VIRGINIA BEACH -- "This has been a bad winter -- the worst I've ever known," says Evelyn Flengas, "and the prolonged cold has take a heavy toll on our wildlife."
Flengas is the founder of Evelyn's Wildlife Refuge, a non-profit group in Virginia Beach that specializes in rehabilitating sick or injured animals that are native to Virginia. Among those getting help in Flengas' converted garage are possums, birds, and raccoons.
"I can't turn anything away," Flengas tells 13News. "I find it very hard to turn anything away if it needs help."
Bitter cold temperatures, scarcity of food in the wild this winter, long periods of time during which water has been frozen has made it difficult for some animals to survive.
"The pelicans are dying off from hypothermia," Flengas says. Motioning to one of the possums in her refuge, she adds, "This little guy was found in a road. His little hands are swollen from the cold, and he's now taking it easy until the spring, and, then, I can let him go."
One of the raccoons in Flengas' care was hurt trying to find food outdoors. Because of current demand, she and her volunteers go through about 40 pounds of bird seed and 20 pounds of dry pet food daily.
"I'm always looking for people to come on board," says Flengas. "I'm getting old now, so I'm gonna have to quit here in a few years, and I want my legacy to go on." She asks, "Who wants to look at a book when you can see the real thing? So, to me, it's very important that we maintain and try to keep our wildlife healthy."
