St. Mel’s Wildlife Rescue

10/14/2025

The Shawnee people lived in harmony with wildlife across the Ohio Valley long before we arrived. Today, WEST pauses to honor and value those who came before us — the original stewards of this land and the rich ecosystems they helped preserve, not just the Shawnee but all of the Indigenous peoples of our great country.

Let’s remember that caring for wildlife and protecting nature continues their legacy.

02/08/2025

Let’s make this a possibility.

I need to be posting more about our desperate need for a wildlife rehab facility. The truth is, it stays on the back burner much of the time, because I am so busy running the rescue.

We’re looking for at least 3 acres with a pond in Hamilton, Butler, or Clermont County, OH to establish a facility that will help us rescue, rehabilitate and release back to the wild native mammals and songbirds, as well as provide community education about wildlife.

Would anyone be willing to lease land for this mission? If you or someone you know has available land that could be a good fit, we’d love to connect!

Every share helps bring us closer to making this vision a reality. DM us with leads or support or email us at [email protected].

11/13/2024

It's ! Here at WEST, everything we do starts with kindness, and we hope we create little ripples that spread out among all of you (and so on and so on)!

If you want to practice kindness with wildlife, here are some simple ways to do it. Carve out a space for them, on your property and in your heart. Think of them as good neighbors that you want to keep around. You won't regret it, because kindness always matters.

And kindness towards those who are voiceless matters most of all.

*plant native plants on your property
* leave that brush pile alone - it's great habitat for wildlife
*provide fresh water
*keep bird feeders clean and well stocked in winter
*leave at least SOME leaves for pollinators, bats, moths, and other critters
*leave dead trees when you can - they also are important habitat for wildlife

11/08/2024

As some of you may have guessed .. I am working towards the future. Come what may it will be an adventure for sure. It just makes no sense that two adults are doing the same things ( managing phone lines , 501c3 paper work etc) while trying to rehabilitate wildlife and serve our communities. The merge / transition process may take a while but I am excited and hopeful.

Big news for WEST! We are participating in the challenge and hope we can count on your support as we start to grow funds for a wildlife rehab facility in Southwest Ohio!

The Cincinnati Gives Challenge is a friendly fund-raising competition where local charities compete to raise the most money with the top teams winning cash prizes from Cincinnati Magazine (funded by P&G).

The Cincinnati Gives Challenge runs December 2nd through December 12th and only donations made online during that time period will help us to win the challenge!

WEST is currently looking for individuals and businesses to participate in matching grants, which will enable us to win fundraising challenges and potentially double our winnings!

If you'd like to be a matching grant donor, comment below and Beth will reach out! You simply need to determine the amount you or your business are able to give, and WEST followers can donate to match that amount, effectively doubling your donation! This is a great way to help WEST while also promoting your business!

Here's our page with more info:
https://www.cincinnatigives.org/organization/W-E-S-T-Wildlife-Rehab?mode=edit

11/03/2024

Had a wonderful time at 2024 Ohio Wildlife Rehabilitators Association Annual Conference. I was so humbled and excited that they asked me to help teach a Songbird session ❤️ I was afraid no one would come 🤣 but the room was mostly filled! ❤️

And I got to learn some new tips and tricks. I have been going every year for the last ten years and every time I go I learn something I did not know. Fantastic group of Rehabber’s from several states.

Meet some new friends, saw some dear friends… and Now I can “recharge my batteries “ and prepare for next spring. Some exciting new changes in the works and hopefully we can serve more animals and more of the people who care for them.

I also hope to have help with the social media so you all won’t think I vanished. 🤣

10/13/2024

Help WEST Wildlife Rehab and St. Mel’s Wildlife Rescue make this a possiblity.

It's been a few weeks since I posted about our search for a suitable facility space. We've looked at several potential commercial spaces, but nothing really meets our needs or hopes or wishes. That's where all of YOU - especially local followers - come in.

Stephanie (from ) and I talked yesterday and while we are both desperate to stop rehabbing from our homes, realize that it may take some time and support from the right people to create what we truly want and deserve, and what is desperately needed in southwestern Ohio.

Our dream facility would be on land deeded to us and within a manageable distance from Batavia (where Stephanie lives) and Glendale (where Beth lives). I've done some research and once we have a suitable piece of land, we'd like to raise funds for a pole barn. We need more than a large room with windows and a sink. We need a kitchen, laundry facilities, room to quarantine animals and have outdoor enclosures. We want space to do community events and to train new sub permittees and volunteers.

CAN YOU HELP? If so, please reach out! And if local folks could please SHARE this post, that would help a lot, too! Thanks!

08/06/2024

OWRA offers a variety of awards for members and non-members in the wildlife rehabilitation and rescue community. Nominate an outstanding veterinarian, volunteer, or member of the public who has gone above and beyond to help Ohio's wildlife. Explore the options below and submit your application today...

08/02/2024

These little ones are newer intakes. The late season (imo) waxwing came in from Sharon Woods Great Parks I suspect he had been elsewhere for a few days. Kinda had strawberry all over him. My first Hummer - probably a window collision and 3 robins from 2 different nests.

08/02/2024

If you happened to see the little fellow in the mesh enclosure in my last swift post… then you saw “shrimp”. Our collegue and friend Beth at WEST Wildlife Rehab swung by as the finder did not drive… and transported this one from the finder to me. He spent some time in the incubator and getting hydrated as he had been without mom about 2 days and other siblings died.. but a few days later was able to join his new “micro colony” of siblings from other situations . Thank you to Beth for doing all that and for everything you do at WEST!