BRADENTON BEACH – One year after the Wildlife Inc. Education and Rehabilitation Center was devastated by two hurricanes, the center is back to full operation.
“We’ve had 900 plus (animals) this year,” co-founder Gail Straight said. “That’s under what we normally have.”
Straight, who founded the non-profit animal rehabilitation facility with her husband, Ed, 35 years ago, did what she could following the 2024 storms that flooded not only the center, but their attached home.
“We never really closed completely. People would call me on my cell phone for some animals,” she said. “I stayed with a friend on Gulf Drive, and I came back and forth and I brought some of the babies there.”
Straight said the storms destroyed everything in their home and facility.
“We lost everything but our dining room table,” she said. “All the shelves and things now are brand new. The appliances were donated by the Rotary Club.”
When the rehab facility put out a recent call for volunteers through their website, www.wildlifeinc.org, and their Facebook page, they were swamped with those wanting to help.
“We don’t need more volunteers right now because we have 50 applications to go through,” Wildlife Inc. volunteer Gale Tedhams said. “We put something on our Facebook page and people started responding.”
Wildlife Inc. volunteer Gale Tedhams holds a baby raccoon that is being rehabilitated at the facility. -Leslie Lake | Sun
Tedhams said for anyone who would like to help the facility, there is always a wish list posted on their website.
“There’s a wish list for Amazon and there’s a way to donate on the website,” she said. “So, when we run out of something or need more of a certain kind of food or something we change up the requests.”
Straight said the non-profit facility relies primarily on donations.
“We’re getting a couple of grants, but they’re getting harder and harder to get,” Straight said.
“Really only donations,” Tedhams said. “We don’t have any government help.”
Tedhams said they would like to find someone with a large property who would allow some of the rehabbed animals to be relocated there.
“We’ve got lots of bunnies, lots of squirrels, lots of raccoons,” she said. “We are looking for people with property particularly out east where we can bring the animals.”
Wildlife Inc. serves all of Manatee County.
Many of the animals’ injuries are caused by being struck by vehicles, rat poison getting into the food chain, outdoor cat attacks and glue traps.
“Athena is great horned owl. She can’t be released and goes to shows with us,” she said. “When she was in a nest with her family, her mom brought a rat back to the nest and it had rat poison in it, it killed them all except for her, but it did take out her eye, because rat poison causes internal bleeding. It’s a horrible way to die and it gets into the food chain, that’s the problem.”
Tedhams would also like to have people discontinue using glue traps.
“Glue catches other things,” she said. “When birds get on them, it takes the feathers off, or some animals will chew a limb off to try to get out. Rat poison and glue traps we’re totally against.”
One of the center’s cages is filled with baby squirrels.
“We had probably at least 50 squirrels,” Tedhams said. “People trim their trees during nesting season, and then the nest falls on the ground, and they fall out. They trim their palm trees down to nothing, and they end up with a bunch of squirrels.”
She said outdoor cats are a real nemesis to small animals such as squirrels.
The center is aware of an injured blue heron that’s been on the beach for about two months.
“He’s got a hook in his leg, but he can fly so we’ve tried to catch him many times and haven’t been able to,” Tedhams said. “We’ve gotten a lot of calls about him.”
Anyone who finds an injured animal can call the center at 941-778-6324 or transport the animal directly to the facility at 2207 Ave. B, Bradenton Beach.
“We prefer them to bring them, but if they can’t for some reason, we’re building up our volunteers to help transport animals,” Tedhams said.
HOLMES BEACH – The city of Holmes Beach donated $5,000 to the Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center Inc. to assist that non-profit organization’s ongoing hurricane recovery efforts.
In February, Wildlife Inc. volunteer and Holmes Beach Planning Commissioner Gale Tedhams encouraged the city and the Island community to support the struggling animal rescue and rehabilitation center that Gail and Ed Straight have operated from their Bradenton Beach home for nearly 40 years.
The Straight’s home and property were severely damaged by Hurricanes Helene and Milton at a time when Ed was already dealing with significant health issues. Tedhams encouraged folks to make an online donation at the “Hurricane Relief Fund for Wildlife Inc” GoFundMe page.
Wildlife Inc. volunteer Gale Tedhams encourages the community to support the Bradenton Beach-based organization. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
During the Feb. 25 city commission meeting, Commissioner Terry Schaefer suggested the city immediately increase its annual $750 donation to $2,500. “They are experiencing terrific financial difficulties and most of here are aware of what they do in our community,” he said.
