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Today is one of the Owl’s favorite holidays: World Wildlife Day. World Wildlife Day is celebrated on March 3 every year–it is a United Nations International day “to celebrate all the world’s wild animals and plants and the contribution that they make to our lives and the health of the planet. This date was chosen as it is the birthday of CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, signed in 1973. This World Wildlife Day is also a celebration of CITES as it turns 50.” – World Wildlife Day.

If you know the Owl personally, you will know her Facebook profile photo has been the same for years now–a red fox with the Aldo Leopold saying “There are some who can live without wild things and some who cannot.” And you will know that I cannot. I support a number of wildlife organizations and my fondest wish for my next career is to become a certified wildlife rehabber. First, I must get my own owlets safely on their way into the world.

For the last few days, the Owl has been riveted by the story of “MK”, the eagle who along with her partner, lived in Arlington. There is a Facebook group called the Friends of Menotony Rocks Park which posts about a number of their raptor residents including owls. Updates came out about the rescue of the sick eagle, its transport to a rescue organization, her eventual death, and the organization of a vigil and march last night, March 2. Note that an owl was also rescued recently from the area around Faneuil Hall, also poisoned by rodenticides–that animal is currently in recovery at the Cape Ann Wildlife Center.

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If you have not read the story of MK, you can read it here on Boston.com but I warn you that it is very difficult to read. Raptors (or any animal) that ingest rat poison die an excruciating death by bleeding out. In spite of the best efforts of the Cape Cod wildlife center, MK could not come back from the poisoning and had a total system failure. I don’t even understand why such a product could exist–rats are sentient beings as well. Find another way.

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So what’s my point? On World Wildlife Day, take a look in the mirror and see what you can do. Choose a way to help out the wildlife who share their home turf with us. Support (financially) wildlife rescue organizations. Write your local legislators to make things better.

The Owl dipped her talons into ink two days ago to write both State Rep Peisch and State Senator Barrett–and ask for their help and co-sponsorship of SD 1144/HD 577: An Act relative to pesticides (you can read more on the MSPCA page here). Do something. Please note that while Senator Barrett has not yet responded, I did get a response from Representative Peisch’s office.

RIP, MK.