Water's-Edge Magazine

HAWKE founder answers call of the wild

By Allen Thigpen | Photographer Ed Hall

Stumpy the foot-less water turtle, Dancer the red hawk, Charlie the river otter and Squiggy the screech owl. While that may read like a cast of cartoon characters, it’s a real-life roster of the rescued at Melanie Cain-Stage’s HAWKE rehabilitation center.

The Elkton, Florida, resident has been caring for the injured animals of St. Johns County for nearly three decades.

“I was one of those kids who brought everything home,” Melanie says. “Back when I was young, it was not against the law to do rehab without a permit. So when people found baby birds or baby squirrels, they’d say, ‘Give it to Melanie!’ ”

Living as an artist in St. Augustine, Florida, in 1976, Melanie spent much of her time working at the Alligator Farm Zoological Park, tending to various creatures. Because the facility lacked the means to care for injured animals, Melanie and a coworker founded the St. Augustine Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in 1979.

“I was a full-time artist, but the animals kept coming, and I pretty much have not done my art since 1983,” Melanie says. “I kind of gave it up to do this, so, it’s really a passion.”

In 1987, she formed an independent venture, HAWKE (Human Association of Wildlife Kare and Education). Several years later, hurricanes Andrew and Hugo led Melanie and her husband, Sam, to relocate the facility west to Elkton.

Feathered and furred alike inhabit the property. River otters, silver foxes, gopher tortoises and box turtles reside mere yards away from eagles, kestrel falcons, herons, barn owls and, of course, hawks.

“Birds have always fascinated me,” says Melanie, who also admits to an affinity for river otters. The different animals “all have their own personalities. You have the little hummingbird, and you have the ostrich. What a wide range. They’re just incredible creatures. You learn so much from them.”

Such is the premise behind Melanie’s educational Traveling Talons program. Started in 1982, the program features her feathered friends, each lending a wing to classroom talks on environmental responsibility. Squiggy the screech owl is a crowd favorite.

“People would ask, ‘Why don’t you come to a school?’ or ‘why don’t you come to my Rotary club?’ ” Melanie says. “I got permits for the birds that couldn’t be released and started taking them to schools.”

HAWKE cares for as many animals from St. Johns County as the facility and funds allow. Animals outside the county are referred to their area’s animal-rehab centers. Between feeding, fund-raising and fielding calls, Melanie has a 24-hour-a-day job.

Although she says most people burn out after five years, Melanie doesn’t see herself stopping anytime soon. The self-professed animal lover is living out a lifelong connection to the wild.

“I think I was just chosen,” Melanie says. “I can go somewhere and they [the wildlife] just fall at my feet. It’s really strange. They just find me. In fact, we always thought there was something written on top of our house saying, ‘Come here!’ ”

Readers can learn more about HAWKE via the center’s Web site at www.hawkewildlife.org.