To the Editor:

My name is David LaShomb and I am the co-founder of a not-for-profit foundation called FLO Foundation For Wildlife Rehabilitators.

In 2013 my daughter and I started the foundations as the result of the tragic end of an attempt to save two baby raccoons.

Wildlife rehabilitators, although highly regulated by the state, receive no monetary compensation for food, vet care, enclosure construction or license and shot fees.

Since 2013 our small organization has donated $2,000 in cash, supplies, food and enclosure materials to rehabilitators from Adams Center to Plattsburgh.

We have been able to help many orphaned and injured animals return to the wild, which we are very proud of.

I have received many phone calls requesting where to turn to in these situations and I am very happy to provide the information I have. I currently have names and phone numbers for 13 wildlife rehabilitators and which species they care for.

Spring is here and soon the rehabilitators will be busy with orphans from roadkill and injured wildlife. Do not interfere with young wildlife unless you are 100 percent certain it is an orphan or injured.

There is also a North Country Wildcare 24-hour hotline at 1-518-964-6740.

We have begun our fundraisers for 2015 by purchasing a chainsaw carved bear with a softball/baseball theme to be raffled off. The bear carving is the masterpiece of Terry McKendree, Buck Ridge Chainsaw Carving, DeKalb Junction. The tickets are $10 each and only 200 will be sold.

If you are not familiar with this man’s work, it is exceptional. Mr. McKendree recently returned from a trip to Massachusetts that was invitation only to the top carvers.

While at the event, each carver was asked to carve a donation for charity to be auctioned off. Terry carved a large bench with German shepherds at each end and puppies under the bench. The bench was a tribute to fallen service dogs. The collected who bought it at the auction, donated it to the actual monument for falls service dogs and it will proudly be displayed for thousands to see at the marble monument.

The softball/baseball bear can be seen at The Gandy Dancer Rest in Norwood and tickets can be purchased there of by calling myself at 353-2082.

The next fundraiser will be the second annual horseshow tournament on Memorial Day weekend at The Gandy Dancer.

Any wildlife lovers that would like to donate, can do so at www.youcaring.com/flofoundationforwildlife or North Country Savings Bank in Potsdam.

David LaShomb

Norwood