our Facility
Our home based facility is permitted by the Ohio Division of Natural Resources Department of Wildlife. Currently we are permitted for Native Ohio Wildlife, Non Rabies Vector Species. This means we are not permitted to take raccoons, foxes, bats or skunks.. for now. Birds are protected by federal laws and require an additional permit from the United States Department of Fish and Wildlife. We are currently unable to take birds for rehabilitation... for now. We are JUST beginning our adventures and we have big dreams! Our facility is also registered as a 501(c)3.
STEPHANIE CARLSON - FOUNDER- PERMITTED CATEGORY 2 WILDLIFE REHABILITATOR
Stephanie has always had a soft spot in her heart for animals and children. As a tween she shadowed Dr Stanley Hastings at the Erlanger Veterinary Hospital in Northern KY with aspirations of becoming a veterinarian . 1981 she was also accepted into the Junior Zoologist Club (program) at the Cincinnati Zoo under Barry Wakemen. It was Barry that suggested she get into the Zoo's Raise and Release Program. She loved it. Baby Cottontails, and Virginia Opossums were her favorite then. College, and a Career switch ( Psychology) , Marriage and Children kept her pretty busy between 1990 and 2014 but still animals seemed to find their way into the house. That is when some needy newborn squirrels literally fell into her life and she realized it was time to start rehabilitating again. Laws had changed. Training was taken. Permits were granted . And St. Mel's became a reality.
Stephanie has always had a soft spot in her heart for animals and children. As a tween she shadowed Dr Stanley Hastings at the Erlanger Veterinary Hospital in Northern KY with aspirations of becoming a veterinarian . 1981 she was also accepted into the Junior Zoologist Club (program) at the Cincinnati Zoo under Barry Wakemen. It was Barry that suggested she get into the Zoo's Raise and Release Program. She loved it. Baby Cottontails, and Virginia Opossums were her favorite then. College, and a Career switch ( Psychology) , Marriage and Children kept her pretty busy between 1990 and 2014 but still animals seemed to find their way into the house. That is when some needy newborn squirrels literally fell into her life and she realized it was time to start rehabilitating again. Laws had changed. Training was taken. Permits were granted . And St. Mel's became a reality.
Laurie G. joined the team in Spring of 2017 as an in facility volunteer and general assistant who is always willing to drop what she can to come help bath a grumpy groundhog. Laurie is a student at UC who is majoring in Biology. Conservation is Laurie's passion. She will be studying abroad in Africa this spring. She has 2 cats and a very spoiled dog and many frogs. Laurie is also a member of the Cincinnati Zoo's C.R.E.W. program.
Karen C. joined the team in Fall of 2017 as a Sub Permittee. Karen also has always had a soft spot in her heart for animals, and was introduced to Wildlife Rehabilitation when she rescued a Red Tailed Hawk and took it to Raptor Inc. After that she decided Wildlife Rehabilitation might be something she would want to help do.
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