Laurens Wildlife Rescue Inc

For several years a Barred Owl would bring two young owlets to my wooded back yard. I looked forward to them each year and watched their sibling antics. One day one was pecking at the other and the one getting frustrated just took his foot and pushed the other one away.
I looked out one morning and found an owlet hanging by one wing where it had gotten tangled in a long string holding a bird feeder. I rushed out and cut it loose. One wing was dragging and I was afraid it was broken.
I called several places to find help for the owlet but was finally told that Laurens Wildlife Rescue was the only place known in this area with an Avian license.
I managed to get the owlet into a soft sided dog crate and Lauren met me half way from my house to her location. She gave the owl a quick accessment and said that she didn't think the wing was broken. She took the owlet to a veterinarian and it was determined that the wing was badly bruised and sprained.
She kept him for a while and fed him lots of mice and took care of him. She named him Mr Attitude and said it was all bad! He would puff up and cluck anytime anyone came near.
He was returned to me and I released him in the back yard. He sat on the ground, puffed up, and then took off to the nearest tree. I was so happy to see him go.
Thanks to Lauren for saving his life. No doubt he would not have survived on the ground.

I have sought the advice of this rescue more than once. They do amazing work and utilize every dime that comes in in a proper fashion. Donations go directly to the care of the animals that are brought to the rescue. The number of animals they take in and help is nothing short of inspiring. From birds to beavers, rabbits to possums, they seem to have seen it all and saved it all. Keep up the great work!

I am simply amazed at the work done by Lauren and her friends. They are such good people and are helping so many animals that would not have a chance at all were it not for them.

I love Lauren's Wildlife Rescue!! The work that she/ they do is wonderful. Every time I log on, I love the detailed descriptions of the 'patients', and following the progress made, and of the happy releases to back home!! Was so sad to hear that Lazarus didn't have a good outcome.. :( I was pulling for him. And all of the photos, but I think they're as good as - if not better than NatGeo's!! Maybe it's the stories behind the pics- I'm not sure, but love them. Vonda- congrats on the bunny release. I'm glad to see the Mocker is almost in flight practice and that Beaverbutt is (sorta) cooperating... but three pounds gained so far is wonderful. I'm also giving a big thank you to Dr Jim @ Smalley's Animal Hospital for the great call on the gosling!! After losing my Goosel not too long ago- you know I now have a favorite patient!! I hope LWR is recognized for the countless hours of driving, care and love -(yes, I said love) that ALL 'critters' and birds receive. I appreciate your disgust with SHS- stupid human syndrome- and feel like smacking some myself from time to time.. but it is still illegal. Will definitely call you id I get a call about another RT Hawk that's for sure!! Keep up the wonderful work!!

The amount of knowledge and joy I get from Lauren's Wildlife blog site is a bright, shining star in an otherwise dull existence. As a home bound woman, Lauren shows me a world I could otherwise only dream about. Her patience with the animals, her easy to understand narratives and her wealth of love and devotion are a bright, shining star in my life. If I hadn't gotten sick 12 years ago, I would be volunteering on her doorstep every single day. I am very grateful to "know" Lauren through her blog and through chatting with her on the New York Times Hawk Cam Chat Room. She is a fiercely devoted individual who loves her charges and shares her experiences with us in a way that proves that Wildlife is still an important aspect of every day life. Lauren is the best!

I would just like to thank the rehabbers for their commitment to wildlife, they were brought to my attention by the story of Violet the hawk ..and would like to thank them for al their efforts for her and every other animal they help.

Lauren's wildlife facility is an invaluable resource, helping and administering support, aide and medical services to any and all creatures in need of help. Her dedication is so apparent and as you know rehabbers are not in this line of work for the paycheck. Lauren's Wildlife Rescue is not her occupation, it's a true calling. Kudos to the unsung hero's in the animal world!

Lauren is a great and very busy rehabber in South Georgia. She communicats with other rehabbers across the country to gain the highest care and knowledge for the animals in her care. She is and educator and is extremely active in the rehab community nationally. She participates in the Hawk Cams and gives advise and education online. I think she deserves support for being a leader and peer in the field of wildlife rehabilataion. Lauren doesn't just take in injured wildlife, she ensures they get the best care by having X-rays peformed. Visits to a licensed Vetrenarian and contacts other rehabbers when she receives a new charge that she may have less experience with. I highly reccomend she receives some recognition.

