C.D. Besadny Conservation Grant Program and Teacher s Outdoor Environmental Education Fund*

Transcription

1 C.D. Besadny Conservation Grant Program and Teacher s Outdoor Environmental Education Fund* Submit the completed application and supporting documentation to info@wisconservation.org Grant Application Cover Sheet 1. Project Title Installing a Video Monitoring System using Renewable Energy to Observe Wisconsin Raptors in Recovery 2. Contact Jo Withers, Grants Coordinator jwithers@giveshelter.org DCHS, 5132 Voges Road, Madison, WI Organization Name Dane County Humane Society 4. $ Amount Requested $1, Match (1:1 required, can be in-kind) 6. Would you accept a partial grant? $1,000 Pioneer Academic Center for Community Engagement (PACCE), University of Wisconsin-Platteville Yes No 7. Type of Project Rare & Endangered Species State Natural Areas Education & Outreach Other 8. IRS determination letter or (for schools) a letter on school letterhead certifying that your institution is a public school and that you are authorized to apply for funds 9. Government Projects only: Please explain why private sector funds are needed for this project. Have you requested funds for this project from your agency s budget? I have attached our IRS determination letter or I have attached a letter from our school authorizing this application for funds n/a 10. Grant check payable to Dane County Humane Society 5132 Voges Road, Madison, WI Local newspaper contact Phil Brinkman pbrinkman@madison.com 1

2 *Note: applications submitted to the Teacher s Outdoor Environmental Education Fund will also be considered for funding from the C.D. Besadny Conservation Grant Program no second application is required. Project Narrative 1. Summary (one paragraph description of project and request) On behalf of Four Lakes Wildlife Center (FLWC), we seek funding to install a video monitoring system using renewable energy to monitor the recovery of local raptors. A video monitoring system will allow FLWC staff members, interns, students and trained volunteers to observe the raptors and their recovery from a place outside of the flight pen, rather than continuously entering the pen to check on their progress. This unobtrusive method will greatly reduce stress for the raptors. Stress is a decisive factor in recovery rates; the less stress an animal feels, the better the chance will be for recovery. Additionally, the video monitoring system will allow the FLWC rehabilitators to observe flight and behavior. Being able to assess flight improvement is crucial in determining if a raptor is ready to be released. Besides of saving local wildlife, FLWC serves as a resource for students and interns to continue their studies on animals and to develop systems to assist in rehabilitation. 2. Applicants qualifications or description of organization s mission The operations and the care of over 3,000 wildlife rehabilitation patients per year at FLWC are overseen by Brooke Lewis, FLWC Wildlife Rehabilitation Supervisor. Brooke is responsible for recruiting, training, hiring, scheduling and managing approximately 200 volunteers, 14 interns and staff members. Having an Associate of Science degree in Veterinary Technician Studies from Madison Area Technical College and having studied Wildlife Ecology at the University of Wisconsin, Brooke holds a number of licenses and permits: a Wisconsin Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation license, a Wisconsin Advanced Wildlife Rehabilitation license, a Federal Migratory Bird Rehabilitation license, a Wisconsin Certified Veterinary Technician license, and a Euthanasia by Injection certificate. She is an active member of the National Association of Wildlife Rehabilitators and the International Wildlife Rehabilitator s Council. Brooke was selected to participate as a member of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Advisory Committee (WRAC) which makes recommendations to, advises and cooperates with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on wildlife rehabilitation program development, regulations, research, and education, as well as captive wildlife topics. The council also represents licensed wildlife rehabilitators in Wisconsin. Seeing a need at FLWC and in the community for a wildlife rescue team, Brooke collected a group of skilled FLWC volunteers to form the center s first wildlife rescue team during the summer of As FLWC Wildlife Rehabilitator Coordinator, Jackie Edmunds performs veterinary practices such as physical exams, wound care, bandage changes, minor splinting, invasive medical procedures (gavage, subcutaneous fluids, injectable medications, blood draws), and physical therapy techniques on all species including raptors. Additional medical tasks include administering and dosing medications, taking and interpreting x-rays, analyzing blood samples, identifying microscopic parasites, and performing veterinary rounds and charting. She began her career as the first fall Wildlife Rehabilitation Intern at FLWC in September 2010 and later became the Wildlife Rehabilitation Assistant during 2011 and 2012 as a FLWC staff member. Jackie is licensed in the state of Wisconsin for the following permits: Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit, Certified Euthanasia Technician, Federal Migratory Bird Rehabilitation Permit, and USGS Bird Banding Laboratory sub-permit holder. Jackie has recently been approved for a scientific research license through the WiDNR, and will hold an advanced rehabilitation license in October, Many of the undergraduate interns receive college credit for their time spent with FLWC, and Jackie has the ability to incorporate banding research, monitoring, and study into their curriculum. Jackie s banding experience comes from being an 2

