Woodside Wildlife Rescue in Pass Christian seeks permit

Woodside Wildlife Rescue is another step closer to receiving permits to help rehab birds of prey.

A group of Seabees, along with other volunteers, are helping with phase two of expanding Woodside’s habitats by erecting cages for migratory birds. Those birds include hawks, eagles, owls, and other federally protected species.

Once these bird cages are complete and comply with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Regulations, if granted a federal permit, Woodside Wildlife Rescue will no longer have to travel out of state to rehab birds. Woodside Wildlife Rescue President Alison Sharpe said, “Currently we have to take our eagles when they’re ready for release out of state. We take them over to Louisiana or over to Pensacola to be placed in a flight cage. When they get all of their muscles and everything built back up, we have to pick them up and bring them back here and release them. To have our own cage, onsite, it’s going to change the world and the way we do things.”

Woodside Wildlife Rescue hopes to have their hawk and owl enclosures finished by September and it’s eagle flight cage by next year.