HELP KAREN BUY LAND TO HELP INJURED WATERFOWL

In 2011, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources began its war on the Mute Swans. Slaughtering over 9000 + (that we know of), because they claim they are a non-native and invasive species. The Mute Swans have been in North America since the late 1800’s. The DNR has told Michigan residents to not help an injured Mute Swan. Let Nature take its course, even if human causes are why they are sick or injured. Rehabbers are forced to euthanize any Mute Swans that are brought to them. Many people in the United States will never in their lifetime have the opportunity to see a Mute Swan, but the Michigan DNR and US Fish & Wildlife Services are trying to eradicate them from the entire United States.

My friend, Karen Stamper, has made it her mission to help these misunderstood and incredible birds. She works tirelessly to help the waterfowl, be it rescuing, speaking up for them at municipal meetings, or working with humane groups, like In Defense of Animals or the Humane Society of the US, to try and stop the swan slaughters and Canada goose gassings and round ups. Karen gets calls from across the state to help with injured waterfowl. She works basically to pay for the vet bills, medicine, and day to day care for these birds. She never splurges on anything for herself. Everything she does for these birds comes out of her own pocket. She does get some donations from a few great donors when she has to ask for help with $1000 vet bills. I know this, because I help her every single day.

Recently, Karen was told by The Township, that the almost 3 acre piece property behind her was going up for sale. She desperately needs   to buy this land, because she does not want a house being built behind her property. If this happens, she will not have anywhere to dispose of her straw, and she will have to take down some of her pens, which have been on the property for years.  This will leave her with a lot less yard for the birds.  If someone builds a house on this land, they will be looking directly into her back yard everyday. If they do not like animals, this could be a huge problem. Not only will it affect Karen and the birds, but the other wildlife that have made their homes there as well. The deer, skunks, groundhogs, fox, possums, rabbits, and songbirds will all be displaced if this land is cleared for a new home. 

Karen can't afford to move right now, plus it would be difficult to find a place nearby that meets her needs.  She will be forced to stop taking in and caring for these birds.  She lives 8 minutes from work and is able to check on things at home on her lunch hour. If she is forced  to move, she will be too far away to do this and to make it to work on time. The other main complication is that she would lose the only person who helps her on days that she is at work, Me. We live close, which allows me to do my real estate and help do the 4 hours+ of chores during the day.

We have probably taken care of over 400 birds. We fix them up, and she finds them, what we hope will be, their forever  homes. We have taken care of birds that have been shot, like the one in the picture, birds that have been ripped open by snapping turtles, birds that have had their foot removed because fishing line was wrapped so tight it went through the bone, birds that have been hit purposely by cars or boats, birds that have been hit in the face by boat propellers, birds that have been poisoned, you name it, we have  most likely seen it. ALL THIS WILL HAVE TO STOP IF SOMEONE BUILDS A HOME BEHIND HER. These injured birds are not going to get the extensive care they need to survive, if we are unable to help them. There are not too many places that want to take care of waterfowl, or give them the time they need to heal. Karen does not want to buy this land, but SHE HAS to buy this land if people want her to continue to help them save these injured birds. 

People always say to us, “I Don’t know how you do it”, well Karen won’t be able to if she doesn’t get some help right away. The Township will be meeting July 13, 2021, to discuss the sale. She and her neighbors will get first dibs. She has already told them she wants to buy it. They told her it will sell for 90,000 to 140,000. She is hoping for the lesser amount. Please, if you can please donate whatever you can to help her purchase this property. I know she is struggling right now to come up with the funds, because she spends so much money on vet bills and general care for the birds. She already has loans and maxed out credit cards, but she is determined to make this property hers, so she can continue to help these defenseless birds.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!