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Upcoming Events
Second Annual Wine Tasting
October 15, 2017
Hickory Knolls Discovery Center
Wild About Wildlife
November 5, 2017
Hickory Knolls Discovery Center
16th Annual Dinner Auction
April 7, 2018
Pipers Banquets, Aurora
See www.fvwc.org for more information
Inside This Issue
page 2 - 3
Overcoming Your Fears
2018 Photo Contest
page 4 - 5
Volunteer Highlight
2017 Seasonal Staff
Help From Above
Our 2017 Summer Interns
page 6-7
Internship 1st Place Essay Winner
Thanking the Kane Country
Cougar Foundation
Hi Ho! Hi Ho! It’s Off to Work We Go
page 8
Memberships
New & Renewed
Release Sites Needed
- O N L I N E -
A heartfelt thank-you
for your continued support.
V.17 ▪ ISSUE 4 ▪ AUTUMN ▪ 2017
TRACKS FOX VALLEY WILDLIFE CENTER
TRACKS Volume 17
Issue 4
Autumn
2017
F O X V A L L E Y W I L D L I F E C E N T E R N E W S L E T T E R
My name is Lissette, and as the Volunteer Su-
pervisor at the Wildlife Center, I handle all of the
training for our animal care specialists. One of my
favorite aspects of the training process is watching
volunteers blossom and overcome their fears, even
ones they weren’t aware they had.
One trainee was so excited to begin the training
process. Being an animal lover, she was anxious to
get started and was gung-ho at her first class. But
like many trainees, the idea of working closely
with wild animals, and the reality of working with
wild animals, are different.
She started in the bird room, and was learning
the correct process to remove a patient from his
cage. When it was her turn to grasp the bird, she
froze. She just could not put her hand in the cage.
We tried over and over, but she just could not do it.
She was afraid because the bird was looking at her
and she struggled the entire training session.
By the end of the class, I wasn’t sure she was
going to be able to work the room. I cheered her on
and asked her to try it one more time, and if she
still felt the same way after the next training ses-
sion, we would cross the bird room off her list. She
seemed discouraged, not thinking the training ses-
sion would be that hard, and not expecting her own
reaction to working with the birds. But she perse-
vered and agreed to come again.
She arrived early to her next training session
and was introduced to a very friendly pigeon that
was housed in the bird room. Something clicked
for her with that interaction. Her fears dissipated,
and as we worked on one cage at a time, she got
the hang of the procedures. She worked the room
like a champ! By her third training class, she was a
pro and tackled all of the training areas with the
same gusto, enthusiasm, and love for our patients.
Today she is a valued volunteer.
Like this volunteer, many of our volunteers re-
act in different ways once they are face to face with
a goose, pigeon, squirrel, opossum, woodchuck or
raccoon (just to name a few). Everyone is excited
to start the training process. But in reality, few
have been up close and personal with these types of
animals. They are not domesticated pets, these are
wild animals. When volunteers get scared, showing
them the proper techniques to safely handle an ani-
mal, guiding them through the process, and helping
them overcome their fears is the best part of my
job.
If you are interested in volunteering at our center,
and having your own rewarding experiences with
wildlife, please apply online at www.fvwc.org.
Overcoming Your Fears by Lissette Corirossi , Volunteer Director
Even more rewarding is the fact that our
volunteers helps others to nurture a
healthy respect for our local wildlife
with the information they learn at our
hospital. Not only do they learn how to
care for our patients, (several species
shown at the side of this article), they
learn how to co-exist with wildlife in
their area, and in turn help their
neighbors, family, and friends by shar-
ing this knowledge. Many times, fear
comes from a lack of understanding
wildlife. If we can help educate the pub-
lic about the myths and misunderstand-
ings about wildlife, we can eliminate the
fear, and co-exist peacefully. A win-win
in my book!
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Board of Directors Andrea Krueger, President
Derek Chimenti
William Grabarek
Bryan Kimmell
Faith LaShure
Adrienne Stras
Julianne Testa
Nancy Thornton
Staff
Rob Schuman, Co-Director
Molly Craig, Interim Co-Director
Laurie Frandsen-Tiesch, Bkpr
Lauren Grimm, Co-Education Dir.
Dipa Patel, Co-Education Dir.
Lissette Corirossi, Volunteer Dir.