Mayor Judy Titsworth suggested continuing the $2,500 donation in future years to support the area’s primary animal rescue organization. Commissioner Carol Whitmore suggested making a $5,000 contribution now and donating $2,500 in future years.
“They’ve lost everything. I really think they need help,” Whitmore said.
The commission unanimously supported Whitmore’s suggestion. As of March 19, the “Hurricane Relief Fund for Wildlife Inc” GoFundMe page had raised more than $38,000 and donations are still being accepted.
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.
Ed and Gail Straight’s home, the Wildlife Inc. animal rehab center, sustained damage during Hurricane Helene. – Leslie Lake | Sun
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
BRADENTON BEACH – 2023 has been a challenging year for Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center Inc. and a local business is stepping up to help.
With a record number of animals rehabilitated so far this year at the non-profit – 2,665 at the latest count – and the loss of a funding source, an upcoming fundraiser is most welcome.
Daiquiri Deck has recently announced sponsorship opportunities for its first Birdie for the Birdies Putt Putt Tournament on Saturday, Nov. 18 at The Fish Hole miniature golf, 115 Bridge St. near Daiquiri Deck’s Bradenton Beach location.
The proceeds from a mini golf tournament at The Fish Hole in Bradenton Beach on Saturday, Nov. 18 will benefit Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center Inc. – Leslie Lake | Sun
All tournament proceeds will benefit Wildlife Inc.
Since 1988, Wildlife Inc. has provided care to injured and orphaned animals. It is the only rehabilitation facility for birds, mammals and reptiles in the area.
“Our dedication knows no bounds, but we can’t do it without your support. With an annual budget nearing $200,000, we rely solely on the generosity of individuals and private grants to continue our vital work,” according to the Wildlife Inc. website. “We receive no funding from local, state or federal governments.”
“This benefit can help in so many ways,” Wildlife Inc. volunteer Krista Carpenter said. “The Smile program from Amazon has been discontinued, as they focus on giving to specific non-profits. That’s $8,000-$10,000 we lost. This (tournament) could provide the perfect bridge.”
General admission for the tournament is $50 and includes a round of golf for one, a brunch buffet, beverages and access to the after-party. VIP admission is $75 and includes a round of golf for one, a brunch buffet, VIP beverages and access to the after-party.
Players will be split into two groups, the first checking in at 9 a.m. and starting at 10 a.m. The second will check in at 10:30 a.m. and start at 11:30 a.m.
An after-party will follow the tournament with live music, entertainment, a raffle and silent auction and prizes. An awards ceremony begins at 2 p.m. Brunch is served from 10 a.m. to noon and the bar will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“One of the big items is a fly fishing trip for two valued at over $600,” Carpenter said. “That will be a live auction item. Also, there are items from local artists.”
A limited number of tournament sponsorship opportunities are available:
Hall of Famer: $5,000 includes brunch and entry for four, eight mulligans, eight raffle tickets, VIP access, one banner for the registration table, one banner for the afterparty, emcee recognition and four Tervis tumblers;
Professional: $1,500 includes brunch and entry for four, six mulligans, six raffle tickets, VIP access, one banner for the course and four stainless steel tumblers;
Semi-Pro: $1,000 includes brunch and entry for four, four mulligans, four raffle tickets, VIP access and two hole sponsorships;
Caddy: $500 includes brunch and entry for four people, two mulligans and VIP access;
Spectator: $250 includes two sponsorships.
Ball sponsor pricing varies. To secure a sponsorship or register for tournament participation, please visit the Daiquiri Deck website.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Pelicans know where the fish are.
Their quest for the tastiest fish, however, can bring them in contact with some life-threatening consequences as they are often hooked or entangled in fishing gear, leading to injury or death.
Staff members at a local animal rehab organization know all too well what injuries can occur to these long-billed shorebirds in their search for food.
“We see at least 50 pelicans a year with mostly fishing-type injuries,” said Krista Carpenter, a volunteer at Bradenton Beach-based Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Inc.
Entanglement can occur at many locations, but fishing piers and boat ramps are hot spots for this conflict between anglers and pelicans.
“If you hook a pelican, you can reel in the bird as gently as you can,” Carpenter said. “Cover their head with a towel to calm them and then call us.”
