Wild Instincts presentation by Mark Naniot Sept. 20 for Sayner-St. Germain Fish and Wildlife Club

The Sayner-St. Germain Fish and Wildlife Club will host the upcoming presentation on Wednesday, Sept. 20, “How do wildlife rehabbers get animals back on their paws, claws, and wings, and the impact of human-caused injuries,” by Mark Naniot, director of rehabilitation at Wild Instincts wildlife rescue center in Rhinelander.  

Naniot has more than 28 years of professional rehab experience and has been an advanced wildlife rehabber serving on the Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Rehabilitation Committee for years to help shape wildlife rehab. Naniot has been an International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council instructor since 2010, sharing his knowledge and passion for wildlife rehab with students across the country. Since 1998, Naniot and his wife, Sharon Larson, have treated over 20,000 wild animals, and Wild Instincts staff are available 24/7 for wildlife emergencies.  

Wild Instincts is the only wildlife rehab center in Northern Wisconsin, permitted to treat all native species, including threatened and endangered species. Wild Instincts staff have treated over 1,074 different species. 

Naniot said, “we are the only facility in the state licensed to care for all species rehabable by state and federal regulations. Avian influenza has been a concern and Wild Instincts received many waterfowl again this year.” 

With nearly 90 percent of eagles having some level of lead toxicity, Naniot will touch on the deadly impact of lead poisoning on loons, ducks, and eagles. Wild Instincts believes in quality wildlife care, in which the animal’s needs and well-being are considered above all else.  

“Wildlife rehab is hard, and we are like wildlife paramedics available 24/7 for emergencies.” said Naniot.

Naniot will have one or two birds for the evening presentation. Attendees may bring donations to support Wild Instincts if they wish. Paper towels, garbage bags, toilet paper, postage stamps, towels, canned dog food and canned cat food are much appreciated. An Amazon wishlist link is available on their website, wildinstinctsrehab.com. Without donations from the community, Wild Instincts would have trouble surviving. With three permanent staff, a few interns, and a handful of volunteers, Wild Instincts helps thousands of our animal neighbors who need care.

Join Mark Naniot as he shares his expansive knowledge about our wildlife at the St. Germain Community Center in St. Germain at 7 p.m. The program is free and open to the public with all ages welcome. The presentation will last about an hour, with ample opportunity for questions. This is the seventh 2023 program for the wildlife club, which will also include a final presentation by the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation (Connie Polzin and Frank Klamik) in October. Please join us! For more information, contact Kelly McGill 715-542-1614.