Seasonal Staff
Emma Bluemond
Emily Johnson
Samantha Ponziani
Stephanie Pecor
Advisory Board
Sheri Askew, DVM
Brian Kindle
Pam Otto, St. Charles PD
Rick Otto, DVM
Brian Peters, DVM
Richard Velders, DVM
Newsletter Design
Adrienne Stras
Contact FVWC
630-365-3800
www.fvwc.org
FV Wildlife Center
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2018 FVWC Photo Contest
1. This contest is open to amateur photographers
only (anyone who does not make more than
25% of their yearly income from taking and/or
selling photographers).
2. Each entry must be accompanied with an entry
form and all submissions must be received at
the FVWC office address by Friday, March 2
2018.
3. Winners will be announced at the Annual Winter
Dinner/Auction, held at Fox Valley Country Club
in North Aurora. All contest entries will be dis-
played at the event and the winning entries will
be placed on the FVWC website at
www.fvwc.org on April 8, 2018. Individuals with
winning photographs will be notified prior to the
dinner.
4. The subject must be Illinois wildlife (including
mammals, birds, insects amphibians, reptiles,
fish, etc.). No human contact, please. Domestic
(cats, dogs, cows, etc) and zoo animals are not
eligible.
5. Entries may be color or black and white images,
un-mounted and unframed. Print size should be
8”x10”, but 5”x7” will be accepted.
6. You must be the sole author and owner of the
copyright in all photos entered.
7. Images must not have been digitally altered in
any way other than necessary burning, dodging
and cropping.
8. Up to 3 photos may be entered.
9. Label all photo submissions with your name,
address, telephone number, email address, a
title for the photo, where the photo was taken
and the equipment used to take it.
10. Photos will not be returned. All photographs will
become the property of FVWC and may be used
for non-profit publications, web pages, presenta-
tions and sales.
11. Judges appointed by the FVWC will choose the
winners. The judges’ decision on all matters
relating to the competition is final.
12. First, second, third, fourth and fifth place awards
will be chosen.
13. Entries that do not adhere to the rules will be
disqualified.
14. FVWC can’t be held responsible for lost or in-
complete entries.
2018 WILDLIFE PHOTO CONTEST ENTRY FORM
Name_________________________________________________________________
Address _______________________________________________________________
City_________________________________________ State_______ Zip___________
Telephone_____________________________________________________________
Number of Entries (limit 3) ___________ Amount Enclosed _____________________
I agree to grant the Fox Valley Wildlife Center the rights and privileges detailed in the
official contest rules and I will abide by all contest rules and guidelines.
Signature ______________________________________________Date____________
Complete entry form and return to:
Wildlife Photo Contest Fox Valley Wildlife Center POBox 385 Elburn IL 60119-0385
Entry Fee
$10.00 per photo
Make checks payable to
Fox Valley
Wildlife Center
Photo Entry
Deadline
March 2, 2018
Prizes will be given for
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th
& 5th place
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While every one of our volunteers deserves heaps
of praise for their hard work and dedication, we would
like to draw special attention to our one and only,
George Peklo. Not only does he keep us sane by stay-
ing on top of the laundry, but he shows incredible at-
tention to detail when it comes to the quality of care
that our animals are receiving.
Whether it’s feeding our mealworm population or
playing pool attendant for the waterfowl, he goes the
extra mile to make sure every single animal under our
roof is living a life of luxury. Here are some of his
thoughts about volunteering with us.
▪ How did you hear about the FVWC volunteer program? G: My mom saw
an article about a goose that was hit in the head with a rock and was recovering
at the wildlife center. She thought it would be a good opportunity for me.
▪ What do you like most about working at the center? G: I like preparing food
for all of the animals. I like that they aren’t too picky - especially the raccoons!
▪ What advice can you give to a new volunteer? G: It’s inevitable that you
will get dirty here - expect it! Don’t come in here with designer clothes.
2017 Seasonal Staff by Molly Craig
A Special Thank You! Dr. Sheri Askew
Blue Goose Market, St. Charles
Hal and Karen Broten
CBCM - Chicago Bird Collision
Monitors
Custom Printing, Addison
Fresh Market, Geneva
Beth Graham
Midwest Appliance, Geneva
Sue Mroch
MS/Astro Tool & Engineering, Inc
Northern Illinois Food Bank
Dr. Erin O’Connor
Dr. Brian Peters
Pets at Peace Crematory
Dr. Margret Rogers
Dr. Christine Wilmes
Bonnie Zagoren
Stephanie Pecor (now Black), not
only balanced an internship with the
Cosley Zoo alongside her seasonal
staff position with us, but she also
lives over an hour away AND planned
a wedding this year! She is also well-
known for her cleaning projects, which range from wiping
down the stepstools to deep-cleaning the ENTIRE fawn
barn in her spare time.
