BRADENTON BEACH – Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center Inc. co-founders Gail and Ed Straight are working toward rebuilding not only their hurricane-damaged home, but restoring the non-profit wildlife rehabilitation center they’ve run for the past 34 years.
“I want people to know we’re working our way back to be able to take their animals in,” Gail said. “I miss having the animals here.”
While they rebuild their home and the rehabilitation center, the Straights are staying in a nearby apartment.
“We’ve been in this house 54 years and never got a drop of water,” she said.
In between taking Ed to his dialysis appointments, Gail is back at home each day working.
“We’re waiting for drywall to be delivered. The floors need to be replaced,” she said. “I have no sinks. If I need warm water, I go outside and fill a bowl with the hose and take it over to the microwave and heat it up so I can wash things or just make a cup of tea.”
Ed and Gail were home during Hurricane Helene and watched as the water rose up to about 3 feet inside their house.
“We moved most of the animals before the storm, when we knew it was coming,” Gail said. “The water came pretty high. The big tortoises were here. My grandson, who’s a policeman, moved them out back and put them on top of cages.”
She said the freezers and refrigerators were destroyed in the storm and Wildlife Inc. recently received donations of a small freezer and refrigerator.
“Right before the storm, I had just bought $1,000 worth of food for the owls, that all had to go into the landfill,” she said.
Straight is currently taking care of five raccoons and several owls in cages behind the house.
“We’ve been taking some animals in,” she said. “Our phones are off right now.”
She said it will be at least another month or two before the rehabilitation center will be operational.
“I’ve gotten people coming to help,” she said. “I just wish I could get back to doing this full time.”
Gail said they are dealing with insurance issues as well as finding available electrical and plumbing contractors to get up and running. She said she and Ed are also appreciative of the help they’re received from the community.
“If this happened again, I couldn’t do it,” she said. “If we flood like this again, I’m gone.”
GOFUNDME
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the Straights get back on their feet after the storms.
Page organizer Juli Vasilas wrote: “For nearly 40 years, Gail and Ed Straight have passionately and tirelessly organized Wildlife Inc. Education & Rehabilitation Center, a volunteer based non-profit which relies solely on private donations and receives NO funding from local, state, or federal governments. They have rescued, rehabilitated and aimed to release an estimated 150,000 injured or orphaned wildlife. They are some of the most selfless and dedicated people I know, who have made tremendous
sacrifices in order to serve the wildlife in their community. On Sept. 26, their Anna Maria Island location was severely damaged by Hurricane Helene. Risking their own safety, they were miraculously able to keep ALL of the wildlife safe, however their home, wildlife hospital and both of their vehicles are a total loss. I am hoping to spread their story and provide a platform for their loyal supporters to help them in what I am sure will be a very long and challenging road of rebuilding their lives. Thank you for considering a donation, any amount is hugely appreciated by these deserving animal advocates.” https://gofund.me/c6987b87
