Volunteers are the hands, feet and heart that power the MWR mission. We cannot exist without their generous contributions of time and talent. So, each month we appreciate one of our volunteers with a spotlight post.

Meet Stephanie Brock Allen,

Stephanie has volunteered with MWR since April 2022.

As a newcomer to the area with equestrian experience and a love of animals she applied as a volunteer and met with Wildlife Director Stephanie Hogan and late founder Valery Smith. It was an instant fit, and she began working with songbirds. Since then, she has learned to care for and handle our education birds as well. Stephanie also helps with events, birthday parties, administrative needs, maintenance projects, fundraising…………………………… Yep pretty much everything.

Stephanie says the reason she volunteers is, “I think as stewards of this earth we all have a responsibility to do good whenever we can. It is so rewarding when an injured bird that has been in our care recovers and can be released”.

Fun Fact: Stephanie has developed a strong bond with “Cornelius” the corn snake. She shared that most of here family thinks she is a little crazy to be so enamored with a snake but can’t help it because “he’s my main squeeze”.

Thank you, Stephanie, for all you do for MWR.

MWR is currently in need of dedicated volunteers to help in the following areas:

• Social media coordinator

• Wildlife Rehabilitation/ Animal care

• Baby Bird Brigade (Spring and Summer)

• Education programs

• Rehab patient transport

If you are interested in volunteering with MWR please complete this application 

https://www.mswildliferehab.org/files/MWR-Volunteer-Registration-Form.pdf

and submit to volunteer@mswildliferehab.org  

February saw a slowdown in our patient intake, but MWR was still busy providing conservation and environmental education programs. Thanks to the hard work of local community members and MWR volunteers and board members we were able to open the closed sections of the ARK trails to the public. We encourage everyone to enjoy the early signs of spring on all 2 miles of our ARK trails.

MWR was invited to participate in the Horn Lake High School student career program. Executive Director, Mykl Wallrath, and Wildlife Director, Stephanie Hogan, were interviewed for their YouTube channel providing inspiration and useful advice for students interested in wildlife conservation and rehabilitation careers

Patient Update:
This month we admitted 12 new patients into care including 10 birds, 1 snake and 1 turtle.

Sponsor Thank You:
A big Thank You to the following people who answered the call to sponsor our rehab patients through
Sponsorship Sunday this month.

• Jeff Leathers
• Lisa O’Connor
• Penny Gallenbeck
• Tammy Hill
• Marsha Klimetz

Your gift is life-giving for these animals. Keep an eye out for upcoming Sponsorship Sunday
opportunities.

Program update:
MWR supported the US Army Corps of Engineers’ week long Environmental Stewardship training program, providing a tour of our wildlife hospital to 40 staff members from all over the country. One person came all the way from Hawaii. The highlight of the day was getting to meet our ambassador education birds. Black vulture Vinny was especially a crowd pleaser. MWR is so grateful for the valued partnership we have with the USACE.

Kids and adults alike were fascinated to learn all about Isopods in our February workshop. Thank you MWR volunteer Natalie Rodgers for sharing your knowledge and personal collection of amazing isopods. Participants got to set up their very own mini habitat and select from a variety of isopods species to take home and raise. See more at MWR’s Facebook post.

Looking Ahead:
There are still spaces left to register for our upcoming Wildlife Summer Camp and Nature Art Summer camp. And we are taking applications for 2 full scholarships to each camp in memory of our founder Valery Smith.

Part 1 of our Backyard Habitat Workshop series is this coming Saturday 3/9 at 10am. Learn how to provide shelter for native wildlife and build a bluebird house to take home. There is still time to register for this workshop.

Learn more about these great programs at our MWR events page.

Volunteers are the hands, feet and heart that power the MWR mission.  We cannot exist without their generous contributions of time and talent.  So each month we will be appreciating one of our volunteers with a spotlight post.

Meet Penny Gallenbeck,

Penny Gallenbeck

Penny has volunteered with MWR since March 2022.  She began volunteering because of her love for birds of prey and falconry. 

She helps in almost every area of the organization.  As a registered nurse Penny assists with wildlife treatment and rehabilitation as well as collecting and transporting injured patients.  She also helps with MWR educations programs and fundraising events.  And she trains and cares for our education ambassador birds, having formed a special bond with Mochni the Red Shouldered Hawk.  She especially enjoys providing enrichment for our education birds and learning more about wildlife rehabilitation. 