I simply cannot begin to put into words the pride that I feel in the incredible team of seasonal staff that we were gifted
with this year. Each one of them was truly a delight to work with, and their passion for animal care truly blew me. Robert
and I couldn’t have done it without this truly spectacular bunch, and for this reason, we would like to recognize them for
their many hours of commitment, enthusiasm, and good humor. Thank you for an exceptional year!
Emma Bluemond, our resident pi-
geon expert, can most often be found
in the bird room. However, there isn’t
an animal at the center that she does
not love! Talents include making
sense of paperwork, giving baby birds
sponge baths, and making sure Molly actually goes home
and sleeps every once in a while. When not at the center,
she also trains service dogs at Augustana College.
Emily Johnson had a hard time pick-
ing a favorite animal, and while she
noted a particular love of raccoons,
pigeons, opossums, and waterfowl,
she said she felt like she would be
betraying the bunnies if she didn’t
mention them as well. She had wanted to be a wildlife re-
habilitator since eighth grade, and she has proven to us,
time and time again, that she truly has a knack for it.
Samantha Ponziani, while not swoon-
ing over baby woodchucks or contem-
plating life with Peanut, our squirrel
ambassador, she worked exceptionally
hard to close the center at night, mak-
ing sure every animal was cleaned and
fed before leaving. This hard work didn’t stop her from
putting a smile on everyone’s face and keeping a great
sense of humor. Her long-term goals include teaching
Lucy, our Canada goose ambassador, to garden.
Volunteer Highlight - George Peklo
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Dog & Cat Chow
Unsalted Nut (in shells)
Facial Tissue
Paper Towels
Ziplock Bags
Sponges
Monetary Donations
For a list of all items needed, visit
www.fvwc.org >> Help Us Help Wildlife >>
Wishlist
And, also visit www.amazon.com >>
Wishlist >> Fox Valley Wildife Center
Help From Above by Lauren Grimm, Co-Education Director
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The items included in these lists are
important to our mission and very
much appreciated.
ITEMS NEEDED Our 2017 Summer Interns We had a great group of interns this summer and we want to thank them for their
dedication and hard work. We saw their commitment to our wildlife patients
every day. We couldn’t have done it without you!
It is said that the world was
created in six days
and, on the seventh day,
God rested.
But . . .
here at Fox Valley Wildlife Center,
our amazing staff creates
a safe, loving environment
for our animal patients
every day with no days of rest.
It wasn’t unusual for us to get a call
on a Sunday asking for our assistance in
helping a critter in need. As much as we
would like to go out on rescues, our
responsibilities here at the center keep
us pretty busy. It is not always possible
for us to leave. But this call was un-
usual and tugged at my heartstrings.
A raccoon was stuck in a sewer
drain cover. I felt compelled to help this
little guy. When I arrived at the
location, I could see the situation more
clearly. YEP! He was definitely stuck in
the sewer cover! Apparently, the rac-
coon entered the drain system some-
where else and either got lost or decided
to take a short cut. Unfortunately, the
shortcut didn’t work out too well, and
the raccoon’s body was half in and half
out. To make matters worse, out of des-
peration, the raccoon started chewing
on its backside to try and free itself.
So time was of the essence! My
only recourse was to try and move the
drain cover to create some space for the
raccoon to slip through. Unfortunately,
the drain cover was too heavy and
the raccoon wasn’t responding
“pleasantly”, shall we say, to the situa-
tion at hand.
But, just as I was starting to feel
helpless, out of nowhere, a big, burly,
shirtless man showed up and asked
what was going on. After stating the
obvious, the man offered his help in
moving the cover, and I took it! Be-
tween the two of us, the sewer cover
moved just enough for the raccoon to
get loose. Unfortunately, the raccoon
fell back into the pipe and quickly ran
off. Hopefully, he ran in the direction
towards freedom! As I turned to thank
my shirtless helper, he too was gone.
I learned two things on that day.
First, when you get stuck in life,
choosing the quickest way out
isn’t always best.
And secondly,
God sometimes works
in mysterious ways!
Little guy finds himself in a dilemma.
