Dear Friends,

It would be easy for me to rattle off a bunch of impressive statistics that illustrate how much we have accomplished in the last year.

Instead I’m asking for your financial support because of why we are here and reflect on the “meaning” of what we do.

We often hear that people “love” animals. What does that mean? Certainly most companion animals are easy to love. However, wild animals are literally a breed apart.

Human interaction with wild animals elicits countless emotions. Meanwhile, they are merely living out their lives and perpetuating their species without thought of how we feel. This instinct for survival manifests itself in many awe-inspiring ways that we may never understand: ritual courtship, incredible migratory journeys, amazing strength and agility, perseverance, and intelligence. Wonder is at the heart of nature.

At the same time nearly everyone, even those who love wild animals, has a favorite nuisance animal that we take for granted, usually one of our more familiar backyard animals. But just because a species is common doesn’t make them less interesting, beautiful orresourceful. Our international students marvel over the brilliance of Blue Jays and the athleticism of squirrels because they aren’tfamiliar with them. To them, these species are wondrous.

We need to embrace the uniqueness of every species and celebrate their survival skills. Only by recognizing their universal mystery will we develop a sense of awe and respect – a love for all wild animals.

To be truly compassionate to the animal we must also recognize its wildness. They are not pets. We do not have to own them, or tame them, to love them and enjoy their wonder.

I think of this often when we do releases. Sometimes an animal quickly moves away and then stops and looks back. It’s hard not to wonder, “what was the animal thinking? Was it looking back in gratitude? Was this just a chance peek? Was it afraid we would chase it?” We just don’t know. But we have the tendency to apply our feelings on the animal’s action in order to understand it.

In the modern world, mastery has usurped mystery. As the English nature write Robert Macfarlane notes “by institutionalizing nature, we have largely stunned the earth out of wonder.”

There is a part of me that wants the minds and thought processes of animals to remain a mystery. I sometimes think of the time whenscientists were also poets, recognizing beauty, not just biology. To fully appreciate wild animals for what they are, we need room for awe and mystery.

Think of that squirrel trying to conquer that feeder in your back yard. It doesn’t matter what she is thinking only that she hasknowledge and skills that transcend our ability to outwit her.

That’s cause for enchantment and celebration. And true love.

Philip M. JenniExecutive Director

Late November, 2017

P.S. During this busy holiday season I hope you’ll create time to reflect on the role animals play in your lives and appreciate the wonder of nature.

Please give generously to WRC to help those animals in need. Thank you.

2530 Dale St. Roseville MN 55113 651-486-9453 wrcmn.org Twitter/Instagram/Facebook: @WRCMN

Rehabbed Pied-billed Grebe on its way to release.

2017YE.indd 1 11/20/2017 5:56:23 PM

Did You Know?

MuskratNashville WarblerNorthern (N.) CardinalN. FlickerN. Leopard FrogN. Long-eared BatN. River OtterN. Rough-winged SwallowN. Saw-whet OwlN. Short-tail Shrew

N. Water SnakeN. WaterthrushOlive-sided FlycatcherOvenbirdPied-billed GrebePileated WoodpeckerPorcupinePurple FinchPurple MartinRaccoonRed BatRed FoxRed SquirrelRed-bellied WoodpeckerRed-breasted NuthatchRed-eyed VireoRed-headed WoodpeckerRed-necked GrebeRed-winged BlackbirdRedbelly SnakeRing-billed GullRing-necked DuckRing-necked PheasantRock PigeonRose-breasted GrosbeakRuby-crowned KingletRuby-throated Hummingbird