If a pelican is caught in a fishing line, Carpenter said that as the line gets tighter it will cut into the bird’s skin or internal organs.
Most common pelican injuries are caused by fishhooks or entanglement in fishing gear. – Leslie Lake | Sun
Another hazard is fish bones getting caught in the birds’ throats.
Signs at local boat ramps say, “Please Don’t Feed the Birds!” because filleted carcasses and large fish bones can injure or kill seabirds by puncturing their throats.
“Pelicans are resilient,” Carpenter said. “If we can get to them quickly enough before bones get into their digestive tract, they have a good chance.”
Audubon Florida was recently awarded a $5,000 grant from The Community Foundation of Sarasota County to support a brown pelican banding study.
The banding project in the Tampa Bay region is designed to discover more about survival rates following accidental hooking and learn more about repeat entanglements for released birds.
Audubon Florida’s goal is to band 50-100 birds over the initial 12-month period of the study. An additional 75-100 successfully rehabilitated brown pelicans will also be banded prior to release.
Current project partners include Seaside Seabird Sanctuary in Indian Shores, Skyway Fishing Pier State Park and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The Hooked Pelican Working Group, formed to address this problem, is a partnership between the FWC, Audubon Florida, park managers, rescuers, rehabilitators and anglers.
BRADENTON BEACH – In the interest of protecting all the animals along the food chain, a local animal rescue organization is urging Island homeowners to consider a natural alternative to the chemical eradication of rodents.
A strategically-placed wooden screech owl box or barn owl box will attract the owls that naturally prey on rodents, according to the experts at Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Inc.
“You can get these boxes online and it’s simple,” Wildlife Inc. volunteer Krista Carpenter said. “You put it in a tree and put a bird feeder near it. As the bird seed falls out of the feeder, rats and mice will gather and then are eaten by the owls in the box.”
Installing an owl box can save many lives.
“From one block of poison, a poisoned mouse could be eaten by a bird, which is then eaten by an animal such as a fox or raccoon. A hawk could eat that fox or raccoon and then a bobcat or coyote could eat that,” causing all their deaths, Carpenter said. “A vulture could eat the last one. The circle of life is also the circle of death.”
That food chain poisoning became apparent in May when Carpenter got a call from the organization’s co-director, Gail Straight, that an American eagle in distress was found on the grounds of IMG Academy in Bradenton.
“The person who had called us was a golf pro there, an Australian man who knew what the eagle meant to the United States,” Carpenter said.
Describing the female bird as huge and beautiful, Carpenter knew right away that something was very wrong.
“She put up a little fight but it wasn’t what it should be,” she said. “I noticed there were tented homes nearby and I thought, ‘They use poison.’ The eagle was treated for poisoning but she succumbed that same day.”
Carpenter described the eagle’s death as miserable and painful. It was caused by ingesting high levels of rat poison.
“Rat poison is basically a blood thinner and causes a slow, painful explosion of organs,” she said. “A rat will go out looking for water after ingesting the poison and in this case that American eagle ate the rat.”
Carpenter said she is not anti-extermination but urged people to try an alternative path with owls, something she said has been used for years in California wineries as a natural pest control technique.
According to the Wildlife Inc. Facebook page, “Bait boxes filled with what killed the American eagle are put out to control rodents. If an owl box had been put out instead, this American eagle would be alive today. A common barn owl eats three to four rats a night.”
“Of course, the person who put the bait box out didn’t expect the eagle to die,” Carpenter said. “All I’m saying is think before you take the easy path. You never know what you’re going to kill.”
Bradenton Beach-based Wildlife Inc. is a non-profit wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organization that is home to a wide assortment of sick, injured or orphaned native wildlife, some of which will be eventually released, as well as to animals who are non-releasable and have found a permanent home there.
HOLMES BEACH – Children and parents alike had an educational and entertaining morning with live owls as Wildlife Inc.’s David Sadkin brought three of his owl friends for a presentation to the Island Branch Library on June 16.
It was standing room only to get up close with animals that are common on the Island, but due to their silence in flight and their nocturnal nature, are rarely seen.
“Owls are raptors, which means they are birds of prey that feed on live animals in the wild,” said Sadkin, at which time a child in the front row responded telling him that raptors are dinosaurs that will eat you. “No, that’s a velociraptor; it was a dinosaur that lived millions of years ago,” Sadkin responded.