Samantha Bidlack
Emily Buck
Madeline Chester Ardyn
Cieslak
Emilie Duy
Andrea Hernandez
Cassidy Long
Brittany McCoullough
Katie Marx
Allison Podborny
Jakub Rys
Samantha Sorenson
Kristen Witte
Gina Brankey sold her entire house of furniture to Acosta’s
Furniture Consignment and donated the money to Fox Val-
ley Wildlife Center.
Stephen Hausner who named Fox Valley Wildlife Center as
beneficiary of his will and annuities.
Steve Wallace who has continually cared for the FVWC building.
6 6
I had a summer goal to work at a wildlife center to learn
more about caring for animals. I researched a few local cen-
ters where I might volunteer. Fox Valley Wildlife Center
drew my attention when I learned about the facility and the
opportunity to serve as an intern. I immediately applied
online, and a couple of days later attended orientation to
start my internship. Since then, whenever I stepped into the
Fox Valley Wildlife Center, I learned something new along
with at least one new experience to share with my family.
Throughout the weeks of my internship, I have experienced
rewards, challenges, and I learned lessons that will stay with
me forever.
Each day, I anxiously stepped through the wild-
life center door and looked directly to the middle
of the room where the big whiteboard listed my
day's assignments. It was hard to contain my ex-
citement. Which rooms would I work in today?
Where was I going to work? Whichever room I
was assigned to, I was sure that I would encounter
hungry babies, dirty cages, and a lot of poop! I did
have a favorite and that was the bird room. For
some reason, I just liked the birds. As I worked in
my assigned room and fed babies and cleaned cages, I
couldn’t help but think that they all came to the wildlife cen-
ter injured or orphaned. The reward would be that these ani-
mals would one day be released back into the wild. I felt a
strong sense of pride knowing that my contribution sup-
ported the center’s efforts in rehabilitating wildlife.
As I was cleaning the cages, I knew other volunteers and
interns were also cleaning in other rooms. There was a great
pleasure and satisfaction in working with the people at the
center. It was a pleasure to work with people who loved to
talk about and care for animals, as I do. Working with like-
minded people was definitely one of the most positive re-
wards of interning at the wildlife center. As we prepared the
food for the animals, stumbling around each other in the
kitchen, we discussed animals at the center. How disgusting
but adorable the raccoons were! How the possums were just
so cute! How tiny the hummingbirds were! And the oh-so-
adorable fawns! How cool! It was definitely a reward to
meet and work alongside people who cared and loved
animals as much as I do.
One of the biggest challenges that I faced at the wildlife
center was trying to heal animals that could not survive on
their own. It was very difficult waiting until the next day or
even the next couple of hours to see if an animal would get
better after giving it medicine. As a caretaker, all I hoped
for was that all the animals would survive and could be re-
leased back into the wild. The second challenge that I faced
while working at the center was trying to get the raccoons
back into their cages after feeding them.
They’re very rambunctious and curious little
critters that like to grab onto everything. Releas-
ing one grasping paw after another, after an-
other, was a challenge.
My goal in life was to become a veterinarian.
One of the biggest lessons the center taught me
was that all animals can’t be saved. As much as
you hope and want to help them all, some ani-
mals are beyond recovery and won’t make it.
Ever since I was a child, I wanted to be a veteri-
narian. Recently though, and from time to time,
I’ve had doubts that maybe it wasn’t what I wanted to do
with my life. Working at the center has made all my doubts
disappear as I affirmed the career path that I wanted to take.
After every day at the center, I was eager to share my day
with my parents, even though there were some stories they
maybe they would rather not have heard. Sharing my enthu-
siasm at home and with my co-workers has given me the
reassurance that I was meant to be surrounded by animals.
This was definitely the greatest and most impactful les-
son I learned as a result of interning at the center. There
were some challenges, some lessons, but most of all, it was
one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. I am so grateful
for the opportunity to have an internship at FVWC. Thank
you to everyone who helped give me this amazing opportu-
nity! And, a special thank-you to Rob and Molly for pa-
tiently teaching me and giving me the opportunity of an un-
forgettable intern experience at the Fox Valley Wildlife
Center.
Animal Care Internship Essay Winner - Kristen Witte
We held our 2nd Annual Animal Care Internship Essay Contest and asked all our interns to write about their experiences
working at the Center. We are showcasing the winning essay written by Kristin Witte. 2nd and 3rd place winners will be
featured in upcoming newsletters.
