Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Unsung Hero: Bev Shofstall
WILLIAMSON CO. - Whether they're feisty, furry, or fierce- orphaned and injured wild animals are welcome at Free Again Wildlife Rehabilitation in Carterville. We found raccoons, bald eagles... even a cougar.
"We will get fox, we will get coyotes, we will get groundhogs," says founder Bev Shofstall. "I've had mink, we've had a badger one year. That was very interesting!" A former veterinary technician, Bev started Free Again almost 20 years ago. The goal is to keep the animals wild, get them healthy- and back to their natural habitat. "If we've done our job right- when we open that cage and they're out of that cage- they never look back," Bev says. Meanwhile some end up calling Free Again home, due to factors that would limit their survival in the wild. Take the de-clawed bobcat, for example. "This guy was a confiscated pet as well- as a youngster," says Bev. "Someone had him illegally." Animals like this end up being used for education. Bev tends to them all, assisted only by volunteers and donations. "She's definitely hardworking. She's driven and she cares a lot about what she does," says volunteer Keisha Luhrsen. For a woman who considers 8-hour work days her "slow" period, it's a labor of love. "We joke that- if there's not animals in Heaven, I'm not sure I want to go! Because it wouldn't be Heaven to me if there weren't animals there," says Bev. As much as Bev loves animals, she knows that with every pair of eyes she looks into, she'll be happiest when they're healthy and able to be released from her care. "It's the best thing in the world. There's no way to describe it," says Bev. "It's bittersweet, because, of course you feel concerned. Did you do a good enough job? Are they going to make it? But of course, even in the wild world, mortality is pretty high." But Bev provides that second chance. It's her hope that people have respect and appreciation for the wild animals they encounter. "For these animals to survive, we've got to be a little more tolerant of their living in our vicinity because actually, we've moved into theirs," says Bev. If you're interested in volunteer opportunities at Free Again Wildlife Rehabilitation, contact Bev at (618) 988-1067. You can also visit http://www.freeagaininc.org or http://www.facebook.com/freeagainwildlife. |
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