LETTER: Palm Coast needs wildlife rescue service

Palm Coast Observer
Opinion

Sad on many levels: Opossum babies nurse at dead mother

Dear Editor:
One morning last week, my husband alerted me that an opossum had been hit on our street in Palm Coast. He saw that there were live babies beneath the mother. Using gloves, we moved the animal off the street and there were four live babies trying to nurse from the dead mother.

We covered them with a towel and I fervently tried to reach someone to help us. After calling several agencies, I finally was directed to the St. Johns County Veterinary Hospital in St. Augustine. I brought the opossums in and was told two hours later, “The babies are so cute and doing well.”

I have two possible solutions for this type of situation: First, the city of Palm Coast could have a wildlife rescue service that was available for its residents 24/7. Second, if traffic would go the 30 mph speed limit, this would probably not have happened.

Cleo Banfi
Palm Coast

Editor’s Note: The city of Palm Coast Animal Control responds to calls 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., but only for domesticated animals. Wildlife concerns are referred to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, at 352-732-1225.