Dear Friends,

Have you met “Grizzly Craig” Cylke?  He is Georgia’s Steve Irwin and he needs our help.  

The Ellijay Wildlife Rehabilitation Sanctuary is experiencing financial difficulty. Ellijay is a 50-acre facility that medically cares for all species of orphaned and injured wildlife indigenous to Georgia and the Southeast.  The Sanctuary, headquartered in Ellijay, Georgia, is not only the largest animal rehabilitation center in Georgia, but the largest in the Southeast.  It began 30 years ago when a young boy named Craig Cylke began rescuing and caring for injured animals that he found in the wild.  It wasn’t long before the surrounding community learned that Craig would take care of any wild animals in need.  They would drop them off in boxes at his front door or call when they found an animal trapped or in danger of a poacher.  Today, the sanctuary is a state and federally licensed facility that remains under the guidance of Craig and his wife, Debbie who are both certified in wildlife rehabilitation. 

Since Ellijay is a non-profit organization, it takes thousands of dollars each month to support and care for these animals.  The Sanctuary needs to raise $275,000 to help save these animals.  Also, we just learned that the Sanctuary needs to save 10.25 acres of land on their property so the animals can have a place to live.  While I’m a huge fan of having a house or cabin in the mountains, shouldn’t the animals have a retreat as well?  The latest bear to arrive at Ellijay – a 4 week-old baby bear named Nutty Buddy is doing well.  She arrived on Craig and Debbie’s doorstep around midnight one evening.  Her mother had been killed by poachers.  Now at 22 weeks old, she can’t go back into the wild, but others like her can – if they had a place to go. 

How can you help?  Adopt an animal or save an acre of land!

$25,000 – Save 3 acres of land - natural pre-release habitat for black bears

$15,000 – Save 2 acres of land - natural pre-release habitat for Cougars/Mountain Lions

$10,000 – Save an acre of land - A pre-release aviary for birds-of-prey 50 ft. high

$5,000 – Save and feed a baby bear

$500 – Save and feed a bald eagle

It is easy to make a secure online donation via PayPal

With your donation, you receive the following:

• Private tour of the Sanctuary with friends and family
• On-site name plaque at the location of your choice
• Updates on animals as well as conservation and rehabilitation activities
• 501c3 tax deduction letter for your records

If you can make a donation – big or small, please contact “Grizzly Craig” Cylke at: wildlife@ellijay.com or 706-276-2980.  For more information about the Ellijay Wildlife Rehabilitation Sanctuary, please visit: http://www.wildliferehabsanctuary.org.  If you haven’t visited Ellijay in the fall, it’s a great weekend trip.  Not only do you get to visit with the animals, but they have the largest apple orchards in Georgia. 

“You don’t have to go to Africa to save an endangered species.” - “Grizzly Craig” Cylke

Thanks so much for your help!
Amanda Leesburg
Committee to Help Save Ellijay Wildlife Sanctuary
404-842-0040