Nina's Notes
The Dan and Dianne May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center exemplifies the 91探花 motto—In the Mountains, Of the Mountains, For the Mountains—in caring for the injured and orphaned wildlife of western North Carolina. Our college founder, Rev. Edgar Tufts, came to Banner Elk and established a women’s boarding school (now 91探花), a hospital (now Tate Hall), and Grandfather Home for Children (now Lees-91探花 South Campus) to serve the needs of the members of this community. We carry this spirit in providing medical care and rehabilitation to wildlife to fulfill the needs of nearly 2,000 injured and orphaned animals and our neighbors who find them each year.
When Hurricane Helene ravaged our mountain areas, the community came together to help their neighbors in any way they could. Banner Elk was an island, cut off due to storm damage, where military helicopters dropped water and evacuated people to get them out. The animals were carried out from the center on foot by staff and students. There were too many heroic acts to count. In this newsletter, we are excited to share the stories that exemplify the great work of our staff, students, and volunteers before, during, and after the storm. We are Bobcat Strong.
THE GREAT ANIMAL RESCUE
Veterinarian Dr. Sam Young recounts his experience working alongside his family, fellow faculty members, and students to extract the patients and ambassadors from the rehabilitation center after Hurricane Helene.
MEET OUR NEW VET
Dr. Miranda Torkelson joined the team in June 2024 as the second veterinarian on staff. She both does clinical work in the center and teaches Pre-Veterinary and Wildlife Rehabilitation courses.
VOLUNTEER SUPERSTARS
Our volunteers play a crucial role in the work of wildlife rehabilitation and the successes for the animals would not be the same without their generous service.
Featured Bobcat—Savannah Trantham ’08
Once a student graduates and goes off to create their future, they become colleagues to the faculty and staff at the May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.
Savannah Trantham started her journey before arriving at 91探花 by working as a licensed rehabilitator at the Western North Carolina Nature Center in Asheville, North Carolina. She came to Banner Elk in the fall of 2006 with aspirations of opening her own wildlife rehabilitation center someday. She was on the first New Zealand trip in 2007 and graduated in spring of 2008. She continued her work as a naturalist at the WNC Nature Center while planning the new facility, which would become Appalachian Wildlife Refuge. I remember sitting in a restaurant in 2013, brainstorming what needs to happen prior to opening her doors. She gathered the right people to establish the 501(c)(3) non-profit and board. Along with this team, she planned and raised funds until 2017, when they began breaking ground for the new facility. Appalachian Wildlife Refuge opened their doors to injured wildlife in 2018. They operate under state permits for mammals, rabies vector species, and reptiles. As sub-permittees under our federal permit, they accept birds for triage and placement.
Appalachian Wildlife Rescue has come a long way since they first opened their doors:
- Admit about 2,000 injured and orphaned wildlife per year
- Field over 5,000 phone calls annually
- Employ 7 staff and 120 active volunteers
- Offer internships year-round for high school and college students
- Maintain an operating budget of $440,000 per year with grants from Wands for Wildlife, grants from local and national organizations, and fundraisers
- Began black bear cub rehab when approached by NC state biologist to do so
- Raise orphaned fawns at their Weaverville site
- Featured on NBC’s The Today Show and are competing (top two) for the Land Rover Defender Service Award Continue to grow their facilities, caging, land acquisition, and more.
Savannah personally filled her pickup truck with supplies and food for our animals after Hurricane Helene ravaged our entire WNC area. I am proud to see how far Savannah Trantham has taken Appalachian Wildlife Refuge and making her dreams come true. We can’t wait to see what’s next for her!
Nina Fischesser
Director of the May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
On my first day visiting the May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center there was a long list of rechecks to attend to. A crow recovering from bone surgery, a wren with a splinted leg, a box turtle with a wound from a lawn mower, a snake caught in netting, and many more. We jumped right in, and the wildlife center team immediately made me feel welcome. Some highlights from my visit include monitoring anesthesia for a deer fawn, repairing a prolapse on an Eastern River Cooter (turtle), splinting songbird legs, and helping with a blood transfusion for a sharp-shinned hawk. Yet, the best part of wildlife rehabilitation is getting to release your patients back to the wild. I was filled with joy watching a group of barn swallows soar into the air and a group of wrens flutter into the brambles, both successfully rehabilitated.