American BeaverAmerican BitternAmerican CrowAmerican GoldfinchAmerican RedstartAmerican RobinAmerican ToadAmerican Tree SparrowAmerican White PelicanAmerican WoodcockBaltimore OrioleBank SwallowBarn SwallowBay-breasted WarblerBelted KingfisherBig Brown BatBlack-and-white WarblerBlack-billed CuckooBlack-capped ChickadeeBlack-throated Green WarblerBlackburnian WarblerBlanchard’s Cricket FrogBlanding's TurtleBlue JayBlue-headed VireoBlue-winged TealBobcatBrown CreeperBrown ThrasherBrown-headed CowbirdCanada GooseCanada WarblerCattle EgretCedar WaxwingChestnut-sided WarblerChimney SwiftChipping SparrowCliff SwallowCommon Garter SnakeCommon GrackleCommon LoonCommon Map TurtleCommon NighthawkCommon RavenCommon YellowthroatCoyoteDark-Eyed JuncoDickcisselDouble-crested CormorantDowny WoodpeckerEastern BluebirdEastern ChipmunkEastern Cottontail

Eastern Cottontail Eastern Gray SquirrelEastern KingbirdEastern MeadowlarkEastern MoleEastern PhoebeEastern Spiny Softshell TurtleEastern Wood-PeweeEurasian Collared-DoveEuropean StarlingFox SparrowGolden-crowned KingletGolden-winged WarblerGray CatbirdGray FoxGray Tree FrogGray-cheeked ThrushGreat Blue HeronGreat Crested FlycatcherGreat Egret

Greater ScaupGreen FrogGreen HeronGreen-winged TealHairy WoodpeckerHermit ThrushHoary BatHooded MerganserHorned LarkHouse FinchHouse Mouse

House SparrowHouse WrenKilldeer

Least BitternLincoln's SparrowLittle Brown MyotisMallardMeadow VoleMerlinMinkMourning Dove

Ruffed GrouseSandhill CraneSavannah SparrowScarlet TanagerSedge WrenShort-tailed WeaselSilver-haired BatSnapping TurtleSolitary SandpiperSong SparrowSoraSouthern Flying SquirrelStriped SkunkSwainson's ThrushSwamp SparrowTennessee WarblerThirteen-lined Ground SquirrelTree Swallow

Tricolored BatTrumpeter SwanVeery

Virginia OpossumVirginia RailWarbling VireoWestern Fox SnakeWestern Hognose SnakeWestern Painted TurtleWhite-breasted NuthatchWhite-footed MouseWhite-tailed DeerWhite-throated SparrowWild TurkeyWilson’s SnipeWood Duck Wood FrogWood ThrushWoodchuckYellow WarblerYellow-bellied SapsuckerYellow-Rumped Warbler

Every year we post our outcomes, both finan-cial and species-related on our website. We know transparency and privacy are impor-

tant to you. We’ll share our information with you but we never share your information with

anyone.

View our 990, prior-year outcomes and more at www.wrcmn.org/donate.php

From Bitterns to Warblers, Bobcats to Mice:WRC Cared for nearly 180 Species in 2017

Green Heron

Black-capped Chickadee

Common Loon

Ring-necked Duck

Woodchuck

Bobcat

Mallard

2017YE.indd 4 11/20/2017 5:56:52 PM

Seeing our patients through the eyes of National Geographic Photographer Joel Sartore has been an incred-ible experience. The images, which have been widely shared through social media, have garnered more than 7.4 million views - and that’s only count-ing Facebook and Instagram. Those are direct views, not im-pressions or computed through shares. Through Joel’s amazing work we’ve interacted with viewers all over the globe, bringing WRC’s mission to a new audi-ence of millions.

Least Bittern2,240,740 views

Wilson’s Snipe1,192,779 views

Red Squirrel2,823,969 views

Muskrat1,590,073 views

Save the Date

2018 WRC Open HouseSunday, Feb. 18, Noon-4pm

Have your “patient” examined by our vets, learn about wildlife medical care and enter drawings for great prizes.

1,989 Songbirds1,621 Waterfowl

5,480 MammalsA Busy Year for Our Nurseries

This year, more than 600 WRC volunteers logged more than 43,000 hours of time caring for our patients.

More than 100 students from around the worldjoined WRC this year as interns, externs orthrough our veterinary educational opportunities.

In just one day, 542 people made contributionsto WRC totaling almost $47,000 as part of Give to the Max Day.

Tuesday, May 16 was our single busiest day: 146 patients.

