doors Down, Rush, Prince, Heart, Bruno Mars, Black Sabbath, Linkin Park, Evanescence, and Fleetwood Mac.

“In the majority of our songs, we have three-part harmonies going, and all four of us sing full backup vocals and leads. We like to switch off,” says Jess. Marlee drums and sings lead on Aretha Franklin. Dave takes the lead on artists like Cake, Sublime, and 3 Doors Down.

“You get a much richer sound when you have multiple members harmonizing on everything,” says Jess.

One thing that makes the group unique is some of their song selections. “There’s some unexpected choices that the crowd might be excited to hear,” says Marlee. Some of those include “Rapture” by Blondie, “Never There” by Cake, “Psycho Killer” by Duran Duran, and “The Ocean” by Led Zeppelin.

They’ve also become regulars at diverse venues, from Cafe 27 in Weston to Throw Social in Delray Beach, as well as Marina 84, Cheers, Margaritaville Restaurant, and the Hollywood Bandshell. “We’ve played a lot of amazing venues that we feel lucky to be at,” says Jess. The Bandshell is a favorite of the group. “That’s when we get to just let it rip. We can bring all our passion and our energy.”

The group is strategic about choosing songs for different venues. At Cheers, they lean more toward classic rock. For biker bars, they turn up the harder rock. At Throw Social, they cater to a younger audience with more modern music and a stronger pop influence rather than a purely rock set.

Their performances deliver plenty of skill and energy. At a recent performance at Cheers, Marlee—who is only 18 years old—nailed the opening drum solo to Van Halen’s “Hot for Teacher.” Lead singer Jess delivered powerful vocals with impressive range. Bass player Dave never stopped moving and even launched into a spontaneous high kick during Paramore’s “Misery Business.”

At just one year together, The Lunatics are already making a name for themselves on South Florida stages, and it’s easy to imagine their live performances becoming even more engaging as they continue to grow together.

The Lunatics’ upcoming performances include Thursday, Aug. 6, at Cafe 27 in Weston; Friday, Aug. 7, at Skipper’s Cove in Fort Pierce; and Friday, Aug. 21, at O’Shea’s Irish Pub in West Palm Beach. For more information, visit Facebook and search for The Lunatics.

Posted on

New museum takes visitors into the world of jellyfish

The Jellyfish Museum is the first of its kind in the U.S.—a museum dedicated solely to showcasing the world of jellyfish, with more than 20 species from seas and oceans around the world on display.

The museum was founded by Yana Yanovska and Alex Yanovskyi and is their second museum dedicated to jellyfish. They established the first in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital city, in 2018. When the Russian-Ukraine War forced them out, they recreated their dream in Pompano Beach.

Walking into the museum is an experience in itself. Between the dark walls and colored lighting, the entryway feels like it’s leading you into a nightclub. But once inside, the glowing displays and immersive light projections will have you feeling like you’re in an ethereal underwater wonderland.

There are 21 tanks on the main level of the museum, illuminated by neon-esque shades of pink and turquoise. “Some of the jellyfish are so clear, you can’t see them, so we have to put lighting behind them,” explains Jessica Eisenbarth, community relations manager.

While the showcasing of these unusual creatures is stunning—there’s even a heart-shaped tank filled with moon jellyfish that has a hole in the middle where you can stick your head for a photo surrounded by jellyfish—the tanks require careful, 24-7 monitoring to ensure that the jellyfish survive. “The currents in their tanks, the water pH, and salinity all have to mirror their ocean environment,” explains Eisenbarth.

The Jellyfish Museum offers a meditative experience if you let it. One of the rooms is outfitted with bean bag chairs where you can sit and observe the jellyfish, a surprisingly relaxing experience. They have a slow, fluid way of moving, similar to the colored blobs in a lava lamp, only much more fascinating. “We want people to slow down,” says Eisenbarth. “There’s a calmness and an immersive experience that we hope everyone feels when they’re here.”

There’s also a lot to learn about jellyfish, both through watching them and through the educational and scientific displays the museum offers. “They have no brain, eyes, or central nervous system,” says Eisenbarth. And while most people associate them with being underwater nuisances that sting, jellyfish have a significant impact on the environment. “When you find large blooms of jellyfish, it’s actually an indicator that there’s changes in the ecosystem like water temperatures rising and lower oxygen levels,” explains Eisenbarth. “When you find it, it’s very important for scientists to take a look at why it’s happening.”

Because jellyfish have short lifespans of between 3 months and 1 year, depending on the species, the museum updates the ones on display every few months. When jellyfish first arrive at the museum, they go into quarantine in the laboratory on the second floor. Some, like the Japanese Sea Nettle, have been flown in from the far reaches of the Pacific.

One of the newest additions to the museum is the Fried Egg Jellyfish (aptly named, as it resembles a fried egg), which spent about a month in quarantine before going on display. These unique creatures are primarily found in the Mediterranean, Adriatic, and Aegean seas.

Also on display right now are the Upside Down Jellyfish, which are found in South Florida. These creatures spend most of their time on their back (hence the name). They need ultraviolet (UV) light to survive because they have an algae that grows inside of them, and the jellyfish need the algae to survive. This partnership works through mutualistic symbiosis, where both organisms thrive together. The algae provide almost all of the jellyfish’s nutritional needs, which is why they rest upside down to soak up the sun. At night, the team turns down the UV lights to mimic the natural rhythm of nature. These jellyfish are a favorite meal for sea turtles, which can eat their weight in jellyfish on a daily basis.

While a stunning visual display, the museum’s primary focus is education, especially for school groups. “We work very hard to make this an educational facility so that you learn about the biology, the anatomy, how they affect our oceans, how they affect us, and how they contribute to science,” says Eisenbarth. She emphasizes that while jellyfish are over 500 million years old and have survived four mass extinctions, we still don’t know that much about them.