Sadkin brought a barred owl, a barn owl and a great horned owl to show the children the various traits and features unique to each. All three owls are permanent residents at Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Inc. in Bradenton Beach due to accidents that left two of them unable to fly; the great horned owl lost an eye due to eating rodents that had been poisoned by rodenticides meant to control rat and mouse populations.
“A lot of people don’t know that the biggest threat to these animals is destruction of their habitats from land development and poisons used to control rodents known as rodenticides,” Sadkin said. “An acre of land can support 3,000 birds.”
Parents and children enjoy Wildlife Inc.’s presentation on owls at Island Branch Library. – Jason Schaffer | Sun
The children learned plenty more owl facts, including the fact that all birds can turn their heads around backwards due to having 14 vertebrae in their necks versus the seven in humans. The reason owls do it so often is because they can’t move their eyes left and right and have virtually no peripheral vision. They also learned that while owls aren’t fast flyers, they are efficient hunters because they make no sound when they fly, so their prey never knows they’re coming, especially since they hunt at night.
It’s not just owls that come into the care of Wildlife Inc. Sadkin said that squirrels and rabbits are two of the most common brought in. He warned that things are not always as they seem and it’s not always a good idea to believe just because baby animals are alone, they have been abandoned – it’s usually not the case.
“A lot of people find baby animals such as rabbits and believe they have been abandoned by their mothers. The truth is, some animals such as rabbits guard their young from a distance. They’ll only stop by the babies once or twice a day to feed them, then they go hide and watch for predators. It’s best to leave them alone and not assume your help is needed,” Sadkin said.
Wildlife Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that serves all of Manatee County. Their priority is to save wildlife through rehabilitation and education, and they have been doing that for 35 years. With an annual budget close to $200,000, they are funded solely by donations and private grants, with no funding from local, state or federal governments. Donations can be made through their website at wildlifeinc.org or by mail at Wildlife Inc., P.O. Box 1449, Anna Maria, FL, 34216.
BRADENTON BEACH – Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center Inc. and local veterinarian Dr. Bill Bystrom helped rescue a raccoon that became trapped in an automobile’s engine compartment.
According to a press release issued by Wildlife Inc., a call came into the Bradenton Beach-based agency on the morning of Thursday, Jan. 13. The caller said there was a raccoon on the third floor of the BridgeWalk Resort in Bradenton Beach. A Wildlife Inc. volunteer arrived at the resort within minutes and determined it was a fully grown raccoon weighing at least 25 pounds. The raccoon appeared to have a limp but otherwise seemed healthy.
As the rescue attempt ensued, the raccoon squeezed between a crate and the wall through a narrow gap in the stairway rail. According to the press release, the raccoon scurried down the stairs to the ground floor confused, scared and potentially injured. The resort staff was concerned for the safety of its guests and attempted to help corral the raccoon. After making it to the ground floor, the raccoon darted under some parked cars. The resort staff and the Wildlife Inc. volunteer went car to car in an attempt to capture and cage the frightened animal. Those efforts proved unsuccessful and the crafty raccoon found what it thought to be an escape route. The raccoon wrangled its way up into the engine area of a 2013 Nissan Sentra.
Raquel Rangel, Celeste Maldonado and Misha Maldonado were among those who attempted to find the car’s owner. Once located, the car owners expressed genuine concern for the safety of the raccoon, as well as for other motorists. The car owners were concerned about driving to their home an hour north with the raccoon still trapped under the hood of the vehicle. They were also concerned the raccoon might escape in the middle of an intersection or roadway and cause harm to itself and possibly cause an accident.
After several hours of trying to coax the raccoon out of its hiding place using humane means, which included starting the car and gently moving it, using a hose to squirt the raccoon with water and turning on the car alarm to hopefully trigger a flee response, the raccoon was still stuck in the engine compartment and had no way to go forward or turn around and leave the way it came.
Dr. Bill Bystrom assisted with the raccoon rescue. – Wildlife Inc. | Submitted
According to the press release, Wildlife Inc. President Gail Straight contacted Dr. Bill Bystrom at Island Animal Clinic for help. Upon arrival, Dr. Bystrom administered a small sedative to the raccoon to help it relax. This allowed Straight to safely remove the raccoon from the engine compartment. After being safely removed, the raccoon was taken to the Wildlife Inc. facility for a thorough examination and any needed rehabilitation.
