Wausau Daily Herald
Opinion
August 2004

There’s a rare and endangered bird in Antigo that owes her life to a handful of Wausau residents.

The osprey was spotted floating in the Wisconsin River last week by folks at the Waters Edge Café Restaurant. They called for help, and two Wausau firefighters came with a boat and net.

Rick Schultz and Pat Moucha snared the female bird and Melissa Hiles got her to the Raptor Education Group Inc. In Antigo, where it is recovering from an undiagnosed illness.

You can help. Gibson said area residents can donate money specifically to help rehab the osprey. Just make a notation on your check and send it to REGI, P.O. Box 481 Antigo, WI 54409.

And keep your eyes open for struggling young ospreys. There’s a father somewhere in the area trying to feed and raise young on his own, and the nestlings might be weak as they try flying for the first time, Gibson said.