Tuesday, November 15, 2011

An update on Dakota...



We wanted to take the opportunity to once again thank everyone who has been so kind and generous in your support of the center and our beloved Dakota.  Please continue to send your prayers, well wishes, and positive energy our way. The outpouring of local & state community support from our friends, our volunteers, the public who has been touched by Dakota, and the wildlife rehabilitation community at large, has been overwhelming---and appreciated more than we can say. Thank you all for keeping Dakota in your hearts.....Dakota is our heart and soul.  He is such an important member of our family.  Our greatest wish is to have him home and safe.

The most up-to-date information we have is detailed in the latest JSOnline article: http://www.jsonline.com/news/waukesha/searchers-looking-near-dousman-for-stolen-owl-ef32mna-133914393.html  We have had a number of people contacting the center with offers to search & questions about sightings in various spots in southeastern WI. Dakota is believed to be in the local area. If you live in the Dousman area, please continue to keep your eyes open for a great horned owl wearing jesses (leather straps like leashes, 4-6 inches long, on his ankles), or acting strangely. Dakota is fully imprinted on people, and our hope is that he would therefore be more likely to appear "tame", and more readily visible than an owl who is fully wild (and therefore more instinctively shy of people). 

We are thankful and so grateful for the many offers to help search.  At this time, we are limiting searchers to our staff and trained wildlife volunteers that help at the Wildlife In Need Center. We are searching on private property with permission and do not want to lose that permission by being too much of a bother. This must be terribly traumatic to Dakota, to be attacked by strangers the way he was, and to be loose and alone in an unfamiliar area.  We feel people he is familiar with will have the best chance of recovering him.  Additionally, because he is a Great Horned Owl, he could possibly hurt someone from fear if someone unfamiliar with raptors tried to handle him. We are so very thankful to everyone who has contacted us offering to help. There are more good people in this world than bad and that’s inspiration for all of us.

Please continue to contact the facility at 262-965-3090 with any sightings in the local Dousman area. Please also continue to contact the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department at 262-548-7126, if you have any information regarding the theft of Dakota.

Thank you all so very much for caring about wildlife, and about bringing our Dakota home. People have contacted us from all over Wisconsin, and are reporting seeing or hearing owls they think are Dakota. Many say they have never seen or heard owls in their area before.  Dakota and the Wildlife In Need Center are still educating people about owls and other wildlife, and we will never stop.  We would also like to offer our most sincere thanks to the Waukesha County Sheriffs Department for their quick action and for treating this crime as seriously as they have.  The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has also been most helpful to us, and is looking into the case as well.



(Guest Bloggers LR & KP.)

7 comments:

  1. I'm glad that the tip you received led to the arrest of the perpetrators......this is so heartbreaking. I pray you find Dakota. You helped us save 2 barred owls last year. Good luck finding this majestic animal!!!

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  2. Leslie: I cannot begin to imagine the pain and anguish you are experiencing right now. I just heard about this horrendous inexcusable act on the ten o'clock news tonight. If I can't be there to help you find Dakota, please know that I will be vigilant tonight in praying for you and the WINC crew, and asking our Lord to guide you in bringing our beloved Dakota safely back to his home.

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  3. I thought of a public paddling for the perps, but on second thought, the perps should work at the center to not only educate them but to learn compassion for our fellow creatures. Dakota's in my thoughts every day. He's a majestic fellow indeed! I pray he is found soon.

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  4. Sure hope the Divine Providence will lead to Dakota's rescue.....stay strong Dakota...

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  6. Some people are incapable of caring about animals. I hope this owl finds its way home :{

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  7. Is there anything that we, the public can do to help you find him or bring him home? I have been to the center for the educational show and it was amazing. I learned so much about Owls and Hawks that I will never forget and have told others. This has me so upset that someone could do such a thing to such a beautiful creature. I hope Dakota comes home and lives a long healthy life!

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