“Wildlife Inc. would like to personally thank the Bridge Street Hotel, its staff, the owner of the Nissan Sentra, Raquel Rangel and Dr. Bill Bystrom of Island Animal Clinic for all their help and understanding in the safe rescuing of this raccoon,” the press release notes.
An email received from Wildlife Inc. on Sunday stated the raccoon was not injured, is doing fine and would soon be released in a suitable natural setting in east Manatee County.
BRADENTON BEACH – The Drift In, its patrons, the local business community and some local musicians raised $4,665 for Wildlife Inc. during Saturday’s Drift In Rock & Blues Festival.
The money raised will assist the Bradenton Beach-based education and rehabilitation center in its ongoing animal rescue efforts.
Drift In Manager Doreen Flynn helped organize the Nov. 2 music festival and fundraiser that took place in the parking lot, at the tiki bar and inside the establishment on Bridge Street.
The fundraising efforts included raffles and a silent auction featuring items donated by local businesses, a lotto board, food sales, cash donations and more.
“This benefit was arranged to benefit Ed and Gail Straight and the work they do at Wildlife Inc. Ed and Gail do so much for the community,” Flynn said. “Right now, there’s an issue with the laughing gulls. The Rod & Reel Pier gave me a donation because they’ve had to call Ed about seagulls with fishing hooks in them.
“I’ve had many benefits over the years, and I cannot believe how many donations I’ve received for this one. They’ve come from all over the Island and Cortez, not just Bradenton Beach,” Flynn said.
Wildlife Inc. co-founder Ed Straight brought his owl friends to the music festival. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Wildlife Inc. co-founder Ed Straight attended the festival and sat under the Wildlife Inc. tent with the four rescued owls he brought with him. While there, he and Wildlife Inc. volunteer Cindy Ellis chatted with a steady stream of supporters who approached the tent.
“This is fantastic. We’re happy to be here,” Straight said.
“We do most of the rehabbing for Manatee County. We take in all types of injured, orphaned or sick wildlife. Our objective is to rehabilitate them and put them back into the wild. Some of the birds here had injuries where they just couldn’t be released, so we use them for education,” he said.
“We do around 3,000 calls a year and each year is busier than the year before. Any help like this we get is really helpful to us. We’re going to do some improvements to our place. We’ve been doing this for 32 years and the fencing in the front is almost 30 years old. It’s time to start replacing some things and this money is going to help us do that,” Straight said.
Flynn credited “Horatio Bullwinkle” (real name not given) for assembling the musical lineup that performed for free and featured Tommy Balbo & The Collective, Dos Macs with special guest Steve Arvey and Concrete Edgar.
“He spent his time, money and efforts putting the bands together and he built the stage for us. He deserves a lot of credit,” Flynn said of the humble man who did not want his real name used.
Before taking to the stage, Arvey said, “I’m donating my time because wildlife is so important. Us humans are taking over everything with our development and nobody cares about the wildlife anymore. We’ve got to keep supporting what was here before us.”
On Sunday, Flynn said, “Ed was very happy and very grateful.”
The Drift In’s Rock & Blues Festival on Saturday, Nov. 2 will also serve as a fundraiser for Wildlife Inc. Education and Rehabilitation, the Bradenton Beach-based bird and animal education and rehabilitation center.
Wildlife Inc. founder Ed Straight and his wife Gail were named The Sun’s Persons of the Year in 2015. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Beginning at 12:45 p.m., the music festival will feature performances by Concrete Edgar, Tommy Balbo & The Collective and Dos Macs with Steve Arvey. Drift In Manager Doreen Flynn seeks donations of gift baskets, gift certificates and other items from local businesses to use as raffle prizes for the fundraising efforts. The Drift In is also accepting cash donations and checks made payable to Wildlife Inc. Donations can be dropped off at the Drift In, 120 Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, or you can call 941-778-9088 to have your donation or donated items picked up. Flynn also needs covered dishes brought to the Drift In on the day of the festival.
Founded and operated by Ed and Gail Straight, with assistance provided by volunteers, Wildlife Inc. rescues, cares for and releases injured and orphaned birds and animals. The festival proceeds will assist Wildlife Inc. with food and medication costs and will also help fund repairs needed for the bird and animal enclosures.
