Pa. still 3rd in animal-car collisions; End Roadkill PA raises funds for wildlife rehab

Mary Ann Thomas
Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020 4:13 p.m. | Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020 4:13 p.m.

Go Ad-Free Today!

Courtesy of Wildlife Works

A fawn whose mother was hit by a car is under care at Wildlife Works rehabilitation center in Youngwood.

As Pennsylvania is still ranked third in the nation for the number of deer and other animal collisions with cars, a group from Philadelphia is trying to raise money for wildlife rehabilitation centers across the state.

Wildlife Works in Youngwood, Westmoreland County, and Wild Bird Recovery in Butler County are two of nine wildlife rehab centers statewide that will benefit by the campaign.

A grassroots activist, Kennerly Clay of Philadelphia, who established End Roadkill Pennsylvania, is trying to raise $25,000 for the wildlife rehabilitation centers by Nov. 6, the last day of Give Wildlife a Brake Week.

“If an animal does survive being hit by a car, or being otherwise injured, only a lucky few make it into the care of a wildlife rehabilitator,” Clay said.

As these wildlife centers don’t receive federal or state support, private fundraising is important, she said. Clay is mounting a social media campaign directing residents to send donations directly to organizations through their websites or GoFundMe pages.

Wildlife Works in Youngwood would be happy to receive more donations, said Monica Leuthold, office manager.

“We live off of donations,” she said.

The center rehabs about 600 animals a year, including birds, rabbits and just recently started accepting fawns. They deal with many animals hit by cars, she said.

“We are happy to work with someone helping raise awareness that we exist, let alone send donors our way,” Leuthold said.

The End Roadkill brand umbrella includes marketing and fundraising initiatives such as the End Roadkill Pennsylvania project and the Pennsylvania Wildlife Samaritans calendar to raise funds for wildlife rehabilitation in the Keystone State.