We had 22 days of 100+ patients, totaling 2,618.Our busiest week of the year was May 14-20. We admitted 728 patients that week.

Step into the WRC Treatment RoomIn the middle of WRC is its heart: The Treatment Room. This is where our medi-cal staff examines every animal that comes through the door. It’s where we remove fish hooks and repair turtle shells. Our surgery suite and ICU are in the immediate wings and our new digital radiology lab is adjacent.

Your financial support keeps this heartbeat going. It is your contribu-tions that allow us to schedule more than 16,000 hours of medical care in 2017. You have helped us disentangle a hummingbird stuck in a trampoline net. A cottontail in a hockey net. Hundreds of ducks trapped in storm drains. Squirrels trapped in bird feeders and turtles with embedded fish hooks. Animals hit by cars and birds who have hit windows. Your donations make all this possible.

left to upper right: Dr. Alison Demir examines a Red Fox kit, Dr. Leslie Reed removes hardware used to repair a Common Snapping Turtle’s fractured jaw; the medical team works to multiple fractures in a Bobcat; CVT Julia Heaney monitors a Trumpeter Swan, keeping its head elevated, while it recovers from anesthesia.

2017YE.indd 2-3 11/20/2017 5:56:44 PM

Dear Friends,

It would be easy for me to rattle off a bunch of impressive statistics that illustrate how much we have accomplished in the last year.

Instead I’m asking for your financial support because of why we are here and reflect on the “meaning” of what we do.

We often hear that people “love” animals. What does that mean? Certainly most companion animals are easy to love. However, wild animals are literally a breed apart.

Human interaction with wild animals elicits countless emotions. Meanwhile, they are merely living out their lives and perpetuating their species without thought of how we feel. This instinct for survival manifests itself in many awe-inspiring ways that we may never understand: ritual courtship, incredible migratory journeys, amazing strength and agility, perseverance, and intelligence. Wonder is at the heart of nature.

At the same time nearly everyone, even those who love wild animals, has a favorite nuisance animal that we take for granted, usually one of our more familiar backyard animals. But just because a species is common doesn’t make them less interesting, beautiful orresourceful. Our international students marvel over the brilliance of Blue Jays and the athleticism of squirrels because they aren’tfamiliar with them. To them, these species are wondrous.

We need to embrace the uniqueness of every species and celebrate their survival skills. Only by recognizing their universal mystery will we develop a sense of awe and respect – a love for all wild animals.

To be truly compassionate to the animal we must also recognize its wildness. They are not pets. We do not have to own them, or tame them, to love them and enjoy their wonder.

I think of this often when we do releases. Sometimes an animal quickly moves away and then stops and looks back. It’s hard not to wonder, “what was the animal thinking? Was it looking back in gratitude? Was this just a chance peek? Was it afraid we would chase it?” We just don’t know. But we have the tendency to apply our feelings on the animal’s action in order to understand it.

In the modern world, mastery has usurped mystery. As the English nature write Robert Macfarlane notes “by institutionalizing nature, we have largely stunned the earth out of wonder.”

There is a part of me that wants the minds and thought processes of animals to remain a mystery. I sometimes think of the time whenscientists were also poets, recognizing beauty, not just biology. To fully appreciate wild animals for what they are, we need room for awe and mystery.

Think of that squirrel trying to conquer that feeder in your back yard. It doesn’t matter what she is thinking only that she hasknowledge and skills that transcend our ability to outwit her.

That’s cause for enchantment and celebration. And true love.

Philip M. JenniExecutive Director

Late November, 2017

P.S. During this busy holiday season I hope you’ll create time to reflect on the role animals play in your lives and appreciate the wonder of nature.

Please give generously to WRC to help those animals in need. Thank you.

2530 Dale St. Roseville MN 55113 651-486-9453 wrcmn.org Twitter/Instagram/Facebook: @WRCMN

Rehabbed Pied-billed Grebe on its way to release.

2017YE.indd 1 11/20/2017 5:56:23 PM

Did You Know?