The museum is working with scientists from the Smithsonian to help generate a curriculum that can be distributed to teachers after school-group visits. It also collaborates with researchers. One of those researchers is biochemist Dr. Angel Yanagihara, who developed “Sting No More,” a patented zinc gluconate–based formula that neutralizes box-jellyfish venom. “It works on all jellyfish stings that have been tested,” says Eisenbarth. The museum plans on carrying this jellyfish-sting antidote in its gift shop. “It works on fire-ant stings as well,” she adds.

Since opening in late March, the Jellyfish Museum has welcomed plenty of visitors and plans on expanding its reach through new social events, including magic shows, romantic evenings, and wellness events, such as sound healing. The 20,000-square-foot space is also available for private events.

The Jellyfish Museum is open seven days a week between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. It offers discounted admission for Florida residents, senior citizens, children, active-duty military and veterans, first responders, medical personnel, and educators.

For more information, visit www.jellyfish-museum.com.

Posted on

Rescued baby boar finds new, not-so-wild life in Coconut Creek

To say Tina had a rough start to life is an understatement. Before she even entered the world, she lost her entire family.

When a group of men went out hunting, they killed several wild boars, including a pregnant female. Miraculously, Tina was the only piglet to survive, but her troubles were far from over. The men sold Tina for drugs to an individual who practiced Santería—a religion that sometimes includes ritual animal sacrifice.

But when Tina wandered into the neighbor’s yard, her life took a turn for the better. The neighbor, who saw that Tina’s umbilical cord was still attached, called the Broward Sheriff’s Office. At just 2 days old and weighing less than 1 pound, Tina was picked up and taken to the Lucky Horse Sanctuary in Coconut Creek, a therapeutic farm where rescued animals rescue people.

“Her story is nothing short of miraculous,” says Dr. Blair Barone, founder of the Lucky Horse Sanctuary and a licensed clinical psychologist. “We’re so grateful her story didn’t end the way it could have.”

Tina’s arrival at the sanctuary marked the beginning of an entirely new life.

Before permanently relocating to the sanctuary, Tina spent a month living with a friend of Barone’s—a time during which she came to identify more with being a human than a boar. “I have videos of them lying in the sun together, on the recliner. It’s hilarious,” recalls Barone. “She really thinks she’s human.”

Far from the wild, Tina is now house-trained and accustomed to riding in cars. She even has her own wardrobe, complete with dresses and swimsuits. But more importantly, Tina found a new career.

“Tina is the therapist no one saw coming,” says Barone. “The clients are crazy about her. We take her everywhere. And it’s turned out to be amazing.”

At the Lucky Horse Sanctuary, rescued animals help guide individuals suffering from traumatic mental health symptoms and disorders through the journey of recovery, healing, and acceptance.

“Tina is amazing with the clients. Just incredible. We take her to hospitals,” enthuses Barone, who has found deeper meaning in Tina’s connection with those in animal therapy. “People can identify with her. Like the wild boar in the Chinese zodiac, many of our clients embody wisdom gained through experience, resilience through hardship, and the ability to keep moving forward despite life’s challenges. The boar symbolizes strength, perseverance, and ultimately enjoying the rewards of hard work—a beautiful reflection of the healing journeys we witness every day here at the Lucky Horse Sanctuary.”

Next up for Tina is a talk button—a form of animal training that teaches animals to communicate by pressing recordable buttons programmed with words. When the animal presses a button with their paw or nose, it plays a human word, allowing them to express requests, needs, or feelings.

“Pigs are really good with it,” says Barone.

For more information, visit theluckyhorsesanctuary.org.

Posted on

Meet the all-female band rocking South Florida

When Astrid Voxx was a kid, she wanted to play the drums. But she was told, “Girls don’t play the drums.” Today, not only does she play the drums, she also leads an all-female rock tribute band that proves women can do much more than just keep time—they can own the stage.

For Voxx, one of the biggest thrills still happens before a show.

“When I come in hauling the drums, and the men see me, they’re like, who’s that for?” says Voxx. But once the entire band has assembled, realization dawns. “Then they realize we’re not the girlfriends, we’re the band. For me, that’s a thrill. I love it.”

The Bango Bango’s was formed in 2016 with a mission that remains at the heart of the group today: celebrating women in rock music. Named after two of the most iconic all-female bands of all time, the Bangles and the Go-Go’s, the group was inspired by a Go-Go’s concert attended by Voxx’s daughter, Alexi.

After the show, Alexi was so excited that Voxx asked if she would ever want to be part of something similar. She said yes. Voxx began building the band, fulfilling a lifelong dream in the process. After turning 21, Alexi Go-Go officially joined the group.

Today, the Bango Bango’s features drummer Voxx, lead singer Go-Go, guitarist Lana Wise, and bassist Lenore Goldman. Together, they bring decades of musical experience and a diverse range of talents to the stage.

Voxx also plays guitar, has been singing since she was 5 years old, and toured with Jimmy Buffett. Wise is a sound technician who also plays piano and violin. Goldman began playing piano and drums in fourth grade before eventually picking up the bass.

Offstage, the women have developed a bond that feels more like family than coworkers. “They’re the sisters I never wanted,” jokes Wise. That camaraderie translates into an energetic stage presence that has become one of the band’s trademarks.

The Bango Bango’s perform an 80-song repertoire spanning female rock hits from the 1960s to today. While Go-Go serves as the primary lead vocalist, each member takes center stage throughout the performance, allowing audiences to experience the full range of talent within the group.

Voxx’s expressive vocals shine through songs by Tina Turner, Four Non Blondes, the Cranberries, Sheryl Crow, and Fleetwood Mac. Go-Go takes the lead on favorites by No Doubt, the Go-Go’s, the B-52s, and Cyndi Lauper. Wise’s powerful, rock-forward voice is featured on songs by Pink, Joan Jett, Carrie Underwood, Avril Lavigne, and the Bangles. Goldman leads a crowd-pleasing rendition of Nancy Sinatra’s classic “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’.”

