The clinic in Kendalia is experiencing the familiar sign of spring-baby wildlife activity. They mostly come from urban areas of San Antonio and the surrounding Hill Country, and are young ones who have lost their mothers or been injured in some way.

We are now hand-raising our first baby cottontail rabbits, squirrels, and opossums of the season. They are being fed formula that replicates the protein and fat ratios that their mothers' milk would have. Once their eyes open, fur grows, and they become mobile, they will receive solids. The squirrels will soon be munching on pecans, the opossums chewing veggies and animal protein, and the cottontails will be nibbling on their green blades of grass. Before release, they will spend time outdoors acclimating to their new environment.

We release thousands of animals into the wild every year and couldn't do it without your help. Please visit our wish list to donate some of the supplies that it takes to get these animals ready for release.

With Easter once again upon us, we can expect to see ducklings, chicks and bunnies for sale as Easter gifts. It's a bad business any way you look at it. Baby rabbits and chickens are delicate little beings and don't manage handling well. Worse, the idea that they make appropriate playthings and seasonal novelties belies their evident sentience and the fact that, left with their mothers, they might have had real lives as the kinds of animals they are. (Although, given the way in which these kinds of animals are used in the food industry, those lives would still have been foreshortened.) Further, Easter is a religious occasion and it's very difficult to see how turning these little lives into commodities does any honor to the religious spirit.

Most of the bunnies and chicks of Easter have short, unhappy lives, but not uncommonly a few of the survivors end up at Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation where their fates remarkably turn out positive. They are given the space and care they need to live out whatever life span nature gives them. But these are the lucky minority. We urge you to find other ways of giving to children at Easter. The message of respect for life that this will send means that the alternative gift you give will have additional value. From us at WRR to those of you for whom Easter is an important religious occasion, we wish you a happy, reverent, and life- affirming Sunday.

Find wonderful cruelty-free Easter gifts at Avon and support WRR. Avon does no animal testing and offers lovely products for any people of all ages. And even better, 30% of all sales will be donated to WRR.

Here is how to order: 1) Visit www.youravon.com/nalmrud and select "Online Event." 2) Select the Wildlife Rescue event. 3) Shop, shop, shop! 4) At checkout for WRR to receive credit- enter 512-484-5666 as "your representative's phone #" and code WRR2010.

The promotion will run from March 29-April 3 and includes free shipping with orders over $30. AVON offers 100% guarantee on all products. This offer is open to everyone in the continental US so please forward to your friends, family, and coworkers.

Sales at WRR's resale shop in Boerne have been good, but we need your help to propel this store to new levels of success. All proceeds directly benefit the animals we all hold so dear. Please donate your gently used items to the Squirrel's Nest and they will miraculously turn into food, medicine and round-the- clock care for animals in need.

We especially need donations of furniture, designer clothes, kitchen ware (complete dish sets, small appliances, serving pieces, vintage items, etc.), jewelry, and home décor. These items are the most desirable to customers and bring the best returns to WRR and the animals.

The Squirrel's Nest is located at 515 N. Main in Boerne. The shop is open Tuesday-Saturday from 9am-4pm. Call 830-331-1366 for more information.