MuskratNashville WarblerNorthern (N.) CardinalN. FlickerN. Leopard FrogN. Long-eared BatN. River OtterN. Rough-winged SwallowN. Saw-whet OwlN. Short-tail Shrew

N. Water SnakeN. WaterthrushOlive-sided FlycatcherOvenbirdPied-billed GrebePileated WoodpeckerPorcupinePurple FinchPurple MartinRaccoonRed BatRed FoxRed SquirrelRed-bellied WoodpeckerRed-breasted NuthatchRed-eyed VireoRed-headed WoodpeckerRed-necked GrebeRed-winged BlackbirdRedbelly SnakeRing-billed GullRing-necked DuckRing-necked PheasantRock PigeonRose-breasted GrosbeakRuby-crowned KingletRuby-throated Hummingbird

American BeaverAmerican BitternAmerican CrowAmerican GoldfinchAmerican RedstartAmerican RobinAmerican ToadAmerican Tree SparrowAmerican White PelicanAmerican WoodcockBaltimore OrioleBank SwallowBarn SwallowBay-breasted WarblerBelted KingfisherBig Brown BatBlack-and-white WarblerBlack-billed CuckooBlack-capped ChickadeeBlack-throated Green WarblerBlackburnian WarblerBlanchard’s Cricket FrogBlanding's TurtleBlue JayBlue-headed VireoBlue-winged TealBobcatBrown CreeperBrown ThrasherBrown-headed CowbirdCanada GooseCanada WarblerCattle EgretCedar WaxwingChestnut-sided WarblerChimney SwiftChipping SparrowCliff SwallowCommon Garter SnakeCommon GrackleCommon LoonCommon Map TurtleCommon NighthawkCommon RavenCommon YellowthroatCoyoteDark-Eyed JuncoDickcisselDouble-crested CormorantDowny WoodpeckerEastern BluebirdEastern ChipmunkEastern Cottontail

Eastern Cottontail Eastern Gray SquirrelEastern KingbirdEastern MeadowlarkEastern MoleEastern PhoebeEastern Spiny Softshell TurtleEastern Wood-PeweeEurasian Collared-DoveEuropean StarlingFox SparrowGolden-crowned KingletGolden-winged WarblerGray CatbirdGray FoxGray Tree FrogGray-cheeked ThrushGreat Blue HeronGreat Crested FlycatcherGreat Egret

Greater ScaupGreen FrogGreen HeronGreen-winged TealHairy WoodpeckerHermit ThrushHoary BatHooded MerganserHorned LarkHouse FinchHouse Mouse

House SparrowHouse WrenKilldeer

Least BitternLincoln's SparrowLittle Brown MyotisMallardMeadow VoleMerlinMinkMourning Dove

Ruffed GrouseSandhill CraneSavannah SparrowScarlet TanagerSedge WrenShort-tailed WeaselSilver-haired BatSnapping TurtleSolitary SandpiperSong SparrowSoraSouthern Flying SquirrelStriped SkunkSwainson's ThrushSwamp SparrowTennessee WarblerThirteen-lined Ground SquirrelTree Swallow

Tricolored BatTrumpeter SwanVeery

Virginia OpossumVirginia RailWarbling VireoWestern Fox SnakeWestern Hognose SnakeWestern Painted TurtleWhite-breasted NuthatchWhite-footed MouseWhite-tailed DeerWhite-throated SparrowWild TurkeyWilson’s SnipeWood Duck Wood FrogWood ThrushWoodchuckYellow WarblerYellow-bellied SapsuckerYellow-Rumped Warbler

Every year we post our outcomes, both finan-cial and species-related on our website. We know transparency and privacy are impor-

tant to you. We’ll share our information with you but we never share your information with

anyone.

View our 990, prior-year outcomes and more at www.wrcmn.org/donate.php

From Bitterns to Warblers, Bobcats to Mice:WRC Cared for nearly 180 Species in 2017

Green Heron

Black-capped Chickadee

Common Loon

Ring-necked Duck

Woodchuck

Bobcat

Mallard

2017YE.indd 4 11/20/2017 5:56:52 PM