He was sworn in on Thursday morning, Nov. 15, then introduced to the City Commission at its noon meeting. He began his field training this weekend.
Devon is the grandson of former City Commissioner Ed Straight. He’s also the youngest officer hired during Police Chief Sam Speciale’s 30-plus-year tenure with the city.
When introducing Devon to the commission, Speciale said, “When I first got here everybody said to me, ‘You’re Joe Speciale’s son.’ It took a lot of years for someone to go up to him and say, ‘You’re Sam Speciale’s dad.’ Devon grew up in the shadow of Mr. Straight – a commissioner, a sheriff’s deputy, EMS chief and all that – and people will say, ‘You’re Ed Straight’s grandson.’ After a few years, he’ll be driving around and they’ll say, ‘Hey Ed, aren’t you Devon’s grandfather?’ He’ll be driving car #2, one of the new SUVs, so when you see him driving around wave to him.”
Mayor John Chappie joked that Devon might stick around long enough to be the police chief someday.
Former commissioner Ed Straight joined his grandson Devon at Thursday’s commission meeting. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Devon has spent much of his life thus far working with his grandparents, Ed and Gail Straight, rescuing and caring for injured, sick and displaced wildlife at the Bradenton Beach-based Wildlife Inc. Education and Rehabilitation Center.
“I couldn’t ask for a better place to work, right on the beach. I already know most everybody in the community from my work with Wildlife Inc. I’m proud to serve in a different capacity. I spent my life saving animals, now I get to use my talents to save peoples’ lives,” Devon said of his new job with the police department.
He received his law enforcement training at the Manatee Technical College. He started in January and graduated in June.
Three-year-old Devon Straight and his grandfather Ed Straight, shown here in 2002. – Gail Straight | Submitted
When asked why he wanted to be a police officer, Devon said, “I’m following my grandfather’s footsteps. He was a reserve sheriff’s deputy for Manatee County. Ever since then he’s inspired me and I thought it was the coolest job. To be in a uniform and go out and saves lives has always been my dream.”
Devon will continue to volunteer at Wildlife Inc. as his new work schedule allows.
“I’m sure my days off will go to good use with them,” he said.
“We’re very proud of him,” Ed said. “Considering all the different things that can happen to kids and grandkids nowadays, working with the wildlife helped him stay on the right track. He got the Anne Frank Humanitarian Award from Bayshore High School during his junior year for his work with the wildlife.
Devon Straight was sworn in as the city’s newest officer by City Clerk Terri Sanclemente. – Ed Straight | Submitted
“I told him to do his best at the academy because people are always going to look back on how well you did with your training. We’re proud that he came really close to coming in first at the academy. He missed it by just a few points. On the state board exam he did get the highest score in his class. His class started out with 24 people and ended up with 12 people graduating, so it was a tough class to make it through. His teacher said, ‘He’s not a quitter,’ so we’re proud of him,” Ed said.
When asked about the hiring, Speciale said, “We looked at our applications and we thought it would be good to have a new guy right out of the academy.”
After an increasing number of coyote sightings in West Bradenton and on the Island, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is cautioning residents to treat the canines with caution.
And to get used to them.
“In the past, we had no coyotes in Florida,” said Angeline Scotten, senior wildlife assistance biologist with FWC, who spoke to about 30 people at a special meeting last week at Palma Sola Botanical Park.
“We had red and gray wolves, but their numbers declined as farmers moved in and so did coyotes,” she said, adding that FWC fielded about 900 reports of coyotes statewide last year.
Scotten said agricultural areas offered coyotes food, protection from the elements and space to breed. She said as time went on and the county built bridges to the Island, some coyotes walked from the mainland while others probably swam.
Meanwhile, coyote sightings on Anna Maria Island have increased in recent months. Residents have reported seeing coyotes in all three Island cities, in and around Cortez and in the Perico Island housing developments.
Recently, a coyote was spotted in Anna Maria near the corner of Magnolia Avenue and Tarpon Street, while another was seen crossing the humpback bridge, also in Anna Maria.
Sgt. Mike Jones, who heads the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office substation, said they have had numerous calls from people saying they have seen coyotes in residential areas, both during the day and at night.
Jones said one coyote was spotted by a deputy on the beach.
“It was near Bean Point, and my deputies saw it,” he said. “At first, they thought it was a dog, but they identified it as a coyote, and it left on its own.”
