Courtesy of Friends of Cape Wildlife
BARNSTABLE – The Humane Society of the United States has officially transferred ownership of its Cape Wildlife Center hospital and education facility in Barnstable to the Pegasus Foundation.
The Humane Society was going to close the center’s doors in late 2016 but an effort by staff, the Pegasus Foundation and the New England Wildlife Center kept the facility running.
The Center cares for nearly 2,000 native wildlife each year.
Humane Society officials felt it was best for local wildlife care experts to take over control of the center.
Pegasus will now transfer the property to the New England Wildlife Center which will continue operations as the Birdsey Cape Wildlife Center.
“It’s been a win – win – win. A win for HSUS. A win for Pegasus and a win for New England Wildlife Center,” said Barbara Birdsey, the founder of the Pegasus Foundation. “And biggest of all it is a win for the people and animals of Cape Cod. This is sort of a guarantee that this program will go on into the future.”
Birdsey said the public and wildlife officials use the program and appreciate the services it offers.
“It’s not just a place to bring animals who are injured, orphaned or sick, but it is also a science center.”
The Pegasus Foundation will continue to help provide funding for the center.
The center started as the Orenda Wildlife Land Trust in the late 1980s. It was operated as a small rehabilitation center for injured, sick and orphaned wildlife on Cape Cod that trained wildlife rehabilitators to care for animals at their homes supplemented by medical care, food and other supplies.
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