Blazing Star Award Joan and Roger Waters
First eagle release at Kissimmee River State Park
Joan and Roger release eagle.
Joan released rehabilitated owl.
Joan with pelican
Joan comforts possum.
Roger at an eagle release.
Joan with rescued eagle.
Joan staffs booth for Woodland Wonders.
Woodland Wonders exhibits are popular at community events.
For over three decades, Joan and Roger Waters have rehabilitated wildlife and created a community of caring for nature.
About Joan and Roger
On the 2nd day of college, Roger Waters and Joan Schuele met on the campus of Florida State University. Their parents had paid for food plans so they ended up eating many meals together over the years. “In our junior year we made an exciting discovery,” Joan recalls, “our feelings for each other were more than friendship!”
They finished up their senior year – Roger graduated with a degree in biology (followed by a masters of food science) and Joan earned her RN.BSN degree. They married in July 1969 and moved to a little house on Lake Marion in Haines City.
News traveled fast in the neighborhood; Mrs. Waters was a nurse! People began to bring their pets to her – the dachshund with the torn cartilage between the toes, the cat with the fish hook in the gum, the blue jay with the broken wing. They counseled people with domestic pets to seek a veterinarian, but did their best to assist wild animals with injuries.
Fast forward some years; the couple were busy raising their children and participating in their many activities. All along, Joan was getting calls on injured wildlife and she treated them. She did not know at the time she needed a permit!
Making it all Official
When their oldest son was 11, he went on a field trip to the PEER Nature Center in Auburndale. Joan chaperoned the class trip, where she met Robert Smith, the nature center’s curator. Mr. Smith needed someone to help with rehabilitation; learning of her love for wildlife, he added her to his rehabilitation license as sub permittee. Thus, began the journey of legally authorized wildlife rehabilitation for Joan and Roger.
They attended wildlife seminars and such, learning valuable techniques in wildlife care. Joan received permits from FWC, USFW and USDA. “We cared for the wildlife from our home,” Joan says “which was essentially open 24/7 for calls from local police, animal control, FWC and the general public.” They accepted mammals, reptiles, songbirds, and birds of prey, including Eagles. The Waters participated in numerous community outreach programs for schools, libraries, summer camps and more.
In 1998 they established a nonprofit entity and Woodland Wonders Wildlife Rehabilitation Service Inc. was born. Attorney David Pobjecky contributed to its creation, providing supporting legal work and consultation pro bono.
Memorable Rescues
Peregrine Falcon
A Great Legacy
The call came at 3AM from the Auburndale Police. They wanted to know if I would take a banded seagull. I said yes and was at the station at dawn. The seagull turned out to be a peregrine falcon! After a trip to the vet (bird had an awfully bad wounded wing - non repairable) I began research on the bands. I enlisted the help of a falconer as the bands were not readily found in the customary data bases. After some time, we found our result--- the bird was from COPENHAGAN, DENMARK!! She had been banded as a nestling and somehow ended up landing in an Auburndale street! Myria was an ambassador peregrine falcon for many years.
Eaglet Returned to the Nest
Emergency Renovation
I was shopping at a local car dealership and an employee came running in saying “the eagle nest is missing” This had been a nest visible from the dealership. I introduced myself and my qualifications and left immediately for the site. I always carry rescue supplies in my car so I called FWC and told them where I was. Officer Tanner responded and he and I waded in waist high water to get to the fallen nest. One eaglet was pinned under the nest and dead. The other eaglet was gasping. I immediately cleared the airway and carried the bird out. The bird had a wingtip fracture which healed in a week. I contacted a local supplier of hard wood floors and asked if a platform could be made for the nest. I then contacted a tree climber, and he is the HERO! He climbed the tree, lashing himself to the tree so he would have free hands. My husband and I gathered all the old nest materials and the climbers’ helper roped the platform and materials up the tree. After several hours of work, the last bucket hoisted up held the baby eaglet!!! We all hid and in about 20 minutes dad eagle dropped a fish into the nest and then mom returned. It was comical watching her throw out branches from the nest and “rebuild” it! The eaglet fledged successfully and the nest was used for about 10 years!
Fox Squirrel in a Coma
Healing patience
Even years ago, fox squirrels were not common sightings or rescues. I answered a call about an injured one on Recker Highway and immediately went to make the rescue. The squirrel had no broken limbs, no bleeding, however, was in a coma. With the help of my vet, I made a care plan for her – daily range of motion exercises so her legs would not become atrophied, daily short periods of filtered sun, and liquid gruel with high powered nutrients. Cricket remained in a coma for over a month and then the next 3-4 months she gradually learned to climb again. She never got back the ability to shell a sunflower seed or crack a nut, so the decision was made to use her as an educational animal.
Ken Morrison’s Eagle
In Memorial
An eagle was admitted with a broken wing and spent 3 months in rehab, including a month of conditioning in the flight cage. Ken Morrison, a well-known conservationist, had passed away and his widow told us “Ken always wanted an eagle released at his funeral”. The funeral was held at Bok Tower and Dr. Tom Schotman, Roger and Joan stood at the front of the crowd and Tom released the eagle. The eagle flew the length of about 2 football fields and THEN turned around and flew back to the crowd and “hovered” as birds do. There was not a dry eye in the crowd.
Nala, the Bobcat
Against the odds
Nala was admitted for rehab at about 1 week of age with external parasites, anemia, low weight, and skin issues. It was also soon discovered she had balance (ataxia) issues and would not be able to walk normally. The vet did not think she would live long. Nala, however, proved to be a fighter and made a remarkable recovery. Unable to return to the wild, she still has ataxia and is very small. She is a spoiled ambassador bobcat!
Dangling Eagle
Unintended by-catch
A young boy was getting ready for school when he noticed an eagle dangling from the pine tree in his backyard. His dad called around, then we got a call along with the Lakeland Fire Department. The fire department staff were the heroes as they took a boat out in the lake, cut the fishing line wrapped around the eagles’ talons and caught him as he became loose! The eagle was very very weak, however luckily had no fractures. After a period of rehab and flight conditioning he was released! There was press on this release and a video recorded.
A Caring Community of Support
Roger Waters built the majority of the caging needed for the recovering wildlife. Over the years, however, the community pitched in, and the Waters feel indebted and blessed for this support. The Waters had construction help from Boy Scout troop 113 through several eagle projects, and the Gleaner Life Arbor service club supplied another cage. Polk County government contributed the large flight cage. This flight cage was used to condition birds of prey for release – many Eagles and other birds of prey were successfully returned to the wild. Each summer the Camp Fire youth development program would complete a site project for Woodland Wonders and continue to do so.
The Waters are especially grateful for the heartfelt contributions of Veterinarian Dr. Tom Schotman. He volunteered many hours of his time, care, concern and expertise to the rehabbing wildlife. Finally, Joan stresses that their work for wildlife would not have been possible without Woodland Wonders volunteers who helped take care of the animals, transported animals, and took care of them whenever Joan took some days off.
Destiny Houghton, the new Executive Director for Woodland Wonders.
After 32 years of wildlife rehabilitation, with Roger working 47 years at Brown International in technical services, and Joan part time 45 years between Winter Haven Hospital and Traviss Technical College, the couple began discussions on a succession plan. Destiny Houghton is now in charge of the daily operations of Woodland Wonders. Joan says, “She is the rocket and we are the stage coach! We have been blessed with so many kindnesses and we look forward to hearing about the wonderful community kindness that will be shown to Destiny!”
“No matter how few possessions you own or how little money you have, loving wildlife and nature will make you rich beyond measure.”
― Paul Oxton