Ed Straight, of the Bradenton Beach-based Wildlife Inc. Education and Rehabilitation Center said they recently had a report of a coyote near St. Bernard Church, and they scared it off. It was last seen headed toward West Bay Cove.
He added that coyotes are extremely hard to capture because they are so smart and that most standard animal traps simply don’t work.
Cats are a favorite food of these wild animals, according to Straight.
“We have a habit of leaving feral cats alone,” he said. “All that does is attract coyotes.”
Straight told The Sun in July that residents should take care with their small pets.
“I don’t think they (coyotes) are dangerous to people unless somebody starts feeding them,” he said. “They’re afraid of people and usually run the other way. If you value your cats and little dogs don’t put them out at night. They definitely like cats and they can jump a pretty high fence. We’ve always felt like it’s a matter of time before they’re out here because they’re everywhere else in Manatee County,”
“Coyotes are omnivores, which means they’ll eat practically anything,” Scotten added. “The more people there are around, the more opportunities for food.”
Scotten said FWC examined the foods found in the stomachs of dead coyotes and found a varied diet.
“There was dog food, cooked human food, vegetation, trash, small mice and insects,” she said. “If you don’t want to attract coyotes, keep pet and human edibles away from the outdoors.”
Conversely, there are pluses for having coyotes around, according to Scotten.
“They control some of the smaller predators like mice and raccoons that hunt birds,” she said. “They don’t compete with endangered species like Florida panthers and bobcats because they live in separate areas.”
Coyotes have undesirable habits though, like going after sea turtles and shorebirds, as well as cats and small dogs.
If a person does encounter a coyote, Scotten said to scare it off by making some noise either by yelling or using a noise-making device like an air horn. She also said to keep dogs on a short leash when taking them for a walk and to make sure all garbage is secured in a bin with a lid.
HOLMES BEACH – There have been three reported coyote sightings in Holmes Beach in the past week and pet owners are advised not to leave their pets outside and unattended.
At approximately 8:50 a.m. on Tuesday, Capt. Carson Wooten, from Island Fishing Charters, was driving onto the Island on Manatee Avenue when he spotted a large coyote on the west side of the Anna Maria Bridge, near the portable roadside messaging sign across the street from the Publix and former Bank of America building.
“I was coming over the bridge and it was actually on the sidewalk out by the road and the sign when I first saw it. I pulled over and it ran toward the bushes. It ran about halfway, stopped and stood in the grass checking me out and I just happened to get a couple pictures of it,” Wooten said.
To deter coyotes, the FWC recommends keeping cats and dogs indoors, feeding them indoors and putting trash out in the morning instead of at night.
When walking a dog on a leash, carry a stick, noisemaker, golf club or pepper spray, particularly around sunrise or sunset and near water, and if a coyote approaches, don’t run – pick up the dog, if possible, stand as tall as possible and yell.
The Humane Society suggests raking around bird feeders, removing fruit from the ground and using trash cans with tight-fitting lids. If a coyote approaches, “hazing” techniques include yelling and waving your arms, using whistles, air horns or soda cans filled with pennies, banging pots and pans, throwing sticks, small rocks and balls, spraying water hoses or using water guns or spray bottles filled with vinegar water.
Never feed coyotes, experts say.
Neither the state nor the county will trap and remove coyotes.
Wooten estimated the coyote’s weight to be around 40 pounds.
Carson Wooten spotted this coyote at the entrance to Holmes Beach. – Carson Wooten | Submitted
“I hunt and I’ve seen a lot of coyotes and this one looked pretty healthy to me. He didn’t look sickly – when they get sick they start losing their hair. It wasn’t aggressive. It ran away and then sat there and hung out while I took pictures. I wondered if maybe he wandered over the bridge from Perico,” Wooten said.
When asked if he’s ever seen a coyote on the Island before, Wooten, a Bradenton resident, said, “Not on the Island. I’ve seen them on Longboat Key before.”
Police response
On Tuesday afternoon, Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said his officers responded to a coyote sighting the day before elsewhere in the city, near 81st Street and Marina Drive.
A responding officer from the Holmes Beach Police Department snapped this photo on Monday. – Holmes Beach Police Department | Submitted
“We called (Manatee County) Animal Services because someone said the coyote looked to be hurt. My guys saw it, took a picture of it and were waiting on someone from Animal Services to come out and see if they could corral it and get it medical attention if that’s what it needed. Somebody originally thought it was injured because it was laying underneath a boat on a trailer, but it ran off and the Animal Services person said it looked like it was healthy,” Tokajer said.
