Golden Eagle recovers at ESWC facility.

Spring is the time of year birds start to hatch and wildlife get in trouble on the highway. They are more active, and their collisions with vehicles go up too. The group that takes care of and rehabilitates wild animals who are injured and ill needs help of its own.

Director of Eastern Sierra Wildlife Care, Cindy Kamler, said that the organization now faces “an unprecedented drop in funding for 2014.” Kamler said that two long-time funders are not currently funding requests from anyone. She said the center faces increases in cost of rent, insurance, food and supplies and a drop in revenue.

The center uses trained volunteers to take care of the injured, orphaned or ill animals. They treat injuries including wing and leg fractures, illness, emaciation and other wildlife problems.

The volunteers take care of orphaned animals with foster care, formulas, housing and then training for release back into the wild. They also offer educational programs for schools and organizations, free of charge.

A recent patient of the Wildlife Care Center was a Golden Eagle rescued in March from the median on Highway 395 near Fish Springs turnoff. The bird was emaciated and crawling with parasites, then hit by a car. He had no use of his legs, but movement and strength are coming back slowly.

If you would like to help this group, send checks to Eastern Sierra Wildlife Care, P.O. Box 368, Bishop, California, 93515. The Care Center is a federal and state tax-exempt charitable organization.