Welcome to our first electronic newsletter, which will provide you with ways to be a part of Wildlife Associates' exiting mission. It will also keep you informed about the adventures of our non-releasable animals who we call Wildlife Ambassadors. They are the heart and soul of our mission and our educational programs!

This newsletter is being sent first to you, our friends and supporters. A favor? Please forward this mailer to anyone you feel would be interested in our organization and activities. If this was forwarded to you and you would like to receive it directly or you have questions or suggestions regarding Wildlife Associates, please e-mail me at wildlife@earthlink.net or call me at (650) 712-0800.

Please enjoy our news and watch every issue improve based on your ideas and support.

- Steve Karlin
Executive Director, Wildlife Associates

None of the animals at Wildlife Associates can be returned to the wild. They've either been raised by humans or injured in the wild. Cherokee the Eagle, for example, was illegally shot in the wing and can no longer fly. Like Cherokee and others, these animals become Wildlife Ambassadors, bringing a message of understanding and compassion to all the students they reach. Wildlife Ambassadors create excitement and help children to understand our message in the most powerful, direct, and effective way possible. These special animals give a gift of learning and insight. In return, Wildlife Associates takes care of them for their entire lives, even after they are "retired" from in-school programs. Our Ambassadors include a mountain lion, eagle, binturong, prairie dog, wolf, porcupine and many more. We have two vans on the road every weekday, traveling to two to four schools per day, reaching a total of half a million children per year in Northern California.

"Amazing Assembly. The information given about each of the animals kept the students in awe and their attention was riveted on every word … You could have heard a pin drop. The next day I had many parents comment on how much their children had learned, and the excitement in which they told how we need to protect the wild animals so their children could see them running free."

- Cindy L. Petersen
PTA President Valle Vista Elementary, San Jose

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Predators and Prey: Elementary School Assembly Teaches Respect
By Geri Flyn
Volunteer

Rats, rats everywhere! Rats eating all the food, rats living in all of our houses. That's what the world could face if we get rid of predators like Fozzie the Barn Owl or Cherokee the Golden Eagle. One hungry owl can eat up to 900 rodents a year.

Upon hearing this, the eyes of more than 300 children at one of our elementary school assemblies open wide. But, this is only the first of many lessons five Wildlife Ambassadors teach children in Wildlife Associates' "Predators and their Prey" assembly.

The children also learn that animals'‚ senses and features are different from people's for a reason. For predators, they are often tuned to make them better hunters. For prey, certain features help give them a fighting chance when being pursued as dinner. Wild animals have to be the best at what they do to survive.

The African Crested Porcupines, like Mo are considered prey since they do not kill animals in order to eat them. Yet, it is not uncommon for these porcupines to kill lions. If a lion gets too close Mo will rattle some of his 30,000 very sharp quills to warn the lion off. If the lion persists, he'll push his quills into the lion's mug. The quills prevent the lion from being able to eat or drink, and often causes infection so, in the end it is the lion who loses out.

Mo and his kin are not safe from the most dangerous predator of all: humans. In our "Predators and their Prey" assemblies educators explain how tourists have endangered the African Crested Porcupine by purchasing souvenirs made with their quills. Students then learn that we can change the world by changing what we buy.

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We can use your help!
No donation is too large or too small

Donations

Please contact me, Steve Karlin, at wildlife@earthlink.net or (650) 712-0800. I'd be happy to discuss the details with you including the advantages of multi-year commitments, matching grants and how your dollars would be used. Or please print this form and mail your donation to: Wildlife Associates, P.O. Box 3098, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019.

Information

Name(s) ________________________________________
Street __________________________________________
City ____________________________________________
State _____________________ Zip __________________
Home # ____________________
Work # ____________________
Email # ___________________

I/We agree to sponsor a wildlife ambassador for:

 $25,000 x 5 Years
 $10,000 x 5 Years
 $5,000 x 5 Years
 $1,000 x 5 Years
 Other ____ x __ Years
 Please contact me to discuss my donation.

My contribution is by:

 Check payable to Wildlife Associates
 Visa
 Discover
 MasterCard
 American Express

Card # ______________________
Exp. Date ___________________