I really appreciate how the veterinarians closely involved me in each case, and I gained knowledge and skills that I will carry forward with me throughout my career. I am also very grateful to the rehabilitation staff and students for all they taught me about wildlife rehabilitation. It was wonderful to see the students come together to care for wildlife; problem solving, learning new information, and practicing skills. My love for animals and path towards veterinary medicine started with watching animals in the forest and I have always hoped to be able to use my veterinary training to help wildlife and the ecosystems they are a part of. My time at MWRC pushed me to pursue further training in wildlife medicine and rehabilitation, following my passion. MWRC is a place that we desperately need right now. A place that educates about the connection between humans and wildlife. A place that teaches students to care for all of earth's beings. A place that reveals how humans have neglected our wild neighbors. And a place that proves that there is hope and each and every one of us can make a difference.
—Holly Amato, NC State DVM Candidate, Class of 2025
Our ambassadors are animals of various species who have been deemed nonreleasable because they won't survive or thrive in the wild. Wildlife Rehabilitation and Pre-Veterinary Medicine students work closely with the ambassadors to learn about wild animal care and handling and educate the community about the importance of protecting local species. This year, we welcomed several new ambassadors to the MWRC family.
Evie (Harris’s Hawk) is a retired falconry bird. This is a new species for us, and we are extremely excited to have her on our team.
Mordecai (Blue Jay) is not yet ready for the public but is responding to training well. He comes all the way from the Florida Keys!
Phoenix (American Kestrel) rose from the flames (literally) of a burning tree and was then raised by the finder, resulting in her becoming imprinted (she thinks she’s one of us). She hails from Kentucky Raptor Center.
Klaus (Mississippi Kite) comes from the coast and now bonded with our other Mississippi kite, MIKI.
Mac (Broad-winged Hawk) is named after Amber McNamara, DVM, and came to us as a patient. She had a permanent wing injury and needed an eye removed, making her non-releasable. 
Azul (Eastern Bluebird) gives us joy with his hilarious antics.
Chester (Southern Flying Squirrel) is now keeping Reishi company and will soon join our education team. 
Ivy (Virginia Opossum) enjoys her daily walks with students and staff alike to stay in shape. The Proverbial Rainbow Bridge
When animals age or other health challenges arise, it comes time to say good-bye to the very animals who have been our partners in education. We are grateful for their service and representation of their species.
Cloudfeather (Red-tailed Hawk) was our longest ambassador at 27 years old. She finally was ready to go home. We miss her terribly and so does her mate, Captain. 
Thunder (Eastern Gray Squirrel) was truly a great educator. Audiences everywhere loved to learn about the unique white squirrel population of Brevard, North Carolina. 
Opal (Virginia Opossum). Unfortunately, opossums have a short lifespan (2–3 year average). 
Bugsy (Eastern Screech Owl) was brought to us in 2012 with permanent injuries rendering him non-releasable. We placed him with an educator in Colorado Springs, who sent him back to us in 2019 when she changed professions. He passed during recovery from a surgical procedure. 
Willow (Pileated Woodpecker) had an accident in her enclosure causing a fatal head injury. We miss you, Willow! 
We love to think that we have the best place for all ambassadors who cannot be released, but once in a while there are some that simply don’t thrive in our setting with so many handlers and activity. Buckley (Northern Saw-whet Owl) went into a breeding program in Wisconsin where he can have a girlfriend and reduced daily human interaction. 
Zane, Zorro, Zoe (Cedar Waxwings). Cedar Waxwings are very social and are bonded with each other in flocks called "earfuls." We now have one lonely Azula and we are looking for another friend to keep her company. Total Patients Admitted 1/1–11/15: 1,768
| D (deceased): 11% | E24 (euthanized in 24 hours): 4.7% |
| DOA (deceased on arrival): 5.2% | ECS (escaped): 0.2% |
| D24 (deceased in 24 hours): 11% | R (released): 42.1% |
| E (euthanized): 7.9% | PR (permanent resident): 0.5% |
| EOA (euthanized on arrival): 10.1% | T (transferred): 7.3% |
Total surgeries performed: 85
Patient totals 2019–24
| 2024 | 1,768* |
| 2023 | 1,544 |
| 2022 | 1,222 |
| 2021 | 1,237 |
| 2020 | 794 |
| 2019 | 1,525 |
*Due to Hurricane Helene, our center was not operating after Sept. 25, so numbers shown here are only accurate through Nov. 15.