Kristin feeding a fawn
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An amazing team of volunteers gathered at the wildlife center and tackled the landscaping projects that needed atten-
tion. The entryway backdrop was rearranged, the area surrounding Yodi’s cage was cleared, and the fencing was power
washed. What a difference their efforts made!
A heartfelt thank you to
Michele Gryparis, Billy & Elizabeth Malecki, Ken & Lorraine Malecki,
Julie Testa, and Steve Wallace & Sue Lester-Wallace.
to the
KANE COUNTY COUGAR FOUNDATION
How can we ever thank the Kane County Cougar Foun-
dation for their generosity? FVWC was a nominated re-
cipient for the 50/50 raffle. At all home games during the
month of July, 50% of the intake from raffle ticket sales
was set aside for us!
Andrea Krueger, FVWC Board President and Director,
and Julie Testa, Board Member, attended a pre-game pres-
entation on August 19th at which time we were given a
check for $4,600. How grateful and amazed we were!
Again, many, many thanks to the Kane Country Cougar
Foundation. Please help us thank them by attending Cou-
gar home games and events. Go Cougars!!
Board members and volunteers attending a Cougar game.
OCT 15 2nd ANNUAL WINE & OIL TASTING 2 -5pm
Hickory Knolls Discovery Center
3795 Campton Hills Drive St. Charles, IL
PreOrder $25 . . . Tickets available online or At Event $30
PRP Wines will present 8 international wines and Casa Tiene
Vista Vineyard will be showcasing their flavored oils and bal-
samic vinaigrettes.
It promises to be a fun afternoon with tastings of fine wines, dip-
ping oils and vinaigrettes, plus appetizers and great conversa-
tion.
NOV 5 6th ANNUAL WILD ABOUT WILDLIFE 1-5PM
Hickory Knolls Discovery Center
3795 Campton Hills Drive St. Charles, IL
PreOrder $10 Adults $5 Children $30 Family
At Event $15 Adults $10 Children $40 Family
Join us for a great family day! The Humane Society and Cold
Blooded Creatures featuring Bubba, the 8ft alligator, will be
there. Plus, enjoy chili or cheese soup, corn bread and water,
included in the price of the ticket.
APR 7 16th ANNUAL DINNER AUCTION 5-10pm
Pipers Banquets Aurora, IL
More information to follow.
We cut and pulled, and trimmed and cleared, and raked and tossed! Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It’s Off to Work We Go !
8
Yes! I would like to donate to Fox Valley Wildlife Center at the membership level I circled below.
COTTONTAIL - $35 MALLARD - $100 Track newsletter and Photo Tote Bag
RACCOON - $250 CARDINAL - $500 Great Blue Heron T-Shirt* Ball Cap
FAWN - $750 GREAT BLUE HERON - $1000 Sweatshirt* Hooded Sweatshirt* & Invite to
3 Summer Releases
OTHER $
Name
Address
City State Zip
Phone
Email * Shirt size: S M L XL
Please make checks payable to Fox Valley Wildlife Center or pay online at fvwc.org.
Please clip out form and return to: FVWC PO Box 385 Elburn IL 60119
Sponsors receive a subscription to Tracks, our quarterly newsletter, a photo of the animal at their membership level, and the thank-you gifts listed below.
MEMBERSHIPS
NEW & RENEWED
8
Jack Hansen, from Georgia Fessler
Tallulah, from Judy Lyday
IN MEMORY OF
F V W C M E M B E R S H I P Help Us Give Them a Second Chance
WEDDING WISHES
William & Elizabeth Malecki, from
Maria Meseke
COTTONTAIL
Sandra Laubenthal
Dennis Hayes
Carla Jaffe
Roger Clampitt
Gieda Afdal
Patricia Feeley
Claire Lizon
Marilyn Bauer
DePaw University
MALLARD
Elvira Kirch
Mary Lloyd
Allan Mills
RACCOON
Nancy Roll
Michael Tillmans
Harlo Krieger
Kristine Summers
CARDINAL
Mark Schneid
BIRTHDAYS
Dana Speechmaker’s 50th, from
Sarah Holcombe
Release Sites Needed Release sites need to be appropriate for each species, but not
overcrowded with others of the same species.
If you know of a potential release site, please email
Andrea Krueger at [email protected]
with the owner’s name, address, phone number, total acreage, and what spe-
cies they are willing to accept. Residential areas aren’t considered. FVWC
must have permission from the landowner to release rehabilitated animals
back into the wild on their land.
We are especially in need of acreage with woods and water
and a fondness for raccoons.
