Maryann helps to feed an injured hawk with the center’s director, Rick Schubert. You may notice that Schubert is not wearing any protective gloves. “Rick has been trained,” Maryann explained, “and has been working so long with raptors that he knows how to protect himself and the bird.”[/caption]

by Len Lear

Local lovers of wildlife may recall the articles in the Local early this year about Rick Schubert, who was head of wildlife rehabilitation at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education's wildlife rehabilitation clinic for 13 years until he was fired in January of this year.

Schubert and many volunteers who also left the center in protest opened the Philadelphia Metro Wildlife Center on April 1 at 400 East DeKalb Pike in King of Prussia, which treats injured wild animals from Philadelphia, Montgomery, Delaware and Chester Counties.

One of those volunteers is Maryann Navarro, 69, a resident of Mt. Airy for 27 years who began volunteering at the Schuylkill Center in 1994. “Growing up,” she explained, “I had dogs, birds, or hamsters. I love animals. I saved a cat at one time during my growing up years from boys who were abusing it. I always liked working with animals. I didn't particularly want to work for domesticated animals (dogs, cats, etc.) because I felt that they were not endangered.

“Conservation was always important to me. I always felt that this planet is our home and the home of all wildlife. If our wildlife and wild places are eradicated by accident or on purpose, we will be eradicated as well, so it behooves us to take care of our home and the species that are injured or orphaned through human intervention.”

Navarro, who has a Bachelor's Degree in conservation biology from Arcadia University and a Master's Degree from Cheyney University in elementary education, taught kindergarten and first grade at the Willard and Sheridan Elementary Schools, both in Kensington, from 1998 to 2014.

“I left the Schuylkill Center when Rick was forced out,” she told us last week. “I was furious because the administration never seemed to be interested in the care of wildlife or the clinic itself. I have always had great respect for and have liked Rick from the beginning because of his caring and honesty. He has a tremendous amount of knowledge, which he applies to his profession and mission as a wildlife rehabilitator.

“His care of animals is nuanced and complete. He has made it his business to be in touch with other rehabilitators and veterinarians. He has also camped out at the clinic when there were snow days and no one was able to come into the clinic. He is patient with volunteers and teaches step by step the care of animals. And he is always available when asking for help or advice.”

Over her more than two decades of wildlife rehabilitation, Navarro has typically volunteered at the center at least 14 hours a week. If she was not directly taking care of animals, she would clean cages, wash animal dishes, wash mats and do laundry for animals who need a warm, comfortable area and clean sheets. There are also mats for birds that need special kinds of surfaces to walk on. She would also prepare specific foods needed for each animal species.

“All of the animals need specialized care. I have cared for possums, raccoons, squirrels and foxes, owls, vultures, hawks, bats and turtles. We care for both babies and adults.”

Maryann has been to several workshops in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, but most of her training has been under Rick's tutelage. “When a volunteer starts working at the center, Rick walks the person through the care of each species, and if any have special needs, he explains, advises and shows how. I do have a Capture and Transport license, which enables me to pick up wildlife when needed.”

Maryann, who likes living in Mt. Airy “because it feels open and there are plenty of things to do such as walk along the wooded area of Valley Green, cultural activities and dining places,” became involved with the Schuylkill Center under its first director, Dick James, in 1994.

“I find that all of our cases here (at the new center in King of Prussia) are pretty unusual,” said Maryann, “no matter what the species. However, I think the most unusual cases are having to tube-feed baby possums. They are tiny, and the tubing has to be done just right so that the formula goes into the stomach and not the lungs. If it goes into the lungs, the baby possums can aspirate and may die.”

Many of the animals brought in are victims of car accidents, but others have been injured when trees were cut down at construction sites. There are birds who have flown into windows and animals that have been shot with b.b. guns. In addition, many animals have been attacked by someone's dog or cat.

“And occasionally, we get an animal that was caught in a hunter’s trap. My greatest joy is to witness the release of an animal back into the wild. We have been able to rehabilitate and release (I think) about 85% of the animals under our care.

“The hardest thing I have ever done was to try to care for a fawn that had been picked up by a human who tried to care for the animal herself. The fawn came to us blind and deformed and had to be euthanized. We tried to care for it for a couple of days, but it was too late.”

More information at 267-416-9453 or www.phillywildlife.org