The result is a high-energy show that pays tribute to generations of female artists while keeping audiences singing and dancing from start to finish.

“We always have fun,” says Voxx, a statement that becomes obvious within minutes of watching the band perform.

“No matter how tired or sick we may be, when we get up on that stage, it all goes away and we manage to have fun,” adds Go-Go.

Part of that fun comes from the band’s willingness to bring the show directly to the audience. Thanks to wireless equipment, members often leave the stage mid-song and weave through the crowd, instruments in hand, turning spectators into participants.

Their engaging performances have landed them at a wide variety of venues, including country clubs, bars, theaters, festivals, and community events throughout Florida. The band currently performs between four and six shows each month and has appeared at the Wellington Amphitheater, the Miami-Dade Youth Fair, Galuppi’s, the Ritz Theater in Sanford, and Marina 84 in Fort Lauderdale.

“Marina 84 is one of the first venues that saw our potential,” says Voxx. “They gave us a shot, and we proved that we can do it.”

As one of the few all-female bands in the region, the Bango Bango’s have also been invited to perform at events that carry a deeper sense of purpose, including a fundraiser for Leap for Ladies, a Miami-based nonprofit dedicated to helping incarcerated women rebuild their lives.

“It was very emotional listening to their speeches,” says Go-Go. “We got to listen to all the women talk about how their lives were changed for the better.” Those experiences—ranging from packed bars and festivals to meaningful community events—reflect the band’s wide-ranging spirit both on and off stage.

Their unofficial motto, coined by Goldman, perfectly captures the energy of the band: “Any excuse for a party.”

Whether they’re performing during the NBA Finals, the World Cup, Father’s Day, a birthday celebration, or a holiday weekend, the Bango Bango’s find a way to turn every event into a celebration.

For Voxx, however, the band’s mission extends beyond entertainment. “Having an all-female band is very dear to my heart,” she says. “There’s not too many of us.”

“I’ve seen a few other all-female bands, but we’re the only ones who pay tribute to women in music,” says Wise. “Our primary focus is women in rock.”

“It’s a platform for women to hear their voices, and to know that little girls can play instruments,” says Voxx. “And be rock stars,” adds Go-Go.

The group takes particular pride in the example it sets for younger audiences.

“We’re role models,” says Voxx. “When we play up in Wellington, it’s a thrill for all of us to see the little girls wide-eyed actually seeing we’re playing instruments.”

“For me, the most touching part is when I see little boys enjoying our performance,” says Go-Go. “It teaches boys to be respectful and recognize that women can do everything they can do.”

Behind the scenes, the band members credit much of their success to the support systems that make their busy schedules possible.

“We’re very lucky that we have very supportive spouses,” says Voxx of herself, Wise, and Goldman. “That’s very important and makes or breaks a band.”

Wise’s husband, who is also a musician, serves as the band’s sound technician and is a familiar face at performances, cheering them on while capturing photos and videos.

Looking ahead, Voxx is writing original material she hopes to eventually incorporate into the band’s performances. The group would also like to expand into larger venues and new markets, including Orlando and Florida’s west coast. Still, Voxx believes the tribute aspect of the band remains essential.

“As a fan, as an audience member, I always wanted to see this,” says Voxx. “Female musicians doing a tribute to our voices and our inspirations.”

The Bango Bango’s upcoming shows include July 11 at Luv’n Oven in Sunrise, July 1 at Packy’s Sports Pub in Lighthouse Point, and July 31 at Marina 84 in Fort Lauderdale. For more information, visit thebangobangos.com.

Posted on

Boca Raton breaks record for leatherback sea turtle nests

Boca Raton is experiencing a record-breaking sea turtle season, with leatherback sea turtle nests already surpassing previous highs along the city’s 5-mile stretch of beaches. According to Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, the milestone is a promising sign for one of Florida’s rarest and most-fragile nesting sea turtle species.

“As of May 6, we already have 40 leatherback nests,” Gumbo Limbo Nature Center said in an interview about this year’s nesting season. The previous Boca Raton record stood at 33 nests, making this season a significant leap forward.

The increase mirrors a larger statewide trend. Florida recorded 2,022 sea turtle nests in 2025, another all-time high. Scientists believe the growing numbers likely point to a gradual increase in the endangered species’ population after decades of conservation work.

Leatherback nesting season typically peaks in April and May, though nests can continue appearing into June. The latest leatherback nest documented in Boca Raton was recorded on July 7, 2012, meaning that this year’s record is likely to continue climbing in the coming weeks.

The achievement carries added importance because leatherbacks remain far less common than loggerhead and green sea turtles. “Record-breaking nest numbers is an indicator that conservation efforts across South Florida may be helping leatherback populations grow,” Gumbo Limbo explained.

Researchers say that several factors likely are contributing to the encouraging trend, including stronger protections for nesting beaches, reduced poaching and harvesting, safer fishing practices, and growing public awareness about sea turtle conservation.

One of the most encouraging developments, according to Gumbo Limbo staff, has been increased community involvement. “The people we encounter on the beach and at the nature center are genuinely interested in what we do and ask how they can help,” the organization said. “The children who grow up learning about sea turtles today are becoming the future scientists, advocates, and environmentally conscious community members who will help protect these populations for years to come.”

Protecting nests on Boca Raton’s busy beaches requires daily attention. Every nest is marked with orange stakes, tape, and signage to prevent accidental damage from beachgoers, umbrellas, or authorized beach vehicles. Staff members monitor each nest throughout incubation and take additional measures when necessary, including predator deterrents and protective mesh screens.

“We monitor each nest during the entire incubation period and protect them from predators or other disturbances,” Gumbo Limbo said. “Each and every nest is given so much attention to ensure success.”

Technology has also improved conservation efforts in recent years. Satellite tracking, GPS mapping, flipper tags, and advances in rehabilitation medicine now allow scientists to better understand migration routes, identify danger zones, and improve survival rates for injured turtles.

