By Jelena Dosen
For the past thirty-one years, the Second Chance Wildlife Rescue has been nestled in the upper valley surrounded by what is now the rather posh, well-manicured Country Club neighborhood. When I arrived at Second Chance, I wove my way through a maze of vacant bird cages and pleasant, clacking wind chimes and listened as the sound of a woman giving no-nonsense directions for duck egg rescue came through the screen door. This was the home and workplace of Josie Karam, a lifelong animal rehabilitator and, despite her small stature and grey hair, the undisputed champion of El Paso’s wildlife.
I was immediately introduced to Habib, the 8-year-old deer and unofficial mascot of Second Chance. The fawn had been picked up by a well-intentioned but unfortunately misguided passerby who tried to raise him at their home. Malnourished and unable to stand, Habib was brought to Josie for rehabilitation, who bottle-fed him and, when he showed signs of anxiety, introduced him to Bella, the goat. Habib and Bella are now inseparable and live on a half-acre lot at Josie’s home-based facility.
As I fed Habib a leaf, Josie explained, “What we do here is take in injured, ill, and immature wildlife only. We take small mammals like squirrels, rabbits, and opossums, but we don’t take coyote or fox because there’s nowhere to release them anymore.” El Paso’s ever-expanding sprawl has undoubtedly affected the native wildlife, destroying habitats and disrupting the food chain. “We’re running out of land in this county. The deserts have been desecrated completely by developers and other large companies. So, these animals wander into the city trying to find food and water, and then people complain. Where else are they supposed to go?”
Our next stop was inside Josie’s home, where she showed me two fledglings and an adult dove, wing wrapped in a red dressing, that free-roaming cats had attacked; another population control issue in the city. “Owners of cats and dogs need to be responsible for their pets,” she said. “There are so many free-roaming cats in the city, and they hunt anything that moves; it’s what they do.” Just then, Josie got a call from a woman who had found two baby birds. “The best thing to do would be to put them back in their nest if you can,” she said. When the woman said she couldn’t find it and there were cats in the area, Josie said, “Then bring them here as soon as you can.”
Armed with a pink spray bottle in case Habib became a little too enthusiastic, we made our way to the five aviaries at the back of the property. Several non-releasable pigeons live in the Condo and assist in volunteer training and education. “This place will be packed in the spring, especially this year because the eggs have already started hatching.”
As we finished our tour, I was struck by the sheer magnitude of the task to which Josie has dedicated her entire life. She is 81 years old and the only animal rehabilitator in the region. “Most of my predecessors have passed,” she said. “I have done this for free for 31 years because it’s my passion. Someone young needs to come along so we can keep this going.”
Second Chance Wildlife Rescue is opening another location at 7800 Doniphan Dr in Vinton. Fencing and sewer lines for this location combined with utilities, maintenance costs, medical supplies, and food for the wildlife amount to a significant yearly operating cost. The indispensable work they do is only possible through donations and the work of volunteers. “We can help wildlife because of those wonderful people. It’s how we survive,” Josie says. “But individuals can only do so much.” And I agree; the community can work to change their outlook on the creatures we share our city with, but perhaps it’s time for the companies that take so much from the land to give something back. I encourage these companies to consider the ethical implications, the moral debt, that they owe to the wildlife whose struggle they profit from. Corporate sponsors and individuals interested in volunteering can scan the QR code below or call (915)920-7867 for more information.
