DEWAYNE HOLLOWAY|dewayne@mcnews.online
MENA – Tommy Young and the Arkansas Native Plant and Wildlife Center suffered a huge setback in their effort to rehabilitate an American white pelican recently during a recent winter storm.
Arkansas Native Plant and Wildlife Center is located in Mena where Tommy has rehabilitated hundreds of animals over the years, including over 100 bald eagles. Tommy has used Hickory Nut Mountain overlooking Lake Ouachita as a release location for several bald eagles over the last several years. Tommy’s next scheduled release will be a special one as he prepares to release an American white pelican possibly the day before Easter.
Tommy picked up the pelican, which he jokingly calls a mountain pelican, in Greenwood. The pelican came up to a horse barn and hung out until someone figured he needed help. The pelican is an adult male that stands 52 inches tall and has a wingspan of over nine feet. This pelican was shot with a .22 and had two broken bones in his wing when Tommy picked him up.
Tommy said that the pelican eats several pounds of fish per week and is always in need of fish.
Unfortunately, the pelican’s rehabilitation hit a snag last week when heavy snow caused the roof of the Center’s flight cage to collapse. This is a major blow to Tommy’s work. Not only does it restrict the birds’ rehabilitation, but the flight cage is also required to keep his U.S. Fish and Wildlife permit to rehabilitate migratory birds. The flight cage needs to be rebuilt by the end of February to meet the requirements for the permit.
Tommy plans to repair the current cage, building a better cage with a pole barn roof covering and metal supports and wiring. Volunteers will be appreciated to help with the construction, but materials must be purchased first.
This will be an expensive endeavor and they have set up a GoFundMe account at https://gofund.me/dc8284d5. The goal for the GoFundMe account is $10,000 for materials. Arkansas Native Plant and Wildlife Center is a 501c3 non-profit organization.
You can also mail donations for Arkansas Native Plant and Wildlife Center to ANPWC, PO Box 1881, Mena, AR 71953
They also accept donations through PayPal by using the email birdmanofmena@icloud.com. Note: the email is used for PayPal only.
There is always a need for food for all the animals being rehabilitated at the facility. Any donation would be appreciated.
For more information visit the Arkansas Native Plant and Wildlife Center page on Facebook.