Even though we were cut short this year, intake numbers have increased gradually since the pandemic of 2020, and we are now surpassing previous records.
Top 5 species admitted:
- White-tailed deer (83)
- Carolina wrens (95)
- Chimney swifts (126)
- Eastern cottontails (156)
- Virginia opossums (232)
Uncommon patients admitted:
- Northern waterthrush
- Blue-headed vireo
- Dekay's brown snake
- Silver-haired bat
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Full List of Intakes
American bullfrog: 2
American coot: 1
American crow: 29
American goldfinch: 8
American green tree frog: 1
American kestrel: 3
American robin: 57
Bald eagle: 1
Barn swallow: 17
Barred owl: 7
Belted kingfisher: 1
Big brown bat: 1
Black and white warbler: 1
Black racer: 1
Black vulture: 3
Black-throated blue warbler: 1
Blue grosbeak: 2
Blue jay: 21
Blue-headed vireo: 1
Broad-winged hawk: 8
Brown anole: 1
Brown thrasher: 18
Brown-headed cowbird: 6
Canada goose: 4
Carolina chickadee: 7
Carolina wren: 95
Cedar waxwing: 15
Chimney swift: 126
Chipping sparrow: 9
Cliff swallow:1
Common garter snake: 2
Common grackle: 10
Common raven: 1
Cooper's hawk: 9
Corn snake: 2
Dark-eyed junco: 21
Dekay’s brown snake: 1
Double-crested cormorant: 1
Downy woodpecker: 11
Eastern red bat: 1
Eastern small-footed bat: 2
Eastern bluebird: 53
Eastern box turtle: 16
Eastern chipmunk: 18
Eastern cottontail: 159
Eastern gray squirrel: 33
Eastern kingbird: 2
Eastern phoebe: 81
Eastern river cooter: 1
Eastern screech owl: 13
Eastern towhee: 9
European starling: 26
Fish crow: 3
Gray catbird: 11
Graylag goose:1
Great blue heron: 4
Great horned owl: 3
Groundhog: 12
Hairy woodpecker: 3
Harris hawk: 1
House finch: 34
House sparrow: 15
House wren: 5
Killdeer:1
Little brown bat: 11
Mallard: 6
Meadow jumping mouse: 1
Meadow vole: 7
Mississippi kite: 1
Mourning dove: 69
Muscovy duck: 1
Northern waterthrush: 1
Northern cardinal: 34
Northern flicker: 4
Northern mockingbird: 25
Northern rough-winged swallow: 3
Northern water snake: 2
Norway rat:1
Orchard oriole: 1
Ovenbird: 2
Painted turtle: 2
Pileated woodpecker: 6
Pine warbler: 2
Pine siskin: 5
Purple martin: 2
Raccoon: 12
Rat snake: 7
Red-bellied snake: 1
Red fox: 4
Red squirrel: 6
Red-bellied woodpecker: 10
Red-eared slider: 1
Red-eyed vireo: 3
Red-shouldered hawk: 13
Red-tailed hawk: 12
Ringneck snake: 1
Rock dove: 7
Rose-breasted grosbeak: 2
Ruby-throated hummingbird: 27
Ruffed grouse: 1
Sharped-shinned hawk: 2
Silver-haired bat: 1
Snapping turtle: 5
Song sparrow: 22
Southern flying squirrel: 19
Squirrel tree frog: 1
Striped skunk: 5
Swainson’s thrush: 1
Tennessee warbler: 4
Tree swallow: 2
Tufted titmouse: 13
Turkey vulture: 3
Veery: 1
Virginia opossum: 232
White-breasted nuthatch: 3
White-footed mouse: 37
White-tailed deer: 83
White-throated sparrow: 2
Wild turkey: 5
Willow flycatcher- 1
Wood thrush- 7
Woodland vole: 1
Worm-eating warbler: 1
Yellow-breasted chat: 1
Yellow warbler: 1
Yellow-rumped warbler: 1
Yellow-bellied sapsucker: 2
Yellow-billed cuckoo: 2
Unknown- 5