Despite the progress, challenges remain. Coastal development, boat strikes, plastic pollution, and climate change continue to threaten sea turtle populations. Still, conservationists say the growing level of public support gives them hope.

“Every action, no matter how small, can make a meaningful impact when it comes to sea turtle conservation,” Gumbo Limbo said. “Something as simple as turning off beachfront lights, picking up trash, filling in holes on the beach, or reducing single-use plastics can directly help protect sea turtles and their habitat. Conservation is most successful when communities come together, and every person can play a role in helping ensure sea turtles continue to thrive for future generations.”

Posted on

From rescue to release: The work of Busch Wildlife Sanctuary

For more than 40 years, Busch Wildlife Sanctuary has been a leading voice in wildlife rehabilitation, conservation, and education. Set on 20 acres in Jupiter, the sanctuary features a state-of-the-art animal hospital and rehabilitation center and is home to approximately 150 native wildlife species, including otters, black bears, bobcats, foxes, cougars, and pelicans.

Each year, the hospital treats around 5,000 patients, and it’s equipped to handle complex cases with a computed tomography machine, blood diagnostic equipment, a laboratory, and a surgical suite. Busch Wildlife has a full-time veterinarian on staff, along with two rotating veterinary interns and a network of experienced veterinarians who generously donate their time.

That network can make all the difference. When Grayson, one of the sanctuary’s resident foxes, was diagnosed with a thyroid tumor and needed surgery, the staff veterinarian estimated the complicated procedure would take two hours. “We have a veterinarian in the area who is a retired orthopedic veterinary surgeon, so we reached out to him. He came over and had it done in 15 minutes,” recalls Amy Kight, CEO of Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, who is celebrating 22 years with the organization.

Busch Wildlife can only accept and treat native wildlife species, which presents a unique challenge in Florida, where invasive species such as iguanas, pythons, and Muscovy ducks are widespread. Kight estimates that 10% to 15% of the cases brought in are invasive species that the sanctuary cannot treat, though staff always provide referrals rather than turning people away.

Of the native species admitted, about 30% can be successfully rehabilitated and released back into the wild. For animals that recover but cannot be released and are deemed suitable for captivity, the sanctuary follows a thoughtful and collaborative placement process.

“We have a joint committee of animal welfare and animal placement where, each month, our veterinarian, our head of animal care, our education director, and other key staff sit down and go through the list to figure out a placement.” In some cases, animals are placed with other organizations. Disney’s Animal Kingdom, for example, has taken in raptors, opossums, and snakes for its education program.

This time of year—baby season—brings a surge in activity. The sanctuary often takes in about 50 new patients per day and fields calls from concerned residents who encounter baby birds, squirrels, opossums, and other wildlife in their neighborhoods.

“It’s a lot of chaos and education,” says Kight. “People tend to see a baby animal and think they have to go rescue it, which gives us the opportunity to say, ‘Please don’t do that.’ We have to first determine whether this animal really needs us, or whether it’s just a youngster trying to make its way in the world and we’re interrupting that life cycle.”

Some of these situations are preventable. During hurricane preparation, for example, tree trimming can inadvertently disturb nests where young animals live. The sanctuary emphasizes education around proper tree-trimming practices and encourages residents to consider whether displaced animals can be safely renested nearby.

Other cases are unavoidable, such as when a mother squirrel is killed by a car, leaving orphaned babies behind. “To get a squirrel from eyes still closed back to the wild takes 4 months,” explains Kight.

When orphaned animals—whether squirrels, owls, opossums, or others—require long-term care, staff take careful steps to ensure they are raised as naturally as possible. This helps prevent them from becoming habituated to humans, which is critical for successful release.

Precautions include wearing ghillie suits—specialized camouflage designed to resemble foliage—using puppets for feeding, and placing animals with foster mothers when possible, a method that has proven especially successful with owls and opossums. “Opossum moms are great,” says Kight. “As long as she’s producing milk, she’ll raise other babies.”

While the rehabilitation center itself is not open to the public, the sanctuary welcomes visitors seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is by donation, with no set fee.

Each year, Busch Wildlife Sanctuary draws tens of thousands of visitors through its gates. Its education programs include daily offerings such as Conservation Conversations in the amphitheater, as well as school field trips, guided tours, summer camps, Junior Naturalist programs, outreach presentations, and interactive exhibits designed to inspire curiosity and conservation action.

“We want people to really know what lives in their environment and how they can coexist with it,” says Kight of the educational programming. Rather than overwhelming visitors with large-scale environmental issues like global warming and microplastics, the sanctuary focuses on simple, actionable steps—such as planting native species instead of exotics that can harm local ecosystems. “You gotta start small,” says Kight. “Otherwise, when you start thinking about all the things encroaching on our environment, it starts to feel impossible.”

A walk through the sanctuary offers visitors the chance to meet its permanent animal residents. Among them is Freddie, a 40-year-old alligator who has lived at the sanctuary her entire life.

When Freddie was still developing, a child cracked her egg open prematurely. The child’s parents brought the egg to Busch Wildlife, but because of the early opening, Freddie never fully developed and cannot open her mouth all the way. Unable to survive in the wild, she has since become an ambassador for her species, giving visitors an up-close look at a Florida alligator.

Another resident, Charlie the California cougar, has a cross-country story of his own. Declawed on all four paws and sold as an illegal pet, Charlie was first taken in by Conservation Ambassadors, a California-based sanctuary. From there, Kight and COO Christen Mason personally transported him to Florida. “We just got up one Saturday morning, grabbed Starbucks and a van, and got to California Monday afternoon,” recalls Kight. “Tuesday, we loaded Charlie in a kennel on our van, and it was 44 hours straight back to Florida. We timed it so we got back right when the staff was getting in on Thursday morning, so they could help us get him set up.”

At the time, Charlie was overweight and would have had to be transported as cargo if by airplane—an option the team wasn’t willing to consider. “It would have been too stressful,” explains Kight. “Also, you’re talking about an apex predator, so there were too many things that could go wrong. It was safer to have him in our hands.”