“We were told this morning there’s a family of coyotes on the causeway side of our bridge,” he added, noting that his officers are not instructed to trap or destroy the wild animals.
“There’s no reason for it,” he said.
“We know there are coyotes in the area, so be mindful about leaving your pets unsupervised outside. The coyotes are not approaching people. They’re afraid of people, so don’t feed them because we don’t want to change their behavior. We’ve had no attacks on humans, nor have we heard of any attacks on animals. There’s no need to call the police if it’s not attacking somebody,” Tokajer said.
“As more construction happens all over Manatee County, it’s pushing wildlife from their natural habitats into residential areas. We’ve seen it over the past couple years and there’s been sightings near the beach on 71st through 77th streets.”
Fourth of July sighting
At around midnight on the Fourth of July, Holmes Beach resident David Zaccagnino saw and photographed a coyote at the intersection of Avenue E and 29th Street. When contacted Tuesday, Zaccagnino said he was shocked to see a coyote in his neighborhood. He said he’s never seen a coyote on the Island during his 19 years of residency.
Holmes Beach resident David Zaccagnino spotted this coyote on the Fourth of July. – David Zaccagnino | Submitted
Zaccagnino lives near the Grassy Point Preserve – a large tract of undeveloped natural land.
“It looked freaked out from all the fireworks. It might have been scared out of the mangroves,” he said of the coyote he saw.
Zaccagnino said that judging by the photo, the coyote that Wooten spotted today was bigger and bushier than the one that Zaccagnino photographed last week.
FWC insight
Lt. Louis Hinds, from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), was asked if he thought the photo Wooten took was of a coyote. He said it was.
He then discussed FWC’s response to coyote sightings.
“We don’t get involved unless somebody asks us to get involved. We don’t actively trap them or destroy them unless they’re causing a problem. If people give them their space and leave them alone they’ll move on eventually. Make sure the pets are secured properly and you don’t want to let your small cats or dogs outside unattended because they will snatch those up as animals of opportunity,” Hinds said.
When asked if coyotes pose a danger to humans, Hinds said, “No.”
Straight talk
The photos Wooten and Zaccagnino took were also shown to Ed and Gail Straight from the Wildlife Inc. Education and Rehabilitation Center. They both believed the photos were of coyotes.
Ed Straight said they received a call from the Holmes Beach Police Department dispatcher on Monday and referred that call to Animal Services because the animal was reported as possibly being sick or injured.
Straight said a sick coyote probably has distemper and the neurological effects of distemper gives the impression that the animal is limping. Straight said Animal Services would be the agency to contact about a sick coyote, but Animal Services is not expected to respond to calls about a healthy exotic animal like a coyote.
“They’re too smart to trap and they’re too big to get one of those loops around their neck. They’d almost have to be tranquilized to remove them, and that’s pretty hard with a moving target. We don’t have any way of capturing them and they don’t need to be captured,” Straight said regarding healthy coyotes.
“We might do it if FWC asked us to help, but normally they don’t want us rehabbing them. They’re considered exotics, so if we get one we’d either have to put it down or take them to a refuge that would take them in, which is not a very good place for a coyote to spend its life,” Straight said.
“I don’t think they’re dangerous to people unless somebody starts feeding them – just like gators and things like that. They’re afraid of people and usually run the other way. If you value your cats and little dogs don’t put them out at night. They definitely like cats and they can jump a pretty high fence.”
Straight said the coyote population has exploded in the United States and Canada in recent years.
“We’ve always felt like it’s a matter of time before they’re out here, because they’re everywhere else in Manatee County,” he said.
When asked how coyotes might find their way onto the Island, Straight said, “They’d almost have to run across the bridge.”
Straight said Wildlife Inc. received a couple calls in the past week about coyotes in west Bradenton, but the call from the Holmes Beach Police Department on Monday was the first recent call about a coyote on the Island.
“Two years ago, someone said they saw one over by Runaway Bay. (Local veterinarian) Dr. Bystrom saw one where he lives on the Holmes Beach/Anna Maria border and that was about two years ago, and one was seen on Key Royale about two years ago,” Straight said.