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Fun Fact:  Penny was an avid skier/ bare foot skier most of her adult life.  She chose a ski boat over an engagement ring and says “I’ve never regretted that decision”

Thank you Penny for all you do for MWR. 

MWR is currently in need of dedicated volunteers to help in the following areas:

• Social media coordinator

• Wildlife Rehabilitation/ Animal care

• Baby Bird Brigade (Spring and Summer)

• Education programs

• Rehab patient transport

If you are interested in volunteering with MWR please complete this application 

https://www.mswildliferehab.org/files/MWR-Volunteer-Registration-Form.pdf

and submit to volunteer@mswildliferehab.org  

January brought ice, snow and frigid cold but that did not slow down MWR as we had another great month. We welcomed two new members, Alan Parks and Dane Chamberlin, to our Board of Directors. Learn more about Alan and Dane.

Recent changes to the Federal Animal Welfare Act now require facilities keeping birds to obtain a USDA license by February 21, 2024. Consequently, MWR had our first USDA compliance inspection this month. We are happy to share that our inspector was very impressed and complimentary of our operations resulting in an immediate approval of our new USDA license.

Patient Update
This month we admitted 17 new birds into care representing 11 different species. In 2023 we cared for 549
patients of more than 70 species.

Sponsor Thank You
A big Thank You to the following people who answered the call to sponsor our rehab patients through
Sponsorship Sunday this month.

• Dana Young Alvarez
• Lauren Harry
• Amber Lovell
• Chris Williams
• Lana Taylor
• Starlit Byrd Tomlinson
• Jeff Leathers
• Lisa O’Connor

Your gift is life-giving for these animals. Keep an eye out for upcoming Sponsorship Sunday
opportunities.

Program Update
On a chilly sunrise Wildlife Director, Stephanie Hogan, and volunteer, Penny Gallenbeck supported the
US Army Corps of Engineers at Arkabulta Lake with their annual Eagle Watch program. 12 determined attendees shrugged off the cold to catch a glimpse of our resident eagles and got to meet MWR animal
ambassadors Mochni the Red-shouldered hawk and Rufous the Eastern Screech owl. We are so thankful
for the partnership we have with the USACE.

At our Bioactive Terrarium Workshop, we learned about the delicate balance between living and non-
living elements in a natural system. Then everyone created their very own mini-ecosystem terrarium
complete with springtails and isopods.

MWR had a great 2 days at the Aces Exotic Pet Expo where our volunteers and animal ambassadors
connected with hundreds of people sharing our mission and inspiring them to support wildlife
conservation, education, and rehabilitation. A special thank you to volunteer Natalie Rodgers for
organizing this event for MWR.

Looking Ahead
MWR has announced our Wildlife Summer Camp and Nature Art Summer camp and are offering 2 full
scholarships to each camp in memory of our founder Valery Smith. We have also introduced a 3-part
Backyard Wildlife Habitat workshop series. And it is not too late to register for our Keeping Isopods
workshop on February 17. Not sure what an Isopod is? You will after you attend this workshop. Learn
more about these great programs at our MWR Events page.

February is often referred to as the month of love and if you are short of a Valentine to show some love to you have no need to worry. Mississippi Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc. has got you covered. You can show some love to these sweethearts of ours with a $10.00 donation to go towards their care. If someone has done you wrong, you can secretly gloat how you had a mouse named after your ex fed to one of our education birds or snake. Or if love has you smitten, you can spread the love through your Valentine donation to the care of our education ambassadors.

Please donate HERE.

Mississippi Wildlife Rehabilitation Inc is excited to welcome Alan Parks and Dane Chamberlin as the newest members of our Board of Directors.

Alan Parks and his wife Alishia moved to Desoto County 10 years ago having been in Memphis since 1993. His son, Harrison, and daughter, Noa, graduated from Lewisburg High School.

He received a B.S. in Geoscience from the University of Tennessee at Martin and a Masters of Engineering (Mining) from the University of Missouri‐Rolla.

Alan is the VP of Resource Development and Mining with Memphis Stone & Gravel Company where he has worked for twenty-four years. In this role, Alan serves as an exploration geologist, mining engineer, and environmental manager. He has especially enjoyed the opportunity to lead field trips and mine tours, having taught thousands of students, educators, researchers, and “rockhounds” about the mining cycle, construction resource economy, and local geology.