Lauren has worked tirelessly for the health and welfare of wildlife in Georgia. Her rehab efforts have brought much needed medical care to animals who would suffer needlessly. Wildlife rehab isn't just a hobby but a calling.

Lauren has helped us at the New York Times Hawk cam site to understand what rehabbers do.

I met them on New York Times Red Tailed Hawk cam about a year ago. Every time they have come into the chat room they have been polite, helpful and educational about the hawks on the camera and also all of the animals that they rescue and rehab. I feel that Laurens Wildlife Rescue provides a much needed service to our community and deserves to progress in their work and provide help and rehab to many more wild animals. The most recent I have heard about was a barred owl which got caught in some fishing line which damaged and ripped out many of its flight feathers. They rescued this owl and removed the fishing line. Found a foster home for it for recovery and provided medical attention so that it has the best possible recovery. This is just one example of the type of work they do. This is only one story of many in the past week and year.

I find that this blog is very informative. We are exposed to animals and their problems with the hope that we as humans will be more aware of the harm we are causing them. I like to hear about the many that are able to be released back to the wild.

Lauren has dedicated her life to save all living creatures. Day and night she nurtures these animals until they are healthy enough to be released, all with her own funds in her home. She answers endless questions about wildlife and educates inquiring minds on the do' and don'ts when finding an animal in need. She advises people on how to care for their needs and what to do in emergencies. I would trust with any of my animals. Please help Lauren to continue her work by donating to this wonderful rehab! sea

I have been an avid admirer of the wonderful and selfless rehabilitation work by Vonda, the certified "rehabber" of this organization. She works so very hard and probably funds most of it herself - all the feeding and care these injured animals require is enormous. She does work with veterinarians who donate their services, I believe, but dedicates her entire HOME to these needy creatures, living and caring for them 24/7. I have mainly learned about her work from the website of Laurens Wildlife Rescue, and wish that I could help find donors to support her very important and selfless work.

Laurens Wildlife Rescue, Inc. has a terrific and very informative website. The work is critical to wildlife lovers across the globe!

Vonda Lee Morton of Laurens Wildlife works tirelessly to rehab and return to the wild many creatures which come her way. One look at her website and you know this is a dedicated, committed rehabber. Certainly, there aren't enough hours in the day for her to tend to the many critters who are in need of help. She is a credit to Laurens County and should be rewarded.

Laurens Wildlife Rescue does an amazing job, thanks to the training & dedication of its founder, Vonda Morton. I am a supporter, and have been following the work she does since last year. I have complete admiration for this woman. She gives of herself to care for injured wildlife as needed, when needed, around the clock, and all on a volunteer basis. AND on top of all that, she maintains a very interesting website, where she posts photos and updates so we can see what's happening -- and she tells it like it is, the good outcomes and the not-so-good outcomes alike. EQUALLY IMPORTANTLY she does a great service by using her website to INFORM people what to do (and not to do) if they find injured wildlife. This organization is truly deserving of ongoing support and recognition at all levels.

Several weeks ago we found a barn owl that had apparently been hit by a car lying on the roadside in front of our home. When we went to remove the bird from the roadside thinking it was dead, we were pleasently suprised as he moved his wings. The owl was not able to stand or fly at this time. After calling DNR and a local university we were routed to Vonda at Laurens Wildlife Rescue. After contacting Vonda, she immeadiately met us at a gas station in Dublin Georgia for the "transfer". We have emailed Vonda two times in the past two weeks to check on the status of our feathered friend, pleasently finding a return email within an hour of sending our. I am truely grateful that there is such a professional out there to help our little friends. We have the utmost regard for Laurens wildlife and am pleased to write that our owl friend "peep" is getting better with each day. Thank you Laurens Wildlife Rescue for helping our friend. Without you to feed him and care for him he would have already passed away. Regards. Susan de Gonzague

