Dr. PJ Deitschel has won the 2005 Wildlife Conservationist of the Year from the Florida Wildlife Federation, an affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation.

While the CROW family knows what a great organization and dedicated staff we have, it's always nice to receive statewide recognition for our efforts. In the case of CROW, our own Dr. PJ was recently notified that she will be awarded the 2005 Conservationist of the Year from the Florida Wildlife Federation, an affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation. The award ceremony is scheduled for June 25 in Stuart, Florida and PJ will be there to accept the award.

This is a great award and one well deserved by Dr. PJ, recognizing her commitment to service in the area of wildlife rehabilitation and conservation. Board member and volunteer, Anne Martin, a member of the National Wildlife Federation, worked with vet assistant Robyn Johnson, board president Ann Moran and staff member Birgie Vertesch in nominating PJ for this award. Dr. PJ was chosen among hundreds of nominees and we are proud of her and her work here at CROW and beyond.

Staff Veterinarian, Dr. PJ Deitschel, is an accomplished wildlife rehabilitator and pioneer in the integration of Western and Eastern medical traditions in the field of widlife rehabilitation. She started in wildife rehabilitation twenty years ago as the patient-care manager of a large rehabilitation center in New York and went on to receive her veterinary degree from Colorado State. She first came to CROW as a veterinary extern and then as the intern. The following year, she performed rehabilitation work in Africa and came back to CROW as their full-time staff veterinarian in 1998.

Many of CROW's patients are threatened or endangered species. Throughout history we have seen how vital it is to preserve the natural balance of nature. The impact of losing one species can have devastating effects on the whole ecosystem and may have long term effects that, as yet, are not fully understood. Some of the endangered or threatened patients seen at CROW include wood storks, sandhill cranes, bald eagles, sea turtles and least terns. Species of special concern, such a burrowing owls and gopher tortoises, are frequent patients.

There are people and organizations in this area dedicated to the vital work of preserving natural habitats. CROW is working to help preserve the species that live within those habiats through their rescue, care and rehabilitation.

CROW's educational programs are offered every Monday through Saturday at 11 AM and Sunday 1PM. CROW's commitment to helping injured, sick or orphaned wildlife from all of Lee County remains steadfast, but we couldn't accomplish what we do without the financial and in-kind support we receive from our members and friends. In it's 37 years of service, CROW has treated more than 45,000 wildlife patients and expects to treat 4,000 patients this year alone. For more information on any of CROW's events or programs, please call 472-3644 or e-mail CROW at crowclinic@crowclinic.org