California cougars and Florida panthers are the same species, considered geographically separated. Charlie—despite being about 30 pounds heavier than a Florida panther—serves as a representative who helps teach visitors about conserving the Florida panther.

While long known as a family-friendly destination, the sanctuary has recently expanded its offerings to appeal to adults as well. New events include Wine Down with Wildlife, Yoga in the Wild, and music concerts. The next Yoga in the Wild session is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, at 9 a.m.

For more information, visit www.buschwildlife.org.

Posted on

Aetherography

New art form captures the magnificence of birds

Coral Springs resident Meir Martin is the creator of “aetherography”—an art form that transcends photography to capture time, motion, and the rhythm of nature through birds. By fusing together hundreds of photos of individual birds into one large-scale image, Martin reimagines nature not as a frozen moment, but as an unfolding experience.

“It is the art of layering time,” explains Martin. “Where photography isolates, aetherography gathers. Where photography freezes, aetherography flows. And what it reveals is the truth of life as it actually happened: chaotic, abundant, overwhelming, and magnificent.”

Martin—who admittedly spends at least 340 days per year taking photos of birds in the Everglades each morning—has amassed a collection of about 1.5 million photos. “Everything in my life is birds, birds, birds. I’m addicted to it, and there’s no cure,” he jokes. With such an extensive library to sort through, it sometimes takes him years to complete certain pieces, which contain hundreds of bird photos. “I keep looking until I find the image that will fit.”

Walking into Martin’s home, which he converted into his gallery after his wife’s passing, is a surreal experience that pulls you deep into the vision of an impassioned creator. Every surface—from the ceilings to the windows and soon the floors—is covered with artwork, each piece set in a custom wood frame that Martin makes himself.

Before birds became his calling, Martin, born in Israel, began his career primarily as a wedding photographer. But one day, when a man walked into his store asking for a camera with a 400-millimeter lens, Martin’s trajectory changed. Sick of the photography he was doing, he joined the man on a field trip and fell in love with photographing birds.

Martin spent the early 1980s photographing desert birds in Israel. In 1983, while on a trip to the Dead Sea, he became the first person to take a color photograph of a pair of desert tawny owls, and in 1986, he published a book, “Desert Birds of Israel.”

“Israel is one of the most amazing places in the world for birding,” says Martin. “Nobody knew that until I published a book in 1986. In America, you have only three species of eagles. In Israel, which is the size of New Jersey, we have about 12.”

After moving to Florida with his wife, Martin took a break from photography and—an innate creator—invented a new system to clean pet urine from oriental rugs. In 2008, after a chance encounter with a man at a dog park while walking his 172-pound Neopolitan Mastiff, he was drawn back into photography, joining a camera club.

“I went to the club, and everyone was taking regular pictures,” recalls Martin. “The digital camera came to the world, and everyone is taking pictures. My pictures would just be one of them. This is not what I want. This is not my style. I have to find something else.”

There was a competition in the club every Thursday to see who had taken the best photo that week. The first time Martin entered, his photo didn’t garner much attention. But the second time he did, the members took notice. Using Photoshop, he had combined images from multiple photographs he had taken, to create something different.

While Martin’s work received attention, acceptance was a different story. “The guy from the photography club said we are photographers and this is not photography. They didn’t accept it, so I left the club,” he says.

After leaving, Martin devoted himself fully to this emerging art form, and aetherography was born. “I’m the first one in the world making this new artwork,” he says—an assertion he supports through extensive research, including the use of ChatGPT, in search of anything resembling aetherography across the globe.

That sense of originality extends beyond technique into meaning. Each piece carries its own narrative, one Martin eagerly brings to life when he speaks about his work. “Everything that you do, you have to have a story,” he says. “What is the image for? What is the artwork for?”

Recently, he began the months-long application process to turn his home from a gallery into a museum. “This house will now become the Aetherography Museum,” enthuses Martin, who wants people to be able to experience this new art form in person.

While he wants to share his work and his stories with the public, he is still unsure about selling his pieces. “Right now I don’t sell any artwork. It’s mine, I love it,” explains Martin. “When I open the museum, it’s probably going to be different.”

Martin is currently working on a piece to honor the anniversary of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. He was across the street from the school that day and heard the gunfire. The artwork, which will be featured in the February issue of the Parklander, includes a golden eagle from a photograph he took in Israel in the 1980s. Above the eagle are 17 birds, each representing the 17 victims of the shooting. “This is a very powerful image with a lot of history in it,” says Martin, who is willing to donate the piece to the high school.

For more information, visit www.meirmartin.com.

Posted on

All creatures great and small

Tales of a South Florida horse vet

Since the 1980s, Glenn Gillard, VMD, has been a trusted name in equine veterinary care across Palm Beach and Broward counties. With more than four decades of experience treating everything from elite racing horses and show jumpers to backyard companions, his days have been filled with stories that are equal parts heartwarming, humorous, and humbling.

At just 13 years old, while working as a hot walker at a New Orleans racetrack, he knew he wanted to be a veterinarian. “I noticed veterinarians would show up to the barn, and they were like celebrities,” recalls Dr. Gillard. “Back in those days, they would have a jumpsuit and a tie. They looked like superheroes to me. And I said that’s what I want to do. I didn’t realize there were a few academic hurdles that I would have to overcome, but I did. I fell in love with it at that point. And I think spiritually, someone was looking out for me.”

After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Gillard was offered a job at the Pompano Beach Racetrack and relocated to South Florida, where he worked with Dr. John Mitchell, who had a profound impact on his career. “I could have easily fallen into the trap of working for someone unethical in the race industry,” says Dr. Gillard. “But John Mitchell was the ultimate in ethics and integrity, and he represented the veterinary profession the way it should be done.”

After three years of working together, Dr. Gillard purchased half of the practice from Dr. Mitchell, opened up shop, and has been a fixture in South Florida ever since.

