How the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center coordinates with the Whatcom community to restore wildlife

Story by JADE THURSTON | Photos by AMY PAGE

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In May 2016, he was with his mother and siblings when they were struck by a car. His mother died.

With emergency treatment at a hospital, resulting in permanent cognitive impairment and the removal of an eye, he survived. His brothers and sisters did too. He lived his life visiting workshops and schools for educational purposes.

This guy’s name was Rainbow and he was a Virginia opossum. He resideds in an outdoor enclosure at the Whatcom Humane Society Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, the hospital and facility he was treated at the day he sustained his injuries. Because Rainbow was deemed unable to live on his own in the wild after his treatment, the Wildlife Center applied for a permit to have him become an education ambassador.

Alysha Evans, manager at the Wildlife Center, says Rainbow’s situation was unusual.

“We don’t normally name any of the animals — they get a case number because we want to make sure that we are keeping them as wild as possible and so we don’t create any kind of bond with them,” Evans says.

Rainbow had the worst injuries among his 12, tiny, look-alike siblings — opossums typically have 13 babies — he got tagged with all the colors to identify him out of the group, producing the name Rainbow Opo. After his eye had to be removed, Evans says Rainbow never really went back to his normal opossum habits. He no longer had a natural response to fear, had cognitive difficulties like breathing and couldn’t eat normally.

Still, Rainbow didn’t seem to mind. In the extra year of life the Wildlife Center helped create for him, this one-eyed, noisy-breathing marsupial enjoyed human interaction. However, those at the Wildlife Center did not treat him like a pet. Rather, he helped educate the public.

“Most people are terrified of opossums and think they have rabies, think that they’re mean, think that they’re dirty,” Evans says. “They’re nature’s little scavengers and clean-up crew. They’ll eat ticks with Lyme disease, they’ll clean up harmful insects and they’re actually not aggressive.”

Rainbow was just one aspect of the Wildlife Center.

Previously operated through Northwest Wildlife, the Wildlife Center became a department of the Whatcom Humane Society in 2014. The Humane Society is the oldest non-profit animal welfare organization in Whatcom County.

The Wildlife Center, however, remains the same as it was before the switch — an older, white house with a cement-floor basement, just off Mount Baker Highway. A large weeping willow tree is rooted in the front lawn and animal enclosures scatter the backyard.

In tune with the Humane Society’s vision that all animals are “sentient beings, have value beyond economic measurements and are entitled to legal, moral, and ethical consideration and protection,” the Wildlife Center also pinpoints how to coexist with wildlife.

They understand that humans are actually the ones merging into the lives of animals.

“Our motto is definitely rescue, rehabilitation, release,” Evans says. “Our ultimate goal is that every single wild animal that needs help in our community will one way or another make it to the Center…so we can then put each one back into the wild.”

Evans is a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and a licensed veterinary technician; her background is bursting with experience and a passion for animals. She has always been fascinated with wildlife; she also grew up next to a wildlife center.

“I always saw what [the center] was doing in the news and always drove past, and thought, ‘One day, I am going to work there,’” Evans says.

Evans’ curiosity of that center soon led to volunteer work, which then revealed another discovery: she wanted to not only be involved with caring for animals but also to take part in the medical aspect of wildlife care, prompting her decision to attend veterinary school.

Evans has volunteered and worked at multiple wildlife centers since her official training and becoming manager at her current post.

Beside Evans and a few other experienced staff, the Wildlife Center is fueled by volunteers and interns. For the past 16 years, Laura Clark has worked with the Whatcom Humane Society. Currently, as director, she’s responsible for the overall operations of the organization and its departments and services, such as the Wildlife Center. Last year, Whatcom Humane Society received over 5,000 domestic, wild and farm animals.

There are roughly 11 volunteer positions available — such as a vet clinic assistant and a farm animal friend — based on certain qualifications. A volunteer must also be able to commit at least two hours a week for a minimum of six months. Internship positions are offered every year from April 1 to October 31.

“Working at WHS is a very inspiring place,” Clark says. “Each day can bring extreme joy and also sadness, but the good far outweighs the bad and seeing an animal receive care, comfort and a second chance at a great life is the best thing ever.”