Back 2 The Wild Rehab

06/08/2026

BRAVO!!!!

The recent decision by the St. Clair County Board of Commissioners to overhaul Animal Control was, in my opinion, a misguided and fear‑driven move.

For decades, communities across Michigan and throughout the country have relied on a proven model: trained Animal Control professionals serving as the front line for animal welfare and enforcement, working in coordination with law enforcement when criminal thresholds are met. This structure exists for a reason — it puts responsibility in the hands of those with the specific training, experience, and daily focus required to handle these complex cases.

There were multiple viable options available that would have allowed the county to address any legal or operational concerns while preserving that established model. Instead, the Board chose to dismantle it.
By removing enforcement authority from experienced Animal Control officers and shifting criminal investigations to the Sheriff’s Office, the county is abandoning a system that has worked and replacing it with an unproven approach. This change does not strengthen public safety — it risks weakening it.

The Sheriff’s Office already carries an immense workload and operates under staffing constraints. Adding another layer of responsibility — particularly one that requires specialized knowledge of animal behavior, livestock care, and welfare standards — creates a real risk that these cases will not receive the focused attention they require.

And as a direct result of this decision, the county has already lost one of the best Animal Control directors it has been fortunate to have. Having worked with Director Melissa Miller on multiple cases, I can personally attest to her knowledge, professionalism, and dedication. Her expertise was evident, and I had full confidence in her leadership. We were better off with her at the helm, and her resignation is a significant loss to this county.

When responsibility is divided and diluted, accountability often follows. That raises a serious concern: will these cases remain a priority, or will they gradually become just another duty competing for limited time and resources?

Good policy should build on what works, not discard it. It should be shaped by experience, collaboration, and thoughtful problem‑solving — not reactionary decisions driven primarily by fear or liability concerns.

Our residents — and the animals that depend on us for protection — deserved a more balanced, well‑considered approach.

06/08/2026

We will be turning these people into the appropriate agencies for enforcement!!!

06/03/2026

We had to order more food for the 7 dwarfs last night. A $600 order that will be gone in approx 2-3 weeks.
If anyone would like to help, please go to,
https://rodentpro.com/Charities/DonateToCharity/back-2-the-wild-rehab
Thanks everyone!!!

06/02/2026

Q: In the United States, can I move a bird's nest with eggs or baby birds in the nest?

A: There are very few exceptions, so the short answer is NO. The majority of birds & their "live" nests, a nest with eggs or live offspring, are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) of 1918.

This law prohibits individuals from killing, capturing, selling, trading, transporting, or having possession of protected birds, their feathers, the nests, & eggs without a permit or license.

One of the main reasons it is not recommended to move a bird's nest, especially with eggs, is the bird will not search or look for their nest and simply assume the nest and babies are gone. The majority of birds will "fledge" or leave the nest between 10 and 21 days. This really isn't that long.

So, early spring please start being mindful and aware that birds are looking for places to build nests. These nests could be in dryer vents, mailboxes, wreaths, hanging plant baskets, trees, bushes, grills, campers, boats, cars, or patio furniture. Even bicycle helmets & boots.

And one last thing, adult birds will not abandon their offspring because you handled or placed them back in the nest. Many birds simply have a poor sense of smell & cannot detect human scent. (There are some birds who have well developed olfactory systems but even these birds will not abandon offspring handled by humans.)

Https://ahnow.org/blog/2025/05/30/ignorance-can-be-illegal-and-it-can-kill/

06/02/2026

We are asking our residents to be on the lookout for Duck Norris who is wanted for trespassing, damage to property and using fowl language.

Norris sometimes uses the aliases Quackie Chan, James Pond or Sirius Quack.

If located, do not approach. Norris will probably fight you as it is in his nature. He is not known to be armed.
Call 911 immediately. 

06/02/2026

Hi. I'm a fawn. ‍👋 Mom left me here while she went on a grocery run. It's cool, I have these neat spots that help me blend in with the forest floor and hide until she's back. Really!

If you see wildlife babies on their own, let them be - their parents know best, and most wildlife leave nests or dens well in advance of being able to care for themselves.

In the case of fawns, they don't move around much the first few weeks, which keeps them from spreading their scent. This hiding strategy is a fawn's best chance of survival until it's old enough to follow Mama Doe around. (Don't worry, she comes back to nurse her baby when you're not looking.)

Although broods or litters of wildlife babies may become widely scattered as young leaves the nest or den, little ones still remain under the direct care and feeding of their parents.

Remember, taking in wildlife is not only illegal, but it often dooms the creature you're trying to save. If you know for certain that a wildlife parent has died, contact a licensed wildlife rehabber and wait for any instructions before handling wildlife: iowadnr.gov/WildlifeRehab

Photo: Eric Burson

06/01/2026

At this time, we are only intaking Birds of Prey.
We are available for questions and information!
We do not rehabilitate passerines, which are the smaller perching birds and songbirds. We also do not rehab geese. We do rehabilitate Bird of Prey, Hawks, Falcons, Owls, Osprey, Vultures, and Eagles. We do rehabilitate baby ducklings depending on available space.