3 integral volunteer with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Biocore Bird Observatory Research Station for the last 3 years under the direction of local Master Bird Bander, Dr. Mara McDonald, Assistant Administrator in Genetics and Administrator of the Evolution Initiative University of Wisconsin-Madison. As a sub-permit holder, Jackie is presently authorized to band passerine songbirds in the state of Wisconsin under Dr. McDonald s license. She has banded most of the songbirds released from FLWC over the past 2 years in hopes for band returns related to handreared or rehabilitated patients to complete studies of their survival after being released. Jackie holds a Bachelors of Science Degree in Zoology and a Certificate in Environmental Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison from She is continuing a Master of Science degree in Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development (CBSD) within the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. By rehabilitating local wildlife, FLWC s mission is to save the lives of animals that are not able to care for themselves, to relieve pain and suffering after traumatic injuries, to monitor species intake for DNR, to note environmental indicators (such as environmental toxicity, human encroachment, habitat destruction, and disease), to study population dynamics, to control invasive species, to conserve genetics, and to fulfill a moral obligation, to serve as caretakers of the natural world to the best of our abilities. 3. The problem or need this project addresses The project will fulfill three needs. With the installation of a video monitoring system in the flight pen to observe the progress of rehabilitation for local raptors, the raptors will experience less stress and will be able to recuperate more successfully. In addition, their behavior and flight can be observed and staff members, interns, students, and volunteers can benefit by gaining more knowledge about raptors. By using a renewable energy source to power the video monitoring system, a third need is fulfilled by conserving energy and protecting the environment for future generations to grow in and enjoy. 4. What people will be involved or benefit from the project Two students from Dr. Dino Ress s Renewable Energy Projects class at University of Wisconsin- Platteville will design and build a video monitoring system using renewable energy to observe the recovery progress for local raptors being rehabilitated at FWLC. These students and members of their class will gain further knowledge, expertise, and hands-on experience in developing systems that conserve energy and will help FLWC and our wildlife patients. Once the video monitoring system is set up in the flight pen, Brooke Lewis, FLWC Wildlife Rehabilitation Supervisor, Jackie Edmunds, FLWC Wildlife Rehabilitator Coordinator, Dr. Erica Schumacher, DCHS Chief Shelter Veterinarian, local volunteer veterinarians, student interns, and trained FLWC volunteers will use the video monitoring system to keep track of the recovery progress for local raptors and to assess flight improvement and behavior. When the raptors have regained good health, FLWC staff members and volunteers take special care in releasing them back to their natural habitats. With the video monitoring system, raptors will experience less stress which will enable them to continue on a path of recovery and their chances of being returned to nature will be greater. Additionally, FLWC staff members, interns, students, and volunteers will be able to observe and gain an understanding of raptors from their behavior. 5. What environmental system will be impacted or benefit from the project The unobtrusive monitoring of raptors during rehabilitation will have an impact on a part of the ecosphere, more specifically local wildlife in Wisconsin. The use of renewable energy to power the video monitoring system will have an impact on all environmental systems since there will be less pollution, less waste, and very little, if none, global warming emissions. 6. Outcomes (measurable benefits of the project) By installing a video monitoring system, we will be able to assess the health of raptors recovering from injuries or illnesses and to determine when they are truly ready to be returned to their natural homes. The monitoring system would allow us to make correct decisions as to 3