“I love my clients,” says Dr. Gillard with a bright smile. “I have clients where I’m in the third generation. I’m taking care of their grandchildren’s horses, so they’re almost more like family than they are clients.”

Throughout his career, he has been like a superhero to his clients, tackling difficult cases, creating innovative solutions—or, as he likes to say, “winging it”—and demonstrating compassion in situations where owners couldn’t afford veterinary care.

Recently, Dr. Gillard was involved in a case where a flesh-eating fungus, Pythium insidiosum, attacked a 5-year-old stallion. “This flesh-eating fungus grows by the hour,” he says. “I’ve had three other cases. The first two started in the leg and grew so fast those horses had to be euthanized. The third was a racehorse that had it on the ankle. I thought I had nothing to lose, so I sprayed the lesion with liquid nitrogen for three minutes, which was unheard of. I froze it down to the cannon bone. Then I froze the bone. That horse survived.”

So when they called Dr. Gillard out to this 5-year-old stallion, he was prepared, until he learned the location of the fungus. It was on the horse’s penis. He immediately wanted to do debridement surgery. After surgery, the horse did well for 12 days, but the fungus returned. At that point, Dr. Gillard gave the client two options: euthanize the horse, or go back for surgery round two.

At the same time, Dr. Gillard attended a meeting in Palm Beach and wound up meeting a veterinarian from a wildcat preserve. They had a jaguar with this same organism on its leg and had successfully treated it with Levamisole, a drug normally used for parasite control.

“We put the horse on the Levamisole, and we’re out two months now, and he’s cured,” enthuses Dr. Gillard. Cases like these are the reason he remains active in his career. “People ask when I’m going to retire, but it’s exciting. We just did something other people haven’t been able to do. This was a dead horse, and we saved it. I get a charge out of it.”

That’s not the only time Dr. Gillard’s innovation has saved a life. “Once, a little girl brought her kitten to me after a horse had stepped on its leg,” he recalls. “The leg was like a bag of marbles. It was more than one fracture.” He sedated the kitten and created a makeshift splint out of a syringe casing.

“I cut it, lined it with elastikon tape, put it on the cat’s leg, and smooshed the leg into the splint. Then I told the father we’re trying it for three weeks, and if something happens or you smell something, tell me and I’ll come out and put the cat to sleep.” Three weeks later, Dr. Gillard went to check on the kitten, and it came running around the barn. He cut the brace off, and the kitten was healed. He swears it was divine intervention.

Another time, Dr. Gillard was called to look at an Appaloosa horse by a 13-year-old girl. “I get there, he’s got a corneal ulcer, skin disease, and raging diarrhea,” he recalls. “We put him on the cross ties, and while I was treating the horse, the girl was mucking stalls in this little family barn.” The bill came out to just over $400.

“Normally, what happens with those things is a mother will call in a credit card. So I asked if her mother called in a credit card. But the girl takes out a little purse and says she’s taking care of it today. I look in the purse and see a bunch of singles and a couple of quarters. She’s got a smudge of manure on her cheek. When she asked how much the bill was, I looked at the manure smudge on her cheek and said, ‘$4.50.’ So she gives me three singles and six quarters.” His accountant thought he was crazy. “You gotta have fun with it,” emphasizes Dr. Gillard. “I make enough through the season that I can do that.”

Dr. Gillard’s career has been marked by both purpose and a sense of fun—from dissecting the volleyball-sized heart of a 36-year-old Polo horse with biology students at Spanish River High School, to guiding future veterinarians through their first bovine rectal exam as an adjunct professor at Florida Atlantic University. “Most of the kids were from Boca and wanted to work with dogs and cats. But you still have to have exposure to cows. So I would sit there, and they’d have their $400 designer sunglasses on, and as their wrist dropped into the cow’s rectum, I’d take pictures of their facial expressions,” laughs Dr. Gillard. “I have a whole album of kids that were doing their first rectal.”

Even situations that weren’t fun at the time can now be looked back on with a sense of levity, like the time a professional horse trainer called Dr. Gillard out at 11 p.m. on a Saturday, because she thought her horse was in trouble. “She told me he’s doing a silent agonal scream,” recalls Dr. Gillard, who drove there at about 90 miles an hour, pondering what could be wrong with the animal.

“I get there and there’s a semi-circle of about six cars, all with their headlights focused on this horse in its stall.” Heart racing, Dr. Gillard observed the horse carefully as it yawned. “I had to walk back to my car and count to 50. I told the lady that the horse is tired, sleepy, and yawning. No silent agonal scream. I can laugh now, but at the time my heart was going 100 miles an hour.”

While his heart rate may have come down, even at 76 years old, Dr. Gillard has no intention of slowing down. “I can see myself always keeping a toe in the water—otherwise, I don’t know what I’d do. I’d probably be climbing the walls,” he says with a smile.

To learn more or to get in touch with Dr. Glenn Gillard, call (561) 738-4601.

Posted on

Local paranormal investigator documents haunting experiences in new memoir

From a young age, Coral Springs resident Bill Slevin knew he was destined to work with the paranormal. Now, 36 years into a calling that most would have run from, Slevin is a

world-famous paranormal investigator, researcher, demonologist, parapsychologist, educator, and author.

In his new memoir, “Living Life Haunted,” Slevin documents his lifelong work within the paranormal field, which includes heading up the Paranormal Existence Research Society, a professional nonprofit paranormal research group with teams across the country and the world; serving as chief operating officer of the Warren Society for Paranormal Research and Education, named after renowned paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, whose real-life cases inspired the “Conjuring”movies; and investigating more than 1,000 residential haunting cases and seven demonic cases.

The book is far more than a collection of ghost stories. It’s the harrowing journey of a man finding purpose in a dangerous, taboo field before it became mainstream. “It’s not just a book about cases,” affirms Slevin. “It’s also about my journey, how I started. I wanted to get out there what it’s like living in the shoes of somebody who does this for real, not on TV.”