HEY EVERYBODY!!! IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE TO SHARE ABOUT MY
FRIEND - VONDA MORTON - WHO LOVES OUR WILDLIFE!!!!! A COUPLE
OF INCIDENTS JUST RECENTLY I WOULD LIKE TO TELL. ONE AFTERNOON
IN JANUARY, I RAN INTO MY BUDDY AT KROGER. WHAT WAS IN HER
BUGGY? ALWAYS FOOD FOR HER FRIENDS SHE IS TAKING CARE OF AT
HOME. THERE WERE A COUPLE OF ITEMS FOR THE CARETAKER - SHE
HAS TO HAVE A LITTLE NOURISHMENT FOR HERSELF FOR THE HARD
WORK - ENERGY IS A MUST FOR OUR ANIMALS WHO DEPEND ON HER!
IN FEBRUARY, I RAN INTO VONDA AGAIN, IN WAL-MART. JUST TAKE A
GUESS WHAT WAS IN HER BUGGY? DO YOU KNOW WHERE I AM GOING
WITH THIS STORY? YOU'RE CATCHING ON!!! HER PURCHASING IS
ALWAYS ABOUT "THEM" NOT "HER!" ALSO, SHE WAS APOLOGIZING
ABOUT HOW SHE LOOKED. I SAID, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN?" "WELL"
SHE RESPONDED, "I JUST LEFT THE VET'S OFFICE & I HAVE BLOOD ON
MY T-SHIRT." "VONDA," I SAID, "I WOULD NOT HAVE EVEN NOTICED IF
YOU HAD NOT TOLD ME AND BESIDES THAT, WHO CARES?" SHE
MAKES SOOO MANY TRIPS GOING TO THE PROFESSIONALS FOR OUR
WILDLIFE! LOTS OF GAS, TIME, ENERGY - LOTS OF LOVE! THANK YOU
VONDA FOR LOVING OUR ANIMALS. THE NEW GENERATION COMING
UP APPRECIATE EVEN MORE! IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND THESE
YOUNG PEOPLE KNOW IT! LET'S TELL THE WHOLE WORLD ABOUT
LAURENS WILDLIFE RESCUE!!! A JOB THAT IS 24/7, EVERY MONTH,
EVERY YEAR, EVERY SEASON - DOING GOOD! LET'S FACE IT - WE'RE
JUST TOO LAZY TO DO WHAT THIS COURAGEOUS WOMAN IS DOING.

PRESS ON VONDA, PRESS ON!!!

KAY CURRIE

Had some baby squirrels fall from their nest last year and called Laurens Wildlife Rescue. Rather than immediately meeting me to take them, the director explained to me how to try and reunite them with their mother, and it worked! A few months later, I called again about a baby bird whose mother had been killed by the neighbor's cat, and she took that baby and sent me e-mail updates until it was released. I can't say enough good things about this organization. It's a real benefit to the community and to our wildlife.

LWR is a state and federally permitted organization that recovers injured and orphaned wildlife for rehabilitation and return to the wild. THis organization's work covers a large part of Georgia including many metro areas like Macon. Their work hours are 24/7-365.
As urbanization pushes into more wildlife habitat the encounters between people and wildlife increase. The wildlife usually gets the short end of the encounter.
Their work requires continual growth of skills and techniques for the variety of wildlife they encounter. There are no schools or quick fixes to obtain this information. It comes from studying hard and pulling together good resources.
LWR is one of the best.

This woman acts like she knows everything and criticizes many other people. She is angry much of the time and judges things without getting the whole story. She has had her license a short time and yet seems to think she knows more than long experienced rehabilitators. She is unable to access an animal's, esp. birds, problems without thinking that they are all imprinted. She needs to keep more of an open mind and not make decisions based on little knowledge. Be hesitant or check this person out before making decisions.

Laurens Wildlife Rescue is a great program. I have contacted them a number of times about wildlife problems, racoons etc and received a postive response every time. I read their informative blog about once a week. Great information about wildlife here in central Ga. Over the past couple of years I have delivered a couple of orphan songbirds to them for rehabilitation. They never got mad about my calls inquiring on the condition of the birds.

Since its inception, I've written several newspaper articles about Laurens Wildlife Rescue, Inc. The response from the public is obvious in the calls we take at the newspaper after the articles are published. LWR not only aids the wildlife in our region, but educates the public about encountering injured wildlife, what to do if the public finds wildlife babies, what protocol should be taken for rabid animals and more. From an educational aspect, LWR is providing a critical service to the community - and from a hands on rescue aspect, LWR is answering a need that no one else regionally can provide.

Excellent group...whenever we come across injured wildlife Laurens Wildlife has been great to deal with. We bring the animals in, and they will see they are either rehab'd or to somewhere for more specific needs! They provide a much needed service for our area!!!!! - from all of us at The Rescue Ranch!