4 the proper timings to release wildlife patients. Additionally, students will be given an opportunity to apply their knowledge about mechanical or electrical engineering, construction, and energy conservation to construct a system that will use renewable energy, which in turn provides substantial benefits for the environment. 7. How the project will be evaluated The building of the video monitoring system will be under the direction of Dr. Dino Ress from University of Wisconsin-Platteville. The actual monitoring of the raptors will be completed by FLWC staff members, interns, students, and trained volunteers, as overseen by Brooke Lewis. Project Budget (Note: Budgets greater than $10,000 are not eligble for funding) Please Include: Total cost of project, including donated time, source of matching funds, etc. How Besadny funds will be used Other grants applied for The total cost of the project will be $3,500, with matching funds from the C.D. Besadny Conservation Grant Program provided by Pioneer Academic Center for Community Engagement at University of Wisconsin-Platteville. The labor in designing and building a video monitoring system that will use renewable energy will be provided by two students from Dr. Ress s Renewable Energy Projects class. Funding from C. D. Besadny Conservation Grant Program will cover material costs in constructing the system. We have not applied for other grants at the present moment. 4

5 Application Commitment Statement To the best of my knowledge, all information provided in this request for funding is true and accurate. For reporting purposes, I understand that if this proposal is approved for funding, the person(s) implementing this project will be required to electronically submit by December 1, 2015 a Project Completion Report form (form will be ed to you). I understand that any supplemental materials I have provided with my application will not be returned to me. Please see additional attachment for a completed and signed form. Name (signed) Date Name (printed) Pam McCloud Smith, Executive Director Date: 08/21/2014 5

6 Eligibility Eligible applications for the C.D. Besadny Conservation Grant Program will satisfy the following criteria: 1. Involves management and restoration of Wisconsin s natural resources, or contributes to knowledge about Wisconsin s natural resources through education. 2. Includes a definable unit of a project or program in Wisconsin. 3. Matches the requested funds on a 1:1 basis with other funds, in-kind services, or donations. 1. Work or volunteer hours are calculated based on the federal minimum wage for general work $7.25 per hour effective July 24, 2009, source 2. Volunteers donating professional services, such as legal help, can have their in-kind contribution calculated according to the fair-market value of their services. 4. May not have received a Besadny grant for the same project or program in the past three years. 5. When possible, obtain a letter of support from a DNR specialist in the project region if the project involves habitat manipulation, or stocking plant or wildlife species. School prairie gardens are exempt from this requirement. 6. Applicants must be a private or public organization or a government agency. 7. Grants are not awarded to private landowners for property improvements. 8. Grants are not awarded to individuals for completing projects that are part of an advanced degree program (i.e. PhD or MS). 9. Grants are not awarded to projects with a total project budget greater than $10,000. Eligible applications for the Teachers Outdoor Environmental Education Grant will satisfy the following criteria: 1. Be a current K-12 Teacher for a Wisconsin public school. 2. Your project must include direct outdoor environmental education for your students. 3. You must obtain matching funds equal or greater to your grant request. The funds can come from your school, other grants or other fundraising, or may be in-kind donations (e.g. teacher salary, volunteer assistance, etc.). Volunteers donating professional services, such as landscaping services, can have their in-kind contribution calculated according to the fair-market value of their services. Other volunteer hours should be calucated based on the federal minimum wage for general work, $7.25 per hour effective July 24, 2009, source 4. Only one application may be considered per school. Submit the completed application and supporting documentation to info@wisconservation.org. Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin WisConservation.org info@wisconservation.org