High Life A WEEKLY FORUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS : School Has Own Clinic for Wildlife

A lot of people are talking about conservation and the environment. But in Casey County, Ky., some high school students are doing something about it, reports Country America magazine.

When a wild animal, especially a bird of prey, becomes injured, students in the conservation club at rural Casey County High School come to the rescue. They nurse the hurt animals back to health in their Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. To date, more than 60 hawks and owls have been released successfully, although the center is only three years old.

Their initial hands-on project in Kentucky’s first treatment center of this kind was helping an injured great horned owl. After her nephew found the owl caught on a fence, science teacher Frances Carter and her biology class decided they wanted to get involved.

The students named him Hooter and went to work. A veterinarian taped the bird’s broken wing and administered antibiotics. After that, the students took over the bird’s day-to-day care. The veterinarian gave Hooter only a 10% chance for a successful recovery. But on May 31, 1988, Hooter proved the vet wrong and was released back into the wild.

Only a few kids in the biology class worked with that first owl, but the entire student body watched with excitement. And after the success with Hooter, they wanted to get involved, too. Thus began the conservation club.

Members total 108 out of 700 in the student body. The club studies the whole environment, combining classroom work with hands-on experience in the field.

The club raised money to build a wetlands laboratory--consisting of a pond, marsh and related habitat--on school property, An upland and a forest habitat are now under development. The students also handle necessary construction, record keeping, feeding and care of animals.

“I’ve never seen such a bunch of hard-working kids,” Frances said.

For more information, write: Frances Carter, Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, 1895 Goochtown-Eubank Road, Eubank, Ky., 42567, or call (606) 379-2554.

Saddleback High School will recognize its former homecoming queens during halftime festivities marking the school’s 25th anniversary Oct. 24 at Santa Ana Stadium. The football game that evening between Saddleback and Woodbridge begins at 7:30.

If you are a former Saddleback homecoming queen or know how to contact one, call Harry Evans, the school’s activities director, at (714) 241-6450.

“Man is the only animal that can remain on friendly terms with the victims he intends to eat until he eats them.”

--Samuel Butler (1835-1902)