Alan says he is “excited to help MWR utilize its impressive list of natural resource assets and promote its expertise in caring for injured wildlife”. He looks forward to helping MWR become a regional leader in providing better access to wildlife education and outdoor activities.

Dane Chamberlin is a Desoto County native. He grew up in Hernando and now lives in Coldwater with his wife Amy and two children Dylan (8) and Barrett (4).

Dane is a 2001 graduate of Hernando High School and obtained his associate degree in computer programming from Northwest Mississippi Community College. Dane has worked at Entergy for 17 years where he has held multiple positions. Currently he is the Region Manager, Customer Service.

He is an avid outdoorsman and says “I wanted to join MWR because I believe in the mission of MWR which is education, preservation, rehabilitation of native species in MS. As a board member, I hope to help grow the organization and advance the great work that we do with our education programs. I believe that we have a great future ahead with ample opportunities to promote the organization and our mission.”.

Please help us welcome Alan and Dane to the MWR family. We are blessed to have them as part of our leadership team.

Volunteers are the hands, feet and heart that power the MWR mission. We cannot exist
without their generous contributions of time and talent. So each month we will be
appreciating one of our volunteers with a spotlight post.

Meet Charlie Crews,

Charlie began volunteering with MWR on October 31, 2013. As a longtime wildlife
enthusiast, Charlie found MWR on the internet and it peeked his interest as an
organization he would enjoy working with. And we are so glad that he did.
As one of our longest serving volunteers, Charlie has helped to build and maintain
animal enclosures and was part of the team that renovated the current wildlife hospital
at Arkabutla Lake. He even encouraged Home Depot to support the renovation. He
continues to help MWR with education programs, rehab rescues and releases.

Fun Fact:
Charlie shared that one of his most memorable experiences with MWR was “when we
got a call about a chicken running in traffic on Goodman Road, we were having to stop
traffic to try and get it and people were laughing at seeing us chase a chicken all over
Goodman road.”

Thank you, Charlie for your many years of dedicated service to MWR.

MWR is currently in need of dedicated volunteers to help in the following areas:

• Social media coordinator
• Wildlife Rehabilitation/ Animal care
• Baby Bird Brigade (Spring and Summer)
• Education programs
• Rehab patient transport

If you are interested in volunteering with MWR please complete the application form and submit to volunteer@mswildliferehab.org

Congratulations to MWR Wildlife Director, Stephanie Hogan, for her recent renewal as a Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator. This rigorous certification, administered by the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council, recognizes rehabilitators who achieve the highest standard of wildlife care through academic excellence.

Stephanie first achieved this designation in 2021 and is the only IWRC Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator in the State of Mississippi. Renewal is required every two years and involves completion of approved continuing education courses in the wildlife rehabilitation field.

Stephanie was personally chosen by MWR Founder Valery Smith as her successor for the Wildlife Director position. We are proud and honored to have Stephanie leading our daily wildlife rehabilitation program.

With Christmas celebrations in full swing and 2023 coming to an end, Mississippi Wildlife Rehabilitation had an eventful December. We were chosen as a finalist for the Desoto Times Tribune 2023 Desoto’s Best awards for categories of best charity and best trails. And as we eagerly await the results, we are very honored to be considered. On the last day of the year, Wildlife Director Stephanie Hogan lead a team of amazing volunteers on an adventurous 20-hour rescue of an American Bald Eagle.  Read the full story HERE.

Patient Update:

This month we admitted 32 new patients into care, 31 birds and 1 turtle of 15 different species.

Sponsor Thank You:

A big Thank You to Doug Cooke and Dana Young Alvarez who answered the call to sponsor our rehab patients through Sponsorship Sunday this month. Your gift is life-giving for these animals.  Keep an eye out for upcoming Sponsorship Sunday opportunities

Program Update:

We visited Pleasant Hill Elementary.  Athena the Barn Owl and Rufous the Eastern Screech owl helped us teach 44 3^rd grade students about animal adaptations.  We also learned how all things are connected through the food web. The students enjoyed exploring this concept hands on by dissecting owl pellets.  We are looking forward tovisiting  more schools in 2024.  Please reach out if you would like us to come to your school.

Looking Ahead:

As we enter the new year, MWR is excited about the many upcoming programs, workshops, camps and projects we have planned.   Continue to follow us on Facebook or at our website to find out what we have going on.  And don’t miss our Bioactive Terrarium Workshop coming up on January 13

Wishing everyone a blessed 2024.