A wild animal in need of help should be taken to a wildlife refuge as opposed to being kept as a pet, says a local author in a new book geared to children.
Allison Schroeder, the executive director of Nature’s Nursery, wrote One Friendly Fox: A Nature's Nursery Animal Rescue Tail, a true story about a rescued fox that could not be released into the wild because it was kept by humans and wouldn’t survive on its own.
“I always enjoyed creative writing and used this ability to write the book to raise awareness of the issue and help raise funds for the nursery,” Ms. Schroeder said.
She also appreciates the opportunity to share the organization’s mission to improve the well-being of northwest Ohio wildlife populations and habitats through public education and rehabilitation, with an emphasis on coexistence.
The book was a big hit with 9-year-old Emmett Potter, a Whitehouse Primary fourth grader who volunteers at the refuge with his mother Lisa Potter. The youngster read the book in one sitting, his mother said.
“There are adorable pictures and a lot of fun rhyming words in the book,” Mrs. Potter said. “He read the book and loved it.”
Local cartoonist Don Lee illustrated the book, which was released this week on Amazon.
Mr. Lee said it was a pleasure to illustrate the book and that animals had not been his usual topic until recently.
“The challenge was to create a fox that looked like the Nature Nursery fox and to create an image of a friendly, appealing animal, the way it is in the story,” Mr. Lee said. “I wanted people to see the pictures and to immediately like the fox.”
It is the second book released by Nature’s Nursery featuring stories of wild animal rescue. The first book, One Special Owl: A Nature's Nursery Animal Rescue Tail, was written in 2020 by Ms. Schroeder and illustrated by Mr. Lee and tells the true story featuring a rescued owl.
The rescued animals, including Lenny the fox featured in the book, often become Nature’s Nursery “education ambassadors.” They are used to educate the public about the importance of protecting local wildlife habitat, Ms. Schroeder said. About 30 such ambassadors are used in programming that reaches 15,000 children and adults annually.
Nature’s Nursery, a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organization, was founded more than 30 years ago. More than half of 3,700 animals rescued annually are rehabilitated by the group and returned to the wild.
One Friendly Fox: A Nature's Nursery Animal Rescue Tail and One Special Owl: A Nature's Nursery Animal Rescue Tail cost $20 each and may be purchased through the Nature’s Nursery website, natures-nursery.org.
The proceeds will go to the nursery’s wildlife care fund.
First Published August 8, 2022, 5:00 p.m.