As an educator, part of Slevin’s mission has always been to explain the difference between how demons and paranormal cases are portrayed for entertainment vs. what they look like in real life. And while there are many bone-chilling accounts of real hauntings, not all the cases in the book are paranormal.

“It’s not always demons; it’s not always ghosts. Sometimes it’s natural things,” says Slevin, who also wanted to depict the reality of his job. “We deal with people’s lives. If we don’t know things like mental health and addiction, we can mess people up way worse than they already are, because it may not be paranormal.”

________

An excerpt from “Living Life Haunted”

The case that started it all—June 4, 1989: My first residential investigation

“We opened the door and stepped inside. Immediately, something hit us hard.

It was like walking into a wall of nausea. Within seconds, all three of us stumbled back, gagging uncontrollably. My stomach churned violently. I’ve never felt anything like it, and I still haven’t.

We bolted out the front door, collapsing onto the lawn, gasping for air. For a moment, we said nothing; each of us trying to make sense of what just happened.

I considered the logical explanations. Gas leak? Carbon monoxide? But Mary had just walked out of the house looking perfectly fine. That couldn’t be it.

After a few minutes, we composed ourselves and cautiously reentered. Nothing.

No smell. No nausea. The house was still and silent, as if mocking us. We exchanged glances. Did that really happen?

We moved forward into the living room. John, to my right, carried a large video camera mounted on his shoulder; at that time, they were heavy and clunky. Mike held an old cassette audio recorder. I stood between them, absorbing every sound, every flicker of movement.

The air in the room was heavy, oppressive. I felt uncomfortable, but more than that, I felt anger. An irrational, simmering rage was bubbling up from nowhere. I didn’t understand it, but I knew something was building.

And then it happened.

A growl, deep, guttural, inhuman, rumbled through the room like thunder from the pit of the Earth; John let out a blood-curdling scream and hurled the camera to the ground, lens-first, without a second thought.

We snapped on the lights.

John was clawing at his back, yanking at his shirt. Mike and I rushed over as he pulled it off, and we froze. I will never forget what we saw.”

To learn more or read on, visit www.billslevin.com.

Posted on

Becca’s Closet Providing Homecoming and Prom dresses for girls in need

School is back in session, and that means, for most high school students, Homecoming is fast approaching, and with it, the opportunity to dress up and celebrate with peers at a formal dance. For many girls, this is an exciting time and a chance to go shopping for the perfect dress. But for others, the expenses involved create unnecessary financial stress that, in some cases, may force them to miss out on a major high school milestone.

Rebecca (“Becca”) Kirtman wanted to change that. While a freshman at Nova High School in Davie, she realized that purchasing dresses and accessories for Homecoming and Prom presented a significant financial hardship for some students, and she made it her mission to ensure that all girls, no matter their financial situation, had access to formal dresses.

The idea came to Becca after reading an article in a teen magazine about female students at a private school in California who decided to donate their dresses to a less affluent school in their community. Inspired by the article and determined to create this kind of opportunity for less affluent students in her own community, Becca began writing letters to different manufacturers requesting dress donations.

Through her project, known as the Nova High School Dress Bank, Becca singlehandedly collected and donated more than 250 brand-new formal dresses, helping girls across Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties attend their high school Proms and Homecoming dances.

When a tragic automobile accident took Becca’s life in 2003, her parents immediately decided to continue their daughter’s work, turning her project into a registered nonprofit organization named Becca’s Closet.

“It was a very easy decision,” recalls Jay Kirtman, Becca’s father and president of the organization’s Board of Directors. “She started this and we needed to continue it, so we formed the organization within 10 days of her passing.”

The Kirtmans changed the name to Becca’s Closet both to honor Becca and because her friends were always raiding her closet and borrowing her clothes.

From the beginning, Becca’s Closet garnered a lot of support from the community, with several members of the Florida Panthers organization jumping on board. “It took on a life of its own,” says Kirtman. “We were almost immediately on CNN, the ‘Today Show,’ ‘Inside Edition,’ and many other TV shows.”

The national media coverage spurred inquiries from people across the country wanting to do the same thing in their communities. Becca’s Closet now has a national presence, with more than 50 chapters across the United States all run by volunteers.

South Florida remains the organization’s operational center. “We currently have over 7,000 dresses locally in South Florida,” says Kirtman. Becca’s Closet recently received a donation of 1,000 dresses from fashion retail chain Windsor. “When the organization receives a large donation like this, we reach out to chapters around the country to see who needs dresses and then distribute them accordingly,” explains Kirtman.

Every year, Becca’s Closet dresses thousands of girls in South Florida, and tens of thousands across the country. “The most rewarding thing for me is the appreciation people have when they get a dress,” says Kirtman. “Hopefully they know what Rebecca did and what she stood for. And we only hope they continue doing something in their own communities.”

To qualify for a dress, you must be a high school student with financial need who cannot afford to purchase a dress for a school-sponsored event/dance.

“We’re on the honor system,” explains Kirtman. “If they tell us they can’t afford a dress, we give them a dress.” The honor system is in place to protect the girls. “It’s hard enough for kids who can’t afford things to jump through hoops and prove everything. We want this to be a positive experience.”

Girls seeking a dress need to provide a current high school ID and answer the question of how they would get a dress if they didn’t get it from Becca’s Closet. They do not have to provide tax returns or other financial documentation. “We’ve had a couple of kids in our 20-plus years who have gone home without a dress,” recalls Kirtman. “You can count that on one hand, and those are the kids who are trying to beat the system.” Becca’s Closet also serves a lot of girls in the foster care system, girls who are homeless, and those in the court system.

For the past 23 years, Becca’s Closet has had a donated central distribution center located inside Festival Marketplace in Coconut Creek, where girls could make an appointment, go see the dresses, and try them on. “They worked one on one with an adult volunteer and two student volunteers and had their own private dressing room,” says Kirtman.

