To the editor:

On Friday morning, March 19, while working at Stanfield Tax Service in Bokeelia, we noticed a little white egret with a broken wing in the parking lot. I called CROW and spoke to Sue, a very helpful and caring volunteer. CROW, on Sanibel, is licensed by the State of Florida to care for injured, ill and orphaned wildlife and exists only on donations.

After relaying my concerns, Sue advised that all wildlife rescuers are volunteers, but she would see what she could do. Luckily, she was able to reach Phil Buchanan, who lives on Pine Island. He came over and we attempted to capture the injured bird. It could not fly, but was very good at scurrying away just a few feet ahead of us. It looked hopeless; then Phil let his dog out of the van. Between Phil and his dog, whose heritage comes from a breed of herders, they humanely caught the injured egret and gently placed it in a box. Phil took the bird to CROW on Sanibel for examination and treatment by a vet.

Only an animal and/or wildlife lover can appreciate the relief that I felt knowing the poor little egret would get the care it needed to be treated for its injury and hopefully released back into the wild.

Please, if this letter affected you at all, please consider sending a donation to CROW to keep their doors open. The address is CROW, P.O. Box 150, Sanibel, FL 33957, phone 472-3644. Without them, where would we take our injured wildlife? Also, God bless Phil Buchanan for being there when the little egret needed him.

Helen Haywald

St. James City