Tuesday, September 23, 2008

The Key West Wildlife Center, which rehabilitates wild birds and manages the city's feral chicken relocation program, will close next month unless city officials can replace departing volunteers and one part-time employee.

The center, located at the end of White Street, has been operating under the auspices of the Marathon Wild Bird Center since 2006.

But Kelly Grinter, founder of the Marathon center, said Monday that operating both sites 50 miles apart "is just too much."

"We decided that for our own mental and physical health, to focus on Marathon," said Grinter, who operates out of Crane Point Hammock. "It's too much for any one volunteer to handle."

Volunteer Susan Prince, under the guidance of Grinter, has manned the Key West Wildlife Center for nearly two years, and has overseen the relocation of more than 3,000 feral chickens to farmland in Eustis, Fla. Prince's mother, Karen Prince, is a part-time city employee who also worked at the wildlife center.

But the responsibilities for each woman grew to be too much, and Susan Prince said her true love is rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing wild birds -- not chickens.

She said she plans to open a triage center behind her house for 24-hour rescue services once the wildlife center closes Oct. 19.

The birds now housed at the center will be relocated to the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center in Tavernier, Grinter said.

The birds recovering from surgery or other illness will join her in Marathon, she said.

"And I'm really hoping that the city will continue with the chicken relocation program," she said. "They need to find someone to continue the program, and I hope they don't drag their feet."

Prince orchestrated the relocation of 312 chickens from Key West as Hurricane Ike approached. If not for that arrangement, she would have had to release those chickens back into the streets of Key West to prevent them from being caged during a storm and possibly drowning in a surge.

The Key West center took in more than 1,100 wild birds last year, not including chickens, Grinter said, adding that the city was paying the utilities and for all the chicken and bird feed at the center.

Assistant City Manager Mark Finigan acknowledged the role that Grinter and the Princes played at the center, and was hoping on Monday they would decide to stay on. That, according to Grinter and Susan Prince, is not likely.

"If they leave, all we have is a glorified chicken pen," Finigan said. "I don't want to lose them. We need to figure out a way to recognize their true mission as a wild bird sanctuary. We've got to make it work for them, too."

The agreement between Grinter and the city will end Oct. 19, when the center is scheduled to close, Grinter said.

Prince said information about her freelance rescue efforts will be forthcoming.

mbolen@keysnews.com