In lower-income areas, the organization will sometimes get more than 30 students from the same school and takes thoughtful steps to ensure that each girl still feels special.

“We keep logs on which high school the girls go to and what dress they got, because we don’t want to give the kids who go to the same high school the same dress,” explains Kirtman. If a girl does choose the same dress that someone in her school already chose, the volunteers inform her and give her the option of selecting another dress.

With the closure of Festival Marketplace in May, Becca’s Closet is now looking for a new home. “We have not been able to find a home to distribute dresses for girls who need them,” says Kirtman. “If we don’t procure something, we’re going to be doing pop-ups at a major hotel and will be doing a big giveaway at the end of September.” Ideally, Becca’s Closet would prefer to remain in central Broward near major highways to be easily accessible for kids across Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, and Broward counties.

On Nov. 11, the organization is hosting its annual fundraising luncheon at Anthony’s Runway 84 in Fort Lauderdale.

To donate dresses, to get involved, or for more information, visit www.beccascloset.org.

Posted on

Pelican Harbor Seabird Station Nonprofit celebrates 45 years and 45,000 animal rescues

Pelican Harbor Seabird Station (PHSS) is Miami’s premier native wildlife hospital, which over time has evolved into a world-class wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, release, and education center. This nonprofit organization, now in its 45th year, is an internationally recognized seabird rehabilitation center that has rehabilitated and released more than 45,000 native animals.

Like most nonprofits, PHSS started with humble beginnings. In 1980, PHSS founders Harry and Darlene Kelton lived on a houseboat and had no experience in animal care. After moving their houseboat to the Pelican Harbor Marina, they found an injured brown pelican, removed a fishhook from its mouth, and decided to nurse it back to health.

When people learned of what the Keltons had done, they started bringing injured pelicans to their houseboat. What began as a love of pelicans quickly grew into a larger calling.

As more and more people began bringing injured pelicans and other animals to them, the Keltons knew it was time to expand, to create a real rescue and rehabilitation center. Others got involved, with the Miami-Dade Parks Department providing land, and in 1992, Miami-Dade County built the organization’s current facility, which is part of the Pelican Harbor Marina.

In 1996, former Executive Director Christopher Boykin led the effort to expand PHSS’s patient intake beyond seabirds to include all Florida native species, with the exception of rabies-vector animals such as racoons and foxes, as the facility did not have space to safely quarantine them. In 2023, PHSS treated more than 2,000 animals spanning 131 native species.

The Keltons remained involved with PHSS their entire lives and were known for helping revolutionize the rehabilitation and care of brown pelicans. Harry and Darlene developed a special medical procedure called “the cotton fish,” where they would stuff fish with cotton balls and feed them to a sick pelican with a hook in its stomach. Once the fish was digested, the cotton would cover the fishhook, and in many cases, the pelican would regurgitate it.

“We still use the cotton fish technique,” says Renata Schneider, DVM, a staff veterinarian at PHSS. “I would guess that it works 50% of the time. It’s noninvasive, so we always try that first. Then if we have to do a manual or surgical removal of the hooks, at least the metal is wrapped up in cotton.”

In October, PHSS will move to a new location along the Little River (about five minutes away from its current location). The new Wildlife Hospital and Education Center is 14 times larger than the current facility and will feature more ambassador and rehabilitation pens, a center for hosting school groups, natural history exhibits, and a manatee viewing location.

“At the new building, we plan to dramatically expand our educational programming as we will finally have space on-site to welcome larger groups of children and adults,” says Marianna Niero, PHSS’s communications manager. “We are planning enhanced tours, hands-on experiences, lectures, day camps, and other programming. The additional space will also allow us to offer more volunteer opportunities of various kinds, all with the aim of creating opportunities for people to connect with our native wildlife and to the ecosystems of South Florida.”

As PHSS has grown, it’s remained committed to its mission of improving the lives of sick, injured, and orphaned native wildlife with the goal of releasing healthy animals back into the ecosystem, enabling future generations.

One of PHSS’s recent rescues was a great blue heron white morph, a rare, federally protected bird that was a victim of animal cruelty. A fisherman threw a rock at it and broke its wing. The bird required multiple surgeries, but they were able to rehabilitate and release it. “The bird’s wing looks droopy, so we still get calls from people thinking it’s injured,” says Niero. “It’s nice because usually when we release a bird we don’t know how it’s doing. But because of these calls, I know it’s still there and doing well.”

According to Niero, more than 90% of the animal injuries PHSS sees are because of humans, and 70% of seabird injuries are from improper disposal of fishing equipment. “It might be cruelty, a car accident, pollution, or loss of habitat because of overdevelopment,” explains Niero. “That’s why it’s important to support organizations like ours. We owe it to wildlife because we are taking so much from them. They have no space and their environment is so polluted because of us. We should give back as much as we can.”

Some of the animals that cannot be released back into the wild become ambassadors for PHSS and help with education and outreach programs. One such ambassador is Mowgli, a female screech owl that fell from the nest as a baby and was attacked by a cat. The attack left her with a permanent injury to her left wing that makes her unable to fly properly and therefore unreleasable.

In addition to being an ambassador, Mowgli is also a teacher, training young screech owls how to hunt. “When we raise orphaned baby screech owls, before we release them, we have to make sure they know how to hunt and survive in the wild,” explains Niero. “We put Mowgli in an enclosure with the young owls, and we release mice. Thanks to game cameras, remains, and by weighing the owls, we can tell if they are learning. We call this ‘mouse school,’ and once they pass mouse school, they are cleared for release if everything else is fine with them.”

PHSS also has a library program called “Books with Mowgli,” where children can meet Mowgli and learn more about owls.

In addition to its educational programs, PHSS is open to the public as well. Free tours are available Saturdays at 11 a.m., and self-guided audio tours are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For a more in-depth experience, guided “Behind the Scenes” tours are available and must be booked in advance.

For more information or to get involved, visit PelicanHarbor.org.

Proudly powered by WordPress